Now, to continue from the last post…
There are many obvious outcomes shared by Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and which thus, predictably will occur in Syria; such as the profiteering by multinationals in the inevitable reconstruction spending spree, the huge increase in share prices for all firms involved in any way, and so on and so forth. But let me mention something that is not normally brought up in these discussions, but which is certainly an extremely important policy goal
Prior to the invasion of Afghanistan, the invasion of Iraq, and the western-backed overthrow of the government in Libya, all three of those countries had state-owned, government-controlled Central Banks. In all of these three countries, the Central Banks have either become privatized completely or have been divorced from any governmental controls. Now, I am not debating the merits or otherwise of any of the deposed regimes, that’s not the point. But what on earth has private banking got to do with fighting terrorism and tyranny? Why is it a necessary component of liberating a country form a despot that their Central Bank must suddenly be privatized? One wonders, was the goal political regime change, or economic regime change?
In the case of Libya it is even more striking. Even before Qaddafi was overthrown, the rebels themselves, in March of 2011, had already set up their own private Central Bank. Is that an urgent revolutionary goal? Was public banking among the top grievances of the population?
So, OK, Syria is one of the few countries left in the world with a state-owned and controlled Central Bank. Expect that to change. Indeed, since we apparently already have rebels selling oil to foreign firms, I don’t think it would be terribly surprising if we soon see some faction among them establish a new private Central Bank even before the regime is defeated.
The problems with surrendering control of a state’s monetary policy and the issuing of its currency and so forth to the hands of private bankers, is not really my issue here..though it is certainly an issue. The point is, why do it? In whose interests is that done?
Were the original protesters in Daraa coming out in the streets to demand privatization of the Central Bank? Are the mujahideen risking their safety and their lives for the sake of international private bankers?