China Oil Deal Is New Source of Strife Among Iraqis

[pampango]

Source: New York Times

"When China’s biggest oil company signed the first post-invasion oil field development contract in Iraq last year, the deal was seen as a test of Iraq’s willingness to open an industry that had previously prohibited foreign investment. One year later, the China National Petroleum Corporation has struck oil at the Ahdab field in Wasit Province, southeast of Baghdad. And while the relationship between the company and the Iraqi government has gone smoothly, the presence of a foreign company with vast resources drilling for oil in this poor, rural corner of Iraq has awakened a wave of discontent here."

"The result has been a local-rights movement — extraordinary in a country where political dissent has historically carried the risk of death — that in the past few months has begun demanding that at least $1 of each barrel of oil produced at the Ahdab field be used to improve access to clean water, health services, schools, paved roads and other needs in the province, which is among Iraq’s poorest."

“No one would have dared to ask for such a thing during Saddam’s regime; if he did, he would definitely be executed,” said Ghassan Ali, a 43-year-old farmer who lives near the oil field. “But now we are a democratic country, so we have the right to ask for our rights like any other province in Iraq.”

"...the Iraqis’ anger has been increasingly channeled into an above-board labor movement, expressing concerns about workers’ rights, local government authority, pollution, transparent hiring practices and public accountability, among other issues." (emphasis added)

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/world/middleeast/06iraqoil.html?_r=1&hp

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Sounds like the Chinese and Iraqi governments are happy with the Chinese oil development arrangement, but neither knows how to deal with the local-rights/labor movement that the development has spawned.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. The controversy would be there whether it were China or this country.

[pampango]

2. You're right. It's probably easier for the western media to report on it when it involves a Chinese

oil development project, but the controversy would exist with any international oil company.

There is an element of irony that the Iraq War has had the result of the Iraqi government signing oil development contracts with countries who were not involved in the war (even opposed it). I'm glad the Iraqi government has the right to do that. Any sovereign government should, but it is a little weird.

[ixion]

3. “But now we are a democratic country..."

Well, not so much, really. The puppeteering implemented in Iraq doesn't pass for democracy.

[Aragorn]

4. why we are there

Multiple choice:
1) to find some terrorist guy - I forget his name just now.
2) to protect/restore democracy - oops this post answers that
3) to help oil companies build strategic pipelines
4) to help grow and distribute opium poppies - see DEA
5) both 3 & 4

[Nikki Stone1]

6. We are there to provide China with oil....I see.

No wonder they couldn't tell us.

[oct2010]

5. Thats called "No blood for oil".Works well with future offshore rigs planned for

Cuban waters