"then Halliburton and the US armed forces would have gone in and exploited the shit out of the place, which is what they normally do,"

So the US is making a profit off the occupation??? Better tell Congress, THEY think it is costing the government money.

As for the whole "Blood for oil" propaganda campaign, WHAT oil have we taken from Iraq? Haven't they sold it on the WORLD market, and market price, to whomever they wished?