reasons for invading Iraq?

U.S. businesses were looking at Iraq as a significant opportunity before the war began. With vast oil resources, underserved population and strategic location, that nation had all the markings of a place for U.S firms to expand. How interesting, I wonder if that is one of the hidden reasons we invaded that country.

Major American companies that went into Iraq on U.S. government contracts, including Bechtel, Parsons and Halliburton subsidiary KBR, had hoped reconstruction work would serve as a natural bridge to private-sector deals in Iraq.

Instead, they found rampant violence, still three years later with 70% unemployment, with many U.S.-funded projects coming under attack and workers being targeted. Now, with their contracts expiring, Parsons and Bechtel are closing up shop in Iraq and returning home. KBR is doing the same with its reconstruction work, though it continues to hold a major contract supporting the U.S. Army.

"We're pleading with the companies to give Iraq a second or third look," said retired Lt. Gen. Daniel Christman, senior vice president for international affairs at the Chamber of Commerce.

It's ok for our troops to be ordered to Iraq and face death in a civil war, but the big corporations who initially scooped up the BILLIONS OF DOLLARS apparently don't want to go back. And who would you guess are big contributors to the Republicans??