http://www.globalre search.ca/ articles/ CLA410A.html

The Real Reasons Why Iran is the Next Target:
The Emerging Euro-denominated International Oil Marker
by William Clark
www.globalresearch. ca      27 October 2004 
The URL of this article is:
http://globalresear ch.ca/articles/ CLA410A.html 



The Iranians are about to commit an "offense" far greater than Saddam Hussein's 
conversion to the euro of Iraq’s oil exports in the fall of 2000. Numerous 
articles have revealed Pentagon planning for operations against Iran as early 
as 2005. While the publicly stated reasons will be over Iran's nuclear 
ambitions, there are unspoken macroeconomic drivers explaining the Real Reasons 
regarding the 2nd stage of petrodollar warfare - Iran's upcoming euro-based oil 
Bourse.
 
In 2005-2006, The Tehran government has a developed a plan to begin competing 
with New York's NYMEX and London's IPE with respect to international oil trades 
- using a euro-denominated international oil-trading mechanism. This means that 
without some form of US intervention, the euro is going to establish a firm 
foothold in the international oil trade. Given U.S. debt levels and the stated 
neoconservative project for U.S. global domination, Tehran's objective 
constitutes an obvious encroachment on U.S. dollar supremacy in the 
international oil market
"Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded 
because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of 
armies; from these proceed debts and taxes...known instruments for bringing the 
many under the domination of the few. . . No nation could preserve its freedom 
in the midst of continual warfare."
- James Madison, Political Observations, 1795
Madison’s words of wisdom should be carefully considered by the American people 
and world community. The rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground in Iraq 
portends an even direr situation for American soldiers and the People of the 
world community - should the Bush administration pursue their strategy 
regarding Iran. Current geopolitical tensions between the United States and 
Iran extend beyond the publicly stated concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear 
intentions, and likely include a proposed Iranian "petroeuro system" for oil 
trade. Similar to the Iraq war, upcoming operations against Iran relate to the 
macroeconomics of the `petrodollar recycling’ and the unpublicized but real 
challenge to U.S. dollar supremacy from the euro as an alternative oil 
transaction currency.
It is now obvious the invasion of Iraq had less to do with any threat from 
Saddam’s long-gone WMD program and certainly less to do to do with fighting 
International terrorism than it has to do with gaining control over Iraq’s 
hydrocarbon reserves and in doing so maintaining the U.S. dollar as the 
monopoly currency for the critical international oil market. Throughout 2004 
statements by former administration insiders revealed that the Bush/Cheney 
administration entered into office with the intention of toppling Saddam 
Hussein. Indeed, the neoconservative strategy of installing a pro-U.S. 
government in Baghdad along with multiple U.S. military bases was partly 
designed to thwart further momentum within OPEC towards a "petroeuro." However, 
subsequent events show this strategy to be fundamentally flawed, with Iran 
moving forward towards a petroeuro system for international oil trades, while 
Russia discusses this option.
Candidly stated, ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’ was a war designed to install a 
pro-U.S. puppet in Iraq, establish multiple U.S military bases before the onset 
of Peak Oil, and to reconvert Iraq back to petrodollars while hoping to thwart 
further OPEC momentum towards the euro as an alternative oil transaction 
currency. [1] In 2003 the global community witnessed a combination of 
petrodollar warfare and oil depletion warfare. The majority of the world’s 
governments – especially the E.U., Russia and China - were not amused – and 
neither are the U.S. soldiers who are currently stationed in Iraq.
Indeed, the author’s original pre-war hypothesis was validated shortly after 
the war in a Financial Times article dated June 5th, 2003, which confirmed 
Iraqi oil sales returning to the international markets were once again 
denominated in US dollars, not euros. Not surprisingly, this detail was never 
mentioned in the five US major media conglomerates who appear to censor this 
type of information, but confirmation of this vital fact provides insight into 
one of the crucial - yet overlooked - rationales for 2003 the Iraq war.
"The tender, for which bids are due by June 10, switches the transaction back 
to dollars -- the international currency of oil sales - despite the greenback's 
recent fall in value. Saddam Hussein in 2000 insisted Iraq's oil be sold for 
euros, a political move, but one that improved Iraq's recent earnings thanks to 
the rise in the value of the euro against the dollar." [2]
Unfortunately, it has become clear that yet another manufactured war, or some 
type of ill-advised covert operation is inevitable under President George W. 
Bush, should he win the 2004 Presidential Election. Numerous news reports over 
the past several months have revealed that the neoconservatives are quietly - 
but actively - planning for the second petrodollar war, this time against Iran.
"Deep in the Pentagon, admirals and generals are updating plans for possible 
U.S. military action in Syria and Iran. The Defense Department unit responsible 
for military planning for the two troublesome countries is "busier than ever," 
an administration official says. Some Bush advisers characterize the work as 
merely an effort to revise routine plans the Pentagon maintains for all 
contingencies in light of the Iraq war. More skittish bureaucrats say the 
updates are accompanied by a revived campaign by administration conservatives 
