Iraq Draws Up Plan to Privatize State-Owned Firms

[chlamor]

My Comment: "Iraq" did not draw up these plans.

Iraq draws up plan to privatize state-owned firms
Foreign investors solicited for cash


BAGHDAD: Iraq's Industry Ministry plans to partially privatize most of its 46 state-owned companies as part of the government's plan to establish a liberal, free-market economy.

Later this year, the ministry is expected to launch a search for domestic and foreign partners in the private sector to jointly run companies in the petrochemical, cement, sugar, silk and heavy industry sectors.

Initially, the ministry plans to privatize around 10 small factories and companies which do not contribute greatly to the economy, such as those producing clothes and tires.

"We have plans to develop and pave the way for domestic and foreign investment in these sectors," said Mohammad Abdullah, acting industry minister.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=3&article_id=15131

[GreenArrow]

1. my comment it the same as yours

"Iraq" had nothing to do with it.

[jayfish]

2. Translation:

we're taking all you stuff and giving it to billionaires.

Jay

[merwin]

3. LOL, privitization of government is the OPPOSITE of liberal. You would

think that they would actually do some reporting.

Although, that newspaper does look like a big pile of propeganda.

[aneerkoinos]

15. LOL

Only in America do social democrats call themselves 'liberals'.

[xxqqqzme]

17. I think it is liberal as in

'give freely'. They are going to freely give those companies to B operated under the corporate thumb.

[TahitiNut]

4. Privateers (pirates) now infest Iraq. No surprise.

Welfare for the wealthy.

[Roland99]

5. "IRAQ" does it?? Bullsh*t!! They've been nationalistic for DECADES!

The New Colonialism - Capitalism.


Just like the U.S. pushed into Central America.

[AP]

6. That's going to go over really well with the locals.

[woosh]

7. My thoughts exactly

I really don't have much hope for this country.

[Barrett808]

8. Naomi Klein says this is the single biggest driver of the insurgency

Whole factories of workers have threatened to join the insurgency if their industries are privatized.

[SOS]

9. Privatization

was planned before the invasion. That's why Bremer fired all state employees as his first act as head of the CPA. The goal was to strip them and sell them cheap to American corporations. There is nothing new or "Iraqi" about this news item.

[Tracer]

10. Naomi Klein nailed this in April, 2003.

n/t

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml%3Fi=20030428&s=klein

[annabanana]

11. PNAC gameplan... exactly what they wanted to do...

This is why they wanted to go in there.. The ivory tower guys (primarily Wolfowitz) had this as their primary purpose from the start.

When the results turn to shit, they will find someone else to blame.

[sjdnb]

12. Going according to Heritage Fdn plans

The Road to Economic Prosperity for a Post-Saddam Iraq
by Dr. Ariel Cohen and Gerald P. O'Driscoll, Jr., Ph.D.
Backgrounder #1594
September 25, 2002
“The United States, through its executive directors at such IFIs as the IMF and World Bank, and other international governmental and non-governmental organizations, should begin to advise the future leaders of Iraq's three primary ethnic groups to establish policies that will lead to a thriving modern economy. These policies should be based on "best practices" developed around the world in the 1990s, when the largest government privatizations in history occurred.”

“Combined with the potential privatization of the oil industry, such measures could provide incentive for Iraq to leave the OPEC cartel down the road, which would have long-term, positive implications for global oil supply.”

“The winning strategy of structural reform and privatization also would benefit the industrial world, the United States and its allies, countries of the Middle East, and the developing world.”

[Roland99]

13. Anyone ever read any books by Tariq Ali?

[chlamor]

14. Plugging Iraq Into Globalization- Same as it Ever Was

The Corporate Slush Fund for Iraq

By promising the United Nations a threadbare role in the reconstruction of Iraq, and giving the World Bank and International Monetary Fund accounting oversight, the U.S. managed to buy the world's largest multilateral institutions into an incredible deal for private U.S. interests.

On May 22, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1483, which ended sanctions and endorsed the creation of Development Fund for Iraq, to be overseen by a board of accountants, including UN, World Bank, and IMF representatives. It endorsed the transfer of over $1 billion (of Iraqi oil money) from the Oil-for-Food program into the Development Fund. All proceeds from the sale of Iraqi oil and natural gas are also to be placed into the fund.

<snip>

New debt will accrue through the very program that Ambassador Negroponte said would "benefit the people of Iraq." The Development Fund, derived from actual and expected Iraqi oil and gas sales, apparently will be used to leverage U.S. government-backed loans, credit, and direct financing for U.S. corporate forays into Iraq. Some of the funds will finance reconstruction projects approved by viceroy Bremer. But other funds will also be used as collateral for projects approved by the U.S. Export-Import Bank (ExIm), whose mission is not development or poverty alleviation, but rather the creation of US jobs and the promotion of American business abroad.

On June 19, the U.S. ExIm announced that it was open for business in Iraq and would begin considering applications by subcontractors (that is, companies hired by Bechtel and Halliburton) in Iraq for working capital guarantees. Corporations have found it impossible to obtain private bank credit for work in Iraq, due to the ongoing insecure environment. But ExIm has stepped in to take a lead role in facilitating U.S. business in Iraq.

http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/special/2003/0722iraqoil.htm

[bemildred]

16. I hope they have a plan to get the to airport for the last flight out. nt