4 chapters across the catalog
Afghanistan War, Poppies and Pipeline Protection
The 16-year war in Afghanistan has cost over $800 billion with little perceived accomplishment. The hosts argue the true motivations for the continued presence are the protection of the opium poppy trade, the Unocal pipeline, and the extraction of rare minerals, rather than the stated goals of fighting terrorism.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney referred to the war in Afghanistan as the "original war" that was neglected during the focus on Iraq. The underlying strategy in Afghanistan is identified as securing the TAPI pipeline route for companies like Unocal (now Chevron). This energy-centric view of the conflict suggests that regional stability is secondary to the transit of Turkmenistan gas.
The hosts revisit the theory that the war in Afghanistan is primarily about securing a pipeline route for Unocal. They claim the U.S. threatened the Taliban with military action as early as February 2001 if they did not cooperate with American oil interests. The current political pressure on oil company tax breaks is framed as an extortion game by Congress to secure campaign donations.
Afghanistan Pipeline Interests, Hamid Karzai Election Victory
The United Nations congratulated Hamid Karzai on his re-election in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of his primary opponent. The strategic importance of Afghanistan is linked to the proposed Unocal pipeline, intended to transport oil while bypassing Russian territory. Karzai's previous professional ties to the oil industry are highlighted as a factor in Western support for his administration.