and neocons for more hard-line U.S. policies toward the countries"…"Even 
hard-liners acknowledge that given the U.S. military commitment in Iraq, a U.S. 
attack on either country would be an unlikely last resort; covert action of 
some kind is the favored route for Washington hard-liners who want regime 
change in Damascus and Tehran."
"…administration hawks are pinning their hopes on regime change in Tehran - by 
covert means, preferably, but by force of arms if necessary. Papers on the idea 
have circulated inside the administration, mostly labeled "draft" or "working 
draft" to evade congressional subpoena powers and the Freedom of Information 
Act. Informed sources say the memos echo the administration' s abortive Iraq 
strategy: oust the existing regime, swiftly install a pro-U.S. government in 
its place (extracting the new regime's promise to renounce any nuclear 
ambitions) and get out. This daredevil scheme horrifies U.S. military leaders, 
and there's no evidence that it has won any backers at the cabinet level." [3]
To date, one of the more difficult technical obstacles concerning a euro-based 
oil transaction trading system is the lack of a euro-denominated oil pricing 
standard, or oil ‘marker’ as it is referred to in the industry. The three 
current oil markers are U.S. dollar denominated, which include the West Texas 
Intermediate crude (WTI), Norway Brent crude, and the UAE Dubai crude. However, 
since the spring of 2003, Iran has required payments in the euro currency for 
its European and Asian/ACU exports - although the oil pricing for trades are 
still denominated in the dollar. [4]
Therefore, a potentially significant news development was reported in June 2004 
announcing Iran’s intentions to create of an Iranian oil Bourse. (The word 
"bourse" refers to a stock exchange for securities trading, and is derived from 
the French stock exchange in Paris, the Federation Internationale des Bourses 
de Valeurs.) This announcement portended competition would arise between the 
Iranian oil bourse and London’s International Petroleum Exchange (IPE), as well 
as the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). It should be noted that both the 
IPE and NYMEX are owned by U.S. corporations.
The macroeconomic implications of a successful Iranian Bourse are noteworthy. 
Considering that Iran has switched to the euro for its oil payments from E.U. 
and ACU customers, it would be logical to assume the proposed Iranian Bourse 
will usher in a fourth crude oil marker – denominated in the euro currency. 
Such a development would remove the main technical obstacle for a broad-based 
petroeuro system for international oil trades. From a purely economic and 
monetary perspective, a petroeuro system is a logical development given that 
the European Union imports more oil from OPEC producers than does the U.S., and 
the E.U. accounts for 45% of imports into the Middle East (2002 data).
Acknowledging that many of the oil contracts for Iran and Saudi Arabia are 
linked to the United Kingdom’s Brent crude marker, the Iranian bourse could 
create a significant shift in the flow of international commerce into the 
Middle East. If Iran’s bourse becomes a successful alternative for oil trades, 
it would challenge the hegemony currently enjoyed by the financial centers in 
both London (IPE) and New York (NYMEX), a factor not overlooked in the 
following article:
"Iran is to launch an oil trading market for Middle East and OPEC producers 
that could threaten the supremacy of London's International Petroleum Exchange."
"…He [Mr. Asemipour] played down the dangers that the new exchange could 
eventually pose for the IPE or Nymex, saying he hoped they might be able to 
cooperate in some way."
"…Some industry experts have warned the Iranians and other OPEC producers that 
western exchanges are controlled by big financial and oil corporations, which 
have a vested interest in market volatility.
The IPE, bought in 2001 by a consortium that includes BP, Goldman Sachs and 
Morgan Stanley, was unwilling to discuss the Iranian move yesterday. "We would 
not have any comment to make on it at this stage," said an IPE spokeswoman. "[5]
It is unclear at the time of writing, if this project will be successful, or 
could it prompt overt or covert U.S. interventions - thereby signaling the 
second phase of petrodollar warfare in the Middle East. News articles in June 
2004 revealed the discredited neoconservative sycophant Ahmed Chalabi may have 
revealed his knowledge to Iran regarding U.S. military planning for operations 
against that nation.
"The reason for the US breakup with Ahmed Chalabi, the Shiite Iraqi politician, 
could be his leak of Pentagon plans to invade Iran before Christmas 2005, but 
the American government has not changed its objective, and the attack could 
happen earlier if president George W. Bush is re-elected, or later if John 
Kerry is sworn in."
"….Diplomats said Chalabi was alerted to the Pentagon plans and in the process 
of trying to learn more to tell the Iranians, he invited suspicions of US 
officials, who subsequently got the Iraqi police to raid the compound of his 
Iraqi National Congress on 20 May 2004, leading to a final break up of 
relations."
"While the US is uncertain how much of the attack plans were leaked to Iran, it 
could change some of the invasion tactics, but the broad parameters would be 
kept intact." [6]
Regardless of the potential U.S. response to an Iranian petroeuro system, the 
emergence of an oil exchange market in the Middle East is not entirely 
surprising given the domestic peaking and decline of oil exports in the U.S. 
and U.K, in comparison to the remaining oil reserves in Iran, Iraq and Saudi 
Arabia. According to Mohammad Javad Asemipour, an advisor to Iran’s oil 
ministry and the individual responsible for this project, this new oil exchange 
