3/20/25 Gary Vogler on the Haifa Pipeline and How Oil Drives Middle Eastern Geopolitics

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Mar 28, 2025

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.

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ANECDOTE

Vogler's Wartime Role

Gary Vogler, an ExxonMobil executive and Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel, was called to the Pentagon in 2002.
He joined an interagency team tasked with pre-war planning for the Iraq invasion.

INSIGHT

Garner's Dismissal

Vogler served as the senior oil advisor to Jay Garner, the initial civilian leader in Iraq.
Garner's swift replacement by Paul Bremer was attributed to Garner irritating Doug Feith.

INSIGHT

Chalabi's Pipeline Promise

Ahmed Chalabi, an exiled Iraqi banker, convinced the Israel lobby and neoconservatives of a plan.
Upon Saddam's removal, he'd reopen the Kirkuk-Haifa oil pipeline, benefiting Israel.

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