gotta blame the neo-cons for this........................From Examiner.com
By Kenneth Schortgen Jr
''When President Bush invaded Iraq in 2003 under the guise of terrorism
and weapons of mass destruction, many Americans held the belief that our
soldiers were going to war in the Middle East region for the primary
purpose of protecting our oil
interests, just as we have done for decades. While little of that oil
has actually been provided to the U.S. through our democratizing of
Iraq, the lives of thousands of American serviceman now appear to have
died so that China could reap the benefits of the newly installed government.''
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Showing posts with label Iraq. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iraq. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
''China’s Oil Quest Comes to Iraq''
From The Diplomat
''A lot of attention has been paid in recent years to energy-hungry China’s billion-dollar bids on oil fields in Canada and the Asian giant’s reliance on oil from countries like Iran and Sudan to fuel its growing economy. But its growing interest in another major oil producer has gone largely unnoticed, and if current trends continue, that Middle Eastern country could become the world’s next “oil superpower,” with China, not the West, acting as both Iraq’s main partner and top beneficiary of its rich resources in what some now call the B&B trade axis (Beijing and Baghdad).''
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''A lot of attention has been paid in recent years to energy-hungry China’s billion-dollar bids on oil fields in Canada and the Asian giant’s reliance on oil from countries like Iran and Sudan to fuel its growing economy. But its growing interest in another major oil producer has gone largely unnoticed, and if current trends continue, that Middle Eastern country could become the world’s next “oil superpower,” with China, not the West, acting as both Iraq’s main partner and top beneficiary of its rich resources in what some now call the B&B trade axis (Beijing and Baghdad).''
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Tuesday, November 20, 2012
''Iraq would favor CNPC, Lukoil bids for Exxon oil stake'
From Aswat al-Iraq
''Iraq
would favor bids by Russia's Lukoil and China’s CNPC if they decided to
buy Exxon Mobil's stake in the super-giant West Qurna-1 oilfield, a
senior oil ministry official said on Friday.
A
sale of the stake to either company would significantly strengthen the
position of Russian or China in exploiting Iraq's oil reserves, the
world's fourth biggest.
"During two
separate meetings with executives from CNPC and Lukoil, Iraq informed
the companies that it favours their contribution to purchase Exxon's
share in West Qurna-1 oilfield," the official told Reuters.
Baghdad
said it had received "positive signals" from both companies that they
will consider making an offer for the $50 billion project, which Exxon
wants to pull out of to focus on its deal for exploration blocks in
Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region.''
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
''Iran's Untouchable Energy Exports''
From Oil Price
By John Daly
''The first U.S. economic sanctions against Iran were instituted in 1979 following the overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy and its replacement by an Islamic Republic, while the first United Nations Security Council sanctions again Iran were implemented by Resolution 1737, voted in 23 December 2006. Earlier this year, European Union foreign ministers agreed to place sanctions on Iranian oil and oil products because of Iran’s purported non-compliance with its obligations of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and the EU sanctions entered into force on 1 July.''
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By John Daly
''The first U.S. economic sanctions against Iran were instituted in 1979 following the overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy and its replacement by an Islamic Republic, while the first United Nations Security Council sanctions again Iran were implemented by Resolution 1737, voted in 23 December 2006. Earlier this year, European Union foreign ministers agreed to place sanctions on Iranian oil and oil products because of Iran’s purported non-compliance with its obligations of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and the EU sanctions entered into force on 1 July.''
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Tuesday, October 30, 2012
''Oil, Dollars, Euros And Dead Iraqi's''
From 2003 and ..........................Information Clearing House
By Nick Beams
''A shift by OPEC to the euro would rapidly confront the US with an economic “nightmare scenario.” Major oil importers would need to transfer some of their funds from US dollars reserves—stocks, bonds and other assets—into euro reserves. This would see a sharp fall in the value of the dollar, possibly setting in motion a further withdrawal of funds as investors became nervous over the value of their dollar assets. Suddenly the burgeoning US debt, which at present plays little or no role in day-to-day financial calculations, would become a factor of considerable importance.
In other words, a switch in the financial basis of the oil export market, or a significant part of it, would have major consequences for the global financial position of the US, quite irrespective of whether oil was freely available or the price charged for it. However, if the US were in control of Iraqi supplies, either directly or through a puppet, it would be in a much better position to block any currency shift by the OPEC countries.''
