Thread: Iraq/Dinar News until 6/17/07 8:30 PM CST

US Presence in Iraq Driven by Oil Interest

Arab News - 15/06/2007 (MENAFN - Arab News) Syed Rashid Husain

History was in the making in the oil-rich Iraq last week, though not much of it was reported in the international media.

The 26,000-strong, much respected Federation of Oil Unions called off its strike when the union leaders reached an agreement, interestingly not with the Ministry of Oil, which the union accuses of failing to honor previous agreements, rather with the Ministry of State for Parliamentary Affairs. What this ministry has to do with oil issues, mind boggling indeed, but not really so, if one looks at it closely.

Foremost among the union's long list of demands has been on consultation with the workers union before the proposed oil law, awaiting approval, is endorsed in Baghdad. The draft is currently with the Iraqi parliament for ratification. The workers union seems bitterly opposed to this draft law. They are unhappy over the controversial law, which they believe would cede too much control of the country's reserves to foreign oil companies. Ratification of the law has also been complicated by the Kurdish government, which does not want to let the central parliament run the whole industry and its huge revenues.

Opposition to the proposed oil draft law, which has by now gained bipartisan support from both the Republicans as well as Democrats in the US, has been growing within Iraq. As the pressure on Maliki grows to get the draft approved, the opposition to it is also becoming loud, vociferous and ominous. Many, including oil experts and parliamentarians, are now calling for the law to be put on hold. Negotiators haven't been able to agree yet on the best means of revenue distribution — whether central or regional governments will have more power in the oil sector, or how much access foreign investors will have.

On the other hand, the Democrats in the US Congress have joined President Bush in making passage of the oil draft by Iraqi parliament, the top benchmark to show success of the government in Baghdad. Both Vice President Cheney and Defense Secretary Gates have been to the region in recent months, so as to urge an early passage of the draft.

But de****e all this, the Iraqi parliament is not acting. The draft was submitted to the parliament by the government on February 26. The parliament in Baghdad seems resisting and delaying the passage of the bill. And in the midst of all this, the strike from the oil workers union has added another dimension to the entire debate.

The Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions fears the proposed law being hurried in the parliament would allow foreign oil companies too much access to Iraq's oil. They had presented a 17-demand list to the government, from improving the working conditions to preventing the passage of the oil bill.

In order to press for the acceptance of their demands, the striking union members had earlier threatened to restrict oil exports from Basra, home to much of Iraq's 115 billion barrels of oil — the third-largest reserves in the world — and Iraq's main port.

In reaction, the incumbent Maliki government also issued arrest warrants for leaders of the union on charge of "sabotaging the economy." The warrant specifically named Hassan Juma'a Awad, the leader of the 26,000-strong Federation of Oil Unions, and three other leaders of the federation. On the third day of the oil strike in southern Iraq, the Iraqi military surrounded oil workers. Prime Minister Maliki warned of using "iron fist" against those who stopped the flow of oil.

However, sanity prevailed and things were prevented from getting bad to worse.

In the meantime, in order to gain backing to their stance, Iraqi oil workers union have also been on a PR mission to the US "to inform the American public of the real reasons behind the draft Iraqi oil law."

Hosted by the US Labor Against the War, two Iraqi oil worker leaders are currently in the US until the end of the month. During a visit to Capitol Hill, the Iraqi Electrical Utility Workers Union President Hashmeya Muhsin Hussein insisted that the civil war in Iraq began only after the occupation, and not before as commonly believed by lawmakers in the US and that violence would be reduced if the US withdraws from Iraq. When a reporter asked Hashmeya why the US was still in Iraq, she cited oil, other resources, and the creation of large military bases as the prime reason for the US continued stay, and the interest in Iraq.

Many now feel that the recent comment that the US presence in Iraq was likely to be long term, similar to the US presence in South Korea — which has lasted 50 years — is relevant to the proposed oil law.

The US oil companies are currently seeking 30-year contracts in Iraq, they point out. Thus, having a strong US military presence in Iraq would help ensure enforcement of those contracts, critics of the oil draft are openly arguing. This is vital for the American energy interests in the medium term, they claim.

Many in the region have been skeptical from the very beginning of the real US motives behind operations Iraq. They have been arguing, for years now, that oil was central to the occupation of Iraq.

The "coming out" of oil as the central goal behind the invasion of Iraq is going to make occupation still more difficult, providing in the process enough ammunition to the ongoing resistance in Iraq, many now feel. This is giving a new fillip to the ongoing resistance movement.

The chant, mocked at the beginning of the invasion by many, "no war for oil" is now becoming to be seen for what it is — the truth. And increasingly now, virtually all over the world, the war against Iraq is being perceived in this very light. What a bitter truth to swallow indeed!


