[Chapter 604: The Iraqi Oil Field Strategy]
That week-long yacht party getaway left Linton and his harem feeling thoroughly refreshed -- in both body and mind.
A week later, everyone returned to Los Angeles in high spirits.
Once back in LA, Linton tasked Winnie with contacting yacht companies to select the perfect design for a custom-built mega yacht. He also instructed her to look for a suitable private island within a 600-mile radius of the United States.
Yes, this time he wasn't just buying a yacht -- he was preparing to acquire a private island as well.
...
By the end of August, Linton arrived at the White House with fourteen assistants who had passed the necessary political vetting to officially take on their roles in the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, the villas in the Carlisle neighborhood had been fully renovated.
For security reasons, instead of hiring local staff for the villas, Linton chose to select personnel from his Los Angeles estate. He promoted a new butler named Jenny from his LA staff and assembled a seven-person team -- including two security drivers -- to manage the Washington, D.C. villa.
In July, butler Amy personally escorted Jenny and her team to Washington. They optimized the villa's layout and facilities according to Linton's preferences and purchased new furniture and vehicles.
However, at Hillary's strong insistence, Linton did not move into his villa during this trip. Instead, he continued to stay in the presidential suite at the Willard InterContinental Hotel.
There was no choice; all residents in Carlisle were high-ranking U.S. officials. With so many eyes and ears, any hint of their private dealings could get exposed, and the consequences would be catastrophic.
...
While at the White House, President Clinton took an hour specifically to brief Linton on recent developments and the U.S. military actions in Iraq.
As expected, Soros's financial raids on Southeast Asia had received full support from the top echelons in Washington.
Beyond that, Linton learned of an even larger financial plundering plan for Asia, orchestrated by the Treasury Department.
In essence, Soros's Quantum Fund served as the vanguard, Wall Street's big five investment banks formed the main forces, the State Department applied diplomatic pressure, and the Pentagon wielded military threats. Together, they launched a financial war across Asia to harvest local wealth.
The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund played the roles of sugar-coated artillery, appearing as saviors by injecting funds into devastated regions to aid rebuilding -- while secretly sowing seeds for the next round of exploitation.
This campaign unfolded in three phases:
Phase one targeted Southeast Asian countries and was nearly complete. Currently, the World Bank and IMF were wrapping up their efforts there. This phase represented an unprecedented victory, leaving everyone fat with gains.
Phase two aimed at Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, scheduled to begin by October.
Phase three targeted Hong Kong, India, and Russia, expected to start next January.
But Washington was deeply divided on the third phase.
India, primarily because of its poverty, vast territory, and large population, still lagged economically. Despite its size, the country's overall wealth accumulation was limited, making any heavy investment for plunder possibly unrewarding.
Russia's diplomatic stance hardened under Putin, shifting from Yeltsin's kowtowing to a more pragmatic approach toward the West. Although Russia had declined economically, the old giant still retained formidable military power.
Trying to short the Russian ruble and seize its budding wealth bore the risk of provoking desperate, unpredictable retaliation.
The greatest controversy, however, surrounded Hong Kong. Both sides had compelling reasons.
Moreover, before the handover to China, the British had secretly planted many mines on the island. If detonated at the right time in coordination with their short-selling scheme, the effect would be devastating.
Most importantly, Hong Kong was wealthy -- its foreign exchange reserves exceeded $80 billion, and its stock market capitalization reached $400 billion. This treasure trove was incredibly tempting.
After hearing President Clinton outline the operation, Linton asked with curiosity, "Bill, why didn't I know about this plan sooner?"
"There simply wasn't a comprehensive plan at first -- only a Wall Street-led short-selling scheme on Thailand's finances," Clinton replied. "At the time, Washington thought Thailand was too small to be profitable, so behind-the-scenes investors didn't get involved. Who could have guessed the Southeast Asian region was so vulnerable? We missed a golden opportunity."
"So that's why you're expanding the battlefield."
"Exactly. When the profits became clear, the Treasury Department led a coalition -- Federal Reserve, Wall Street, State Department, Pentagon -- to craft this more complete plan by late July."
"Then why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Strictly speaking, this wasn't within your jurisdiction -- and the plan had to remain classified, so only a few could know. Plus, you hadn't been in Washington much. Honestly, I'm briefing you now mainly to bring you in on this goldmine. I recommend you invest; it promises high returns. Wall Street guarantees at least double your money within six months."
"So you're not asking my opinion -- you're just offering me a bonus."
"That's right. We want you on board, to share in the wealth. Of course, I'd also like your input on phase three."
"Since that's beyond my authority, I'll defer to you."
"Fair enough. How much do you plan to invest?"
"Is there a limit?"
"Yes. My allocation is $500 million; yours is $50 million."
"Only $50 million? I'll pass."