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By Nick Beams
''A shift by OPEC to the euro would rapidly confront the US with an economic “nightmare scenario.” Major oil importers would need to transfer some of their funds from US dollars reserves—stocks, bonds and other assets—into euro reserves. This would see a sharp fall in the value of the dollar, possibly setting in motion a further withdrawal of funds as investors became nervous over the value of their dollar assets. Suddenly the burgeoning US debt, which at present plays little or no role in day-to-day financial calculations, would become a factor of considerable importance.
In other words, a switch in the financial basis of the oil export market, or a significant part of it, would have major consequences for the global financial position of the US, quite irrespective of whether oil was freely available or the price charged for it. However, if the US were in control of Iraqi supplies, either directly or through a puppet, it would be in a much better position to block any currency shift by the OPEC countries.''
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Monday, October 29, 2012
''Iraq's Weapons Deals with Russia Weaken American Role''
From Al Monitor
''Iraq's recent string of arms deals with Russia and the Czech Republic represent a low point in relations between Iraq and the US, writes Hassan Daoud. Iraqi officials privately criticze the US for imposing too many conditions on its arms deals, and for delays in delivering weapons.''
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''Iraq's recent string of arms deals with Russia and the Czech Republic represent a low point in relations between Iraq and the US, writes Hassan Daoud. Iraqi officials privately criticze the US for imposing too many conditions on its arms deals, and for delays in delivering weapons.''
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Friday, October 26, 2012
''The victims of Fallujah's health crisis are stifled by western silence''
From The Guardian
''Four new studies on the health crisis in Fallujah have been published in the last three months. Yet, one of the most severe public health crises in history, for which the US military may be to blame, receives no attention in the United States.
Ever since two major US-led assaults destroyed the Iraqi city of Fallujah in 2004, Fallujans have witnessed dramatic increases in rates of cancers, birth defects and infant mortality in their city. Dr Chris Busby, the author and co-author of two studies on the Fallujah heath crisis, has called this "the highest rate of genetic damage in any population ever studied.''
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''Four new studies on the health crisis in Fallujah have been published in the last three months. Yet, one of the most severe public health crises in history, for which the US military may be to blame, receives no attention in the United States.
Ever since two major US-led assaults destroyed the Iraqi city of Fallujah in 2004, Fallujans have witnessed dramatic increases in rates of cancers, birth defects and infant mortality in their city. Dr Chris Busby, the author and co-author of two studies on the Fallujah heath crisis, has called this "the highest rate of genetic damage in any population ever studied.''
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Friday, October 19, 2012
''Exxon seeks to quit flagship Iraq oil project''
From Reuters
''Exxon Mobil wants to leave its giant oilfield project in southern Iraq, diplomatic sources said, in a move likely to aggravate the country's internal tensions and hamper Baghdad's ambitious energy expansion plans.
The desire of the world's largest publicly traded oil company to quit was due to prospects of slim profits from the estimated $50 billion West Qurna-1 project, the sources said. An exit from the project would contrast with a deal Exxon signed a year ago to explore in Iraq's autonomous northern Kurdish region, where incentives are better.''
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''Exxon Mobil wants to leave its giant oilfield project in southern Iraq, diplomatic sources said, in a move likely to aggravate the country's internal tensions and hamper Baghdad's ambitious energy expansion plans.
The desire of the world's largest publicly traded oil company to quit was due to prospects of slim profits from the estimated $50 billion West Qurna-1 project, the sources said. An exit from the project would contrast with a deal Exxon signed a year ago to explore in Iraq's autonomous northern Kurdish region, where incentives are better.''
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Thursday, October 11, 2012
''Iraq wants Exxon out, Russia in''
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Iraq: ''Ten Years, a Million Lives and Trillions of Dollars Later''
From HuffPo
By Dennis Kucinich
''Ten years ago today the debate over the Iraq War came to Congress in the form of a resolution promoted by the Bush administration. The war in Iraq will cost the United States as much as $5 trillion. It played a role in spurring the global financial crisis. Four thousand, four hundred, eighty eight Americans were killed. More than 33,000 were injured.
As many as 1,000,000 innocent Iraqi civilians were killed. The monetary cost of the war to Iraq is incalculable. A sectarian civil war has ravaged Iraq for nearly a decade. Iraq has become home to al Qaeda.''
continue reading
By Dennis Kucinich
''Ten years ago today the debate over the Iraq War came to Congress in the form of a resolution promoted by the Bush administration. The war in Iraq will cost the United States as much as $5 trillion. It played a role in spurring the global financial crisis. Four thousand, four hundred, eighty eight Americans were killed. More than 33,000 were injured.
