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China's oil company is subsidized. I'm not sure about Russia's.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa
Any other angles as to why American companies let this one go? Margin of profit? Even the French have a bigger stake in Iraqi oil than America. I know the asking price way high but there has to be some other explanation.
Likely they can get what they need from other sources. Saudi Arabia might be one, although many Americans keep forgetting they don't import that much oil from the Middle East. Most actually comes from this hemisphere from Canada and Mexico. It is WHY Canada has been so reluctant not to sign on to any climate change treaties for CO2 output that don't mirror the Americans, because the petrochemical industry of both nations are pretty much symbiotic, at least from our side of the border.Quote:
Originally Posted by gloomyDAY
Most of the Middle East oil goes to Europe or Asia...and THAT is why those oil companies would have a bigger incentive to bid on that Iraqi oil.
What we've accomplished is akin to invading Italy and Sicily all in order to eliminate the mod.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa
Ummmmm no. While I am not sure invading Iraq was a good idea now, at the time, there was some rationale that more than just Dubya was buying. One thing was for sure, it wasn't about the oil so much as making sure someone with oil money didn't buy stuff that was going to make trouble later on. Weak? Ya...maybe in retrospect it is. Not the smartest war ever fought, but much of what has gone on since isn't the fault of you Yanks so much as it is the sectarian stupidity that Iraqi's of all stripes seem bent on carrying out. You cant blame the US for the violent anti-tolerant tendencies of the natives.Quote:
Originally Posted by SportscarBruce
So you think it was the Iraqis them self who made the power vacuum in their country?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Oshawa
Wow good come back, so intelectual. For you to think that I'm saying there isn't anything wrong with the loss of even one soldier is the "antonym of smart". EVERY ONE of our losses (killed or wounded) is a tragedy. But they did die for a purpose, freedom for the Iraqis. What the hell is wrong with that? You seem to be suggesting that if they had died for profit that it would have been ok. Well my friend, THAT is the antonym of smart.Quote:
Originally Posted by gloomyDAY
If you can't understand that the war was brought on by the fact that Saddam went around claiming that he had WMD, and wouldn't let the UN in to inspect (which was in clear violation of the treaty he himself had signed, and broken many times). That, again, is the antonym of smart. Then if you can't understand that by making Saddam face the music on his violations that would bring a nice little side effect called Iraqi Freedom, well then I'm not sure you know the definition of "antonym" or "smart"
Mark, Canada was actually one of the biggest evil doers according to Copenhagen. I'm not up on the technology but apparently Canada's tar sand petroleum production method generates heaps of CO2.
OH I know. Macleans Magazine had for their December 18th edition the title "Why the World Hates Canada" on it and a big story on how we were being singled out. We produce 2% of the world's CO2, we are a large (REALLY LARGE) nation with sparse population, a cold cold climate in many areas, and a resource economy. We are one of the nations that would have to really cut our lifestyle and economy in knees to meet targets.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fiero 5.7
AS for the Oilsands? .5% of our total CO2. That means it is .00025% of the world's CO2 output. So we close the oilsands down completely. Boy that .00025% will make ALL the difference. Why we might have global cooling in no time. What a load of crap. Canada was ranked 12th cleanest on the planet by the UN, and we have stringent anti-pollution standards. We don't want global warming, and we dont' want pollution, but as a Canadian I will not be painted as a villan for this it is clear that the Chinese with 40% of the world's CO2 output will not even BE ASKED TO CHANGE. THAT WAS THE LIE OF KYOTO!!!
Assuming CO2 makes this planet warmer, as many of you do, the little nickel and dime measures such as picking on Canada for the oilsands means very little if you are not hitting everyone equally.
Back during the Bosnia-Kosovo thing, the USA told Milosovich he could leave on his own, or they would throw him out. To sweeten the deal, they offered to set him up with a nice place in Switzerland and a tidy chunk change to live on. He turned it down, got thrown out, and even got jacked on those silly war crimes trials. I like to think I learn from history. When I heard that Bush gave Saddam 24 hours to leave town or he was going to throw him out, I'd have made a deal for a place next to Schumachers and hauled ass. Saddam ended up on a rope.
I'd like to think that if Chavaz or some other fool becomes enough of an annoyance to act on, they'll do the smart thing and take the cash and the condo.
If it makes you feel better, I like Canada and Canadians!