What if...

[SandyO]

12/16/02

Just Hitting The Net:


"On January 1, 2003, the Iraqi government will formally hand over the entire oil reserve and field operation of Iraq to China. The agreement will grant China free unlimited access and complete management of Iraqi oil for a period of 20 years. In exchange the oil fields and the government of Iraq will be defended by Chinese military forces."

[johnstruthers]

Sandy, what a daunting scenario. Rather than challenge this with a bunch of pseudo-political science, I think it's more fun to run with it as is. I think "W" would freak out, and the inchoate foreign policy establishment of the US (not just the US State Department, which is no longer in charge) would have to say "Uncle" for awhile.

I would postulate this: A lot of people who the US regard as allies would breathe a sigh of relief, and it would definitely put all this upcoming war stuff on hold for awhile.

The question of disarming Hussein would be the question that would stick out. It would be to the US's advantage to arrange something through China that gives certain assurances to the rest of the world. Then, it would be time to back off the loud pedal. This thread should be fun. Just brilliant, Sandy. Let's go at it.

[albatros]

why not grant a lease to the US directly?
It's the best protection against an attack. Disarment can be delt with as a side issue in the lease contract.

[johnstruthers]

How is it that a number of posts that were on this thread just disappeared, but the long, obnoxious one on "stirring the pot" by "erertye" still sits there? What's going on? There was more here before.