is scheduled to begin oil trading in March 2005.
"Asemipour said the platform should be trading crude, natural gas and 
petrochemicals by the start of the new Iranian year, which falls on March 21, 
2005.
He said other members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries - 
Iran is the producer group's second-largest producer behind Saudi Arabia - as 
well as oil producers from the Caspian region would eventually participate in 
the exchange." [7]
(Note: the most recent Iranian news report from October 5, 2004 stated: "Iran's 
oil bourse will start trading by early 2006" which suggests a delay from the 
original March 21, 2005 target date). [8] Additionally, according to the 
following report, Saudi investors may be interested in participating in the 
Iranian oil exchange market, further illustrating why petrodollar hegemony is 
becoming unsustainable.
"Chris Cook, who previously worked for the IPE and now offers consultancy 
services to markets through Partnerships Consulting LLP in London, commented: 
"Post-9/11, there has also been an interest in the project from the Saudis, who 
weren't interested in participating before."
"Others familiar with Iran's economy said since 9/11, Saudi Arabian investors 
are opting to invest in Iran rather than traditional western markets as the 
kingdom's relations with the U.S. have weakened Iran's oil ministry has made no 
secret of its eagerness to attract much needed foreign investment in its energy 
sector and broaden its choice of oil buyers."
"…Along with several other members of OPEC, Iranian oil officials believe crude 
trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and the IPE is controlled by the 
oil majors and big financial companies, who benefit from market volatility." [9]
One of the Federal Reserve’s nightmares may begin to unfold in 2005 or 2006, 
when it appears international buyers will have a choice of buying a barrel of 
oil for $50 dollars on the NYMEX and IPE - or purchase a barrel of oil for €37 
- €40 euros via the Iranian Bourse. This assumes the euro maintains its current 
20-25% appreciated value relative to the dollar - and assumes that some sort of 
"intervention" is not undertaken against Iran. The upcoming bourse will 
introduce petrodollar versus petroeuro currency hedging, and fundamentally new 
dynamics to the biggest market in the world - global oil and gas trades
During an important speech in April 2002, Mr. Javad Yarjani, an OPEC executive, 
described three pivotal events that would facilitate an OPEC transition to 
euros. [10] He stated this would be based on (1) if and when Norway's Brent 
crude is re-dominated in euros, (2) if and when the U.K. adopts the euro, and 
(3) whether or not the euro gains parity valuation relative to the dollar, and 
the EU’s proposed expansion plans were successful. (Note: Both of the later two 
criteria have transpired: the euro’s valuation has been above the dollar since 
late 2002, and the euro-based E.U. enlarged in May 2004 from 12 to 22 
countries). In the meantime, the United Kingdom remains uncomfortably 
juxtaposed between the financial interests of the U.S. banking nexus (New 
York/Washington) and the E.U. financial centers (Paris/Frankfurt) .
The implementation of the proposed Iranian oil Bourse (exchange) in 2005/2006 – 
if successful in utilizing the euro as its oil transaction currency standard – 
essentially negates the necessity of the previous two criteria as described by 
Mr. Yarjani regarding the solidification of a "petroeuro" system for 
international oil trades. [10] It should also be noted that during 2003-2004 
Russia and China have both increased their central bank holdings of the euro 
currency, which appears to be a coordinated move to facilitate the anticipated 
ascendance of the euro as a second World Reserve currency. [11] [12] In the 
meantime, the United Kingdom is uncomfortable juxtaposed between the financial 
interests of the U.S. (New York/Washington) banking nexus and that of the E.U. 
financial center (Paris/Frankfurt) .
The immediate question for Americans? Will the neoconservatives attempt to 
intervene covertly and/or overtly in Iran during 2005 in an effort to prevent 
the formation of a euro-denominated crude oil pricing mechanism? Commentators 
in India are quite correct in their assessment that a U.S. intervention in Iran 
is likely to prove disastrous for the United States, making matters much worse 
regarding international terrorism, not to the mention potential effects on the 
U.S. economy.
"The giving up on the terror war while Iran invasion plans are drawn up makes 
no sense, especially since the previous invasion and current occupation of Iraq 
has further fuelled Al-Qaeda terrorism after 9/11."
"…It is obvious that sucked into Iraq, the US has limited military manpower 
left to combat the Al-Qaeda elsewhere in the Middle East and South Central 
Asia,"…"and NATO is so seriously cross with America that it hesitates to 
provides troops in Iraq, and no other country is willing to bail out America 
outside its immediate allies like Britain, Italy, Australia and Japan."
"….If it [U.S.] intervenes again, it is absolutely certain it will not be able 
to improve the situation – Iraq shows America has not the depth or patience to 
create a new civil society – and will only make matters worse."
"There is a better way, as the constructive engagement of Libya’s Colonel 
Muammar Gaddafi has shown…."Iran is obviously a more complex case than Libya, 
because power resides in the clergy, and Iran has not been entirely transparent 
about its nuclear programme, but the sensible way is to take it gently, and 
nudge it to moderation. Regime change will only worsen global Islamist terror, 
and in any case, Saudi Arabia is a fitter case for democratic intervention, if 
at all." [13]
It is abundantly clear that a 2nd Bush term will bring a confrontation and 
