--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Iraq has the second largest oil reserves…" description: "\"Iraq has the second largest oil reserves in the world, it is right in the midst of the major energy reserves in the world. Its been a primary goal of U..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/noam-chomsky-42_energy_iraq-has-the-second-largest-oil-reserves_1662223.jpg" --- # Iraq has the second largest oil reserves in the world, it… ![“Iraq has the second largest oil reserves in the world, it is right in the midst of the major energy reserves in the world. Its been a primary goal of US policy since World War II to control what the State Department called "a stupendous source of strategic power" and one of the greatest material…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/noam-chomsky-42_energy_iraq-has-the-second-largest-oil-reserves_1662223.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/noam-chomsky-42_energy_iraq-has-the-second-largest-oil-reserves_1662223.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/noam-chomsky-42_energy_iraq-has-the-second-largest-oil-reserves_1662223.jpg) > “Iraq has the second largest oil reserves in the world, it is right in the midst of the major energy reserves in the world. Its been a primary goal of US policy since World War II to control what the State Department called "a stupendous source of strategic power" and one of the greatest material prizes in history.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights Iraq's vast oil wealth and its strategic importance, noting US interest in controlling this resource since WWII. **In simple terms:** Iraq's oil is a powerful strategic asset that the US has long wanted to control. Key Takeaway Recognize how resource wealth drives geopolitical strategies. Themes geopolitics energy power history policy Mood analytical critical inquisitive Type political historical strategic When to use this quote - energy negotiations - foreign policy analysis - resource management - historical research Key Concepts strategic resource imperialism economic leverage Questions to Reflect On - How does oil influence US foreign policy decisions? - What other factors shape geopolitical power? A Different Perspective The quote may oversimplify complex political motives beyond oil alone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Energy Reserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy-reserves-513824/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Iraq Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq-second-771459/) [Largest Oil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/largest-oil-771458/) [Oil Reserves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oil-reserves-771457/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Prize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prize/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War of the worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-of-the-worlds/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) [World war i](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war-i/) [World war ii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war-ii/) ## Related quotes > [The United States never stopped conspiring against the Arab world, which holds the largest oil reserves on the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidel-castro/the-united-states-never-stopped-conspiring-against-the-arab-world/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidel-castro/) > [Any strong Muslim regime that threatens Israel, and we did. He said the Americans only want oil, and, of course, Iraq has the second-largest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scheuer/any-strong-muslim-regime-that-threatens-israel-and-we-did-he-said-the/) [Michael Scheuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scheuer/) > [But in the first Gulf war the United Kingdom was not under any threat from Iraq, and is still less so in the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-adie/but-in-the-first-gulf-war-the-united-kingdom-was-not-under-any-threat/) [Kate Adie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-adie/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [After World War II there were many Jews who remained in refugee camps...President Harry F. Truman called for the Harrison Commission to investigate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/after-world-war-ii-there-were-many-jews-who-remained-in-refugee-camps/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It was right after Woodrow Wilson's first serious post-World War I repression, which deported thousands of people, effectively destroyed unions and independent press, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-was-right-after-woodrow-wilson-s-first-serious-post-world-war-i/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Canada, the United States and Mexico, we developed these energy reserves that we have in this North American region. And you can see a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/canada-the-united-states-and-mexico-we-developed-these-energy/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Authorize the exploration of proven energy reserves to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources from unstable countries and reduce regulatory barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/authorize-the-exploration-of-proven-energy-reserves-to-reduce-our/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [How well you eat and rest helps you analyse your energy reserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saina-nehwal/how-well-you-eat-and-rest-helps-you-analyse-your-energy-reserves/) [Saina Nehwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saina-nehwal/) > [For a hundred years we have been one of the largest oil-producing countries in the world but with a 60 percent poverty rate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/for-a-hundred-years-we-have-been-one-of-the-largest-oil-producing/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/) > [The new discovery of a 3.3 billion barrel oil deposit off Norway's coast cements that nation's claim to being Europe's second largest oil producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-beauprez/the-new-discovery-of-a-3-3-billion-barrel-oil-deposit-off-norway-s/) [Bob Beauprez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-beauprez/) > [Since 2006, we have surpassed Alaska, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and California in oil production to become the second largest oil-producing state in the nation, trailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hoeven/since-2006-we-have-surpassed-alaska-oklahoma-louisiana-and-california/) [John Hoeven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hoeven/) > [The two largest oil-producing countries in Latin America, Mexico and Venezuela, sold petroleum to Nicaragua at concessional rates for several years beginning in 1980.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/the-two-largest-oil-producing-countries-in-latin-america-mexico-and/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [As a fluke, my great-grandfather hit one of the largest oil reserves in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armie-hammer/as-a-fluke-my-great-grandfather-hit-one-of-the-largest-oil-reserves/) [Armie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armie-hammer/) > [Controlled Middle East oil, it would control the world. This oil represents 65 percent of world oil reserves. Therefore, America believes if it squashed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saddam-hussein/controlled-middle-east-oil-it-would-control-the-world-this-oil/) [Saddam Hussein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saddam-hussein/) ## More by Noam Chomsky > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. 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Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. 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