Palestinian official calls for more Iraq resistance

[Herschel]

A senior Palestinian official, in an interview this month, called for increased resistance to the U.S. occupation of Iraq, saying Washington only launched its war to seize Iraq's oil and control the region.

''I believe that Arabs must now wake up and rise, and the Iraqi resistance to the American occupation must be increased,'' Jibril al-Rajoub, President Yasser Arafat's national security adviser, said in the interview published on November 4.

Rajoub told Saudi newspaper al-Jazirah that ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was a ''fascist,'' but that the real U.S. motive in invading Iraq was to rob Iraq's oil and protect Israel by getting rid of one of its staunchest enemies.

cut

http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters11-12-060832.asp?reg=MIDEAST

=============================

It would appear he seeks the killing of more Americans. Some will say America is biased toward Israel. We see another reason here.

[bluesoul]

1. Because you fight against

Islam? One would wonder considering gen. Boykin's remarks....

[Forkboy]

2. He's right

saying Washington only launched its war to seize Iraq's oil and control the region.

[Herschel]

3. Perhaps you have information

on the value of Iraqi oil to support your premise the war is for economic gain. What is this value, as opposed to the $87 billion cost of supervision for just one year?

[newyorican]

4. 2nd largest oil reserves in the world...

even a potted plant knows that. :)

[bluesoul]

5. Iraq has one of the largest

oil reserves on the planet, and if you don't see the economic gain for the neocons and their companies then I really only can wonder...

[Herschel]

6. You two

I was merely inquiring as to the economic value of Iraqi oil as opposed to the costs of the operation.

[newyorican]

9. I may have overestimated...

the intelligence of potted plants. But here goes:

Getting Iraq's oil fields to pre-1991 production levels will take at least 18 months and cost about $5 billion initially, with $3 billion more in annual operating expenses, according to a recent study by the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, named for the first President Bush's secretary of state during the first Gulf War.

http://money.cnn.com/2003/03/25/news/companies/war_contracts/

Iraq is estimated to hold more than 112 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, and possibly much more undiscovered oil in unexplored areas of the country. Iraq also is estimated to contain at least 110 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The country is a focal point for regional and international security issues.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/iraq.html

The other energy resource, Natural gas:

The current GCR rate,* effective August 1, 2003, is 57.5¢ per Ccf (hundred cubic feet). That is equivalent to $5.75 per Mcf (thousand cubic feet). This rate is reflected in your current bill.

The Math:

Oil - 112 billion barrels x $25 per barrel = $2.8 trillion
(doesn't include oil from unexplored regions)

Gas - 110 trillion cubic feet x $5.75 per Mcf = $632.5 billion

Add it all together and you get nearly $3.5 trillion in resources...umm, what was your question again?

[Herschel]

14. Personal comments aside

The information you and Mr. Forkboy provide is appreciated.

[Forkboy]

15. my pleasure

I'd be very curious about your answer to The Magistrate's question below if you have time.

[Forkboy]

7. I'm glad you asked

Iraq starts to crank up oil output
July 29 2003

Iraq's oil production has risen to more than 1 million barrels a day as the country signed new crude export contracts with foreign oil companies, mainly from the US.

An Iraqi oil ministry official said that daily production, which has been steady at 800,000 barrels since the end of the war, had increased.

"Production in the south is between 600,000 and 700,000 barrels a day and production in the north is at 500,000 barrels a day," the official said. "Production in the south could reach 1 million barrels a day in a month."

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/28/1059244563028.html

Iraq could triple current oil output in three years

By Martin Crutsinger
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Oil production in Iraq has the potential to hit 5 million to 6 million barrels per day in the next three to four years, triple the current output, Commerce Secretary Don Evans said Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press.

The estimate was more optimistic than those by Iraqi oil officials.

Evans, just back from a visit to Iraq, said he was impressed with the free-market spirit and the number of foreign companies eager to set up operations even in the face of continuing security risks.

"I went to Iraq expecting to find a frightening environment, a feeling of desperation. I found anything but that," Evans said.

Evans' visit to Baghdad, where he presided over the unveiling of the country's new currency, was part of an administration campaign to counteract increased criticism of President Bush's Iraq policy.

As evidence of Iraq's potential, Evans cited the country's oil reserves, second largest in the world behind Saudi Arabia.

"Are there vast resources that would cause somebody to think that over the next three to four years they could get oil production up to 5 to 6 million barrels a day? I think that is realistic to think in those terms," Evans said.

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/wdhbusiness/283016322137923.shtml

The current price per barrel is around $30.Let's not even be as confident as Mr Evans is above.We'll just project a 3 million barrel per day output,about what it was before the war.That comes to $90,000,000 per day.Times 365 days it comes to $32,850,000,000 a year.If we believe Mr Evans assumptions that total could be double,more than $64 billion yearly.

Now,about the $87 billion.It's not coming from any of the companies that will be making a profit from Iraqi oil.They're already ahead of the game.They make huge profits while we pay the $87 billion.So arguing that the cost of occupation will cut into any profits is a wrong argument to start with.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Thank you, forkboy

A point that Mr. Herschel misses is that, as far as Bush is concerned, as long as the costs of the war are paid by the people like us and the benefits go to his cronies, its a worthwhile proposition. We pay the taxes; we provide the connon fodder; transnational corporations profit.

