I remember the NYT's and their claims back then and they differ very little today from the other blame America Firsters who think it's all about OIL.
What is so sad is that so many of our finest have shed their blood or given their lives fighting for the freedom of others around the globe and we have never profited monetarily from our toils.
All the usual suspects who subscribe to the thought that we are in this for the oil are liberals who are to utterly spineless to stand up against anything.