MENAFN - Middle East North Africa . Financial Network News: US Presence in Iraq Driven by Oil Interest

The United Nations agency urged better control of Iraqi oil

Washington 15-6 : Her agency of the United Nations that a review of Iraqi oil revenues reached the conclusion that a follow oil production and sales lacked the proper control tools, which led to bad management of the funds. She said a draft report prepared by Ernst & Yong for the International Council for consultation and follow-up on the oil export sales and revenues for 2006 that fears a regarding the lack of precedent for Media Monitoring and financial management of Iraqi oil are not addressed.


The report, which was posted on the site on the Internet that the auditors also pointed out significant differences can not be explained with respect to the extraction, production and export sales because there is no comprehensive system for the control of oil revenues. He added that the installation of a system for measuring production application of the earlier proposal of the Council would lead to significant improvement in the public oversight. He continued that while the current situation in Iraq is difficult, a factor worrying lack of sufficient progress in addressing the weaknesses cited by the reports from previous audits. The report said the audit raised fears of a new precedent for the management contracts


American agencies in Iraq. The UN Security Council form the Council in 2003 to control the natural resources of Iraq during the American government in Baghdad. It allowed the Iraqi government to continue its work to reassure the international community with regard to the management of the huge oil reserves.


Rafidain

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Zebari : Maliki government achieved significant progress in political reforms

Source : Zora

15 / 06 / 07

Egyptian Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said the Iraqi government was aware that it is under pressure to move quickly to achieve the desired accomplishments came during a speech before the Council on Foreign Relations in New York today, Friday,.

Zebari added that "the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has made significant progress in political reforms, including the law of the distribution of oil revenues controversial."
Pointing out that "whether the Iraqis to the American forces to remain for the Germsme but need now to stay to avoid all-out civil war."

On the other hand, he presided over President Jalal Talabani evening yesterday, Thursday, at his residence in Baghdad meeting of the presidency attended by Vice President Adel Abdelmahdi and Tareq Al-Hashmi.
A statement by the Presidency of the Republic has received a copy of the Tigris Radio today, Friday, "that the Board reconsider the need to make collective leadership and management of the country by involving all the components of the Iraqi people."
The conferees, according to the statement "the need to activate and energize the public affairs of the state and its institutions, such as the Supreme presidency and the presidency of the Council of Ministers and Parliament as befits the seriousness of this critical phase of the country in order to solve problems and outstanding issues."
As has been emphasized on the need to assign and support the government of national unity in order to implement the political program which was agreed upon between the political blocs service to enhance national unity and national consensus and block attempts to built among the Iraqi people.
The statement noted that "the Presidency reiterated its strong condemnation of the heinous crime that targeted the goat Imams military Alsamarae and called the Iraqi people to exercise restraint and maintain calm and prevent all reactions towards each other and not to be dragged behind the criminal designs of the base and Altkeverien who want to and plan to ignite a sectarian sedition."

For his part, the representative of supreme religious authority, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani today, Friday, "that the Iraqi authorities had had information that the gunmen would detonate tombs of the two Imams military again in the city of Samarra."

Said Sheikh Abdul Mahdi Alkerblaney in his Friday sermon Balsahn Husseini al-Sharif "There shortened by the bodies which move opposite own security and they have a clear picture of what happened in the first explosion."

He added Alkerblaney "that the authorities responsible accurate figures for the losses that followed the first explosion and led to congestion sectarian particularly in Baghdad and the Diyala and retaliatory actions mutually Out of thousands of citizens attacked the houses of worship."
He asked citizens "to have the wisdom and foresight of the consequences of sectarian war, explaining that the losses will be significant and Sivit social fabric and paralyzed all the activities and life because of this shredding and everyone responding to the directives of the religious authority, the need for restraint on the other they are the most sacred and they think wisely and interests Iraqi people."
He also asked citizens Alkerblaney touches the fact that the difficulties the government faces in the protection of holy sites that had been exported from political views, religious or regional or is the lack of sovereignty. "
He pointed out that "If some people feared and he fears that if the political crisis got Any disclosure of the most serious crisis of sectarian war if there was an attack on one of the holy shrines."

Translated version of http://www.alzawraa.net/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4880&Ite mid=73

Iraqi minister calls for the establishment of the energy forum comprising all GCC countries in the region

Source : Middle East

15 / 06 / 07

Dr. Ibrahim Bahr al-Ulum, the former Iraqi Minister of Oil all Gulf States for the initiative to announce the establishment of the energy forum comprising all GCC countries in the region which enjoys the availability of diverse energy sources, in order to contribute to this forum in solving the problems of the region and its crises.