possible war with Iran during 2005. Colin Powell as the Secretary of the State, 
has moderated neoconservative military designs regarding Iran, but Powell has 
stated that he will be leaving at the end of Bush’s first term. Of course if 
John Kerry wins in November, he might pursue a similar military strategy. 
However, it is my opinion that Kerry is more likely to pursue multilateral 
negotiations regarding the Iranian issues.
Clearly, there are numerous risks regarding neoconservative strategy towards 
Iran. First, unlike Iraq, Iran has a robust military capability. Secondly, a 
repeat of any "Shock and Awe" tactics is not advisable given that Iran has 
installed sophisticated anti-ship missiles on the Island of Abu Musa, and 
therefore controls the critical Strait of Hormuz. [14] In the case of a U.S. 
attack, a shut down of the Strait of Hormuz – where all of the Persian Gulf 
bound oil tankers must pass – could easily trigger a market panic with oil 
prices skyrocketing to $100 per barrel or more. World oil production is now 
flat out, and a major interruption would escalate oil prices to a level that 
would set off a global Depression. Why are the neoconservatives willing to 
takes such risks? Simply stated - their goal is U.S. global domination.
A successful Iranian bourse would solidify the petroeuro as an alternative oil 
transaction currency, and thereby end the petrodollar' s hegemonic status as 
the monopoly oil currency. Therefore, a graduated approach is needed to avoid 
precipitous U.S. economic dislocations. Multilateral compromise with the EU and 
OPEC regarding oil currency is certainly preferable to an ‘Operation Iranian 
Freedom,’ or perhaps an attempted CIA-sponsored repeat of the 1953 Iranian coup 
– operation "Ajax" part II. [15] Indeed, there are very good reasons for U.S. 
military leaders to be "horrified" at the thought of a second Bush term in 
which Cheney and the neoconservatives would be unrestrained in their tragic 
pursuit of U.S. global domination.
"NEWSWEEK has learned that the CIA and DIA have war-gamed the likely 
consequences of a U.S. pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. No one 
liked the outcome. As an Air Force source tells it, "The war games were 
unsuccessful at preventing the conflict from escalating." [16]
Despite the impressive power of the U.S. military and the ability of our 
intelligence agencies to facilitate "interventions, " it would be perilous and 
possibly ruinous for the U.S to intervene in Iran given the dire situation in 
Iraq. The Monterey Institute of International Studies provided an extensive 
analysis of the possible consequences of a preemptive attack on Iran’s nuclear 
facilities and warned of the following:
"Considering the extensive financial and national policy investment Iran has 
committed to its nuclear projects, it is almost certain that an attack by 
Israel or the United States would result in immediate retaliation. A likely 
scenario includes an immediate Iranian missile counterattack on Israel and U.S. 
bases in the Gulf, followed by a very serious effort to destabilize Iraq and 
foment all-out confrontation between the United States and Iraq's Shi'i 
majority. Iran could also opt to destabilize Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states 
with a significant Shi'i population, and induce Lebanese Hizbullah to launch a 
series of rocket attacks on Northern Israel."
"…An attack on Iranian nuclear facilities…could have various adverse effects on 
U.S. interests in the Middle East and the world. Most important, in the absence 
of evidence of an Iranian illegal nuclear program, an attack on Iran's nuclear 
facilities by the U.S. or Israel would be likely to strengthen Iran's 
international stature and reduce the threat of international sanctions against 
Iran. Such an event is more likely to embolden and expand Iran's nuclear 
aspirations and capabilities in the long term"…"one thing is for certain, it 
would not be just another Osirak. " [17]
Synopsis
Regardless of whatever choice the U.S. electorate makes in the upcoming 
Presidential Election a military expedition may still go ahead.
This essay was written out of my own patriotic duty in an effort to inform 
Americans of the challenges that lie ahead. On November 25, 2004, the issues 
involving Iran's nuclear program will be addressed by the International Atomic 
Energy Agency (IAEA), and possibly referred to the U.N. Security Council if the 
results are unsatisfactory. Regardless of the IAEA findings, it appears 
increasingly likely the U.S. will use the specter of nuclear weapon 
proliferation as a pretext for an intervention, similar to the fears invoked in 
the previous WMD campaign regarding Iraq.
Pentagon sources confirm the Bush administration could undertake a desperate 
military strategy to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions while simultaneously 
attempting to prevent the Iranian oil Bourse from initiating a euro-based 
system for oil trades. The later would require forced "regime change" and the 
U.S. occupation of Iran. Obviously this would require a military draft. 
Objectively speaking, the post-war debacle in Iraq has clearly shown that such 
Imperial policies will be a catastrophic failure. Alternatively, perhaps a more 
enlightened U.S. administration could undertake multilateral negotiations with 
the EU and OPEC regarding a dual oil-currency system, in conjunction with 
global monetary reform. Either way, U.S. policy makers will soon face two 
difficult choices: monetary compromise or continued petrodollar warfare.
"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended 
upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real 
facts."
- Abraham Lincoln
"Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own 
government. Whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they 
may be relied on to set them to rights."
- Thomas Jefferson
 



