Islamic Oil Could Be Effective Weapon, Iran Says

Reuters | 4/01/02

[kattracks]

— KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Using Islamic oil as a weapon to force Western nations to force an Israeli West Bank withdrawal could be very effective but would need the backing of all the states concerned, Iran said on Tuesday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, asked if Iran would back Iraq's call to use oil as a weapon against the West to pressure Israel's hand, said, "I believe the Islamic (unclear) has enough instruments to use but it all depends on the collective decision of Islamic countries.

"If they decide to use oil as a weapon, it would be very effective," he told a news conference.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, facing a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings, has promised an "uncompromising war to uproot these savages" and crush what he calls a terror campaign directed by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Iraq called on Monday for Arab states to use oil as a weapon to punish countries supporting Israel and to stop the Jewish state's current military action against Palestinians.

Muslim countries from the Organization of Islamic Conference, whose representatives are in Malaysia to talk about terrorism, accused Israel on Monday of dragging the Middle East toward war.

Copyright 2002 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved.

[goldstategop]

A good argument for Tommy Daschund and the Rats to relent and accede to oil exploration in the ANWR...

[gitmo]

Q: How many Marines does it take to capture and hold an Arab oil field?

[SouthernFreebird]

Wish you were in charge :)

[skr]

It could be effective...but I wouldn't try it if I were them. Wonder what it would do to their economy? I suspect it would be a rough ride for everyone. Despite our national craze for SUVs, we might all decide that hybrid cars would work well enough, and the Japanese could pull up their economy making them cheaper than we can. Hmmm, might actually be a good idea in the long run.

[Shermy]

A great idea. Nigeria, Mexico, Russia, Norway, etc. rush in to take up market share. Let's see the Arabs try to get their OPEC allotments back.

Foolish, and another sign Iran is looking to deflect to the West Bank attention to itself.

[randog]

This is hilarious coming from countries that rely on western nations for their food, technical expertise, medicine, capital equipment, etc. Shutting off the oil will put a kink in western economies, but if the west reciprocates it'll throw the middle east into a period of starvation and disease that'll make Somalia look like Disneyland.

[tomahawk]

If they don't sell us the oil they happen to live on top of, we will take it.

[blam]

Is this a declaration of war?

[Orion78]

Iraq-Iran railway (1/8/02)
Iraq wants Iran to return its planes (1/8/02)
US says Arabs unmoved by Iraq call for oil weapon (4/1/02)

[Jewels1091]

I think this takes drilling in Alaska away from the democrats now. The American people by poll wanted it to begin with...if the Republicans play this right, the polls will be 98% in favor!!!

[goody2shooz]

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, asked if Iran would back Iraq's call to use oil as a weapon against the West to pressure Israel's hand...said...If they decide to use oil as a weapon, it would be very effective...

Stupid question, really dumb answer.

There are other nations pumping crude oil (see one of the posts above for a short list). The Middle East would be just another sand box, granted a very large one, if they didn't sell their crude oil.

[uncbob]

SEIZE THE OIL FIELDS and double the price to the Europeans to finance the war

[Rightwing Canuck]

Here's hoping they do. Then, you guys will come up to Alberta and go through will oil extraction from the sand pits, making us all rich! Muahahahaha!

[RightWhale]

If the oil sheiks try this, the Wehrmacht will be there soon, and this time Russia will let them pass right through.

[Biblebelter]

The Saudis will gladly pay $25,000 to the family of Palestinian suicide bombers. But they do not have the courage to commit economic suicide themselves. These Saudi playboys do not believe much in life after death. After all why commit suicide to get the promise of 70 virgins in the next life, when they have the money to buy many times that in this life?

[randog]

If they don't sell us the oil they happen to live on top of, we will take it.

That's Options #2,3,4,5, and 6.

[Orion78]

Iran opens sea lanes to Iraq's oil shipments (6/6/00)
Cheney-Led Panel Seeks a Review of Sanctions ~ Iran, Iraq and Libya Considered as Oil Sources (4/20/01)
Iran sees OPEC consensus on oil output cut (11/11/01)
Iran, Russia stress proper exploitation of Caspian Sea resources (11/16/01)
Turkey to drill for oil in Iraq (12/12/01)

[Orion78]

Japan, Iran set basic accord on oil field operation rights (10/29/00)
Iran, China to promote cooperation on oil (1/3/01)
China's oil giant Sinopec to explore oil in Iran (1/13/01)
Iran, Russia Leaders Talk Arms, Oil (3/12/01)
Japan Ignores U.S. Warnings, Moves to Secure Oil Deal with Iran (7/9/01)

[RichardW]

Frankly, I hope they do it. I would be willing to pay three times what we are paying to rid ourselves of dependence on unreliable middle east oil. And this will also break the logjam for ANWR production. As far as I am concerned they can drink their oil.