Oil companies hopeful on Iraq politics

[Cocoa]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/11134355.htm

PARIS - As Iraq's political factions move closer to forming a new government, the world's oil leaders are dusting off their Baghdad Rolodexes with an eye toward lucrative production agreements.

Through 15 years of conflict and sanctions, major oil companies never lost sight of Iraq's massive proven reserves - the world's second-largest after Saudi Arabia. Efforts to form the nation's first elected government in over half a century are making the prospect of major contracts more tantalizingly real, even if that government could still be more than a year away.

<snip>

But former oil company geologist Ibrahim Mohammed, who works as a London-based consultant in contact with Iraqi officials, says Baghdad oil ministry staff expect the major U.S. companies to win the lion's share.

"Among people who are high up in the ministry of oil and the national Iraqi oil company," Mohammed said, the feeling is that "the new government is going to be influenced by the United States."

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[Emboldened Chimp]

1. But...but...the oil is for the Iraqi people!

[cthrumatrix]

2. that's what corp media told us...it's theirs!!!!!!!!!

[FloridaPat]

3. No NO NO. No one would invest in oil owned by the people. They

people have to sell it for it to be profitable. And of course I'm sure the money from the oil wells will go directly to the people of Iraq. Just like all the other money intended for them did.

Oh yea, the rules Bremer left for the new government said they can't tax the profits these foreign companies make off the oil wells.

[TheFarseer]

4. Oh, I get it

With no taxes, the oil companies will be able to provide jobs for the Iraqi people. You see, the money will trickle down to them.

[GetTheRightVote]

5. Oh my, what will the Iraqie people think ??

:kick:

[Robbien]

6. They had better be hopeful. We just spent $300B in order for them

to get the privatization contracts. If they were not hopeful, that would mean our $300B was spent needlessly.

[bpilgrim]

7. well that will certainly bring the prices back to 'NORMAL'

http://news.globalfreepress.com/movs/Al_Bartlett-PeakOil.mp4

psst... pass the word ;->

peace