Bahr al-Ulum said in a speech during the annual conference

Erected by the Iranian Foreign Ministry in Tehran on Gulf security and attended by a gathering of diplomats of the Gulf States and the heads of diplomatic missions in Tehran «highlighted the main themes which concern the common peoples of the Gulf region is the issue of energy security, where countries of this region rich in natural resources and energy needed by the world on one hand and the needs of the region for optimal utilization and to serve the interests of their people ».

He added Bahr al-Ulum, who has occupied the post of Ain General of CEN future Iraq «The dialogue between the Gulf collectively on this topic area represents the best chance for success, and would lead to a broader dialogue subsequently not among the region's countries, but also with the rest of the world». Bahr al-Ulum added that the basic objective of this forum is dialogue on the subject of the development of energy sources and employing its revenues to develop the economies of the countries where the project, which is in essence the possibility of using energy as cooperation and coordination between countries in the region.


A former minister said that this project does not conflict with other existing projects, but complements them, and because most economic organizations not accommodate all current states overlooking the Gulf, we look for the Gulf range to create opportunities for its search for better ways of economic cooperation, especially in energy.


He stressed the importance of working within existing organizations (OPEC, OAPEC, and the Gulf Cooperation Council), and its active role in serving the region, indicating that the region needs to collect all the States bordering the Gulf to promote constructive dialogue among themselves regarding energy sources, the detection mechanisms as positive cooperation among them.


The Sea Sciences that the Gulf states to take into account their interests in the light of global variables as a single joint threats and interests and benefits regional and international levels and contribute to the strengthening of global stability and security on one hand, and enhance the stability of its economy possesses a great economic potential to serve people.

Translated version of http://www.alzawraa.net/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4880&Ite mid=73

U.S. "disappointed" with Iraq political steps-Gates
15 Jun 2007 17:57:55 GMT
Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, June 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday Washington was "disappointed" with the Iraqi government's efforts to pass critical laws aimed at reconciling the country's warring factions. Asked by reporters travelling with him on an unnannounced visit to Baghdad what message he would convey to Iraq's leaders, Gates said: "That our troops are buying them time to pursue reconciliation, that frankly we are disappointed with the progress so far."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L15120755.htm

Another Article from Zebari...

Zebari : Iraq is making progress on political reforms

8:00:00 2007 Friday June 15

Agencies

New York-Baghdad-agency : insisted Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Thursday that the government make progress on political reforms, including the dispute over the oil in the face of impatience on the part of Washington. This came in response Zebari about the slow progress on the "standards" during a meeting of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York a day after the UN Security Council renewed the authorization for the multinational force led by the United States in Iraq.

It urges Washington to make progress in areas such as law and the participation of oil revenue adjustments in the law that prohibits the participation of former members of the Baath party in public life and constitutional reforms. The deployment of thousands of American and Iraqi troops in Baghdad Additional in recent months in the process of success will be crucial for the American debate on the length of stay in Iraq.

It urges Democrats to set a timetable for troop reductions.

Zebari said, "We recognize that and we are facing some pressure to move more quickly." He added : "These issues are very important issues as the existence of particular Iraq." They are not restricted by certain time lines for pressure to resolve very quickly. "

Zebari said that the government is determined to introduce all parties in the process instead of an absolute majority even if it were slower. The Council of Ministers approved a draft bill Iraqi oil in February, but still must be approved by Parliament. The Kurds threatened to disrupt law opponents some items thereto.
Zebari said the Kurds "I think that the law shortly oil (of approval)," There is substantial likelihood that the bill passed because a great deal of progress has been made on the issue of property distribution and fair share. "

When Pressed on the amount of time required to keep American forces in Iraq, Zebari refrained from identifying any date. He said he would return to the United Nations in December, in December when the time comes for renewal of the authorization will be present and then build on the existing situation on the ground. He added that not one of the Iraqis want the American forces will stay on indefinitely, but there is a need now to avoid all-out civil war. He said that even after the departure of foreign forces, it imagines some sort of "security partnership" with the United States.

..

He added, "the stakes are so high." This is why we think at the present time in some long-term arrangement between Iraq and the United States and beyond ..

."

This extension of the usual credentials. "

Translated version of http://www.elaph.com/

Zoellick to be confirmed as next World Banks President

Politics 6/15/2007 10:26:00 PM

WASHINGTON, June 15 (KUNA) -- President George W. Bush's candidate to head the World Bank, Robert Zoellick, is likely to be confirmed by the Banks Board of Directors as the deadline for nomination came to an end on Friday, bank sources told reporters.

