The Russians got into their Vietnam right after we got out of ours? Isn't that strange?

We supported Bin Laden and the Taliban for years, and viewed them as freedom fighters against the Russians?  Isn't that strange?

As late as 1998 the US was paying the salary of every single Taliban official in Afghanistan?  Isn't that strange?

There is more oil and gas in the Caspian Sea area than in Saudi Arabia, but you need a pipeline through Afghanistan to get the oil out.  Isn't that strange?

UNOCAL, a giant American Oil conglomerate, wanted to build a 1000 mile long pipeline from the Caspian Sea through Afghanistan to the Arabian Sea. Isn't that strange?

UNOCAL spent $10,000,000,000 on geological surveys for  pipeline construction, and very nicely courted the Taliban for their support in allowing the construction to begin. Isn't that strange?

All of the leading Taliban officials were in Texas negotiating with UNOCAL in 1998.  Isn't that strange?

1998-1999 the Taliban changed its mind and threw UNOCAL out of the country and awarded the pipeline project to a company from Argentina. Isn't that strange?

John Maresca VP of UNOCAL testified before Congress and said no pipeline until the Taliban was gone and a more friendly government was established. Isn't that strange?

1999-2000 The Taliban became the most evil people in the world.  Isn't that strange?

Niaz Naik, a former Pakistani Foreign Secretary, was told by senior American officials in mid-July that military action against Afghanistan would go ahead by the middle of October.  Isn't that strange?

9/11 WTC disaster—Bush goes to war against Afghanistan even though none of the hijackers came from Afghanistan.  Isn't that strange?

Bush blamed Bin Laden but has never offered any proof saying it’s a "secret".  Isn't that strange?

Taliban offered to negotiate to turn over Bin Laden if we showed them some proof.  We refused; we bombed.  Isn't that strange?

Bush said:  "This is not about nation building.  It's about getting the terrorists." Isn't that strange?

We have a new government in Afghanistan.  Isn't that strange?

The leader of that government formerly worked for UNOCAL. Isn't that strange?

Bush appoints a special envoy to represent the US to deal with that new government, who formerly was the "chief consultant to UNOCAL".  Isn't that strange?

The Bush family acquired their wealth through oil? Isn't that strange?

Bush's Secretary of Interior was the President of an oil company before going to Washington.  Isn't that strange?

George Bush Sr. now works with the "Carlysle Group" specializing in huge oil investments around the world.  Isn't that strange?

Condoleezza Rice worked for Chevron before gong to Washington. Isn't that strange?

Chevron named one of its newest "supertankers" after Condoleezza.  Isn't that strange?

Dick Cheney worked for the giant oil conglomerate Haliburton before becoming VP.  Isn't that strange?

Haliburton gave Cheney $34,000,000,000 as a farewell gift when he left Haliburton.  Isn't that strange?

Haliburton is in the pipeline construction business.  Isn't that strange?

There is $6 Trillion dollars worth of oil in the Caspian Sea area. Isn't that strange?

The US government quietly announces Jan 31, 2002 we will support the construction of the Trans-Afghanistan pipeline. Isn't that strange?

President Musharref (Pakistan), and Karrzai,  (Afghanistan -Unocal) announce agreement to build proposed gas pipeline from Central Asia to Pakistan via Afghanistan.  (Irish Times 02/10/02) Isn't that strange?

"It’s the Oil, Stupid!"

© 2002 Joseph Clifford

 Mr. Joseph Clifford contributed above article to Media Monitors Network (MMN) from James Town, Rhode Island, USA