Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki recently said: the Americans could leave Iraq anytime they want. Why would Maliki feel confident in making such a statement? Is it because he knows the American government has no plans to leave Iraq anytime in the distant future? Maliki has failed to meet political benchmarks on many issues over power sharing and oil revenue sharing with the Sunnis and Kurds in Iraq. Does Maliki feel that he has the U.S. over a barrel?

     I can understand the Shiites not wanting to share power and oil revenues with the former controlling Sunnis, but a failure to do so will just guarantee a continuance of the civil war in Iraq.

     The American oil companies have oil leases to protect in Iraq. Unless the Iraqi military can protect the Iraqi government, American forces will have to remain in Iraq to protect American interests—Oil.

     In my opinion, American forces will remain in Iraq for decades. How many U.S. Soldiers must fall or be seriously injured to protect the oil companies?  Where are the tough questions in the media regarding the oil leases with the Iraqi government?

     Were there discussions by energy companies regarding leases for the oil fields in Iraq before the war in Iraq began? What was discussed in the secret energy talks with Vice-president Cheney and the energy companies? Should American energy companies be setting energy policies in secret with a vice-president? Tough questions? Faith in the Bush Administration to tell the truth seems to be, “in its last throws’, if you will.”

     I’m still waiting for the mainstream media to ask the tough questions. What will happen to the U.S. oil companies, private contractors and private security companies in Iraq if the American forces leave Iraq?  Will the mainstream media ever ask about the possible oil connection in Iraq that may have had a powerful influence on the decision to invade and remain in Iraq?

     It is clear that a misguided ideology was one reason that drove support for the invasion of Iraq. It is also clear that the invasion of Iraq has destabilized the Middle East. A complete and immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces could lead to worsening violence. On the other hand, the occupation of Iraq is without question a recruitment poster for extremists willing to fight and kill American soldiers.

     The slogans like: “we have to fight them there so, we don’t have to fight them here” are a shameful and cowardly rationale for staying in Iraq. I don’t want another soldier to die in Iraq so I can feel safe at home. If this war is a battle for our very existence, as some claim, then we need a military draft so we all can share equally in the sacrifice. Is a tax break for the rich during a time of war part of a shared sacrifice?

     The U.S. government is over a barrel in Iraq. In fact, the U.S. government is over many barrels in Iraq! The American people deserve answers on the lead up to the war in Iraq. The truth was the first causality of the war in Iraq. The truth remains buried deeper than the oil under the sand of Iraq.

     When the U.S. Congressional representatives and the mainstream media stand up for the American people and ask the tough questions, the American people can stand down. Until then, freedom of expression and the voting booth will remain the instruments of change.

Fred Flanagan