US to Take Bigger Bite of Iraq's Economic Pie (privatizing oil)

[Barrett808]

The United States is helping the interim Iraqi government continue to make major economic changes, including cuts to social subsidies, full access for U.S. companies to the nation's oil reserves and reconsideration of oil deals that the previous regime signed with France and Russia.

During a visit here this week, officials of the U.S.-backed administration detailed some of the economic moves planned for Iraq, many of them appearing to give U.S. corporations greater reach into the occupied nation's economy.

For example, the current leadership is looking at privatizing the Iraqi National Oil Company, said Finance Minister Adil Abdel Mahdi.

The government, which is supposed to be replaced after elections scheduled for January, will also pass a new law that will further open Iraq's huge oil reserves to foreign companies. U.S. firms are expected to gain the lion's share of access in a process estimated to be worth billions of dollars.

"So I think this is very promising to the American investors and to American enterprises, certainly to oil companies," Abdel Mahdi said at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on Tuesday.

(more)

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/1224-05.htm

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Hmmm....

reduction in social services...more access by corporations....sounds like Iraq is being Americanized.

[w4rma]

8. More like Republicanized (nt)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

15. Dominicanized.....

Very scary right-wing-nut-rapture-drooling-chimp-worshiping-fundies


uggh..gave myself shivers..

[asjr]

2. Why am I not surprised at this?

[agincourt]

3. If anybody was wondering,

here's your reason for the invasion.

[Kimber Scott]

6. Who wondered?

It's like ripping the entrails from a baby. It's been going on since the beginning of time. The baby never survives.

[LynnTheDem]

50. Exactly. Operation Iraqi Liberation.

O.I.L.

[SammyWinstonJack]

67. Wasn't that to be the orginal name of the Invasion?

I think I read that when Bu$hco, INC. realized how that spelled out, they quickly changed it.

[jimshoes]

4. Just remember...

It's not about the oil!

[pleiku52cab]

5. But , But, But,

We didn't go to war for oil. We did it because Saddam was a big baddie. Any odds on how much Haliburton rakes in on these deals?

[Skink]

7. Are we still trying to win hearts and minds?

why don't we just draw big x's on our fourheads and throw down our weapons.

[SariesNightly]

13. What's the word for your fellow countrymen...

.. who let foreign carpetbaggers rape your country dry?

[achtung_circus]

19. Quisling comes to mind.

And history (and their countrymen) do not deal lightly with Quislings.

[cavanaghjam]

9. Anyone remember W saying

in the build up to invasion, "Iraqi oil belongs to the Iraqi People"? Nice bit of Marxist tautology, one we might apply to minerals extracted from our own federal lands.

Turns out he was lying through his teeth, saying anything he had to so as not to derail the war train. Can you believe that? I, for one, am shocked.

Why any of these guys is allowed to speak on broadcast media without a background laughtrack is beyond me.

[Voltaire99]

76. Nice post

And I love that last line. ;-)

[creeksneakers2]

10. The Bush cabal tried this before

It didn't work. They had a plan to allow US oil companies to get Iraqi oil assets without bid. There still were no takers. Fixing Iraqi oil fields would require extensive investment. After making the investment, there would be no certainty that a future government would honor any previous contracts. On top of that, there is the killing going on.

[Barrett808]

11. The IMF descends on Iraq

The IMF has been notorious for imposing conditions that its economists say are necessary to slash nation's budget deficits.

Development groups and anti-poverty campaigners argue those measures favor corporations in the most industrialized nations while harming the poor and middle class in borrowing countries.

The program with Iraq appears to be no different.

Called the "enhanced post-conflict facility," the IMF program bestows 420 million dollars in loans to the Iraqi government as a first step, promising more in 2005 if the nation meets more demanding conditions.

And coming soon to America!

[indepat]

12. I'm shocked, absolutely shocked that there is gambling in this joint

[0007]

62. .......and pretty girls for sale......and drugs ... and all this stuff

in the name of Jays'us which makes the repukes all fuzzy and warm.

[Journeyman]

14. And you will be free to do what we desire. . .

and you'll rejoice, sing songs and toss flowers . . . or we'll know why not and we'll know what to do with your ungrateful, sorry ass. So have a great election -- we'll install who we think should win (cuts down on useless campaigning, dontcha know) -- and don't bother yourself with such minor details as finances and self-determination. . . we know what's best for you, and what's best for you is what we know.

[GreatAuntK]

16. The Golden Straitjacket

Palast spoke of.

[bluedeminredstate]

17. So now that it's all out in the open,

and the oil issue addressed, are we all still conspiracy theorists for saying that Bush and his neocon cabal were after the oil for privatization "opportunities" for their cronies???
Just wondering...
:crazy:

[not fooled]

21. yeah, wouldn't you love to see the expression...

