Carter had no choice. The "Energy Crisis" (You have to remember that in 1976 scientists had proven we were on the cusp of an impending Ice Age because of 40 years of Global Cooling and the world will run out of oil before 1994!) was his only means to show he could do anything.
Carter destroyed the economy, 52 Americans spent a year and a half wondering what the hell he was doing by the fireside in his sweater while they sat blindfolded in Tehran, and his biggest foreign affairs successes were boycotting the Olympics and
the lasting peace he built in the Middle East. (underlined so the sarcasm shines through)
Reagan couldn't stop Carter policies and initiatives fast enough.
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Back on topic -
As for the maps and the interest in Iraqi oil in 2001, it goes to a small thing called the Oil for Food Scandal which nobody wants to talk about. The UN, Russia, France and many European countries where propping up Saddam in the face of the embargo on anything but humanitarian aid which could allow the exchange of Saddam's only currency - crude - for aspirin and groceries. Except he was also getting arms and hard currency and most of the other side was getting kickbacks.
Those countries were also the ones blocking the way for sanctions to work and for the UN and IAEC to inspect as a condition of the end of the Gulf War. So, to know who is playing the game you have to have a map, and a list of the players and potential players.
Enjoy the day off!
