[Chapter 499: Trouble Abounds]
William White wondered if his friend, Saddam, would face any consequences. What he did know was that the CIA had its sights set on him.
It was clear that the Americans were not too pleased with him. They asked him to tone it down a bit, but instead, he decided to attack oil tankers. They urged him to increase oil production, yet he intended to act like the big boss.
For nations with strong regional identities, the U.S. was very wary. The ideal situation for them was to weaken or isolate such a country. If they could manage to install a democratic government, that would be even better.
Someone might say that democracy isn't bad, so why oppose it? Well, the democracy you cultivate yourself is obviously the best, that goes without question. But what someone else hands you may not fit at all.
Despite the many countries in the desert region, their origins were merely tribal alliances. Notice how many of them are referred to as United Emirates.
With tribes and religions in the mix, plus a bunch of political factions, it might open up paths for common folks, but the real question is, who's really gonna listen to you?
Moreover, while the religious beliefs might be the same, their ideologies differ greatly. Aside from the two major sects, there are many branches.
If you want others to follow your lead, you gotta use some muscle; otherwise, it's all just talk.
Such a straightforward principle, do you think the Americans were unaware?
Don't kid yourself, the CIA's specialty lay in stirring up conflicts among various parties. If the desert tycoons all got along, they wouldn't have any excuse to intervene.
"Take down Saddam?"
Upon hearing this news, William White was astounded. He began to understand why Saddam was going crazy -- it turned out everyone was plotting against him.
"Tanner, can you confirm this?"
"Indeed. While we don't have access to the core information, all signs indicate that the CIA plans to move against Iraq."
"Ha, what grounds do they have? Is it really that simple?" William White found it hilariously ridiculous that these fools were losing their minds over this.
"Master, Kuwait seems to be very cooperative. The surrounding environment isn't good for Saddam at all."
"I got it. Those tycoons are scared. All of them are billionaires, decked out in fancy clothes, and next door lives a broke guy. Their biggest worry must be that broke guy's military power, right?"
"Yes, master. Even though Iraq has fought for eight years and its economy has collapsed, its military strength has only grown. If the U.S. doesn't get involved, Iraq would control at least a third of the oil-producing regions."
"Alright, keep observing. It looks like oil prices will still have fluctuations in the short term."
Seeking protection wasn't wrong, and weakening Iraq wasn't wrong either. Unfortunately, Kuwait clearly chose the wrong partner to cooperate with.
Working with the CIA was like a centenarian hanging himself. It would be a joke if these guys actually helped solve a problem; in truth, they preferred to escalate matters. As for your well-being, it wasn't even on their radar.
Iraq currently owed Kuwait 15 billion dollars. His demands were straightforward. He had no money to repay his debts, and if they didn't cut oil production, he wouldn't pay up.
In William White's eyes, he was just a freeloader. It was only natural to repay debts; throwing a tantrum was hardly impressive. Did he think he was the United States?
Of course, Kuwait wasn't just going to let that slide. No way could he refuse to pay. They had backers; if he didn't pay up, they'd send their big brother to sanction him.
Thus, the CIA swooped in as the mediator.
One had to say, Kuwait made a big mistake in one regard. If there was any organization that disliked peace in this world, the CIA would undoubtedly rank high on that list.
If their estimates were correct, their task was to stir up trouble. Expecting these guys to play peacekeepers -- now that would be a laugh.
After Iraq had a run-in with its neighbor, Kuwait had presented a document clearly showing that the CIA and Kuwait intended to deal with him.
What followed was merely Iraq's act of self-preservation. Well, perhaps one could claim they overreacted.
Naturally, the Americans denied the existence of such a document. Kuwait also resolutely denied any such actions.
It seemed that Kuwait might indeed be innocent. At least, as long as they weren't completely out of their minds, they wouldn't do something so foolish. To put it plainly, why would a bunch of filthy rich landowners engage in life-threatening activities?
And as for America?
If the rumors were true, they likely "misplaced" that so-called document on purpose. How else could Iraq's intelligence personnel possibly acquire any direct evidence?
The trick of using false intelligence to deceive opponents was something the Americans did with ease. Before D-Day, they employed the same tactics. Of course, Iraq's level of intelligence wouldn't allow them to receive such treatment; a few fake documents would work just fine.
"Wait a minute, Tanner, does this mean they're going to temporarily let Gaddafi off the hook?"
Tanner paused. If that were the case, security forces had to be ramped up in Africa. It remained uncertain whether Gaddafi would actually make any moves.
"Master, we must consider this factor. While plotting against Iraq, it's impossible to also target Gaddafi."
"Alright, ramp up the intelligence gathering. And inform Max to increase vigilance."
William White's concerns were not unfounded. At this stage, the risks seemed low. But once the desert regions ignited, the situation could quickly become unclear.
Remember, Africa's situation was much more complex than that of the desert region. There were not only remnants of Soviet power but also European forces. After all, this was their traditional sphere of influence.
When the Hunter family's oil fields were seized, even though Gaddafi was the one on the ground, the Europeans were also stirring the pot.
This was their backyard; how could the Americans not control the oil? Even as allies, the main arteries of the economy could never be in someone else's hands.
The Soviets still held sway in Africa back then, which led to sabotage among allies. Now that the Soviets were gone, it was better to start laying the groundwork early.
The guys in Africa had a simple mindset. It didn't matter who was the boss; as long as you had food, weapons, and money, you were the big guy, and they'd follow you. But if your wallet ran dry,
Well, who the heck are you, anyway?
Due to Africa's unique geographical position, most of its oil was exported to Europe, with transportation costs being lower than those in the desert or regions controlled by Soviets. The quality of their oil was also quite good; Britain and France mostly relied on their supplies.
While William White wasn't interested in oil, he was a significant force in the matter. He quickly realized a crucial point; the Americans would play the divide-and-conquer game, while Europeans were even better at it. If he wasn't careful, he could end up being framed.
Having thought this through, William White seriously considered stepping back. The costs and benefits just didn't add up.
Well, he decided to wait and see. If the Europeans got too entrenched, he might have no choice but to pull out. No matter how powerful you are, you can't challenge entire nations.
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