References:
[1] "Revisited - The Real Reasons for the Upcoming War with Iraq: A 
Macroeconomic and Geostrategic Analysis of the Unspoken Truth," January 2003 
(updated January 2004) http://www.ratical. org/ratville/ CAH/RRiraqWar. html 
[2] Hoyos, Carol & Morrison, Kevin, "Iraq returns to the international oil 
market," Financial Times, June 5, 2003 http://www.thedossi er.ukonline. 
co.uk/Web% 20Pages/FINANCIA L%20TIMES_ Iraq%20returns% 20to%20internati 
onal%20oil% 20market. htm 
[3] "War-Gaming the Mullahs: The U.S. weighs the price of a pre-emptive 
strike," Newsweek, September 27 issue, 2004. http://www.msnbc. msn.com/id/ 
6039135/site/ newsweek/ 
[4] Shivkumar, C., "Iran offers oil to Asian union on easier terms," The Hindu 
Business Line (June 16, 2003). http://www.thehindu businessline. com/bline/ 
2003/06/17/ stories/20030617 02380500. htm 
[5] Macalister, Terry, "Iran takes on west's control of oil trading," The [UK] 
Guardian, June 16, 2004 http://www.guardian .co.uk/business/ story/0,3604, 
1239644,00. html 
[6] "US to invade Iran before 2005 Christmas," News Insight: Public Affairs 
Magazine, June 9, 2004 http://www.newsinsi ght.net/nati2. asp?recno= 2789 
[7] "Iran Eyes Deal on Oil Bourse; IPE Chairman Visits Tehran," Rigzone.com 
(July 8, 2004) http://www.rigzone. com/news/ article.asp? a_id=14588 
[8] "Iran's oil bourse expects to start by early 2006," Reuters, October 5, 
2004 http://www.iranoilg as.com 
[9] "Iran Eyes Deal on Oil Bourse, IPE Chairman Visits Tehran," ibid.
[10] "The Choice of Currency for the Denomination of the Oil Bill," Speech 
given by Javad Yarjani, Head of OPEC's Petroleum Market Analysis Dept, on The 
International Role of the Euro (Invited by the Spanish Minister of Economic 
Affairs during Spain's Presidency of the EU) (April 14, 2002, Oviedo, Spain)
http://www.opec. org/NewsInfo/ Speeches/ sp2002/spAraqueS painApr14. htm 
[11] Russia shifts to euro as foreign currency reserves soar," AFP, June 9, 2003
http://www.cdi. org/russia/ johnson/7214- 3.cfm 
[12] "China to diversify foreign exchange reserves," China Business Weekly, May 
8, 2004 http://www.chinadai ly.com.cn/ english/doc/ 2004-05/08/ content_328744. 
htm 
[13] "Terror & regime change: Any US invasion of Iran will have terrible 
consequences," News Insight: Public Affairs Magazine, June 11, 2004 
http://www.indiarea cts.com/archived ebates/nat2. asp?recno= 908&ctg=World 
[14] Analysis of Abu Musa Island, www.globalsecurity. org http://www.globalse 
curity.org/ wmd/world/ iran/abu- musa.htm 
[15] J.W. Smith, "Destabilizing a Newly-Free Iran," The Institute for Economic 
Democracy, 2003 http://www.ied. info/books/ why/control. html 
[16] "War-Gaming the Mullahs: The U.S. weighs the price of a pre-emptive 
strike," ibid.
[17] Salama, Sammy and Ruster, Karen,"A Preemptive Attack on Iran's Nuclear 
Facilities: Possible Consequences," Monterry Institute of International 
Studies, August 12, 2004 (updated September 9, 2004) http://cns.miis. edu/pubs/ 
week/040812. htm 
[18] Philips, Peter, "Censored 2004," Project Censored, Seven Stories Press, 
(2003) http://www.projectc ensored.org/ 
Story #19: U.S. Dollar vs. the Euro: Another Reason for the Invasion of Iraq 
http://www.projectc ensored.org/ publications/ 2004/19.html 
 
