Petrodollar Warfare: Oil, Iraq And The Future Of The Dollar

Book Description

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 payment currency to euros -- rather than US dollars -- the Bush administration's unreported aim was to prevent further OPEC momentum in favor of the euro as an alternative oil transaction currency."

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 geostrategic tensions between the U.S. and other countries including the member states of the European Union (EU), 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.

See review from Hopedance

Customer Reviews:

Interesting Book with Some Problems.......2007-08-31

This is a very good book for the first 5 chapters. It basically claims that the invasion of Iraq was instigated by the need of the Bush Administration to maintain the value of the US dollar by controlling the continuing international trade of oil in dollars.

Please note that the views that the author gives are little more than the summary of the work of other authors, which the author of the book freely admits. Also the views in the book are not independently verified anywhere else. So the first 5 chapters, although presenting a very plausible reason for the invasion of Iraq is largely a re-hash of previous authors work without proof of their position.

A good point about the book is that has many references so it is a good base for additional research.

The disappointment in the book is the last two chapters, which are a rambling view of why the US is headed down the wrong track in terms of monetary, foreign, energy, etc. policies. Some of the conclusions are interesting, while others are overly simplistic and naive.

All in all an interesting read for the first 160 pages.

A valid theory stretched a bit too far.......2007-06-01

This is an eye-opening and useful book, but narrow to a point that unfortunately becomes paranoid -- and a little outdated in some key premises. He essentially regards all US foreign policy in the last 30-40 years -- ALL of it -- as having the dual goal of ensuring the primacy of the US Dollar as the world currency standard, and to ensure access to (and now control over) oil. This became crystallized under Kissinger and increasingly militarized under the GOP and neoCon administrations, which he says have tied all domestic policy to the same albatross. He's definitely convinced me 100% we went in to Iraq only because of dollar/euro conflict and oil reserves.

The book was written shortly before the London and Madrid bombings, and reflects the then-European view that there was no clash of cultures or religiously-based jihad of any general concern -- that it was all a perfectly understandable socialist-nationalist reaction to US greed and power. That view is now understood in Europe to have been self-indulgently naive, although they are still appropriately uneasy about this administration's policies and actions. The EU is more aware than 2-3 years ago that a real dollar collapse will open world-wide economic disaster, and they will lose access to ME resources just as we would, not to mention the world's biggest consumer market, if the jihadis have their way.

Where Clark discusses the ongoing dollar-euro-Saudi oil situation, I think he's right on, and it's a clear, concise presentation of complex economic and political interactions. Tying in domestic changes in media control and homeland security/civil liberties solely to these two policy goals (dollar/oil) I think ignores way too many additional factors, economic and otherwise. It felt by the end like he's distorting an already damning perspective on our current foreign policy to force it to serve as a Unified Field Theory.

A summative work, focus on fall of dollar versus rise of euro.......2007-02-19

I was tempted to give this book only four stars, because as some reviewers suggest, it is mostly a summative work, drawing heavily on several books I have already reviewed, as well as a number of studies and article. In the end I decided to go with five stars because this is the only book I have found that really drew my attention to the turning point in US-Iraq relations: not Gulf I, but rather Iraq's declared intention to break the dollar monopoly and begin trading oil in Euros. Today of course we have Iran, Russia, and Venezuela trading in currencies other than the dollar.

First off, this is one of those rare books where in addition to carefully studying the table of contents, which is superbly devised, almost an executive summary on its own, you should also *first* read the End Notes and also the Afterword by LtCol Karen Kwiatkowski, now retired, who earned lasting recognition for resigning and challenging the lies coming out of the politically-appointed Pentagon officials.

Although this book is labeled by some (who would have us ignore it) as part of the "conspiracy" literature, I find myself reading more and more books in this vein, spanning 9-11, peak oil, corporate personality, and Wall Street-Washington corruption. I have to say, with all humility, if there is one privilege I would claim as the #1 Amazon reviewer of non-fiction, it is the privilege of stating clearly and on the record that this book, and other books in this vein, are NOT conspiracy literature, but rather the survivors, the vanguard that has avoided censorship. This book may not be perfect, it may overstate the case (personally I think Bush is as dim as Feith and did not understand the Euro issue while having a childish mind easily led by Dick Cheney), but it is part of an emerging literature that cannot be denied and must be given full attention.

