Found this interesting timeline of Saudi/Iraq events this morning which begged the question: Is Middle East violence all about the oil? One has to wonder if the FACT that Iraq/Iran have more oil than Saudi Arabia might be fueling the escalation of violence in Iraq. Perhaps the Sunni Shia divide is a convenient cover, although those doing the actual fighting are more than likely to believe in the righteousness of their sacrifice. It's what foot soldiers must do: Believe they are on the right side. I think this short timeline answers some questions and, more importantly, raises some important questions. Here's the January, 2014 article stating Iraq/Iran hopes of capturing the kingpin of OPEC from Saudi Arabia. Iraq and Iran plot oil revolution in challenge to Saudi Arabia What can prevent a Saudi loss of OPEC control? A violent civil war/Sunni takeover in Iraq, which we now nearly have a mere six months after Iraq/Iran's OPEC plot is revealed. Of course, there is much more history, even thousands of years worth; however, it is interesting to note that the Sunni so-called extremists launched in Anbar Province, which is mostly Sunni. This could have been made much easier with this August, 2013 event: Anbar Completes Highway to Saudi Arabia Let' put this highway in perspective with a couple of maps. Again, ISIS launched into Iraq in Anbar, adjacent to Syria. Map of Middle East
Anbar province spokesman Mohammed Fathi Hantoush explained that the highway, called the Land Pilgrimage Road, is 230 kilometres long and links central Anbar to the Saudi border at Arar border crossing.
A quick glance of a map depicting the Sunni and Shia population density clearly demonstrates that Eastern Iraq and Iran are surrounded by Sunni majorities in areas adjacent to them. Is the USA, who has sold $Billions in arms and military support to Sunni majority leaders adjacent to Iran, primarily Saudi Arabia, investing in oil or democracy?
A worldwide economic decline had suppressed arms sales over recent years. But increasing tensions with Iran drove a set of Persian Gulf nations — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman — to purchase American weapons at record levels.
In May, 2013, accusations were made that Saudi Arabia and Qatar were working together to fuel a sectarian war in Iraq. Whether or not this is propaganda is anyone's guess. (see video at end of article, having embed issus)
The long history of the Sunni vs Shia divide makes it very easy to rally the people to the front lines to fight for their particular loyalty. That said, the shrinking Saudi oil reserves and the huge reserves remaining in Iraq and Iran beg the question: Is all this violence really about Saudi Arabia and its US ally wanting to capture the Iraq/Iran oil?
I am sad to remember that I predicted way back in 2007 that Iraq would devolve into an all out civil war. There are simply too many religiously zealous people, hard-lined by doctrine and too many hardships and poverty to sustain peace. It must be the way the rich and powerful of the world want things to be; otherwise, one could imagine the Davos elite all getting together to provide dependable electricity, industry, education, and infrastructure to these fractured countries so that they would never want to risk the relative ease of survival such perks could bring to their lives.
No, chaos is the friend of Disaster Capitalism and the Military Industrial Complex regardless of how it is cloaked and concealed. There's money to be made.
LOOK AT THE MAP AGAIN: I see Sunni Saudi Arabia vs Shia Iran Saudi oil depleting, Shia Controlled Iraq/Iran have more oil than Saudi Arabia. ISIS emerges in Sunni dominant Anbar close to the time Saudi Arabia/Anbar Province (adjacent to Syria) completes super Highway is completed. Makes me want to say hmmmmmm! Then again, it could all be a big coincidence. Or a Frankenstein experiment/plan gone beserk. Greed, to date, always wins.YouTube Video