Brian Small<p></p><blockquote><b><span>The Pentagon: A Global Oil-Protection Service</span></b></blockquote><blockquote><span>The most significant expression of this trend has been the transformation of the U.S. military into a global oil-protection service whose primary function is the guarding of overseas energy supplies as well as their global delivery systems (pipelines, tanker ships, and supply routes). This overarching mission was first articulated by President Jimmy Carter in January 1980, when he described the oil flow from the Persian Gulf as a “vital interest” of the United States, and affirmed that this country would employ “any means necessary, including military force” to overcome an attempt by a hostile power to block that flow.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span>When President Carter issued this edict, quickly dubbed the Carter Doctrine, the United States did not actually possess any forces capable of performing this role in the Gulf. To fill this gap, Carter created a new entity, the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF), an ad hoc assortment of U.S-based forces designated for possible employment in the Middle East. In 1983, President Reagan transformed the RDJTF into the Central Command (Centcom), the name it bears today. Centcom exercises command authority over all U.S. combat forces deployed in the greater Persian Gulf area including Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.</span></blockquote><span> - [Michael T. Klare: Carter Doctrine, Pentagon as Oil Protection Racket](</span><a href="https://tomdispatch.com/klare-the-pentagon-as-an-energy-protection-racket/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://tomdispatch.com/klare-the-pentagon-as-an-energy-protection-racket/</a><span><br><br> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/Carter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Carter</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/JimmyCarter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#JimmyCarter</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/PresidentCarter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#PresidentCarter</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/PresidentJimmyCarter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#PresidentJimmyCarter</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/FossilFuels" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#FossilFuels</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/USA" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#USA</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/USAMilitary" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#USAMilitary</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/ThePentagon" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#ThePentagon</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/TomDispatch" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#TomDispatch</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/MichaelTKlare" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#MichaelTKlare</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/MichaelKlare" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#MichaelKlare</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/Klare" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Klare</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/CentralCommand" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#CentralCommand</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/PersianGulf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#PersianGulf</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/Iraq" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Iraq</a><span> </span><a href="https://misskey.cloud/tags/Afghanistan" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#Afghanistan</a><p></p>