Iraq's VP rejects draft oil bill

[yurbud]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

SOUTHERN SHUNEH: Iraq's vice president said yesterday he opposes a draft law that is key to the future of his country's lucrative oil sector, saying it gives too many concessions to foreign oil companies.

"We disagree with the production sharing agreement," Tariq al-Hashemi told reporters on the sideline of an international conference hosted by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum. "We want foreign oil companies, and we have to lure them into Iraq to learn from their expertise and acquire their technology, but we shouldn't give them big privileges," Al-Hashemi said.

Al-Hashemi added he hoped oil corporations would nonetheless invest in Iraq despite ongoing security concerns. He said that his Iraqi Accordance Front, parliament's largest Sunni Arab bloc with 44 seats, was seeking to "amend" the draft oil legislation because the "clock is ticking and it's only a matter of one or two months before the law is enacted."

The Iraqi government is locked in debate over the draft oil law, which allows for sharing the country's vast oil wealth- believed to be the world's third biggest. Oil firms are eagerly awaiting the legislation, which sets a framework for licensing and access to Iraqi reserves. - AP

Read more: http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTk5MTA3MTQ4Mw==

---

When will Democratic leaders in Congress start talking about this?

[Erika]

1. Americans did not profit from their oil reserves

Except for Alaskans.

[yurbud]

7. that drives me nuts too. Here in CA, we had an initiative to tax big oil more for drilling here

but they killed it with an ad campaign.

[ProudDad]

13. Worse

It was to tax big OIL THE SAME WAY they're taxed in Alaska, Texas and Florida but AREN'T HERE IN CALIFORNIA!

And the tax was to be used for alternative energy R&D...

That's the main reason gas prices went so low just before the elections last Nov -- they've jumped right back since.

To any Californians who DIDN'T VOTE YES ON 87 -- Shame on You!!!

[yurbud]

20. I think those who voted no can't read

[scarletwoman]

2. "When will Democratic leaders in Congress start talking about this?" Only when we pressure them.

Unfortunately, this issue hasn't seemed to catch much attention.

k & r -- thank you for posting this.

sw

[CANDO]

4. The Democrats are in on it.

They just don't want it to be out in the open. They are trying to accomplish a withdrawal in a more timely fashion, and never mention that there will be many thousands of troops left behind at the permanent bases to protect our interests(the oil interests). We need to face up to this inconvenient truth. Just like we need to face the trade deals they are about to agree to. Just like we need to face the immigration reform package they are about to shove down our throats. I am sick about all this. We are being snookered by the corporate teat suckling DLC, whether we like it or not.

[yurbud]

5. yep--Kucinich was talking about it and Obey told him to shut up

you know when Dems are doing the wrong thing because they get mad when people ask questions--like when Obey went after that soldier's mom for asking about ending the war.

[Erika]

9. Interesting as to the divide you are trying to make

Says a lot. Thought so.

[IndianaGreen]

10. It is true! Why don't you educate yourself about it instead for mouthing platitudes?

The oil law was drafted in Washington, and it benefits Big Oil at the expense of the people of Iraq. Google it!

[yurbud]

28. I wish I was making it up--do your homework LINKS

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charlie-cray/has-anyone-in-congress-or_b_48557.html

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0507/3969.html

[Erika]

8. I don't think so.

Inconvenient truth? How GOP trendy.

[IndianaGreen]

11. Yes they are! The corporate wing of the Democratic Party is in it to their chins!

Was the Iraq War for Oil?
How Big Oil is gaining control of Iraq's massive oil reserves
www.IraqOilLaw.com

New Iraqi Oil Law Seen as Cover for Privatization
WASHINGTON - The U.S.-backed Iraqi cabinet approved a new oil law Monday that is set to give foreign companies the long-term contracts and safe legal ...
www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0228-05.htm

Institute For Public Accuracy: Will the Iraq Oil Bill Increase ...The piece states that the proposed Iraqi oil law "establishes a framework ... The major provisions of the REST of the law turn over the Iraq oil industry to ...
www.commondreams.org/news2007/0504-07.htm

Iraqis Resist U.S. Pressure to Enact Oil Law - CommonDreams.org ...BAGHDAD - It has not even reached parliament, but the oil law that U.S. officials call vital to ending Iraq’s civil war is in serious trouble among Iraqi ...
www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/05/13/1154/

Institute For Public Accuracy: Will the Iraq Oil Bill Increase ...The piece states that the proposed Iraqi oil law "establishes a framework for the distribution of oil revenue" and that "the White House was hoping for ...
www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/newsprint.cgi?file=/news2007/0504-07.htm

It's Still about Oil in Iraq Flanked by State Department officials, Iraqi Finance Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi (who is now vice president) explained how this law would open Iraq's oil ...
www.commondreams.org/views06/1208-26.htm

Iraqis Will Never Accept This Sellout to the Oil Corporations The oil law is likely to open the door to these corporations at a time when Iraq's capacity to regulate and control their activities will be highly ...
www.commondreams.org/views07/0116-30.htm

Iraqi Blocs Opposed to Draft Oil Bill - CommonDreams.org ... In Iraq, the Kurds have taken issue with a new provision that was quietly packaged with the draft oil law by the Shiite-led Oil Ministry last month. ...
www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/05/03/932/

Future of Iraq: The Spoils of War Now, unnoticed by most amid the furore over civil war in Iraq and the hanging of Saddam Hussein, the new oil law has quietly been going through several ...
www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0107-02.htm

[acmavm]

14. You really need to snap out of your coma and take a look at the real

world. The Democratic miracle of last November is really turned into one great big disappointment.

Secret trade deals, immigration reform, impeachment off the table, no investigations into the price gouging by the oil companies.