The book highlights and reminds that we have lost the Republic to four interacting influences: concentrated wealth including perpeptual compounded wealth concealed in corporations improperly given personality rights; a completely corrupt Congress serving corporations rather than the public interest; the end of a free press with five media conglomerates happily practicing perception management on an ignorant and inattentive public; and a Federal Reserve that is not part of the government and not acting in the public interest, but instead creating credit out of thin air, and selling that to the government at a price that is both dear, and unconstitutional.

Having come late to much of this literature, the term "proto-fascism" was new to me, but it fits: Wall Street wealth, plus political corruption, plus a military too eager to follow orders without thinking. I remind all who care to understand a military perspective that General Smedley Butler's book, "War is a Racket," recounts his disdain for being a an "enforcer" for corporations.

The author of this book on petrodollar warfare does an excellent job of recounting the history of the dollar, setting the stage for both the end of the gold standard under Nixon, and the manner in which petrodollars from the 1970's were recycled as loans to the Third World.

There are two really superb charts from other sources in this book, one on page 105 showing "The Lie Factory" led by Dick Cheney and Doug Feith; and another on page 112 showing the claims by Cheney and others about Iraq having Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), both before (of course they do) and after (none found).

Today an attack on Iran looms. I have done everything I could as an individual citizen, including a protest package to the Senate, press releases, a fax to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and a posting at OSS.Net of Howard Bloom's memorandum on a potential nuclear ambush by Iran, and Webster Tarpley's powerpoint on the fragile ground supply line from Kuwait to Baghdad. I share his view that the Siege of Baghdad will make the Siege of Stalingrad look like mercy killings. Think Black Hawk Down times a million.

This is a very fine book. It took me a year to notice it, but I will be more attentive now. New Society Publishers is in my view a national treasure. I admire them and will look forward to reading and reviewing many more books that they publish for the right reasons: to inform citizens and improve society.

must read.......2007-01-11

This book is a must read for anyone interested in what's really going on in the Middle East, not the BS version you get from the mainsteam media!

Refreshing the tree of liberty with the blood of tyrants (T. Jefferson).......2006-07-10

By analyzing the US policies behind the Iraq war, William R. Clark unveils the real reasons behind this illegal (R. Perle) invasion: maintain the US dollar as a world monopoly currency for oil and, in the era of Peak Oil, dominate the region with the world's largest remaining hydrocarbon reserves. The war in Iraq is also a currency war against the euro. S. Hussein's oil had to be paid in euros and a further momentum within OPEC for the euro had to be prevented at all costs.
A swift out of the dollar would force oil consumers to sell dollars for euros, provoking a dollar crash with as a result massive inflation, a possible run on the US banks and unserviceable budget and current account deficits. One of the 2 pillars of the US hegemony (military superiority and the dollar) would crumble.
By the way, Iran is planning a euro-based oil Bourse in Teheran.

At home, the author sees record trade gaps, record levels of financial leverage, of personal debt, of bankruptcies, of budget deficits and abysmal saving rates.
He sees a state governed by authoritarians, by a proto-fascist military-industrial-oil-Congressional complex: a circular relationship between wealth and political influence. An exploding defense budget for and `endless war' against an obscure group of non-state actors is a monumental but highly profitable aberration.

Behind the authoritarians at the helm stands the philosophy of Leo Strauss, a mixture of Carl Schmitt and Friedrich Nietzsche: 'Men can only be united against other people', and `Those who are fit to rule are those who realize that there is no morality and that there is only one natural right - the right of the superior to rule over the inferior.' In other words: war, not peace.

This end-justifies-the -means policies are gladly swallowed by the media monopolies which are divulging manipulated and filtered news and disseminating fear, the greatest ally of tyranny.
Fortunately, we have Internet, the last bastion of free speech and unfiltered news.

The (or, at least, most of the) remedies proposed by the author will be extremely hard to realize:
Nationally, restructuring of campaign financing, a viable energy strategy, massive reallocation of public funds away from military spending, revolutionary change in the political establishment.
Internationally, no pre-emptive wars, non-interference in the internal policies of foreign oil states, a balanced policy regarding Israel, repair the damaged relationship with former allies, fair trade, full participation in multilateral accords, a global monetary reform.

All in all, W. R. Clark has written a powerful, fascinating, disturbing but frank book.
A must read for all those interested in the future of mankind.

I also recommend the works of W. Engdahl, W.G. Tarpley, W. Klare and J.Dale Scott.

