(Five) Nobel Peace Laureates Oppose Iraqi Oil Law Imposition

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0626-01.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 27, 2007
9:15 AM


CONTACT: Institute For Public Accuracy
Phone IPA [phone]; or
David Zupan at [phone].

Nobel Peace Laureates Oppose Iraqi Oil Law Imposition


WASHINGTON - JUNE 26 - In the past few weeks, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and the chief U.S. commander in the Mideast, Admiral William Fallon, have all traveled to Baghdad to press Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki to pass a controversial oil law.

Five Nobel Peace Prize laureates have just released a statement against the U.S. pressure on the Iraqi government.

The Nobel Peace Prize Laureates -- Betty Williams, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi and Wangari Maathai -- have released the statement in opposition to the Iraq Oil Law and U.S. pressure on the Iraqi government to pass the law, which favors foreign companies.


ANTONIA JUHASZ
The Laureates' statement is as follows: "In support of the people of Iraq, we the undersigned Nobel Peace Prize Laureates state our opposition to the Iraq Oil Law. We also oppose the decision of the United States government to require that the Iraq government pass the Oil Law as a condition of continued reconstruction aid in legislation passed on May 24, 2007. A law with the potential to so radically transform the basic economic security of the people of Iraq should not be forced on Iraq while it is under occupation and in such a weak negotiating position vis-à-vis both the U.S. government and foreign oil corporations. The Iraq Oil Law could benefit foreign oil companies at the expense of the Iraqi people, deny the Iraqi people economic security, create greater instability, and move the country further away from peace. The U.S. government should leave the matter of how Iraq will address the future of its oil system to the Iraqi people to be dealt with at a time when they are free from occupation and more able to engage in truly democratic decision-making. It is immoral and illegal to use war and invasion as mechanisms for robbing a people of their vital natural resources."
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For more information, contact the Institute for Public Accuracy at [phone]; or David Zupan at [phone].

[dkofos]

1. How do the Iraqi's feel about it??

[Canuckistanian]

4. They all hate it - Kurds, Sunnis, Shi'ia

And that's why the Iraqi "government" is dragging it's feet on the matter.

They know that anyone who signs that deal will be the first against the wall when the REAL revolution comes.

[babylonsister]

9. Here's hoping they keep dragging their feet! nt

[Supersedeas]

2. Nothing to see here--the Oil sponsored Corp Media won't touch this at all.

[Disturbed]

3. The Iraqi Liberation will be soon.

Iraqis will be Liberated from their oil and the US Troop draw down will commence. This is the Busholini Regime Plan.

[Jim__]

5. Five Nobel Laureates versus one shithead.

It's really no-contest as to who's right.

[Uncle Joe]

6. Thanks for the thread babylonsister

Kicked and recommended.

[babylonsister]

7. Anytime, Uncle Joe!

:hi:

[mmonk]

8. We're not going to leave without getting the benefits

we came for.

[slipslidingaway]

10. Oil law approved by cabinet, Parliament to discuss next week.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/23975

"Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's cabinet approved a U.S.-backed draft oil law and the Parliament is expected to start discussing it next week." The law, which institutes privileges for foreign companies at a level unseen anywhere else in the Middle East, has been challenged inside and outside Iraq. The Iraqi oil workers union went on a strike last month to protest the law..."

[Psyop Samurai]

11. yep...

"In the last two weeks, there have been three high-level meetings between
senior U.S. administration and military figures and the Iraqi prime
minister. They told the Iraqi prime minister to pass a law giving
control of Iraq's oil fields to multinational companies -- or be
forced from power."

Ain't democracy grand?

Funny how Kucinich seems to be the only one who knows anything about this:

Kucinich: Congress Endorses Blackmail of Iraq

Congressman Kucinich to Receive Statement By Oil Workers Union on U.S. Government’s Role in Privatizing Iraqi Oil

[slipslidingaway]

12. None of the other candidates have spoken about this issue that

could come back to hurt us in the future if the people of Iraq feel betrayed by foreign oil companies.