Kevin Phillips IS must reading...

I am almost through reading American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush, and I have to say that it makes (after many pages) the most coherent explanation for what has gone on the past few years.

Whas Iraq about oil? Democracy? Privatization of assetts?

It's about the money.

Phillips makes clear that the interlocking interests of the Bushes and their cronies go back generations; their interests have included armaments, oil, and investment banking.

And the extrapolations based on this are fascinating to say the least. Think about every Republican scandal over the past 50 years: the Bushes are either connected to them through financing (Watergate, BCCI,...) or directly (Iran-Contra, Iraqgate, Haliburton), etc.

Iraq, for example represents a very interesting play by these guys: if Iraq continues to be destablized, these guys make money from "counterterrorism" and armaments. If it's stable, these guys make money from oil, and from "privatization," and financing thereof. However, the smart money was always on destabilization of Iraq (and continuance of that), since looking at the history of these guys over the past 50 years (Nicaragua, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Colombia, Panama, Cuba) destabilization is what these guys do best.


But they have a classic hedge strategy, and that's why these guys will fight tooth and nail to stay in power, and it's also why those who think that Iraq is about removing an "evil dictator" and brining "democracy" to the region are candidates for the Brooklyn Bridge sales pitch.