In a famous 2007 interview with Democracy Now!, retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark revealed a Pentagon plan he was shown shortly after the September 11 attacks. He claimed a senior officer told him about a classified memo describing how the U.S. intended to "take out seven countries in five years."
The seven countries named in the memo were:
1 Iraq
2 Syria
3 Lebanon
4 Libya
5 Somalia
6 Sudan
7 Iran (noted as the final target)
• The Meeting: Clark stated he first heard about the plan in November 2001 while visiting the Pentagon.
• The Source: He attributed the memo to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Donald Rumsfeld at the time).
• Motivation: Clark criticized the plan as a "policy coup" by neoconservatives in the Bush administration who sought to use military force to destabilize and control the Middle East without a clear link to the 9/11 attacks.
• Documentation: Clark also detailed these allegations in his 2003 book, Winning Modern Wars: Terrorism and the American Empire.
Was Clark at liberty to share that information? Was it mis- or dis- information from his handlers? ASYMMETRICAL WARFARE???
The geopolitical and financial landscape for these countries in 2025–2026 is defined by a sharp divide between those entering fragile recovery phases (Iraq, Lebanon, Libya) and those remaining in acute crisis or transition (Sudan, Syria, Iran).
1. Iraq: Managed Stability with Fiscal Risks
• Financial Health: Iraq's economy is expected to grow by 1.2% in 2025 and accelerate to 4.4% in 2026. Despite substantial foreign reserves of nearly $95 billion, the country faces a looming $10 billion+ deficit due to high public spending on salaries and falling oil prices.
• Geopolitics: Iraq remains a battleground for U.S.-Iran influence. While the Central Bank of Iraq maintains a stable exchange rate (~1,300 IQD/USD), it is under pressure to implement anti-money laundering reforms to avoid U.S. sanctions.
2. Syria: Survivalist Transition
• Financial Health: Syria is currently characterized as a "subsistence economy," with GDP having declined by 87% since 2011. A transitional government formed in March 2025 offers a path to recovery, but liquidity remains critically low.
• Geopolitics: Reconstruction is the primary focus, with the 2025 Brussels Conference securing $6.5 billion in pledges—far below the estimated hundreds of billions needed.
3. Lebanon: Fragile Recovery
• Financial Health: After years of contraction, real GDP is projected to grow by 3.0%–4.7% in 2025 and potentially 6.0% in 2026. Inflation is expected to decelerate from 75% to roughly 33.6% in 2026.
• Geopolitics: Growth hinges on Hezbollah's disarmament (targeted for H1 2026), which would unlock GCC investment and IMF financing.
4. Libya: Oil-Driven Rebound
• Financial Health: Libya's GDP is projected to surge by 12.4%–13.3% in 2025 as oil production recovers to 1.3 million barrels per day.
• Geopolitics: Political fragmentation remains the chief threat. Rival factions continue to battle for control over the National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Libyan Investment Authority assets, risking future production shutdowns.
5. Iran: Sanctions Pressure
• Financial Health: Iran's economy is increasingly tied to non-Western trade corridors. While it seeks to diversify through closer ties with Central Asia, it remains heavily sanctioned, limiting its formal financial health.
• Geopolitics: Tensions with the U.S. and Israel continue to drive its regional strategy, often using its influence in Iraq and Lebanon as leverage.
6. Sudan: High Fragility
Sudan: Remains in a state of severe conflict, with its economy devastated by ongoing civil war. Financial health is almost entirely dependent on emergency humanitarian aid.
7. Somalia: High Fragility
Somalia: Classified as a fragile state, it is gradually working through debt relief programs but faces persistent security threats that stifle private investment.
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