Surprise, Surprise! Bush was after oil all along.

[mustafaisb]

Those who have warned the American people that Bush started the Iraq war over oil have some great verification of this today. When Saddam came to power he booted all the western oil companies. Iraq is invaded and surprise, surprise - Exxon , Shell , Mobil, and BP have all been given control of the Iraqi oil fields via no bid contracts! Is this merely a coincidence?

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security...udedesigns.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...903232_pf.html

[Ninth_Scribe]

Those who have warned the American people that Bush started the Iraq war over oil have some great verification of this today. When Saddam came to power he booted all the western oil companies. Iraq is invaded and surprise, surprise - Exxon , Shell , Mobil, and BP have all been given control of the Iraqi oil fields via no bid contracts! Is this merely a coincidence?

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security...udedesigns.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...903232_pf.html

Explain to me how that was a... surprize? Maybe people should have listened to Zarqawi while he was alive. He's called every shot correctly... the proof just didn't surface until after his death (Jordon's role included).

The Ninth Scribe

[Keltoi]

The U.S. government didn't play a role in these rewarded contracts. The Iraqi Parliament is deadlocked on whether Iraq should allow foreign companies to drill in Iraq at all. These contracts are specifically about building up the infrastructure and technology to increase Iraq's oil production. No agreement on drilling seems likely, since the Iraqi Parliament seems dubious on the proposition. In any event, foreign investment is key to improving the lives of Iraqis, and increased production will allow more Iraqi provinces and citizens to take advantage of increased oil wealth.

[mustafaisb]

The U.S. government didn't play a role in these rewarded contracts. The Iraqi Parliament is deadlocked on whether Iraq should allow foreign companies to drill in Iraq at all. These contracts are specifically about building up the infrastructure and technology to increase Iraq's oil production. No agreement on drilling seems likely, since the Iraqi Parliament seems dubious on the proposition. In any event, foreign investment is key to improving the lives of Iraqis, and increased production will allow more Iraqi provinces and citizens to take advantage of increased oil wealth.

:sl: No, believe me there is no way the Iraqi people will benefit from giving over ownership of their oil to foreign oil companies. Read the Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein and you will then see how free market capitalism has destroyed third world countries and is now destroying the United States. Keltoi I love your sig :thumbs_up :D

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[YusufNoor]

Peace,

here's a little link for a new vid called "Oil, Smoke and Mirrors":

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...89869548020370

please watch brother Keltoi!

:w:

[north_malaysian]

I'm not surprised at all...

[Keltoi]

For those who obviously didn't read the actual article, Bush or the U.S. government have nothing to do with foreign companies investing in Iraqi oil infrastructure.

[Ninth_Scribe]

The U.S. government didn't play a role in these rewarded contracts. The Iraqi Parliament is deadlocked on whether Iraq should allow foreign companies to drill in Iraq at all. These contracts are specifically about building up the infrastructure and technology to increase Iraq's oil production. No agreement on drilling seems likely, since the Iraqi Parliament seems dubious on the proposition. In any event, foreign investment is key to improving the lives of Iraqis, and increased production will allow more Iraqi provinces and citizens to take advantage of increased oil wealth.

Oh please! This is just heresay and so is the accusation that Bush was after oil. None of us have heard a single word that has been said in those confidential Bush~Maliki meetings, so there is no real proof, one way or the other. However, I do take the word of the Iraqi parties who were shown the charter, and I note their concern because Bush is rushing these deliberations. I also think it's suspect that this is the only political "bench-mark" Bush is interested in. There are at least a miliion reasons why he is suspected of foul play in Iraq, none that can actually be proven except by one method. A very ancient prayer.

I've asked God to answer this question for me. If Bush didn't unjustly harm other countries, then America should prosper and everything will be hunky dorey. But, if he is responsible for unjustly turning families into refugees, starving whole nations and plundering their wealth... then I seriously pity America!

Call it an eccentricity of sorts, but we'll just see who is lying.