...on the faces of the *-loving brainwashed morans (who bought into the lies and supported the runup to the war) when they hear facts such as these? OH WAIT...the corpse media won't ever enlighten them with these inconvenient truths. Never mind :eyes:

[sam sarrha]

18. Invasion Capitalism.invade sell off the country as necessary privitizing'

[cyberpj]

20. Bremer's 100 Orders, remember?

It's what he was actually there to do. This money grab has been known since last summer (see this July article) but nothing reported in US MSM and certainly NO DISCUSSION!

Internet searches can reveal the full list and lots of commentary but no one seems to think it matters.


"The most important tools being used by the Bush administration to maintain varying degrees of economic and political control in Iraq are the 100 Orders enacted by L. Paul Bremer, III, head of the now defunct Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) before his departure. It was thought that the "end" of the occupation would also mean the end of the Orders. Instead, in his final Order enacted on his last day in the country, Bremer simply transferred authority for the Orders over to the new Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi. For his part, Allawi – a thirty-year exile of Iraq with close ties to both the CIA and British Intelligence Services – is considered America 's new man in charge of Iraq .

Bremer also ensured the implementation of the Orders by stacking every Ministry with U.S.-appointed authorities with five-year terms – well into the period of the new, elected government, which is to take office by the end of this year.

The Orders are exercised pursuant to the Iraqi interim constitution, the Transitional Administration Law (TAL). The Annex to the TAL states that the Orders can only be overturned with the approval of the president, the two vice presidents and a majority of the ministers."


http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/19293/

[not fooled]

22. yeah, but just remember...

...the fate of the last guy who played Allawi's role (puppet for the West, in this case Britain): drawn and quartered in the streets of Baghdad.

The more the Empire tightens its grip, the more likely it will provoke a violent reaction and overthrow of the puppet regime. Iraq will end up a theocratic extremist state once way or another; it just may take a little longer for them to overthrow the occupation.

[cyberpj]

24. meanwhile...

Gorge bankrupts the US trying to maintain the grab, just as OBL planned and disclosed.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

56. So the democracy bluff was just a bluff.... not cool. n/t

[Mike C]

23. Needless excitement

Privatization of Iraq's oil industry is pretty much the only way to rebuild/expand it. Countries that have privatized their oil industries, in whole or in part, include Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Russia, Khazahstan, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Yemen, the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, every sub-Saharan African producing country, New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain, Norway, Germany, Poland, France Romania, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia. And I know I've left some out. The US and Canada never had a nationalized oil industry to start with. Mexico is currently struggling with how to entice foreign oil companies into the country without having a knock-down, drag out battle over the constitutional provision against foreign comapny ownership of even minority oil interests. The reason they're doing that is because, like ALL national oil companies, there's is underfunded, overstaffed, inefficient and at least in part a mere social subsidy or, as I like to put it, a very large adult daycare center. Hell, that brand new discovery in Cuba was made by a foreign company, not by the Cuban government.

[sally343434]

26. Yeah, let them eat cake!

> ALL national oil companies (are) at least in part a mere social
> subsidy

Yeah, I'm with you. Only a freedom-hating librul would think that a nation's oil wealth should benefit the nation as a whole! But true God-fearing patriots know that The Almighty put the oil there to benefit the only ones deserving of it -- the wealthy. Let everyone else wallow in their poverty. After all, it's their own fault, right? They should shut up and go do the murdering and torturing that they're told to do by their betters!

Oh, and bubeye!

[baby_bear]

28. Venezuela?

Why do you think the rich hate Chavez?


He believes the oil belongs to the people.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

57. He thinks like someone else who was put up on a cross. Render unto

Caesar what is his.... etc.

[Minstrel Boy]

29. Canada had PetroCanada.

The crown corporation was launched in the early 70s, and the federal government sold its remaining interest in it only this month.

[oneighty]

36. Time to do away with Alaska's

perpetual fund I would suggest. Oh! The socialism.

180

[agincourt]

47. One small problem,

They didn't get invaded by a foreign army to do it. It was done by the national gov't. Without the war it probably wouldn't have been an issue in the long run.

[Nite Owl]

48. But the point is it isn't ours

it belongs to the Iraqi people and it should be their decision at some point, certainly not now. It's a clear oil grab.

[LynnTheDem]

51. In a word...

BULLSHIT.

As others have pointed out, it's an INVADING AND OCCUPYING FOREIGN ARMY doing the privatizing, NOT a legitimate Iraqi government.

Makes a wee bit of a frigging difference, AND it violates the Geneva Conventions. Not that bushCartel give a shit about those "quaint" rules the USC deems the LAW OF THE LAND.