Average customer rating:
High Impact Resumes and Letters, 9th Edition: How to Communicate Your Qualifications to Employers (High Impact Resumes and Letters)
Ronald L. Krannich
Manufacturer: Impact Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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High Impact Resumes and Letters, 8th Edition: How to Communicate Your Qualifications to Employers (High Impact Resumes and Letters)

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Essential ingredient: Self-confidence
Good, but Not the Best
A powerful set of examples of winning results
A powerful set of examples of winning results
Good all in one book.

High Impact Resumes and Letters, 8th Edition: How to Communicate Your Qualifications to Employers (High Impact Resumes and Letters)
Ronald L. Krannich
Manufacturer: Impact Publications
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This unique book provides step-by-step guidance on how to develop a personal profile that clearly communicates patterns of performance and accomplishments to employers.

Customer Reviews:

Essential ingredient: Self-confidence.......2005-06-02

An essential ingredient to exploiting this book is self-confidence. The book necessitates that you employ a resume that is uniquely yours. It may or may not leave you feeling encouraged with your skill set.
The book does not offer an easy how to. The downside is that some elements are repeated more than once. Yes, you'll have to wade through the book and numerous other resources to fully appreciate it. Yet that reveals another element crucial in looking for a job that you love as oppossed to one you like: perseverance. The writing is at times blunt. But the exercises as in chapter 7 is written to condense your strengths that will help you create your resume. As I mentioned before, if you are short on patience, don't buy this book. Buy it, if you want a job for the long haul.

Good, but Not the Best.......2003-03-01

This is the book you buy if you want to revamp your entire job-hunt process, rather than one you can quickly look through to update your resume. Yes, this book has more than just resume templates, and it does have useful information, but there is also a lot of information to wade through in order to get the golden nuggets.

Pluses:
Chpt. 3: Myth and Mistakes, Chpt. 5: Organizing your job-hunt, and Chapter 10: Distributing/Networking

Minuses:
Many of the tips are similar to what is in other books, some of the information is well-duh.

Recommendation:
I have checked out many books on job seraching recently. This one is better than many, but not the best. I think this book is most applicable to people who have some time to produce a resume.

If you are in a hurry:
I think Get a Job in 30 Days or less by DeLuca & DeLuca, which I actually bought, is the best book on the entire job search process, but especially if you are in a hurry. The Damn Good Resume Guide by Yana Parker is useful if you are in a hurry to produce just a resume.

A powerful set of examples of winning results.......2003-01-06

Acquire skills for success and understand how electronic resume searches affect applicants with the aid of this new eighth edition of High Impact Resumes And Letters, a powerful book which contains practical information for tailoring a submission for maximum effect. This "user-friendly" guide covers everything from different types of employment letters for different situations to key questions and answers which should be addressed in a presentation. A powerful set of examples of winning results rounds out the workbook pages for fill-in participation.

A powerful set of examples of winning results.......2003-01-06

Acquire skills for success and understand how electronic resume searches affect applicants with the aid of this new eighth edition of High Impact Resumes And Letters, a powerful book which contains practical information for tailoring a submission for maximum effect. This "userfriendly" guide covers everything from different types of employment letters for different situations to key questions and answers which should be addressed in a presentation. A powerful set of examples of winning results rounds out the workbook pages for fill-in participation.

Good all in one book........2000-04-01

High Impact Resumes and Letters is a very good all in one book for anyone in the market for a new job. This book covers every aspect involved in the job finding process. Although there are several examples of resumes and letters included in this book, it is not just another compilation of resume and letter examples. Instead, the authors provide comprehensive and complete guidance on how to write, produce, distribute, and follow-up your own written job search communication. Each step in the resume and letter writing, production, distribution, and follow-up process is covered in a very easy-to-use and effective manner.

Also included in this book are sections on frequently asked questions, internet sites for resumes, mistakes to avoid, conventional and electronic resumes, tips, evaluation forms, and much, much more. I found this to be a very helpful book because it goes beyond just the writing of resumes and letters. I have read several books on resume writing. However, this one differs in that it gives you ideas on how to distribute and follow-up the writing of your resume. This is a very good book for any job seeker.

Average customer rating:
High impact resumes & letters: How to communicate your qualifications to employers (High Impact Resumes & Letters)
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ASIN: 0942710207

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Arthur Asa Berger's Deconstructing Travel is an engaging look into why people travel, examining travel and tourism as a cultural phenomenon through social, cultural, psychological, and economic forces. Starting off with classical expeditions in mythology, history, and literatures, Berger explores the role of travel in contemporary lives, from university travel-abroad programs to package tours and family vacations.

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A Solid Effort!

Too bad I read it and not my boss

I laughed, I cried.....

Common sense prevails!!