As many as 1,000,000 innocent Iraqi civilians were killed. The monetary cost of the war to Iraq is incalculable. A sectarian civil war has ravaged Iraq for nearly a decade. Iraq has become home to al Qaeda.''
continue reading
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
''In Syrian shadow, Iraq's Maliki juggles Tehran, Washington''
From Today's Zaman
''Nine years after US forces ousted Iraq's Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein, and nine months after they finally pulled out of the country, Maliki is heavily reliant on Tehran, Washington's enemy. He leans on Iran for political support at home and for backing in a Sunni-dominated region where he has few friends.
But he still needs the Americans, too -- for military aid, in part, but also as Iraq seeks global investment and trading access for an oil industry it is struggling to rebuild.''
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''Nine years after US forces ousted Iraq's Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein, and nine months after they finally pulled out of the country, Maliki is heavily reliant on Tehran, Washington's enemy. He leans on Iran for political support at home and for backing in a Sunni-dominated region where he has few friends.
But he still needs the Americans, too -- for military aid, in part, but also as Iraq seeks global investment and trading access for an oil industry it is struggling to rebuild.''
read more
Sunday, September 30, 2012
''Russia's Arms Exports: Prospects in Iraq''
From Voice of Russia
''Speaking about Iraq, we should say that Russia’s participation in the re-equipment of its army coincides with Moscow’s strategic interests. Today when the relations between Iraq and Iran are becoming more and more friendly with every passing day, the Persian Gulf monarchies, including Saudi Arabia first of all, are again turning into the main enemy for Iraq’s armed forces. The military threat in the face of Iran may weaken Riyadh’s activity and also that of its allies in transforming the Middle East according to its model.''
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''Speaking about Iraq, we should say that Russia’s participation in the re-equipment of its army coincides with Moscow’s strategic interests. Today when the relations between Iraq and Iran are becoming more and more friendly with every passing day, the Persian Gulf monarchies, including Saudi Arabia first of all, are again turning into the main enemy for Iraq’s armed forces. The military threat in the face of Iran may weaken Riyadh’s activity and also that of its allies in transforming the Middle East according to its model.''
read more
Thursday, August 30, 2012
''Fears of Anti-Kurdish Campaign by Syrian Arab Opposition''
From Rudaw
''Kurdish leaders in Syria say that a number of Arab opposition figures are leading a campaign to inflame hostility against the Kurds.
''Kurdish leaders in Syria say that a number of Arab opposition figures are leading a campaign to inflame hostility against the Kurds.
A Kurdish opposition source told Alkurdiya News that parties are receiving support from regional powers and prominent Arab journalists in order to continue their campaign against Syria’s Kurds.''
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
''Archbishop Desmond Tutu pulls out of event with Tony Blair because of Iraq War''
From The Telegraph
However Mr Blair hit back in a statement, insisting that such "decisions are never easy morally or politically”.''
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''The Nobel Peace Prize winner who was the first black archbishop of Cape Town made the protest because of the former Prime Minister's “morally indefensible” decision to lead British forces into Iraq in 2003.
However Mr Blair hit back in a statement, insisting that such "decisions are never easy morally or politically”.''
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Friday, August 24, 2012
Tomgram: ''Greg Muttitt, Whatever Happened to Iraqi Oil?''
From TomDispatch
''It was about oil (though not oil alone, given the over-determined nature of all events on this planet of ours), while so many of the sophisticated types as well as the geopolitical visionaries of the Bush administration proved dismally wrong, completely mistaken in their assessment of our world of energy and how it might be controlled. Now, more than eight years later, no one here even wants to think about Iraq and the multi-trillion-dollar war we fought there. Mission accomplished? You be the judge. Recent headlines indicate that the new Iraq is actually helping Iran evade the Obama administration’s oil sanctions. Think of it as the grim geopolitical version of slapstick comedy.''
read more
''It was about oil (though not oil alone, given the over-determined nature of all events on this planet of ours), while so many of the sophisticated types as well as the geopolitical visionaries of the Bush administration proved dismally wrong, completely mistaken in their assessment of our world of energy and how it might be controlled. Now, more than eight years later, no one here even wants to think about Iraq and the multi-trillion-dollar war we fought there. Mission accomplished? You be the judge. Recent headlines indicate that the new Iraq is actually helping Iran evade the Obama administration’s oil sanctions. Think of it as the grim geopolitical version of slapstick comedy.''
read more
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
''Attacks in Iraq killed 409 people in Ramadan: AFP''
From Al Arabiya
''Bombings and shootings in Iraq killed at least 409 people and wounded 975 during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, according to an AFP tally based on security and medical officials.
The month saw a number of deadly days, including July 23, when 113 people were killed and 259 wounded in a wave of attacks across the country, and August 16, when 82 were killed and 270 wounded.''
