Iraqi politicians agree deal on sharing oil, says Kurd minister

[slipslidingaway]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2107927,00.html

"Iraq's Kurdish leaders said last night they had struck an important deal with the central government in Baghdad over a law to divide up Iraq's oil revenues, which is seen by the Bush administration as one of the benchmarks in attempts to foster national reconciliation.

Ashti Hawrami, the minister for natural resources in the Kurdistan regional government, told the Guardian the text had been finalised late last night after 48 hours of "tough bargaining" with Baghdad. The deal represented "a genuine revenue sharing agreement" that was transparent and would benefit all the people of Iraq and help pull the country together, he said.

Iraq's oil revenue accounted for 93% of the federal budget last year. Iraq sells about 1.6m barrels a day."

[ShortnFiery]

1. Depend on Our Dear Leader getting on the TV telling us once again: We've turned the corner!

:eyes:

[slipslidingaway]

3. If they have reached an agreement the details will be interesting

and of course this will be another Bush victory. :eyes:

They still must vote on the agreement.

[Bruce McAuley]

2. It's only splitting the revenues they GET...

It means nothing concerning the "Hydrocarbon Law" which gives the Iraqi oil profits to Exxon and shores up our Petrodollar for the next 30 years.
That said, I suspect the Kurds are as dead set against us stealing their oil as any other Iraqi would be.

Bruce

[slipslidingaway]

4. Thanks for that important clarification!!!

"It's only splitting the revenues they GET...
Posted by Bruce McAuley

It means nothing concerning the "Hydrocarbon Law" which gives the Iraqi oil profits to Exxon and shores up our Petrodollar for the next 30 years.

That said, I suspect the Kurds are as dead set against us stealing their oil as any other Iraqi would be.

Bruce"

[slipslidingaway]

5. Nobel Women Speak Out Against Iraqi Oil Law

http://priceofoil.org/2007/06/21/nobel-women-speak-out-against-iraqi-oil-law/

"In Opposition to the Iraq Oil Law

(19 June 2007) 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."

Signed by:
Betty Williams
Mairead Corrigan Maguire
Prof. Jody Williams
Dr. Shirin Ebadi
Prof. Wangari Maathai

[ellenfl]

6. excellent! that says it all. eom