The quagmire in Iraq is all Clinton’s fault, which is why we should recall Gov. Davis

If you can take the time to read it, there is a fascinating report on the links among Enron, PNAC, the Baker Institute, and the White House. The pages are lengthy, and the links numerous. Here is a synopsis:

Enron - Lay
In 1994, Ken Lay testified at a Public Utility Commission hearing about holes in the California power market that could be exploited. Since Lay’s warnings were ignored, Enron exploited those very holes to manipulate California’s energy markets for fun and profit. In addition to serving on Bush's transition team, Lay was a member of Cheney’s Energy Task Force (despite his futile attempts to deny it). A two-page memo spells out Enron's case for why federal authorities should refrain from imposing any regulations to stabilize California’s electricity prices, which might affect Enron’s profits.

Since April 2001, Rep. Waxman and Rep. John Dingell, ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, have been seeking information about the energy task force headed by Vice President Cheney. This request for information was prompted by news reports that the task force had met privately with major campaign contributors to discuss energy policy. The Bush Administration has been unwilling to provide that information, even to the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress.

James Baker
In 1993 Baker signed a joint consulting and investing agreement with Enron and began a lucrative career making joint global investments with Enron on natural gas projects. In April 2001, his Baker Institute published its Strategic Energy Policy Challenges for the 21st Century which mentions Iraq – “Iraq has become a key "swing" producer, posing a difficult situation for the U.S. government.“

This same report mentions California over 20 times – always in a negative light because of the “very serious energy crisis." In order to avoid similar crises throughout the country, America must gain control of the largest or second largest oil reserves in the world – Iraq.

PNAC (Project for a New American Century)
The PNAC has since its inception advocated preemptive military action and long-term occupation in and of the Middle East. All they needed was a “Pearl Harbor-like event” to serve as justification.

“Indeed, the United States has for decades sought to play a more permanent role in Gulf regional security. While the unresolved conflict with Iraq provides the immediate justification, the need for a substantial American force presence in the Gulf transcends the issue of the regime of Saddam Hussein.
  • we need to increase defense spending significantly if we are to carry out our global
    responsibilities today and modernize our armed forces for the future;
  • we need to strengthen our ties to democratic allies and to challenge regimes hostile to our interests and values


Conclusion
So, we kick out weapons inspectors, screw our intelligence agencies and dream up our own stories, lie to the world, invade Iraq against the will of the international community, spend billions to control Iraq’s oil to prevent an energy crisis like the one Enron profited from in California, and blame it all on Gray Davis.