- As Mark Twain once noted, prophecy is always difficult,
particularly with regards to the future. However, it is a safe bet that
as soon as Saddam is toppled one of the first tasks of the America-backed
regime will be to restore the US dollar as the nation's oil currency.
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- In November 2000, Iraq began selling its oil for euros,
moving away from the post-World War II standard of the US dollar as the
currency of international trade. Whilst seen by many at the time as a bizarre
act of political defiance, it has proved beneficial for Iraq, with the
euro gaining almost 25% against the dollar during 2001. It now costs around
USD$1.05 to buy one Euro.
-
- Iraq's move towards the euro is indicative of a growing
trend. Iran has already converted the majority of its central bank reserve
funds to the euro, and has hinted at adopting the euro for all oil sales.
On December 7th, 2002, the third member of the axis of evil, North Korea,
officially dropped the dollar and began using euros for trade. Venezuela,
not a member of the axis of evil yet, but a large oil producer nonetheless,
is also considering a switch to the euro. More importantly, at its April
14th, 2002 meeting in Spain, OPEC expressed an interest in leaving the
dollar in favour of the euro.
-
- If OPEC were to switch to the euro as the standard for
oil transactions, it would have serious ramifications for the US economy.
Oil-consuming economies would have to flush the dollars out of their central
bank holdings and convert them to euros. Some economists estimate that
with the market flooded, the US dollar could drop up to 40% in value. As
the currency falls, there would be a monetary evacuation by foreign investors
abandoning the US stock markets and dollar-denominated assets. Imported
products would cost Americans a lot more, and the trade deficit would be
magnified.
-
- It is foreign demand for the US dollar that funds the
US federal budget deficits. Foreign investors flush with dollars typically
look to US treasury securities as a means of secure investment. With a
large reduction in such investment, the country could potentially go into
default. Things could turn very bad, very quickly.
-
- In May 2004 an additional 10 member nations will join
the European Union. At that point, the EU will represent an oil consumer
33% larger than the United States. In order to mitigate currency risks,
the Europeans will increasingly pressure OPEC to trade in euros, and with
the EU at that stage buying over half of OPEC oil production, such a change
seems likely.
-
- This is a scenario that America cannot afford to see
eventuate. The US will go to any length to fend off an attempt by OPEC
to dump greenbacks as its reserve currency. Attacking Iraq and installing
a client regime in Baghdad may have a preventative effect. It will certainly
ensure that Iraq returns to using dollars and provide a violent example
to any other nation in the region contemplating a migration to the euro.
-
- An American-backed junta in Iraq would also enable the
US to smash OPEC's hold over oil prices. The US or its client regime could
increase Iraqi oil production to levels well beyond OPEC quotas, driving
prices down worldwide and weakening the economies of the oil producing
nations, thus lessening their likelihood of abandoning the dollar. It would
have the short term effect of reducing the profits of domestic oil companies,
but the long term effect of securing America's economic hegemony.
-
- The frequently offered canard of the Left that this war
is being fought to secure oil revenues for American oil companies may have
some truth to it. However, a more plausible explanation may be that the
Bush administration is waging war to protect the dollar and smash the OPEC
hold over international oil prices. It's a war whose purpose is bigger
than Halliburton or Exxon: it's a war being fought to maintain America's
position in the world.
-
- Attending the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, George Bush Senior
told the world that, "the American way of life is not negotiable".
As cruise missiles rain on Iraq, we are learning just how 'non-negotiable'
that way of life really is.
-
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- Amir Butler is executive director of the Australian Muslim
Public Affairs Committee (AMPAC), and writes for ATrueWord.com. He can
be contacted at abutler@atrueword.com.
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