>>>Hoisted by my own petard. Yes we are there because of oil - that is the only reason most of the world really gives a damn regarding the Middle East. However, most of the left seems to think we are there to steal the oil, to feed the coffers of the Giant Oil Companies, to control the world supply for our own nefarious reasons. The implication is that we are only there for the oil, which I do not believe to be true.
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>>No, not only oil for sure. But I think that some of the other reasons for being there, like ridding the country of a ruthless dictator, only become motivating factors on the back of the oil factor.
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>There's probably some subtle difference between reasons and pretexts, which is intentionally blurred. Well, can't expect politicians to come clear on anything, can we? They'll always paint pretexts as reasons. That's what pretexts are for.

I like the word agenda. There's always an agenda and it is, I assume, invariably not for public review.