William Clark is the author of an award-winning essay published online in early 
2003 entitled: 'The Real Reasons for the Upcoming War with Iraq: A 
Macroeconomic and Geostrategic Analysis of the Unspoken Truth.’
 http://www.ratical. org/ratville/ CAH/RRiraqWar. html , also published by 
Global Research at http://www.globalre search.ca/ articles/ CLA302A.html This 
essay received a 2003 ‘Project Censored’ award, and was published in the book, 
Censored 2004) [18] This pre-war essay hypothesized that Saddam sealed his fate 
when he announced in September 2000 that Iraq was no longer going to accept 
dollars for oil being sold under the UN’s oil-for-food program, and switch to 
the euro as Iraq’s oil export transaction currency.



Note: Below is a description of this author’s upcoming book: (Available spring 
2005.)
Petrodollar Warfare
Oil, Iraq and the Future of the Dollar
William Clark
The invasion of Iraq may well be remembered as the first oil currency war. Far 
from being a response to 9-11 terrorism or Iraq's alleged weapons of mass 
destruction, Petrodollar Warfare argues that the invasion was precipitated by 
two converging phenomena: the imminent peak in global oil production, and the 
ascendance of the euro currency.

Energy analysts agree that world oil supplies are about to peak, after which 
there will be a steady decline in supplies of oil. Iraq, possessing the world's 
second largest oil reserves, was therefore already a target of U.S. 
geostrategic interests. Together with the fact that Iraq had switched its oil 
transaction currency to euros -- rather than U.S. dollars -- the Bush 
administration' s unreported aim was to prevent further OPEC momentum in favor 
of the euro as an alternative oil transaction currency standard.

