Why do people think the Iraq war was about oil when economically the war has cost 1000x more than any covert oil extraction could produce?
First you need to understand where the money the war has cost actually went. It financed US companies developing and producing gear. It financed the salary of US civilians and soilders the like.
The Short Answer
First you need to understand where the money the war has cost actually went. It financed US companies developing and producing gear. It financed the salary of US civilians and soilders the like. So if you really want to know how much the war has cost you actually have to look at how much money actually left the US system, instead of being redistributed. That is the figure you need to compare to the benefits gained. And the benefits gained are not actually pumping the oil (even though western companies actually and officially do / did that) but to have a government in place which is in favour of you, as opposed to a government which is not in favour of you. Additionally, if you have oil you make bank – we know this. It is not in the best interest of the US forgein policy to have a government / dictator / system making mad bank which could potentially be(come) a threat to them. (Sry for typos – not my native language)
Analysis
Key Concepts: Government, need, money
This explanation focuses on government, need, money and spans 171 words across 9 sentences. At 138% above the average History explanation (72 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “First you need to understand where the money the war has cost actually went.” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 9 connected points.
How This Compares in History
Ranked #8 of 500 History questions by answer depth (top 2%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why people think the iraq war was about oil when economically the war has cost 1000x more than any covert oil extraction could produce?
First you need to understand where the money the war has cost actually went. It financed US companies developing and producing gear. It financed the salary of US civilians and soilders the like. So if you really want to know how much the war has…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar History questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 171 words, ranked #8 of 500 History questions by depth. The key concepts covered are government, need, money.
What approach does this answer take to explain people think the iraq war was about oil when economically th?
The explanation uses contrasting perspectives across 171 words. It is categorized under History and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.