MERIP on the roots of the war drive

Middle East Report (excellent publication in general) has an interesting theory 
about the drive to war in their 'from the editor' section of their current 
issue (winter 2002).  Basically, they argue that Washington is seeking a middle 
east base for CENTCOM (central command) the name for (I'm a little confused 
here) the Persian Gulf region in Pentagon speak.  This is not simply to secure 
US oil, or that of its allies (more dependent on middle east oil) but also to 
undermine Russia, China, and India's capacity to act as great powers 
challenging the US:  "The capacity to deprive a potential military rival of 
fuel for its war machine is one crucial element of what Deputy Defense 
Secretary Paul Wolfowitz calls 'area denial or anti-access strategies.  It will 
allow the US to police the 'southern belt of strategic instability' from the 
Balkans and West Africa through the Middle East to South and Southeast Asia.

Interesting stuff

Steven Sherman