[LibertyorDeath]

19. Get a clue

The goals of Corporate America are represented

by both Dem's and Republicans.

You can if you want tell us about the
fantasy where the Dem's are as pure as the driven snow.

We all need a good laugh...

Cheers.....

[CANDO]

26. With respect to you, Erika.....

don't be blinded by the warm and fuzzy feelings about us taking back congress. Believe you me, I harbor no illusions that we've got two viable political parties. They are just two wings of the same corporate behemoth. The meddling in world affairs, especially in the oil rich Middle East, has been a bi-partisan effort for much of the past century. Go back and look. I've been a labor Democrat my entire adult life, and oh how I wish my party would truly put people before corporate policy. But they haven't. Sad but true.

[papau]

15. No - the "Democrats" are not "in on it" - but just some people protect ins. co's- others protect oil

co's because of beliefs as to how the system should work - perhaps some are more willing to believe because of campaign contributions being necessary to run - but as a party, the vast majority of Democrats are not into corporate protection. But most folks are into corporate fairness, and they may not draw the line like I, and apparently you, do with the concept that being a corporation is a privilege that only has liability and contract and tax rights - and no "human" rights.

As to your specifics -

Obama and Clinton have both over and over have said that troops will be left in Iraq indefinitely - just as the are in 130 other countries, to assist in training and co-ordination with our troops - but both have said we will have no "permanent bases" - while Edwards has all troops out to just the other side of the border - not coming home to any greater extent than Obama or Clinton.

The "protect our interests(the oil interests" - like protect American interests meaning protect the assets and ability of US incorporated corporations to make money - is a misguided - in my opinion and apparently also in your opinion - policy of our military and CIA. It is not any official Democratic Party position - but that "fairness" thing might get many in the party to push for decisions that US corporatiions would want.

The immigration reform package will not be "shove down our throats" - Kennedy cut a deal when it was impossible most thought - but Nancy wants changes as to "guest workers" and indeed wants her staff to go through all 400 pages including the proposed "point system".

The DLC has much less influence than most think (Rubin of the DLC supports Obama after Hillary rejected his free trade ideas - but Obama is hardly a classic DLCer). And the DLC deficit reduction priority is not a bad idea, in my opinion.

[papau]

16. All other countries give incentives for exploration and developement - but do not

give ownership - why the heck Iraq should be different? -It's just a GOP/Bush wet dream.

I think it great that the Sunni are opposing the give away - now it depends on how many Shia leaders our oil companies have bought.

[yurbud]

24. parliament is weighing bribes and bullets--if the take big oil bribe, what are the chances of gettin

a bullet from their constituents?

[papau]

29. it is easy to hate the oil companies' senior management - parliament must say "No" n/t

n/t

[yurbud]

23. Do some homework on the DLC besides reading the pablum on their site LINKS

Origins and priorities
http://web.archive.org/web/20010502041458/http://www.prospect.org/print/V12/7/dreyfuss-r.html

They are essentially corporate fifth columnists in the Democratic party, or if you want to sound less conspiratorial, they are corporate "insurance" in the Democrats, so that even if GOP loses, corporations know there will just be a different cop on the take walking their beat.

[papau]

30. They are indeed more in symphathy with corporations than I am - but not "on the take" n/t

n/t

[yurbud]

25. DLC said Dems could win by executing more retards than GOP

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=162655

[CANDO]

27. With respect to you, Papau....

we are both saying the same thing essentially, but with different words. As for the oil production sharing agreements, just what is it you think the Democrats mean when they talk of Iraqi government "benchmarks"? I think we are both astute enough to understand what is being said without it being "said". No blinders on here, just fighting the good fight. Cheers!

[papau]

31. I hope that the benchmark is only oil revenue sharing - as that is only thing that will hold

Iraq together as one country.

There is no other benchmark of similar importance. It is a tribal world - not Sunni and not Shia and not Kurd. Send Oil revenue to each tribe's chiefs/elders/mullahs/sheikhs and all is well - otherwise they fight forever. There is no need to have foreign ownership of the oil fields or equipment.

I really do not think benchmarks to the Democrats means any other legislative action in Iraq - other benchmarks are of course less violence and insecurity - but that is a measure of how fair the oil money sharing agreement is.

Cheers! :-)

[TwilightGardener]

3. Ruh-roh. The puppets are going to try to cut their strings!

[pinto]

6. This is the crux for Iraq, imo. How they deal with their oil, internally,

and externally, may well tell the tale - surge or no surge, Iranian or Saudi interests aside, al Qaeda aside, etc. etc. It's the one card they have to play. All three factions know that.

[yurbud]

21. EXTERNALLY is the piece that is costing our soldiers lives

[ProudDad]

12. Yipeeeeeeee!

I'm Soooooooooooooooo glad they're getting it in Iraq.

The masses sure as hell aren't getting it here!!!

It's all about O.I.L.

[SpiralHawk]

17. "Concessions to foriegn oil companies" That's why our sons and daughters are dying

in Iraq -- for republicon crony profits, plains and simple.

Commander AWOL and his cadre of republicon chickenhawk cronies have no respect for our troops, to lie them into this phony war and sacrifice them for fatcat oil & nercenary profits....

[yurbud]

22. I wish Dems in Congress would say that loudly and often enough that MSM couldn't ignore it

[Drum]

18. I see this

as the one most courageous thing that Iraq's nascent government can and must do. I hope they can squeeze all international developers of their oil OUT. The oil belongs to Iraq, was the prize the Bushites sought, and should be kept away from the invaders and occupiers....
Let's continue to watch W rationalize the war, trying like hell nt to mention the thing that's uppermost in the Neocon's minds...the bastards.
:(

[Supersedeas]

32. Nothing to see here--feed them more vilification of Jimmy Carter