Disaster Capitalism and the Next Target: How Wars of Profit Move from Iraq to Ukraine—With Iran in the Crosshairs

Introduction: Catastrophe as Opportunity

Since the start of the 21st century, major international conflicts have followed a clear, repeating pattern: crisis, intervention, collapse, and profit extraction. The victims are everyday people, while the beneficiaries are corporations, financial elites, and military contractors. This process is called disaster capitalism—and it’s now aiming squarely at Iran.

Disaster Capitalism: How Profit is Extracted from Human Catastrophe

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A Strategic Blueprint: Wesley Clark’s “7 Countries in 5 Years”

In a now-famous interview, General Wesley Clark described a Pentagon memo he saw shortly after 9/11:

“We’re going to take out seven countries in five years, starting with Iraq, and then Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and finishing off, Iran.”

Most of this list has played out in real-time. The remaining major target—Iran—has so far avoided large-scale war, but the pattern is unmistakable: economic warfare, covert action, and increasing calls for “regime change.”

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Disaster Capitalism: The Engine of Modern War

Antony Loewenstein describes disaster capitalism as “an economic system where the worst events in human life become lucrative opportunities for profit.” It isn’t a conspiracy—it’s a business model. Wars and engineered crises clear the way for:

• Privatization of public assets
• Resource extraction (oil, gas, minerals)
• Massive loans and debt traps
• Contracts for reconstruction, security, and logistics
• Opening of new markets for Western corporations

Recent Examples:

• Iraq: The U.S. invasion destroyed infrastructure and institutions, leading to endless contracts for rebuilding, security, and oil extraction. Little of this wealth reached ordinary Iraqis.
• Libya: Western intervention toppled Gaddafi, splintered the country, and opened up oil fields for foreign control while leaving chaos and civil war behind.
• Ukraine: War and instability have led to record profits for arms makers, while “reforms” attached to Western aid push privatization of land and industry. Reconstruction is being pre-sold to Western companies as a new business frontier.

Bankers’ Wars, Global Elites, and the One World Government: A Revelation Perspective

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Iran: The Next Domino

Current Strategy:

• Sanctions: Years of “maximum pressure” sanctions have crippled Iran’s economy, weakening its population and fraying internal cohesion.
• Covert Destabilization: Assassinations, sabotage, cyberwarfare, and proxy conflicts have kept Iran isolated and on the defensive.
• Propaganda & Pretext: Media and political rhetoric frame Iran as an existential threat, justifying further escalation and potential intervention.
• Calls for Regime Change: Western officials, think tanks, and allies openly discuss the need to replace Iran’s leadership—just as they did with Iraq, Libya, and Syria.

Why Iran?

• Strategic Location: Iran sits astride the world’s most vital oil and gas routes, connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa.
• Vast Resources: Iran holds the world’s fourth-largest proven oil reserves and second-largest natural gas reserves.
• Regional Power: Iran’s independence makes it a stubborn barrier to Western economic and military hegemony.

The Disaster Capitalism Playbook—Ready for Iran

Should open war break out or “regime change” succeed:

• Rapid privatization of Iran’s massive state-owned oil, gas, and industrial assets
• Huge reconstruction contracts for Western and multinational companies
• IMF and World Bank loans that entrench economic dependency
• Corporate control over key trade routes and infrastructure

Ordinary Iranians, like Iraqis and Libyans before them, would likely see little benefit—only more hardship.

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Direct Quotes

• Wesley Clark: “We’re going to take out seven countries in five years… finishing off, Iran.”
• Antony Loewenstein: “Disaster capitalism is an economic system where the worst events in human life become lucrative opportunities for profit… War is not just about victory or defeat, but about opening doors for capital.”

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Why This Pattern Matters

Every new “war and rumor of war” is presented as a fight for democracy, security, or humanitarian ideals. But behind the scenes, the beneficiaries are the same: arms dealers, banks, oil and gas giants, and reconstruction conglomerates. Conflict is less a tragedy than a business plan—one in which Iran, with its enormous resources and geopolitical position, is simply the most lucrative remaining domino.

Winners & Losers

• Winners:
  • Arms & oil companies
  • Banks
  • Foreign contractors
• Losers:
  • Ordinary citizens
  • National sovereignty
  • Local economies

Visual: Scales with corporations/banks outweighing people and homes.

Takeaway

Every new war or crisis is another business opportunity.
Until we break the cycle, nations like Iran will remain in the crosshairs of disaster capitalism.

“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is it’s an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before.”
—Rahm Emanuel

This idea—using crises as opportunities for sweeping change or profit—perfectly ties into the disaster capitalism theme.

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Conclusion: Recognizing and Resisting the Cycle

History shows this is not about one country or administration, but about a global system that profits from destruction. The focus on Iran isn’t accidental—it’s the logical next step in a proven pattern. The best hope for ordinary people is to see through the pretexts, demand transparency, and refuse to let profit dictate policy.

Until the cycle of disaster capitalism is broken, no nation rich in resources or resistant to outside control will be safe from being the next “target.”

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