[sharman]

53. Exactly, against international law

In fact, that's the whole reason the Bushies were so hell-bent on "transfer of sovereignty."

Immediately after the invastion, they started down the road of bringing the blessings of extreme laissez-faire capitalism to the Iraqi people, imposing laws and putting Iraq's assets up for sale. Problem was, under international law, it is illegal for an occupying power to sell off the country's assets. Potential buyers wouldn't bite. So, they did the 'transfer of sovereignty' to create cover for the illegal scheme.

Read Naomi Klein's "Baghdad: Year Zero." It is brilliant, a real eye-opener.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

58. I Ditto that point. My avatar has written in Power Politics what went

down in India when Enron began their mischief there... One can only hope it doesn't continue in Iraq... but then, I'm old enough to know better...

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0896086682.01._PIdp-schmooS,TopRight,7,-26_PE25_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0896086682/qid=1104071567/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/104-7387774-0284724
Product Description:
>>Arundhati Roy, the author of The God of Small Things, explores the politics of writing and the price of "development" driven by profit. Roy challenges the idea that only "experts" can speak out on such urgent matters as nuclear war, the human costs of the privatization of India's power supply by U.S.-based energy companies, and the construction of monumental dams in India. Includes new essays written since September 11.<<

>>As someone who is admittedly and shamefully, completely ignorant about the current socio-political situation in India, I was nevertheless nearly moved to tears at the heroism of how so many displaced villagers gathered up the courage to protest the outrages of being forced to abandon their homes due to pointless and environmentally-harmful "big dams"

I also felt great outrage over how unfairly Roy was being persecuted by her own government and courts for simply writing what she believes in. However, through her bravery, she never even contemplates leaving her country for greater personal (or economic)security but stays on to fight the good fight. Truly commendable person. And this is a powerful book surely not to be missed.<<

[DoYouEverWonder]

63. Shouldn't that be up to the Iraqi people

what they do with their resources?

We are installing a CIA hand puppet to do our bidding and you think the Iraqi people should just accept that? While in the meantime we continue to destroy their country. And while we're at it, oh let's just cut some more social services. What social services? Bombing your village every night?

[Bridget Burke]

77. Gosh, I'm impressed.

Better living through Republicanism.

Where did you get all this wonderful information?

[NYC]

25. Cuts to social subs., billions to U.S. corporations. That sums it up.

...helping the interim Iraqi government continue to make major economic changes, including cuts to social subsidies...

...U.S. firms are expected to gain the lion's share of access in a process estimated to be worth billions of dollars...

Same as here. Amazing how altruistic the U.S. government is.

[Erika]

33. America continues its imperialism

Giving the profits to corporations paid for by the lives of our troops. We can only hope that the American sludge Republican will wake up.

[Solly Mack]

27. Motherfucking den of murderers and thieves.

That's ALL Bush Inc is...nothing more.

[Donailin]

39. Someone on the same page as me.

Nice to meet you.

[Solly Mack]

43. Likewise

It bugs the shit out of me that they'll get away with this.....again

[Erika]

30. But the Bush chose to forgive billions of dollars of debt of Iraqis.

Stick the taxpayers for the debt and redistribute the profits to corporate globalists. Bush has lived his whole life under this premise. Taxpayers built his stadium, taxpayers payed for the S & L failures of Neil. Republicans never do self accountability, and let others pay.

[Disturbed]

32. This should be Headline in all Newspapers..

and on every TV and Radio News. Why? This is the reason for the illegal invasion and Occupation of Iraq.

[NYC]

34. Yes, this is the reason.

"...This is the reason for the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq..."

We have finally reached the heart of the matter. Less for Iraqis, more for U.S. corporations (to the tune of billions). I would say we had reached our destination, but it is not yet done.

[neweurope]

65. Bush also demande4d Europe forgave billions of dollars.

And the nice European taxpayer has payed up.

:grr:

[Bouncy Ball]

31. Um, I thought we were trying to make them FREE?????

And sovereign? Oh wait, yeah they were sovereign before weren't they? Now they will just be a tiny puppet US government. Nation building is fun, eh?

Barf.

[Erika]

35. Make Iraqis free?

Sure, as free as Walmart workers working here at poverty wages with no benefits.

[reprobate]

37. Dreamers. It won't happen.

They can plan and give away all they want. First they have to control the country and that doesn't appear to be possible.

Now even our own military leaders are saying that the battle for iraq is all but lost. Without winning the hearts and minds of the people of iraq they are whistling in the dark. Everything I hear from the foriegn media says that while the iraqis want to rule themselves, they want US out of there first.

They only question in my mind now is just how many more of our troops and how many more iraqi women and children will die for these vampires.

