Second, we must act to control the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the missiles used to deliver them. It would be tragic if the nations of the Middle East and Persian Gulf were now, in the wake of war, to embark on a new arms race.
And third, we must work to create new opportunities for peace and stability in the Middle East. On the night I announced Operation Desert Storm, I expressed my hope that out of the horrors of war might come new momentum for peace. We have learned in the modern age geography cannot guarantee security and security does not come from military power alone. All of us know the depth of bitterness that has made the dispute between Israel and its neighbors so painful and intractable. Yet, in the conflict just concluded, Israel and many of the Arab states have for the first time found themselves confronting the same aggressor. The war with Iraq is over. The quest for solutions to the problem in Lebanon, in the Arab-Israeli dispute, and in the Gulf must go forward with new vigor and determination. And I guarantee you: no one will work harder for a stable peace in the region than we will.
Fourth, we must foster economic development for the sake of peace and progress. The Persian Gulf and Middle East form a region rich in natural resources with a wealth of untapped human potential. Resources once squandered on military might must be redirected to more peaceful ends. We are already addressing the immediate economic consequences of Iraq’s aggression. Now the challenge is to reach higher – to foster economic freedom and prosperity for all people of the region.
The consequences of the conflict in the Gulf reach far beyond the confines of the Middle East. Twice before in this century, an entire world was convulsed by war. Twice this century, out of the horrors of war hope emerged for enduring peace. Twice before, those hopes proved to be a distant dream, beyond the grasp of man.
He concluded that the “until now, the world we’ve known has been a world divided – a world of barbed wire and concrete block, conflict and cold war. Now, we can see a new world coming into view. A world in which there is the very real prospect of a new world order. The Gulf war put this new world to its first test, and, my fellow Americans, we passed that test.”
His son George W. Bush did exactly the same what Bush senior had defined in terms of New World Order. He successfully eliminated Saddam Hussein and captured the oil rich Iraq. A recent figure shows that oil reserves in Iraq are the largest in the world. According to recent geological surveys and seismic data, the Iraqi government has stated that new exploration showed Iraq has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, with more than 350 billion barrels. Officially confirmed reserves rank third largest in the world at approximately 143 billion barrels (22.7×10^9 m3).
A measure of the uncertainty about Iraq's oil reserves is indicated by the fact that the US Department of Energy (DOE) estimated that Iraq had 112 billion barrels (17.8×10^9 m3), whereas the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated it was closer to 78 Gbbl (12.4×10^9 m3), and Iraq's pre-war deputy oil minister claimed it might have been 300 Gbbl (48×10^9 m3). The source of uncertainty is that due to decades of war and unrest, much of Iraq oil wells are run down and un-kept. Repairs to the wells and oil facilities should make far more oil available economically from the same deposits. In fact, Iraq may prove to be containing the largest extractable deposits of oil in the entire Middle East once this upgrading and facility improvements have advanced.
On the other hand, the oil reserves in Libya are the largest in Africa and the ninth largest in the world with 41.5 billion barrels (6.60×10^9 m3). Oil production was 1.8 million barrels per day (290×10^3 m3/d), giving Libya over six decades of reserves at current production rates if no new reserves were to be found. Libya is considered a highly attractive oil area due to its low cost of oil production (as low as $1 per barrel at some fields), and proximity to European markets.
The US penetrated the Middle East for certain reasons, besides their safety and security, and a vital US interest in the Middle East is oil. According to some observers, if that region wasn’t sitting on such huge reserves, US wouldn’t give it a second thought, with the exception of its security guarantee to Israel.
There is no question why the U.S. is involved. It’s not about stopping a brutal dictator, nor is it about civilian deaths. And it’s not about democracy and freedom for the Libyans. It’s simply because Libya produces a lot of oil.
Qaddafi, the Libyan strongman, while certainly no angel, has not been the thorn in America’s side. He admitted complicity in the Pan Am 103 bombing and paid reparations, dismantled his nuclear weapons program and, understanding the new world order after the 9/11 attacks, stopped anti-American activities. As a result, Libya was taken off the U.S. government’s State Sponsor of Terrorism list by the Bush Administration, with then- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stating Libya was being rewarded for its “renunciation of terrorism and the excellent cooperation Libya has provided to the United States” in the war on terror.