No war for oil: Is John Kerry serious?

Manchester Union Leader ^ | December 28, 2003 | Editorial

[billorites]

FOR THE SECOND time, John Kerry is running an ad in New Hampshire in which he says that no American should have to "go to war for oil." Is he saying what it sounds like he's saying? The great canard about the first Gulf War was that it was a "war for oil." Only the lunatic fringe of the radical left believes that the latest war in Iraq was about oil. But there is John Kerry, plainly suggesting that America has gone to "war for oil" because it is too dependent on oil from the Middle East.

Is he irresponsibly playing to that lunatic fringe in the same way Howard Dean did when he repeated the slander that President Bush knew about the 9/11 attacks and did nothing to prevent them? Is Kerry subtly — wink, wink; nudge, nudge — suggesting that President Bush went to war in Iraq — a war the senator voted to authorize — because of oil?

Is he saying that the United States should not have defended Kuwait against the aggression of Saddam Hussein? Is he saying that oil is not a vital component of our national security — a component valuable enough to defend? For that matter, are there other things America is dependent upon, but for which John Kerry would not fight?

It is evident from his bullet-pointed proposal to make the United States energy-independent that John Kerry has devoted some time thinking about energy issues. Some of his ideas, such as providing tax incentives for Americans to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles, are rather pie-in-the-sky. But others, such as cutting the energy costs of the federal government, are potentially achievable.

From someone who has thought seriously about these issues, such a vague and inflammatory statement can only be seen as calculated. So, out with it, senator: What wars has America fought "for oil," and why is a substance vital to our way of life and our security not worth defending?

[Gritty]

Sure, this slogan is patently silly and untrue. That doesn't matter. It's part and parcel of the Liberal strategy to own the language and direct the perceptions of the general public through propagandistic means.

An example: How many people ever heard (or cared) about "Haliburton" before Cheney was picked? How many in this country now automatically react against "Haliburton" in a negative way every time the word is mentioned, including those who know better - including you right this minute? Don't you prefer it is not brought up?

Don't ever assume a lie has little effect merely because it is a lie, even an obvious one. It needs to be effectively refuted and countered with the same enthusiasm with which it was mouthed. Our side is very poor at doing that, even taking into account the heavy one-way bias of the Media.

[yoswif]

The Balkans War was more about debt relief for big Clinton contributor and media darling, the Investment Banking Industry, than Iraq is about oil. Yet no one in the corporate media or any "peace activists" are questioning the Clinton Administration for using the Social Security Slush Fund to pay off the debt of corrupt governments throughout the Balkans region, debt owed to the Investment Banking Industry. A "No blood for huge payoffs to the Investment Banking Industry" response would challenge the Dems, "peace activists", and the corporate media on an American blood for corporate welfare claim.

[RightlySo]

Actually, securing oil for trade *IS* a legitimate reason to go to war. Without oil, Western civilization (not just USA) ceases to exist as we know it. I should think everyone here knows that oil is used extensively in plastic manufacturing, lubricating machinery, and a host of other uses besides fuel.

Indeed oil was a critical factor in the first Gulf War, and much less a factor in the second Iraq war. Terrorism, of course, is the primary factor in the current war.

I think we're simply seeing any desperate attempt to ring the chords that liberals resonate to... "No war for oil", "No killing overseas", "No honor for the military-- they kill people", "Kill our unborn babies in the USA, it's ok", etc., ad nauseum.

[11Bush]

...let'em eat cake

...let'em ride the bus!

[ditto h]

Good clown picture. Who is the guy with the red nose?

[TheGeezer]

With every increase in fleet fuel economy mandate, with every new expense imposed upon automotive manufacturers, with every increase in fuel tax, the ability of poor inner-city dwellers to move out of the city - even for a few hours - diminishes. White liberals, having destroyed the familty with single-parenting subsidies and programs designed to destroy self-discipline can then live in surburban, gated communities beyond the reach of public transportation. The most vulnerable of the population are left to suffer in public schools staffed by Democrat-voting unionized teaching staffs, condemned to a cycle of poverty perpetuated by government policies supported by those who know how to harvest money manipulating those policies (salaries, subsidies, etc.).

Pretty clever, these fascist liberals, eh?

Regards.

[TheGeezer]

Good clown picture. Who is the guy with the red nose?

LOL. Good one!

[Nick Danger]

No American should have to go to war for ketchup.

[Cobra64]

I'd vote for the real Lurch before I'd vote for Kerry.

[genefromjersey]

There isn't a damn thing wrong with "war for oil",and we should take as much Iraqi oil as needed to pay off the costs of liberating that country...if only in order to reduce our dependence on an increasingly shaky Saudi Arabia.

[billorites]

"I'd vote for the real Lurch before I'd vote for Kerry."

You rang?

[Capt. Tom]

Good clown picture. Who is the guy with the red nose?

Probably Howard Dean. - tom

[Joe 6-pack]

He's a Viet Nam vet, and yes, he's serious.

[international american]

Note to John F'ng Kerry. Go back to your 5 million dollar townhome on Beacon Hill, and leave the leadership problem to someone with a brain:)

[Joe 6-pack]

F*cking serious.....

[Cobra64]

Good clown picture. Who is the guy with the red nose?

One delusional idiot addressing a clown. Makes sense to me.

John Effing Kerry: "Will you be my VP running mate?"

[Cobra64]

Thanks. I forgot about Thing coming out of the cigar box.

[mewzilla]

Fuel efficiency is still a good idea, though, especially with our dependance on foreign oil. As for public transpo, I used it for years in the small city we live in. We didn't even have a second car until our elder family members' needs made it a necessity. I think common sense is what needs to be applied. Not all regs are bad.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

It is impossible to take any of these Democratic candidates seriously anymore. They are a collage of cartoon characters.

I agree. All 9 of them collectively have the intelligence of a grapefruit.

A stupid grapefruit, at that.

[Ditter]

You seem to be really up on all the facts (winkwink). Why didn't George Bush attack & invade Mexico for their oil first? It would have been so much easier. (chuckle)