[Skink]

40. Can't we just make them a state....

Give em a couple of electoral votes , maybe one Senator.

[Donailin]

38. not about the oil, nope

nosiree.

this administation is digusting, dispicable and diabolical.

I fucking hate them.

[Deja Q]

41. Doesn't sound like liberation to me.

[Tinoire]

42. You don't say! You know they wanted to call it 'Operation Iraqi Liberati

They they wanted to call it 'Operation Iraqi Liberation' — but then they realized that the acronym would be OIL and they didn't want to spell it out in crayon ;)

[Skink]

45. OIF is much better.

I just had my oif changed yesterday.

[VegasWolf]

Of course, Oil is the only reason that we are there. n/t

[VegasWolf]

44. Of course, Oil is the only reason that we are there. n/t

[NorthernSpy]

46. idle scheming

Without actual, on-the-ground control of whatever one wants to rule, even the most detailed scheme is just idle scribbling. Which is just as well in this case, given what we know of the details of their little plan.

[gatorboy]

49. So how is this less shitty compared to the oil for food program?

I'd like to see if Fox comments about this thievery or lets it slide... Onward Christian soldiers...

[LynnTheDem]

52. Iraqi govt stealing from their own oil (w no proof yet that they did) =BAD

USA stealing from IRAQ'S oil, fully proved by their own documents and words = GOOD.

In bushWorld.

It's a MORAL VALUES thing. :eyes:

[Carl Brennan]

54. Let me see. We blow the shit out of a country

then attempt to set up a permanent occupation. Then we talk about market efficiencies of privatizing the oil there. What needs to happen more than anything else is that the US must gets its ass thoroughly kicked in Iraq so that it will think two or three times before it tries to attack another country SOLELY for its resources.

If the US cannot or will not learn from this then let the US eat its shit and die.

[scarletlib]

55. call it what you will but this looks like a classic definition of

colonialism as practiced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Invade a country. Put in a sham government that you control. Take over the resources from the people in the country and use them to your own benefit without regard to what the natives want.

You can gussie it up with new names and theories but it is colonialism.

[ally_sc]

59. yes theater...a puppet show and

bushies pulling strings...ugh! this whole adm makes me sick.

[malaise]

60. Shhhhhhhhhh!

Nothing is legal until they have an election. Whether it is a sham is irrelevant.

[jimshoes]

64. So that's it

I've been wondering why there's been so much emphasis on the Jan. elections. All part of the plot to steal a whole country. (with all the legal niceties, I smell James Baker III) Nice job George. You fucks take the fucking cake. Folks this is what a cabal of megalomaniacs look like if anyone was wondering.

[MisterP]

72. it's neocolonialism: leeches are applied to the poorest countries,

and the profits are funneled to Caribbean accounts for American fatcats and international oligarchs. Hail the world plantation!

[0007]

61. Can this thievery by the U.S. get any worse?

[Solly Mack]

68. with a Bush in office? YES!

it can get much worse...and will.

[jimshoes]

66. kick

nt

[Been Fishing]

69. Some News Items

Found only a few dealing with Iraqi oil:
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1103802174249&call_pageid=970599119419


http://asia.news.yahoo.com/041222/kyodo/d874due80.html

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041224/bs_nm/energy_iraq_himrin_dc_3

[arwalden]

70. Ahh... The Spoils Of War... * Rewarding His Supporters

[deacon2]

71. The Price of Loyalty

In Paul O'Neill's book he claims there was a map circulating in the White House labeled "Suitors for Iraqi Oil Fields." His timeline, if I recall correctly, places this map just after Bush and his henchmen moved in. A little patience, a lot of lying and murder and voila! they've got the prize. Of course this isn't in the mainstream press owned and controlled by international conglomerates. They exist to keep us drones working on in blissful ignorance. Happy New Year!

[in_cog_ni_to]

73. I feel so slimy!

The U.S. government embarrasses the hell out of me with their blatant thievery! They are doing what EVERYONE with a brain knew they would do and they aren't even ashamed of it! Their arrogancy is downright DISGUSTING! Fucking bastards. Murderers. Thieves.

[Barkley]

74. Proof that this war was about oil all along.

This also demonstrates that democracy is incompatible with US economic and strategic interests in the Iraq.

These deals are being made with an interim government not with the full political input of the people.

[termo]

79. what can be done can be undone

wait few months, when US/UK will leave, the next dictatorship will decide what to do with their oil.

[grumpy old fart]

75. Freedom, er, Colonialism, is on the March! n/t

can I get a big, DUH, here?

[Stuckinthebush]

78. So it was about oil afterall!

Who would've thunk it?

(Everyone here at DU)