Hunt Oil talked to State Dept. prior to signing oil deal with Kurds, contrary to prior statements

[babylonsister]

Analysis: Hunt, State talked on Iraq oil

Published: 12, 2007 at 10:18 AM

By BEN LANDO
UPI Energy Editor

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- A representative from Dallas-based Hunt Oil Corp. did talk with the U.S. State Department prior to signing a controversial oil deal with Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government, according to an internal department communication obtained by United Press International.

Hunt Oil, whose chief executive officer is connected to the Bush administration by campaign donations and a seat on an intelligence advisory board, had previously denied the meeting.

The company now says the meeting took place but that Hunt did not seek advice from the U.S. government on investing in a country with the world’s third-largest proven oil reserves.

The Sept. 8 production-sharing contract with the KRG set off Baghdad, which accuses the region of unilaterally and illegally signing oil deals. The Hunt deal wasn’t the first or final such contract signed between private oil companies and the Kurds, who say they have the constitutional right to sign deals and blame Baghdad for its inability to make headway on a national oil law.

The U.S. government has been cautious in comment, aside from maintaining that it hurts their efforts in bolstering the ability of the central government to reconcile and rule the country.

A day after the Kurds announced two more oil deals, with Canadian and French companies, Hunt Chief Executive Officer Ray Hunt told the Wall Street Journal: "The State Department must have been misinformed. … We did not consult with anyone in the (U.S. government) prior to signing our agreement."

On Sept. 5, according to the State Department communication transmitted Sept. 6, the Hunt official in charge of the region met in Irbil, the KRG capital, with officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development.

“Hunt is expecting to sign an exploration contract with the KRG,” the communication stated.

more...

http://www.upi.com/International_Security/Energy/Analysis/2007/10/12/analysis_hunt_state_talked_on_iraq_oil/3128/

[aquart]

1. So BushCo accepts the breakup of Iraq in the civil war

And is tipping off it's most favored clients to make a killing.

[babylonsister]

2. Not only most favorite clients, but his buddies. How this can be legal

is beyond me. Wonder if the dimson gets a kickback?

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

13. Remember all those laws Bremer enacted via the "interim" government?

THAT IS HOW the arrangement is "legal". It is quite possible Poppy's bidness (Carlyle) will get what is, in essence, a "kickback" via a financing deal. That's kinda' how the big boys play the game.

[babylonsister]

3. I have to kick this... nt

[BelgianMadCow]

4. GD is bustling, but

this once again shows what it all about.

Just let it sink in that this was planned from the get-go in Cheney's Energy Task FOrce, after which the US invades and these people get to sign deals.

It is so morally disgusting. Just like attacking Afghanistan after the oil deal about the Unocal pipeline went sour.

[babylonsister]

6. Unocal is also either killing, maiming, raping people in Burma or

allowing it. This is a real short trailer; Democracy Now! had a horrific segment today about this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x61665

[EFerrari]

8. Iirc, Unocal was bought by Chevron.

Chevron has hired the junta to run security for their pipeline project.

And, special mention goes to our Secretary of State for not using her pull at Chevron to help the situation.

[babylonsister]

10. Speaking of that pull, not many people know how cozy Condi is with

these people. There's a carrier? named after her, for cryin' out loud! Hey, maybe that's why the Stepford Wife is so 'involved'. The woman on Dem Now!, Ms. Redford, didn't know anything about Laura's personal connection to her 'compassion'.

[Beelzebud]

5. I suppose putting people on trial for war profiteering is off the table too?

[babylonsister]

9. They'r'e working on it; I think Blackwater was the last straw:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2030805

[JeffR]

7. K & R!

Thanks for posting this.

[Disturbed]

11. "attacking Afghanistan after the oil deal about the Unocal

pipeline went sour."

Small correction. Natural Gas Pipeline.

The Illegal Invasion of Iraq was about oil & other natural resources & US Military presence in the region to control the ME. The Illegal Invasion of Afghanistan was similar. The Busholini Regime is guilty of massive War Crimes.

[babylonsister]

12. .