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Oil: An Instrument of Global Political Corruption Printable Version PRINTABLE VERSION
by Ejiro donald, Nigeria Nov 13, 2003
Peace & Conflict , Environment   Opinions
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Crude oil or black gold as it is popular tagged, which is a free gift of nature or God, which in itself is a raw and natural resource, has become something which the devil himself has made his interest in it felt. Crude oil is one of a large group of substance, which are typically vicious liquids or liquefiable solids. Their uses, however vary, according to their type; thus essential oil; for instance petroleum are used as fuels and lubricants. In the world today, oil still serves as the most important means of generating energy even with the wind and solar powers put together.

In fact it can be affirmed that without oil today, man’s ability to adapt to the dynamics of life will be almost point zero if not zero itself. So it can be said that man’s life is almost dependent on oil for survival. But one thing that is so surprising about this thing called oil is that in as much as it is very important in the life of man; nature did not readily spread it all over the world.

While it is richly spread across some geographical regions, in some others it is short in supply and in others it is not found at all and yet every man needs it for survival.
Therefore in today’s world nations would clamor and do anything to have it in abundance. Even nations, which do not have it, do not bother to wish that they had it but would rather do anything humanly possible to have or obtain it from those that have it in excess.

Another case in hand is that even countries which have it would want to use every means possible to get it across to their own border from other countries which have it.
Similarly, countries which have it and those which do not have it would clash to obtain it from others that have it. Lastly countries, which have it sometimes form a cartel to use it as a form of political or diplomatic weapon against those that are in dire need of it.

Now one finds all these events playing themselves at different times and at other times these events happen simultaneously. Thus we find countries aligning with themselves to work against themselves in some instances having some form of counter alliances against themselves. And usually when these things happen, you find countries feelings betrayed and thus going to war with those countries they have felt stabbed them in their backs.

Even in a country, governments and government official sometimes get into rumpuses because of the booty which accrues from it. The masses also feel cheated because in most cases, they begin to question the movements of the funds generated from these crude oil or from those generated from its refined products. The skirmishes or imbroglio which oil has generated has gained most prominence in the 20th and this young 21st century. This is due to the fact that leaders even go down to the extent of committing all sorts of atrocities and scandalous acts for their selfish ends. Even every sense of shame eludes them when they carry out these crimes.

The Teapot Situation was a U.S. scandal involving high government officials in the Warren Harding administration. In this case Albert B. Fall, secretary of the interior, persuaded President Harden to transfer the administration of the U.S. naval petroleum reserves from the secretary of the navy to Fall’s department. In secret negotiations without competitive bidding, Fall issued leases, which granted certain companies exclusive right to oil and gas at Teapot Dome reserve, Wyo and the Elk Hills and Buena Vista Hill reserves, in California. A Congressional investigation and resolution (1924) revealed that Fall had received more than $200,000 in Liberty bounds from companies benefiting by leases. The Supreme Court ruled the contracts fraudulent and in a criminal action Fall was convicted of bribery.

The latest of these atrocities has been the so-called American war on terrorism. Since the September 11th attack on the U.S, the Bush’s administration has focused more on executing war, rather than improving the lives of the American people. After the Gulf war of 1990-1991, nobody had thought that America would revisit the Iraqi issue. But immediately after ousting the Taliban government of Afghanistan believed to be harboring the Al Qaeda Network, the American government began to point accusing fingers on Iraq for possessing weapons of mass destruction.

The Bush’s administration being drunk with power after defeating the Taliban Government drove out the United Nations’ weapons inspection team that had been given a task of inspecting the weapons of Iraq. America eventually launched an attack on Iraq against global warnings. The Iraqi government under the brutal and inhuman Sadam Hussein who himself had taken over Kuwait because of the oil in the oil-rich but small country, was dethroned and thus went into hiding, where he still is.





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Ejiro donald


Enefe Ejiro Donald was born and raised from a humble background. I appreciate and advocate for equity, justice fairness and world peace. I look forward with eagerness to that day when the world will be a better place for all to live in...we can all work it out...the lil contributions from every citizens of the world can help achieve this dream
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