Iraq and the Politics of Oil

“In this book, Vogler tells a powerful story that should be read by an audience beyond the military and oil industry. He tells a compelling story of how a few people in political power at the time led the US into a war under false assumptions and the terrible consequences of such deception and dishonesty at the highest levels.”—Social Science Journal

"This is a great read for all military leaders currently working or about to work with interagency or intergovernmental organizations."—Military Review

"Vogler’s book is more than a re-examination of the reasons for the invasion . . . for watchers of Iraq’s energy sector, it’s a goldmine."—Petroleum Economist

"This is the most thorough study of the challenges, successes, and failures of the oil industry in Iraq after the 2003 invasion. A highly thought-provoking book. Highly recommended."—Choice

“After five months of Pentagon planning and six years of implementation in Iraq, Gary Vogler discovered the secret oil agenda that sent the United States to war in the Middle East. His revealing and compelling narrative will both surprise and anger many Americans about neoconservative greed, dishonesty, and treachery. Iraq and the Politics of Oil tells the truth—and the truth about this grave historical blunder is long overdue.”—Donald T. Phillips, author of Lincoln on Leadership for Today

“Mr. Vogler’s first hand account of his years working to rebuild the Iraqi oil sector is a must-read for students of post-conflict reconstruction. It demonstrates how even with advanced planning by top industry experts, this crucial sector still faced unanticipated bureaucratic infighting, political interference, Congressional budget constraints, and deteriorating security. Mr. Vogler describes in intimate detail how a remarkable group of dedicated Iraqis and Americans came together to try to overcome these challenges, providing valuable lessons for the future.”—Ambassador Robin Raphel, former Deputy Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.

“Gary Vogler spent 72 months in Iraq after the invasion in 2003 working on oil infrastructure. I know no other person better qualified to write this story. And the management of oil in Iraq over this period is an important story.”—Gordon Rudd, author of Reconstructing Iraq: Regime Change, Jay Garner, and the ORHA Story

“This important book provides the reader with a mosaic of the Iraq oil story from 2002 to 2011; it is written by the one American who experienced and contributed to all of it. Gary Vogler describes the details of our country’s prewar oil planning, followed by the challenges of executing those plans once inside of Iraq. As a former army officer and oil industry executive, Vogler was uniquely qualified to be the senior oil advisor to both the US coalition and the newly formed Iraqi government. His advice, experience, and leadership was instrumental in restarting the Iraqi oil sector. This is a must-read for all senior military and foreign service officers.”—Jay Garner, retired Lieutenant General, US Army