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''Bombings and shootings in Iraq killed at least 409 people and wounded 975 during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, according to an AFP tally based on security and medical officials.
The month saw a number of deadly days, including July 23, when 113 people were killed and 259 wounded in a wave of attacks across the country, and August 16, when 82 were killed and 270 wounded.''
read more
Sunday, August 19, 2012
''US proxy war in Syria spreads to Lebanon and Iraq''
From 'There are no Sunglasses'
''The intensifying proxy war in Syria is causing increased anxiety throughout the Middle East, where the specters of sectarian war and Western military intervention loom large. A series of kidnappings threatens to drag Lebanon deeper into the 17-month-long civil war in neighboring Syria, while 93 people were killed in Iraq on Thursday.
Al Qaeda’s role as a partner in a US-led Sunni sectarian war against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is apparently strengthening its operations in Iraq. Some 190 people were killed by Al Qaeda attacks in Iraq over the last two-and-a-half weeks.''
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''The intensifying proxy war in Syria is causing increased anxiety throughout the Middle East, where the specters of sectarian war and Western military intervention loom large. A series of kidnappings threatens to drag Lebanon deeper into the 17-month-long civil war in neighboring Syria, while 93 people were killed in Iraq on Thursday.
Al Qaeda’s role as a partner in a US-led Sunni sectarian war against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is apparently strengthening its operations in Iraq. Some 190 people were killed by Al Qaeda attacks in Iraq over the last two-and-a-half weeks.''
read more
Friday, August 17, 2012
''Iraq Eid Slaughter: 128 Killed, 371 Wounded''
From URUKNET
''With the the holy month of Ramadan winding down, insurgents staged attacks across the country, even into relatively quiet southern Iraq. At least 128 Iraqis were killed and 371 more were wounded overall. This scale of multiple attacks was likely coordinated to spoil the Eid al-Fitr festivities tomorrow.
In Baghdad, a car bomb killed seven people and wounded 42 more in the Husseiniya district. At least 27 people were killed and 30 more were wounded in a blast in Zafaraniya.''
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''With the the holy month of Ramadan winding down, insurgents staged attacks across the country, even into relatively quiet southern Iraq. At least 128 Iraqis were killed and 371 more were wounded overall. This scale of multiple attacks was likely coordinated to spoil the Eid al-Fitr festivities tomorrow.
In Baghdad, a car bomb killed seven people and wounded 42 more in the Husseiniya district. At least 27 people were killed and 30 more were wounded in a blast in Zafaraniya.''
read more
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
''Iraq gives Total ultimatum over Kurdish oil deal''
From AFP
''Iraq on Sunday gave French energy giant Total an ultimatum to either end its dealings with the autonomous Kurdistan region in the north or to sell its stake in a giant southern oilfield.
Iraq's deputy prime minister responsible for energy affairs, Hussein al-Shahristani, also said Baghdad was considering offering foreign oil firms more lucrative contracts, as he admitted a recent auction of exploration blocks had not been as successful as officials had hoped.
Total "was requested to withdraw from this field, and it has been given a certain period to end this case by selling its share to another company or by ending the contract with Kurdistan," Shahristani told AFP.''
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''Iraq on Sunday gave French energy giant Total an ultimatum to either end its dealings with the autonomous Kurdistan region in the north or to sell its stake in a giant southern oilfield.
Iraq's deputy prime minister responsible for energy affairs, Hussein al-Shahristani, also said Baghdad was considering offering foreign oil firms more lucrative contracts, as he admitted a recent auction of exploration blocks had not been as successful as officials had hoped.
Total "was requested to withdraw from this field, and it has been given a certain period to end this case by selling its share to another company or by ending the contract with Kurdistan," Shahristani told AFP.''
read more
''Kirkuk Police Chief: We Will Not Allow Iraqi Troops to Interfere in our Affairs''
From Rudaw
''Kurdistan Region -- Lieutenant Jamal Tahir is Kirkuk’s chief of police. He spoke to Rudaw about current issues facing the ethnically diverse city, a “disputed” territory that both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) lay claim to. The area has been plagued with security issues and terrorist concerns in recent years, and Tahir was able to give some unique insight into how the city’s particular challenges are being managed.''
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''Kurdistan Region -- Lieutenant Jamal Tahir is Kirkuk’s chief of police. He spoke to Rudaw about current issues facing the ethnically diverse city, a “disputed” territory that both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) lay claim to. The area has been plagued with security issues and terrorist concerns in recent years, and Tahir was able to give some unique insight into how the city’s particular challenges are being managed.''
read more
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