Iraqi workers are waking up to a reality.


BASRA, Iraq (AFP) - About 300 oil industry workers gathered in Iraq's main oil port of Basra on Monday to protest a draft law that they said would allow foreigners to pillage the country's wealth.

"To compensate for the military and political failure of the US administration in Iraq, this administration is trying to control the country's wealth," the organisers said in a statement distributed to reporters.

"If this is endorsed by the parliament it would abolish sovereignty and hand over the wealth of this generation and the generations to come as a gift to the occupier," the statement said.


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I am waiting to see how much of this gets reported on the media.

I was wondering when they would wake up and take control of their oil wealth, not that they know what to do with it when they get it.

They will never be able to rebuild their country if foreign oil companies are reaping all the profits.If the oil revenue isn't enough to rebuild their country, guess who will be picking up the tab?

This protest is the product of the Iraq Freedom Congress, since the oil workers union is part of this group. But have you noticed that it does not get much play in the US?

If this movement grows they will have a hard time keeping it under wraps.

Washington is the only entity that is pushing for the passage of the law.

The letter, signed by 108 experts, calls for the oil law to be put on hold until ongoing constitutional wrangling is completed. "There are ongoing discussions aiming to amend the Iraqi constitution, including the items relating to oil and gas," it states. "Hence we do not see, from the legal and technical point of view, the necessity to enact the law presented to you now before the constitutional amendments are finalized."


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The oil law has been in negotiations since last summer. The Kurds claim the rights to strong regional control over their share of Iraq's 115 billion barrels of proven while others want a varied amount of central control. Also at issue is how the sector may be opened up to foreign, private investment.

The Kurds have been holding talks with countries like China regarding oil contacts. They have their own agenda, which will pose a problem.

Yes they do and that agenda is a separate state. They are calling it the Kurdish army and the region is trying to make their own oiul deals; sounds like they are pretty much there way to me.

Unions become a major player in the oil law.


BAGHDAD, July 20 (UPI) -- Iraq's unions say the draft oil law is a threat and threaten "mutiny" if Parliament approves the bill.

"This law cancels the great achievements of the Iraq people," Subhi al-Badri, head of the Iraqi Federation of Union Councils, told the al-Sharqiyah TV station. He referred specifically to laws that nationalized Iraq's oil sector.

Iraq holds 115 billion barrels of proven reserves, the third largest in the world, and likely much more when the country is fully explored.

It could produce more than the 2 million barrels per day, and many are pushing the oil law as a means of solidifying investment in the sector. The law, as drafted, allows for foreign access to the oil, a line that must not be crossed, the oil unions say.


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I am pleased to see some in Iraq showing some cajones and fighting against the rape of Iraqi oil.


The Iraqi minister of planning and development cooperation pledged on Thursday to resign "one hour" after passing the controversial oil and gas bill into law, if no radical amendments were introduced to current draft, Voices of Iraq (VOI) reports.

"I will resign one hour after passing oil and gas draft law, in case no changes were made to the articles concerning granting oil contracts by the central government only and not by the regions, and partnership contracts" Minister Ali Baban told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq.


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They sound like an immature bunch of brats.

"If I don't get my way I'll quit". What a way to run a country.

The new UN ambassador for the US has said that the UN should help with Iraq. And help pass the laws, the oil law. See what I mean, that is the only benchmark that is mentioned, it is that important and not for the Iraqi people either.



Zalilzad noted that the mission of the new representative of the United Nations should include helping Iraqis solve major issues mainly voting on a law that provides a fair distribution of oil wealth among all Iraqi parties as well as voting on a legislation to amend De-baathification Law.

© 2007 Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite Network


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I would like to remind you that this guy has ties to the oil industry, Unocal to be exact.

helping Iraqis solve major issues mainly voting on a law that provides a fair distribution of oil wealth among all Iraqi parties

I not sure I see the fairness they refer to unless they mean it's only fair for Iraq to let us exploit their oil revenue.

I am just glad that the Iraqi reps are starting to see that it will not benefit the Iraqi people if it is passed.

Looks like even more problems for their government. They don't stand a chance in passing any laws if they can't get their act together.

Sunnis suspends Iraqi gov't membership

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press writer

BAGHDAD - Iraq's largest Sunni Arab bloc said Wednesday it has suspended its membership in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's coalition government, dealing a serious blow to the Shiite leader's efforts to achieve national reconciliation.

The Iraqi Accordance Front, which has five Cabinet members as well as 44 of parliament's 275 seats, said it was giving al-Maliki a week to meet their demands or they would quit his 14-month-old Cabinet altogether.

Source

If you would like to keep score-------Big Business 1 Iraq 0. The beginning of the rape of Iraq!


WASHINGTON, July 25 (UPI) -- Iraq's Parliament has approved a law privatizing the country's oil-refining sector in order to lure investment and stem a fuel shortage.

The law, approved Tuesday, is a step toward relinquishing government involvement in the refining sector and, when poverty is alleviated, moving Iraqi consumers from state-subsidized to market prices for fuel.

Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani told United Press International Wednesday from his mobile phone in Baghdad that the government will provide incentives to both domestic and foreign private oil companies whose refinery plans the ministry approves.


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This should have them in the corner's of their offices jerking off!