What every manager should read (but probably won't)

The Peon Book: How to Manage Us
Dave Haynes
Manufacturer: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
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Binding: Paperback

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Funny, irreverent, and fast-paced, The Peon Book is a breath of fresh air and a strong dose of reality that managers may or may not want to swallow. It promotes the crucial viewpoint that is often overlooked by business books: that of the average worker, here called "the Peon." According to Dave Haynes, Peons are the ones affected when a manager decides to manage-in-a-minute, win friends and influence people, or move somebody's cheese - so they are the ones who know what works and what doesn't. He gives down-to-earth advice that every boss can benefit from. Chapters include "Get Trustworthy," "Get Personal," "Treat People Like They Are People," "Get in the Trenches," "Get Organized," and "Get Going." Packed with real-life examples that show the effects of management decisions on employees, the book also offers Peon-certified tools that managers can use to get more from their staff - and create a happy workplace in the process.

Customer Reviews:

A Solid Effort!.......2004-08-04

Corporate culture clearly divides the workforce into the haves and have-nots. Managers, the haves, set the rules and rule over the have-nots or peons. A few hundred years ago, peons tilled land they did not own, and got paid with enough of the crop they raised to feed themselves. Since even today peons are the ones who actually do all the work, a manager's success depends on the peons' support. What's the best way to enlist the support of the peons who work for you? Ask a peon! That's the straightforward premise of this book, which delivers what it promises. Author Dave Haynes offers advice to management straight from those uniform Dilbertesque cubicles - and management should listen. To motivate workers, demonstrate integrity, avoid being two-faced and treat your peons as equals. Even better, roll up your sleeves occasionally and work alongside them. They'll love you for it. We highly recommend this book to managers at all levels. What it lacks in trendy consultant-speak and analysis, it more than makes up for in blue-collar denim truth.

Too bad I read it and not my boss.......2004-07-13

This book is pretty good. As I read it, I thought, "Been there, seen that," to many of the examples of poor management. I especially liked the chapter on spending time in the trenches. I agree that if you don't actually do a job, you have no right to act like an expert and criticize somebody else's job. I read this book very fast, and didn't find myself bored at all. You'll like it.

I laughed, I cried............2004-05-16

I had the pleasure of completing this book for the first time yesterday. What a great book!! Mr. Haynes has the capability of taking all those management course theories we never understood in class, and helping them make sense. Not only that, he made them very applicable in a easy read paperback. I am a manager in a Fortune 500 company, and plan to use every word I read in my daily efforts.

Common sense prevails!!.......2004-04-15

Dave Haynes has given every manager a valuable tool -- a peek inside the mind of every entry level employee! Oh sure we were all peons once, weren't we? But how we forget what it was like to be stuck in a dead-end, go nowhere job, eh?

Yes, much of what's in here is really just common sense, but we all need to be reminded that it's the little things that we can do to find an keep the best peons out there! This book is entertaining, non-threatening, and not preachy -- and it's chock full of valuable, practical advice!! A feat not to be taken lightly.

I highly recommend this for every manager out there, regardless of how many people you are in charge of and regardless of what kind of business you are in!!

What every manager should read (but probably won't).......2004-04-13

I stumbled upon this book and was intrigued by the cover. Read over the back cover and flipped thru it. Looked interesting and wasn't very expensive, so I picked it up.

Its a great book that every manager (or would be manager) needs to read. As the author notes, most of the management books on how to manage workers are written by people who seemed to have forgotten (if they ever were) how it was to BE a worker.

There is nothing really earth shattering in this book. I've seen the same topics in other sources, but he adds to it the attitude and mindset of those who are managed. Any anyway, if managers *really* followed the similiar advice in other management books, this one wouldn't been needed.

Customer Reviews:

Every woman's essential Job hunting and resume book.......1997-11-16

This is the most comprehensive job search book I've read. As a college student, I've read my fair share of job search books. Morin gives examples of resumes which are most helpful and advice on job hunting skills, networking and answering those questions which are still primarily asked of women, especially those regarding family obligations.

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This book contains every thing necessary to successfully prepare a legally-valid will in any state without an attorney.

Prepare Your Own Will Kit, 6th Edition: The National Will Kit (Legal Help Self)

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Daniel Sitarz
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The Financial Planning Organizer: A Complete Budgeting Resource
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The Financial Planning Organizer, a Complete Budgeting Resource (Includes Guide, Workbook, Booklet, and Will Kit) (The Christian Financial Concepts Series)
Larry Burkett
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