Zoellick was tapped by Bush after former President Paul Wolfowitz had to resign last May under mounting pressure following his involvement in directing a pay raise to a Banks female employee he was intimately involved with.
The United States only offered a contender before the close of deadline, and no other country challenged the long standing tradition that gives the US the exclusive right to nominate the World Bankss chief while the Europeans have the same privilege for the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The first trip of Zoellick after his nomination was to Africa, a sign of following the same track of his predecessor in reaching out for this part of the world, now Zoellick is in Europe before heading to Central America.
Zoellick recently described this trip as a "listening and learning" tour, while showing resemblance to Wolfowitzs agenda on anti-corruption strategy, infrastructure development and regional integration.
In ****e of some reservations on his selection process, mainly from South Africa and the Banks staff association, Zoellicks presidency is a matter of formality before taking on his new job beginning of next July as Wolfowitzs resignation is effective on June 30. (end)

jm.bs KUNA 152226 Jun 07NNNN

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesP...58&Language=en

LOVE THIS PART

" There is substantial likelihood that the bill passed because a great deal of progress has been made on the issue of property distribution and fair share. "

Iraqi Finance Minister : There are neighboring countries fear democracy

(Voice of Iraq) - 15-06-2007

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Iraqi Finance Minister : There are neighboring countries fear a democratic Iraq there is no need for a referendum on Kirkuk

Vienna (June 15) and the agency (Lucky) Italian News - The Iraqi Finance Minister Baqir Jabr Zubaidi believed that "all aspects of security, stability, peace and genuine national reconciliation between the various Iraqi people would be extended to various parts of Iraq sooner or later." He stressed, in an interview with Agence (Lucky) Italian news agency, saying that "the clock will not be turned back, whatever the sacrifices to face and thwart all attempts desperate and criminal operations carried out by the henchmen of the Baathist regime and terrorist organizations, on top of the so-called Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia."

The Iraqi minister accused some neighboring countries, which did not call it by name, with the support of terrorist organizations in his country because it has become its "fear of movement and access to its democratic development, because it will lead sooner or later to the overthrow of its regulations." He pointed out that the "symbols and supporters of the former Iraqi regime are still large numbers who stand behind the implementation of many activities and terrorist operations and practice various kinds of pressures to topple the Iraqi government under the guise of resistance to American forces."

The Minister Zubaidi, who had previously survived several attempts to assassinate him, expressed the belief that "all forces opposed to democratic systems at the top of al-Qaeda backed by some neighboring countries as well as remnants of the Baath Party supporters, and both met in political orientations or not, They operate according to a working one common strategy known targets - a return to power in Iraq, "adding that" regional powers use these and those for abortion march of development and democratization in Iraq. " In response to a question about how to overcome the current stalemate in Iraq, the minister said Zubaidi "of course is done through the Iraqi people's unity and solidarity within the crucible of the free democratic Iraq, and it must be reiterated here that there can not surrender to Al-Qaeda and the remnants of symbols and remnants of the Baath Party." He said, "and that the Iraqi people of all classes and leanings would not be allowed to return to power, whatever the challenges, and there is unanimity and consensus among the various political forces and parties that contribute to the process of democratic development to uproot these forces and the criminal and terrorist sabotage of Iraqi arena."

After the Iraqi minister admitted that "the risks and challenges and obstacles are still great", he stressed, saying, "whatever those challenges, the light shall shine sooner or later at the end of the tunnel. and then will come peace, security and stability of all Iraqi territories, God. " Asked about ways of resolving the dispute around the city of Kirkuk between Iraqi forces and parties, the minister said Zubaidi "I believe that the Constitutional Commission is now conducting a comprehensive study on this issue, taking into account all the dimensions and backgrounds relevant, in particular the conditions of Iraqi citizens who have been abandoned or are forcibly displaced from Kirkuk and its environs, with very careful to protect the population makeup of the city which embodies Iraq microcosm of the various aspects of political, economic, social and cultural rights. "