The Ninth Scribe

[Amadeus85]

Now its clear that they did it most probably for oil. I just wonder whether Bush jr could have not known about the real reasons why they attack Iraq.maybe he was fooled by the advisors like we all were? Its just my assumptions.

[MunirAhmadKamil]

:sl:

hmm my opinion..America have thier goal. They won't spend alot of money unless it would profit them in some way.

I vaguely recall a news report of local people burn the oil..rather than giving em to the invaders. Anybody seen this?

[root]

My take is simple, why the hell you listening to this crap. Iraq needs the expertese to rebuild it's oil industries.

Oh wait, the middle east are coming to the UK to build nuclear power stations, UK companies go to iraq to help develop Oil extraction and somehow the west is seen as oil grabbing.

get a life why don't ya.....

[mustafaisb]

My take is simple, why the hell you listening to this crap. Iraq needs the expertese to rebuild it's oil industries.

Oh wait, the middle east are coming to the UK to build nuclear power stations, UK companies go to iraq to help develop Oil extraction and somehow the west is seen as oil grabbing.

get a life why don't ya.....

:sl: Yes Iraq does need help in building new and more technologically up to date oil refineries, but remember those were NO-BID Contracts that the U.S. gave to the western oil industries. Russia and other countries which are just as qualified as the U.S. oil companies wanted to help Iraq develop those oil fields. This assures that only the U.S. oil companies will make a substantial amout of profit since again they were NO-BID oil Contracts. NEXT TIME READ THE ARTICLE BEFORE POSTING :enough!::exhausted :w:

[Keltoi]

:sl: Yes Iraq does need help in building new and more technologically up to date oil refineries, but remember those were NO-BID Contracts that the U.S. gave to the western oil industries. Russia and other countries which are just as qualified as the U.S. oil companies wanted to help Iraq develop those oil fields. This assures that only the U.S. oil companies will make a substantial amout of profit since again they were NO-BID oil Contracts. NEXT TIME READ THE ARTICLE BEFORE POSTING :enough!::exhausted :w:

So? Blame the Iraqi government who signed off the contracts. It actually makes alot of sense from an Iraqi standpoint. What country is most able to protect that investment?

Speaking of reading the article...it stated that the U.S. government had nothing to do with the contracts. It was a deal between Iraq and the oil companies themselves. Why do you think that is? Could it be because its good business for everybody?

[James1992]

Dont forget Blair aswell B.P SHELL they are british companies..

[mustafaisb]

So? Blame the Iraqi government who signed off the contracts. It actually makes alot of sense from an Iraqi standpoint. What country is most able to protect that investment?

Speaking of reading the article...it stated that the U.S. government had nothing to do with the contracts. It was a deal between Iraq and the oil companies themselves. Why do you think that is? Could it be because its good business for everybody?

:sl: Remember Keltoi, these are U.S. oil companies here. Of course they are going to say that the U.S. government didn't have anything to do with the contracts. Think about how many people were saying that this war is going to be about oil, in fact when the U.S. and Bush were presenting their case to the american people and to the U.N. many political pundits and analysts were saying that this war is for oil. Of course the U.S. government coerced the Iraqi government to accept these oil contracts. No, this is not good business for everybody, again the contracts were NO-BID oil contracts that means the Iraqi government is being coerced into shortchanging itself and the Iraqi people. :cry:

[Keltoi]

:sl: Remember Keltoi, these are U.S. oil companies here. Of course they are going to say that the U.S. government didn't have anything to do with the contracts. Think about how many people were saying that this war is going to be about oil, in fact when the U.S. and Bush were presenting their case to the american people and to the U.N. many political pundits and analysts were saying that this war is for oil. Of course the U.S. government coerced the Iraqi government to accept these oil contracts. No, this is not good business for everybody, again the contracts were NO-BID oil contracts that means the Iraqi government is being coerced into shortchanging itself and the Iraqi people. :cry:

Of course you have no evidence for suggesting any form of coercion. In fact, the Iraqi parliament refuses to be coerced in any way. The major majority of Iraqi politicians refuse to allow foreign oil companies to drill on their soil. THERE IS NO FOREIGN DRILLING! These contracts are about infrastructure improvements to the Iraqi drilling and refining process. That helps the Iraqis to make use of their natural resources in a more efficient and cost effective way.

