http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/3457 - Aussie Political Firestorm Over Iraq Comments, Defense Minister Cites Oil as Reason to Maintain Troop Presence

<quote>
Nelson began the trouble with his comments to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio on Wednesday. "Energy security is extremely important to all nations throughout the world, and of course, in protecting and securing Australia's interests," he said.

"The Middle East itself, not only Iraq, but the entire region is an important supplier of energy, oil in particular, to the rest of the world," he said, concluding "(We) need to think what would happen if there were a premature withdrawal from Iraq."
</quote>

Could someone please send him the current consensus reality talking points? Going off message won't do.

If it was really about oil, it would have been cheaper and more effective to keep buying oil from Saddam Hussein, and then getting our money back by selling him chemicals and military equipment to use on the Kurds and Shias... like we did in the 80s.

Or just getting GM to crank up the production line again for the EV-1 and give one to every family in the USA.