"Gorgeous" George Galloway

[Skyryder]

I'm sorry but what has 9/11 to do with Iraq? Would have made more sense to invade Saudi Arabia if that was the justification. Friendly middle eastern regime? Oh you must mean the puppet government put in place by the Americans that will be overthrown in the not to distant future.

As for intelligence gathering, they could have done that with their "friends" in Isreal, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and to a lesser extent Pakistan.

9/11 was the catalyst. As there was no direct link between Saddam and bin Laden the Americans dreamed up the WOMD excuse that backfired.

Why would the Americans want to invade Saudi Arabia?

The countries that you mention certainly have ties to American intelligence agencies but all are 'independent' of American influence.

Skyryder

[scracha]

Why would the Americans want to invade Saudi Arabia?

Has plenty of oil. Most of the 9/11 boys were from there. But their dictator is towing the American line so they're Ok for the moment.

The countries that you mention certainly have ties to American intelligence agencies but all are 'independent' of American influence.

If Israel is independent of American influence then I'm the Pope.

[Skyryder]

If Israel is independent of American influence then I'm the Pope.

You are mistaking 'areas of interest' with American influence.

Israel has a history of 'doing its own thing. Two that spring to mind are double the invasions of Lebanon in '82 and more recently in 2006 and the Six day war.

So how much is a Holy Indulgence worth these days?

[Waylander]

Has plenty of oil. Most of the 9/11 boys were from there. But their dictator is towing the American line so they're Ok for the moment.


If Israel is independent of American influence then I'm the Pope.

Dude America has enough of it's own oil to keep itself running for a good while yet.

It's little countries with no natural resources like oil (Eg: New Zealand) That need the oil at a cheap price that drive the global market for oil.

[MisterD]

If Israel is independent of American influence then I'm the Pope.

It's more the other way around isn't it? No US president can afford to ignore the pro-Israel jewish vote.

[Sanx]

It's more the other way around isn't it? No US president can afford to ignore the pro-Israel jewish vote.

It's not that vote really. Although a significant proportion of the population in some centres, it's completely insignificant as far as the total vote. However, you'll often find the fundamentalist Christians support Israel too, as they regard Israel as the last bastion of 'western' civilisation holding back the barbaric hordes of Islam from the holy land.

[MisterD]

It's not that vote really. Although a significant proportion of the population in some centres, it's completely insignificant as far as the total vote. However, you'll often find the fundamentalist Christians support Israel too, as they regard Israel as the last bastion of 'western' civilisation holding back the barbaric hordes of Islam from the holy land.

I should probably have phrased that better....no US President can afford to ignore the weathly and connected pro-Israel jewish lobby that can fund their campaigns. In the US there is a direct relationship between $$'s and votes.