And across the Iraqi minister expressed full confidence that the Constitutional Commission will submit a comprehensive vision for solving the compromise to the Iraqi government, which in turn be submitted to the National Assembly (parliament) for discussion and approval after the necessary adjustments. according to the new Iraqi constitution, endorsed by more than 12 million Iraqi citizens belonging to different parties, political forces, religious and ethnic, and so is the solution to support all Iraqi parties concerned, according to the source. Asked about Iraqi demands directed to conduct a plebiscite under the Constitution to resolve the dispute over the city of Kirkuk between Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, the minister said Zubaidi "Yes, no reason to resort to such an option. But there are many of the Iraqi people feel that there is no need to hold a referendum on the fate of Kirkuk, because all three Iraqi provinces have veto-power-to pre-empt any solution that does not deem appropriate, note that there is no limit now rejected any article of the birth of the Iraqi Constitution, because any amendment to the Constitution should obtain the support of the majority of the population in three Iraqi provinces. I believe that resort to referendum on the fate of Kirkuk might not help to solve the problem at the current stage, but perhaps exacerbated complexity, especially if we take into account the security situation. from this standpoint, I think we do not need now to a referendum as far as we need to pass the issue according to the Iraqi Constitution. " The Iraqi minister that any three Iraqi provinces reject thirds of the population pass any law through a referendum becomes law invalid, pointing out that "the referendum should include not only the Kurdish provinces of Arbil, Dahuk and Sulaymaniyah."

The minister said Zubaidi to say "In fact, that Iraq after 35 years of authoritarian rule and the totalitarian, repressive and terrorist dictatorship, where all Iraqis shadows and their political affiliations, religious and ethnic, whether they were Sunni Arabs or Shiites or Kurds or Turkmen, of the various types of injustice, oppression and genocide in the north and south, and long-attacks some neighboring countries at the top of Iran and Kuwait, is now in a transitional phase. " The Iraqi minister expressed hope that "the current transitional phase will eventually lead to the exit from violence, and then root of peace, coexistence and civilization, culture and ethnicity throughout Iraq."

The Iraqi minister admitted that the current transitional period in Iraq is a spiral of violence and a state of chaos and criminal operations carried out by the figures and the remnants of the Iraqi regime. He pointed to what he described as "beneficiaries of the former regime and the mercenaries who are trying to stop the wheel of progress and development and hinder the process of rebuilding the new Iraq on the grounds and established rules of liberty, social justice, economic and political, and those who work for abortion march to consecrate the democratic and parliamentary and strengthening the rule of law and the fundamental rights of the Iraqi people. " He denied the Iraqi Finance Minister that the security situation in Iraq is deteriorating steadily from bad to worse, and emphasized to say that "the coalition forces led by the United States is not responsible at all for the escalation of violence and the bombings that occur on a daily basis in Iraq."

He expressed the strong belief that "the ultimate responsibility for all criminal acts in Iraq is the former regime of Saddam Hussein and the remnants of the Baath Party fascist and terrorist organizations on top of the Al Qaeda and extremist organizations that exploit religion for political purposes, in addition to the regional powers and the neighboring states of Iraq, and now is the seriousness of a democratic Iraq free, and the seriousness of the existence of the American forces and allied forces on the Iraqi territory. " In conclusion, he stressed Zubaidi, who participated in the meeting of the 28 session of the Council of Ministers of Finance and Economy of the Member States in the OPEC Fund for International Development concluded yesterday afternoon in the city Borchak / southern Austria, stressed the need to reach a compromise among the various Iraqi people, He urged that occurs through constitutional channels and multilateral dialogue among Iraqi parties.

Aou / Aki

Translated version of http://www.sotaliraq.com/

Kurdistan Turkey rejects request a security belt inside

(صوت العراق) - 15-06-2007

(Voice of Iraq) - 15-06-2007

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Iraq : Kurdistan in Turkey rejects request a security belt within the Territory

Irbil (June 15) and the agency (Lucky) Italian News-A leading figure in Talabani's party unveiled a Turkish claim, it did not find acceptance by the authorities of Kurdistan, lies in the establishment of a security belt inside the Iraqi territory depth of 10-15 km and 300 km extension. Behrouz Klaly Director of the Office of National Union in Ankara and Personal Representative of the Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Turkey in a meeting with the TV (said that. TNT. In the) Turkish that "this request is rejected, we will never accept the establishment of a security belt inside the territory of Iraqi Kurdistan, It is possible to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries through meetings of the Tripartite Commission Iraqi Turkish America, but we will never allow the Turkish army to enter such a security belt inside our territory. " Klaly pointed out that "this issue of the security belt traded significantly by the political and media circles of Turkey, which Turkey considers a solution to its problem with the PKK forces, but the demand is rejected by us completely."

Meanwhile, Turkish media sources confirmed Friday that the Iraqi prime minister received a formal invitation from his Turkish counterpart urgently to visit Ankara to discuss recent developments in the situation, But al-Maliki has not yet responded to the call did not know yet whether it will own or are there others who would be participating in meetings with Turkish officials. It is noteworthy that Turkey faces international pressure not to launch any military attacks and widespread in the territory against the fighters of the Kurdistan Workers Party PKK.

(Shs/Aki)

Translated version of http://www.sotaliraq.com/