3/20/25 Gary Vogler on the Haifa Pipeline and How Oil Drives Middle Eastern Geopolitics
Mar 28, 2025
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Gary Vogler, a West Point graduate and retired ExxonMobil executive, shares his unique insights on Middle Eastern geopolitics shaped by oil. He discusses the Haifa Pipeline's significance during the Iraq War and the secret oil trade between Israel and its neighbors. Vogler elaborates on his experiences managing oil resources amidst conflict, the political complexities of U.S. foreign policy, and the interplay of energy security and military strategies. His narratives reveal how economic necessities can spark cooperation even amid tensions, emphasizing oil's crucial role in international relations.
Gary Vogler shares his experiences managing Iraqi oil operations, revealing how unplanned chaos overshadowed strategic understanding during the 2003 invasion.
The podcast discusses the pivotal role of Israeli energy security in shaping U.S. military strategies and the complicated dynamics of foreign interventions.
Vogler highlights the long-term detrimental impacts of the Iraq War on Iraq and the U.S., benefitting primarily the military-industrial complex.
Deep dives
Gary Vogler's Background and Insight into Iraqi Oil
Gary Vogler discusses his unique background in both military and oil sectors, highlighting his role in managing Iraqi oil operations during the 2003 invasion. He explains that, despite being heavily involved in pre-war planning, the complexities and motivations behind U.S. actions in Iraq were not fully understood until he reflected on them later. His experience underscores the chaotic environment where planning took precedence over strategic understanding. Vogler emphasizes that the immediate tasks overwhelmed key decision-makers, which affected their ability to critically analyze the true objectives behind the war.
The Role of Neoconservatives and Ahmed Chalabi
Vogler provides an in-depth look into how neoconservative figures supported Ahmed Chalabi, believing in his potential to establish a U.S.-friendly government in Iraq, which would facilitate oil trade with Israel. He outlines Chalabi's promises to the Israeli lobby, including the reconnection of old oil pipelines, which were viewed as crucial for Israeli energy security following lost supplies from other regions. This relationship proves to highlight the problematic interplay between U.S. foreign policy and private interests that influenced governmental decisions. Vogler notes that the unrealistic expectations regarding Chalabi’s influence were driven more by hope than by an understanding of Middle Eastern geopolitics.
Impact of Israeli Interests on U.S. Military Decisions
The podcast reveals how Israeli energy security influenced U.S. military strategies and operational decisions, especially in relation to controlling Iraqi oil. Vogler recounts instances where Pentagon decisions conflicted with the stated policy of not attacking Iraqi oil infrastructure, specifically mentioning the destruction of pump stations that facilitated oil trade to Syria. This reflects a broader strategy that prioritized Israeli energy goals over local stability and U.S. military objectives. Additionally, the perception that U.S. troops served foreign interests rather than American security needs adds a layer of complexity to the engagement in Iraq.
Plan B: Redirecting Iraqi Oil to Israel
After the initial plans to open the Kirkuk-Haifa pipeline faltered, Chalabi's leadership helped forge alternative routes for Iraqi oil, primarily towards Turkish ports, thus ensuring oil reached Israel indirectly. The establishment of new bureaucratic controls allowed for the normalization of oil exports to companies that supplied Israel. Despite initial resistance, such as sabotage attempts by Iraqi factions, the ongoing flow of oil persisted over the years, ultimately leading to a clandestine yet stable supply route. This strategy not only showcased Chalabi's political maneuvering but also the persistent willingness of neoconservatives to go to great lengths to ensure that Israeli energy needs were met.
Long-term Ramifications of the Iraq War
Vogler argues that the Iraq War had devastating long-term impacts on both Iraq and the United States, suggesting that the billions spent have mainly benefited the military-industrial complex while Iraqis suffered extensive casualties. He expresses frustration over the miscalculations that led to severe instability in the region, contributing to the rise of insurgencies and enduring violence that followed. By reflecting on the waves of violence and loss of life, Vogler underscores a sobering reality: the war did not fulfill its promises for U.S. interests but instead entangled America in ongoing conflicts with far-reaching consequences. The episodes discussed throughout highlight the complexities and morally questionable foundations of U.S. foreign interventions.
Scott interviews Gary Vogler about the book he published last year with the Libertarian Institute: Israel, Winner of the 2003 Iraq Oil War. Vogler explains his background managing oil in Iraq on behalf of the Pentagon. They then dive into Vogler’s insights about how the oil trade—especially the secret oil trade between Israel and its regional neighbors—lies at the heart of the geopolitical dynamic in the Middle East and all the American interventions there in recent decades.
Gary Vogler is a 1973 West Point graduate, retired army reserve lieutenant colonel, retired ExxonMobil executive with 21 years, five months of Iraq oil planning at Pentagon followed by 75 months in Iraq under DOD - appointed Oil Minister during first 10 days in Baghdad in April 2003.
