Their Disaster, Our Delight
If Naomi Klein can be believed — and I certainly believe her — the US-led devastation of Iraq over the last 15 years is a perfect example of 'disaster capitalism' — we create the disaster, and then we capitalize on it:
After years of backroom arm-twisting, Iraq is officially flinging open six of its major oilfields, accounting for half of its known reserves, to foreign investors. According to Iraq's oil minister, the long-term contracts will be signed within a year. While ostensibly under the control of the Iraq National Oil Company, foreign corporations will keep 75% of the value of the contracts, leaving just 25% for their Iraqi partners.
All that lovely oil, soon to be under the control of Western companies. Mission Accomplished.