The Iraqis aren't as dumb and gullible as you seem to believe. They are well aware of the vast wealth under their feet, and they will do what they can to make sure it is Iraq who prospers as a result.

[mustafaisb]

:sl: The [Iraqi] Oil Ministry announced on 30 June that foreign oil companies would be invited to bid for contracts to develop six of Iraq’s largest oilfields, which together contain around half of the country’s known oil reserves. Yet most commentators missed the significance of the move – that it would give away more to foreign companies than had been planned at any point since the Constitution was written in 2005, and possibly more than any major oil producer has given since the colonial era....

"The big question is why the Oil Ministry would want to bring in the multinationals for these fields. The Ministry is not short of cash: in fact, it has been consistently unable to spend the funds provided to it, so is now sitting on billions of dollars that could be invested in the fields. And technology can easily be purchased, whilst Iraqis maintained the management of the fields. The true explanation seems almost too obvious for most commentators to spot. One radio interviewer asked me “Why shouldn’t the Iraqi government sign these contracts if it wants to? – it’s not as if someone’s holding a gun to their head”. In fact, that is exactly what is being held to Iraqis’ heads. Or more precisely, over 150,000 guns.... "State Department spokesman Tom Casey added that the US role is similar to that of a lawyer helping a client draw up a will. It was an apt analogy. The USA sees Iraq’s economy as in its dying throes, and is helping the Iraqi government decide how much of its estate to bequeath to BP, Shell or Exxon. "But all is not yet lost for advocates of Iraqi sovereignty over its oil. Companies are not to bid for the contracts until next March, and signing is not expected until summer 2009 – giving plenty of time for the policy to change. During this time, the political landscape will alter significantly following the departure of the Bush/Cheney administration. "And the so-far successful Iraqi campaign against oil privatisation continues to make progress. According to press reports, the Oil Minister has finally agreed to open the technical service contracts to parliamentary scrutiny before they are signed. This is a welcome move, although it needs to be extended: all Iraqis should have a right to know what is being done to their natural resources."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:w:

[root]

You might be forgiven by thinking Iraq is an oil rich state, in fact it can only ever achieve an output of 2008 thousand barrels per day (p/d)

This little fact means the following countries have a greater capacity:

Norway 2786 p/d
Algeria 2122 p/d
Nigeria 2442 p/d
Mexico 3707 p/d
Venezuala 2803 p/d
Kuwait 2675 p/d

Of course this exludes the big boys;

US 8330 p/d
Russia 9677 p/d
China 3845 p/d
Saudi Arabia 10,665 p/d
UAE 2945 p/d
Iran 4146 p/d
Canada 3288 p/d

The US produces 4x more oil than Iraq can ever dream of at 8330 P/D.

In interest, Saudi Arabia is top of the league with 10,665 P/D

[mustafaisb]

:sl: No, those statistics and estimates are woefully wrong. Here have a look at this article. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/23bedd7e-e...b5df10621.html :w:

Also a very interesting article I found
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080721/lookout

[root]

:sl: No, those statistics and estimates are woefully wrong. Here have a look at this article. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/23bedd7e-e...b5df10621.html

First of all those figures are from the official source (International Energy Agency) the authorative on world energy sources whose figures countries recognise as being the most accurate as possible data.

As opposed to your source, which is a consultancy service and full of "If's" and "May's" with the odd "Unconfirmed". This is actually not unusual for countries seeking large financial investment into oil exploration and extraction to claim, it happens time and time again. So your source offers nothing new outside of the official figures I provided for you.

Another thing, even if (and it is an "if") it turns out the oil reserves are larger, this was not known prior to the war.

Lastly, it is unusual for no-bid contacts and it's just as unusual for the short period of time that it covers. Bids take a long time to process, time Iraq does not have so just because they have provided a quick fix short term solution does not imply "Surprise surprise Bush was after oil nonsense".