Sen. Larry Craig may not be telling the truth about his sexual orientation, but he was certainly honest about why we're occupying Iraq and gearing up to fight Iran: oil.

This is from last month's all-night Iraq debate. Craig ran short on time, so part of this statement is from his prepared remarks later inserted in the Congressional Record:

Iraq is simply in the way of Iran. It's quite plain. It's quite simple. And it is very visual when you look at the map. And without some stability ... in Iraq, the ability of it to control itself and its borders, the ability to govern itself, the reality of what could happen in the region is in fact dramatic consequences, a collapse, a major war within the region, not only a civil war within Iraq but the ability of Iran and Syria to exploit the situation that would occur there.

Tehran would extend its destabilizing activities to another very important part of the region--Kuwait--and the oil-rich regions of eastern Saudi Arabia along this border here, one of the larger producing oilfields in the region and the kingdom could well fall. And those are the realities we face at this moment that I think few want to talk about.

Let's talk about another consequence ... we've not talked about ... what happens when 54 percent of the world's oil supply goes to risk with a collapse of the region. And this is a reality check that we only talk about in hushed terms, because we don't like to talk about our dependency on a part of the world that is so unstable.

...

What happens to the world energy supply if Iran does gain more control in the Middle East? What are the realities of the consequences of an Iran that possibly could gain control over 54% of the world energy supply? They could place a choke hold over the Strait of Hormuz and possibly in sea lanes in the region, severely limiting the supply of oil to the world market. That is not just a reality that the United States must face, but a reality for the world.

I have worked very hard with my colleagues to lessen the U.S. dependence on foreign oil. However, we are not yet capable of raising production in the United States because we have been blocked by the other side of the aisle from doing so. Therefore, a premature withdrawal from Iraq could have dire consequences with our economy and energy supply; but would also have the same effects on the world economy.

There it is, the conservative worldview in all it's glory.

To control the natural resources in foreign lands through war, instead of ending occupation so we can successfully engage the entire Gulf region diplomatically, allow sovereign people to control their own natural resources, and invest in renewable energy to reduce our dependence on oil.

Craig's political career may be over soon, but this foreign policy vision remains in place.