Meticulously researched, Petrodollar Warfare examines U.S. dollar hegemony and 
the unsustainable macroeconomics of 'petrodollar recycling,' pointing out that 
the issues underlying the Iraq war also apply to geopolitical tensions between 
the U.S. and other countries including the European Union (E.U.), Iran, 
Venezuela, and Russia. The author warns that without changing course, the 
American Experiment will end the way all empires end - with military 
over-extension and subsequent economic decline. He recommends the multilateral 
pursuit of both energy and monetary reforms within a United Nations framework 
to create a more balanced global energy and monetary system thereby reducing 
the possibility of future oil-depletion and oil currency-related warfare.

A sober call for an end to aggressive U.S. unilateralism, Petrodollar Warfare 
is a unique contribution to the debate about the future global political 
economy.



Email this article to a friend 
To become a Member of Global Research 
To express your opinion on this article, join the discussion at Global 
Research's News and Discussion Forum , at http://globalresear ch.ca.myforums. 
net/index. php 
The Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG) at www.globalresearch. ca grants 
permission to cross-post original Global Research (Canada) articles in their 
entirety, or any portions thereof, on community internet sites, as long as the 
text & title of the article are not modified. The source must be acknowledged 
as follows: Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG) at www.globalresearch. 
ca .  For cross-postings, kindly use the active URL hyperlink address of the 
original CRG article. The author's copyright note must be displayed. (For 
articles from other news sources, check with the original copyright holder, 
where applicable.) . For publication of Global Research (Canada) articles in 
print or other forms including commercial internet sites, contact: [EMAIL 
PROTECTED] com 
For media inquiries: [EMAIL PROTECTED] com 
© Copyright WILLIAM CLARK, CRG 2004.
 
www.globalresearch. ca 



 
Satrio Arismunandar 
Producer - News Division, Trans TV, Floor 3
Jl. Kapten P. Tendean Kav. 12 - 14 A, Jakarta 12790 
Phone: 7917-7000, 7918-4544 ext. 4026,  Fax: 79184627
 
http://satrioarismunandar6.blogspot.com  
 
"If you know how to die, you know how to live..."


 



 
____________________________________________________________________________________
We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love 
(and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list.
http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/265 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



=====================================================
Pojok Milis FPK:

1.Milis FPK dibuat dan diurus oleh pembaca setia KOMPAS
2.Topik bahasan disarankan bersumber dari KOMPAS dan KOMPAS On-Line (KCM)
3.Moderator berhak mengedit/menolak E-mail sebelum diteruskan ke anggota
4.Kontak moderator E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
5.Untuk bergabung: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

KOMPAS LINTAS GENERASI
=====================================================
 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Forum-Pembaca-Kompas/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Forum-Pembaca-Kompas/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
    mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    [EMAIL PROTECTED]

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 

Kirim email ke