"Every bit counts. Invest now, and by year-end you'll have at least $150 million. Don't waste the chance."
"No thanks -- I'd rather stay out of this. Just pretend I never heard about it."
Linton thought to himself that he'd just been swindled out of $500 million by Soros, so $100 million in returns could never make up for that.
If only he were given a $500 million limit -- then earning over $1 billion by year's end might make him reconsider and forgive.
"All right, there's another piece of good news."
"Oh? What is it? The Iraq War?"
"Yes, the Iraq campaign is going smoothly. The government there is ready to surrender, has handed over terrorists, and sent peace representatives."
"Terrorists? What terrorists?"
"The ones who attacked the U.S.'s three top pharmaceutical company headquarters."
Linton was momentarily stunned -- he'd personally destroyed those sites with a flying sword, not terrorists. "Could they be scapegoats found by Iraq?"
"Not likely. Within 24 hours of the attacks, a Kurdish militia called Tanzim al-Fajr publicly claimed responsibility on Al Jazeera."
"Is it possible they were bluffing to expand local influence?"
"Who'd be stupid enough? Did they think America was someone easy to mess with? Besides, their admission was a direct provocation -- made them our enemy. It didn't matter if they truly were the culprits. We wiped out the entire group. Their leader Yusuf al-Hadithi was captured alive by our Marines, and we have a clear answer for the public."
"OK, but just catching the culprits isn't enough, right?"
"Of course not. We sent nearly 100,000 troops, fired thousands of missiles, and millions of artillery shells. Military spending neared $200 billion. A war like this can't disappear without major gain."
"Right. Iraq's oil is abundant -- we need that."
"Exactly. We've occupied southern Iraq, home to over half the country's oil reserves. Our plan is to have Iraq unconditionally transfer those oil field rights to us as a peace condition."
"That sounds promising."
"There are over a dozen oil fields down south, with reserves exceeding 7 billion barrels. We'll share about 20% with NATO allies who joined the invasion; the rest will go to American capital for development. Are you interested?"
"Me? Am I suitable? I don't understand oil extraction or refining, and I don't have companies in that sector."
"That doesn't matter. It's about who's got the muscle -- who calls the shots. Understanding the business isn't essential; once we control the fields, there will be plenty of experts to handle operations. Extraction costs are low there, so profits will be substantial."
"You mean..."
"I mean you and I join forces to secure a major oil field, split ownership 50/50, develop it together, and share the profits."
"That's a good idea. Any specific targets?"
"Southern Iraq has 18 oil fields, but only five are truly large: Rumaila, Sirganna, Majnoon, East Baghdad, and Zubair. Their proven reserves are 1.78 billion, 1.3 billion, 1.26 billion, 800 million, and 450 million barrels respectively. Collectively, they hold nearly 80% of the region's oil."
"So our goal has to be one of those five."
"Right. The smaller fields aren't worth considering."
"Which one caught your eye?"
"Obviously Rumaila is the best, ranked number one. But the top three fields attract too many competitors, and the White House has to publicly auction them off. Even if we joined forces, we can't outbid giants like ExxonMobil, Chevron, Marathon, or Valero."
"So you're targeting East Baghdad?"
"No. Despite its size, East Baghdad is actually a collection of smaller fields with much higher extraction costs. Though its reserves are 800 million barrels, its real value is less than Zubair."
"So, Zubair?"
"Yes. It's the fifth-largest but still boasts 450 million barrels of low-cost, light hydrocarbon-rich, high-quality oil. Plus, its smaller size means fewer parties are interested. Together, we'd likely face no challenges and can secure it at a reasonable price."
An oil field with 450 million barrels at low extraction costs, even with just $5 per barrel profit amounts to over $2 billion in value. Split between two, each would earn upwards of $1 billion.
Linton also recalled that as the new millennium unfolded, international crude prices would skyrocket -- from around $20 a barrel to over $100 -- making the field even more valuable.
The Middle East had always been a powder keg rich in oil; America had countless chances to intervene.
If this field was managed well, the next time the U.S. deployed to the region, grabbing an even bigger field would be a natural progression.
With all this in mind, he nodded. "Alright, let's team up. Zubair oil field it is. What's our next step?"
"First, we create an energy company through agents to register it quickly. Then, at the right time, we publicly declare our support for the firm."
"That simple?"
"On the surface, yes. But the key is influence. By joining forces and not chasing the biggest field, but the fifth-ranked one, no one will dare oppose us."
"Hmm. How much initial investment?"
"Don't need too much. Extraction equipment is already in place. Let's each put in $100 million in registered capital now. After securing the field, we'll consider adding funds for upgrading tech and equipment."
"Sounds good. When can we start?"
"I estimate a true ceasefire agreement in Iraq will take about three months. Only then will the government auction these oil fields."
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
https://discord.gg/HjHHhUXPn7.