[bemildred]

11. Right, colonial expenses are OPM.

Also, the oil has value far beyond the revenue it generates when sold.

[Saudade]

10. Resistance

I will join my voice to those of the Palestinians in calling for more Iraqi resistance to the neo-colonial occupation of their country by a foreign military based on lies and deception.

[DuctapeFatwa]

12. So do I. I call for resistance to the bush regime wherever it operates

I also call for rounding up every PNAC signer, every bush regime henchman and operative, including sharon and his bunch and most of Congress, and transporting them all safely and humanely to the Hague to await fair and open trials for crimes against humanity in habitable cells which they will keep clean themselves.

[The Magistrate]

13. A Question, Mr. Herschel

Do you support the current administration's venture in Iraq?

[Herschel]

16. There are certain positions

I prefer not to discuss. However, feel free to give us your view.

[Forkboy]

17. As a fellow progressive

I'd think you'd be proud to be against the war in Iraq.

oh,wait...

[rini]

31. I truly want to thank you

for deciding for all of us, which issues meet your definition of progressive and how we should respond. Without your help I don't think I'd know what I thought. At least I think I don't know what I think I thought.

[thebigidea]

32. you're right! after all, you're the one that gets to decide.

Me, I'm on the progressive decorating committee.

[thebigidea]

18. And that's a "yes"

[GabysPoppy]

19. That's too cool

Which icon do you push to read minds?

[Forkboy]

20. Please GP

dont play people for fools.Anyone who was against the war would be very proud to claim so on a progressive/liberal site.Your sticking up for an ally is respectable though.

[bluesoul]

21. If one avoids answering

the same question quite a few times, then it's very clear why on a progressive board one would hide it. I don't mind if some think the war was justified, but let them say it loud and clear. At least you know where you're at...

[GabysPoppy]

22. Excuse me

I wasn't sticking up for anyone. I was amazed at the poster's mind reading abilities.

If I had the same ability I might claim to know what your definition of a progressive is. But as seeing as that seems to be the response du jour lately, it hardly matters.

As for playing people for fools, sorry some people do it often enough by themselves,and my help is not needed.

[Forkboy]

23. Well excuse me for admiring something you didn't do

I dont know if my definition of progressive is the official one,but I'm pretty sure claiming Arabs have their own smell isn't a part of being one.

Color me reactionary :shrug:

And on edit-you seem to possess your own set of mind reading skills because you sure knew exactly why another poster used all caps in the other thread about the Wall.

[GabysPoppy]

24. I wouldn't claim it either

So we both agree on what it is not.

Something else it is not is an excuse to challenge one's presence on this forum in lieu of an intelligent response. Something which is frequently done. Should you have any doubt my charge is baseless, do a search for yourself and try to prove me wrong.

A true "progressive" might also avoid McCarthy like assertions that there are non-liberals/progressives participating on this forum.

But then again I remember HUAC and the Army/McCarthy hearings so that may be why I react to similiar sounding charges.

[Forkboy]

25. but there are

non-liberals/progressives participating on this forum.

Why else do we see Daniel Pipes praised? Why else is Jaff Jacoby considered an intelligent man here? Why else do we see claims of Arabs having their own smell? Are these liberal/progressive ideas? I would suggest they are not,and would hazard to guess that you agree with that.

I'm sorry if my pointing these things out reminds you of McCarthy-like tactics,but silence is an even bigger afront in my eyes.

[bluesoul]

26. I have no doubt

that there are conservative non-liberals posting on this board with so many members. As there are liberals posting on conservative boards elsewhere. Why anyone would think that is not possible is beyond me. They may hide their real views by not commenting progressive issues but merely I/P issues...

[GabysPoppy]

27. So then

Direct your anger towards a Daniel Pipes, I have no problem with that at all. And let others direct their anger towards biased articles from counterpunch.

My problem is to accuse one and direct your defense of the other is wrong of the same crime when you or anyone else hauls out the same charge of "your argument does not belong on a liberal/progressive forum."

It should be relatively easy to direct an argument against a Ralph Pipes theory but when you attack the messenger it appears you don't have the evidence to attack the message.

[Forkboy]

30. My problem isn't with Pipes being posted here

my problem is supposed liberals/Dems claiming he is a "renowned scholar".

The rest of what you say are valid points.

[thebigidea]

33. I'll have you know that Daniel Pipes is a trusted, loving man!

He bleeds compassion, sweats concern for the common man. Daniel Pipes speaks the truth, and I for one am tired of the Islamists who don't like the angle of his eyebrows trying to claim that they don't smell.

[Forkboy]

34. cut that out!

:D

[thebigidea]

29. I have here in my hand a list of DU posters who supported the war

Are you now or have you ever been a supporter of the mass slaughter of Iraqi citizens?

The defensiveness is weird. I mean, isn't killing those damn Saddamites a GOOD thing? Yay! Huzzah! Be proud, shout it from the rooftops: lets hear it for America's New War!

[thebigidea]

28. I touch my forehead and can magically read the thoughts

of those too ashamed to reveal that they supported a murderous blunder.

[Herschel]

35. Oh, my

It appears there are those that will react more to abstaining on an issue than to Jews being killed on a bus or in a cafe.

[Forkboy]

36. It appears lots of things down here

I will leave it at that.

[thebigidea]

37. Oh, my! indeed.