Oil giants are poised to move into Basra

[slipslidingaway]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/24/iraq.oil

"...Western oil giants are poised to enter southern Iraq to tap the country's vast reserves, despite the ongoing threat of violence, according to Gordon Brown's business emissary to the country.

Michael Wareing, who heads the new Basra Development Commission, acknowledged that there would be concerns among Iraqis about multinationals exploiting natural resources...

Wareing, international chief executive of KPMG, was asked by Brown to help kick-start business in the Basra region in the hope that prosperity will bring stability. On his first visit last week, he met officials and business leaders but a sandstorm forced him to cancel a flight to Baghdad to meet Maliki and General David Petraeus, the US's commanding officer in Iraq...

Iraq's parliament has yet to pass a hydrocarbon law setting out the terms oil companies will operate on and how profits will be split. 'My sense is that many of the oil companies are very eager to come in now, and actually what they're waiting for is the hydrocarbon law to be passed and various projects to be signed off. That is what is causing them to pause, rather than the security position,' he said..."




KPMG Leader appointed as Development Commissioner in Southern Iraq

http://www.kpmg.com/Press/KPMGLeaderappointed.htm

01/01/08

"Michael Wareing, Chief Executive of KPMG International, has been appointed as Commissioner within the new Basra Development Commission (‘BDC’).

The BDC will be a high-level, over-arching body which will bring national, regional and international business knowledge together to advise on investment and growth for the province. Its strategy is to develop a plan for economic development involving both the public and private sectors, and regional and international stakeholders.

Michael Wareing said:

“I am delighted to accept this new position heading-up international input to the Basra Development Commission. There are enormous opportunities for business and enterprise, and – as Commissioner – I am excited by the prospect of helping to achieve economic growth which will benefit not only the people of Basra and Southern Iraq, but also the entire region...”

[leveymg]

1. Maybe the Turks can send tanks south to Basra to "persuade" the Shi'a

to sign the Hydrocarbon Law?

Maybe they can succeed where Bush and Blair failed.

[slipslidingaway]

2. What a mess...

or going according to plans :(

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0225/p01s07-wome.html

"Peshmerga Gen. Muhammad Mohsen took down his American flag, folded it up, and placed it in his office corner Sunday, reflecting the growing anger in Iraq's Kurdish north with US support for Turkey's campaign against separatist rebels operating in the region...

"We think the United States is making a big mistake," says General Mohsen, who once led Iraqi Kurdish fighters alongside US forces when they entered the northern city of Mosul during the US invasion of Iraq in 2003..."

Thanks :)

This topic always falls off the screen.

[leveymg]

3. Bush is going to alienate the very last US allies before he leaves office

Whatever plan he's fulfilling, it isn't American-made. It sure doesn't fulfill the American interest, either.

Another betrayal. And, it isn't just of what's left of America' allies.

[slipslidingaway]

5. Very true...

"It sure doesn't fulfill the American interest, either."


Our children will suffer because too many were silent.

:cry:

[leveymg]

7. George W. Bush, President of Exxonistan

eom

[Javaman]

8. well, because moron* basically has pissed away

the surplus that was handed to him, then plunged us into record deficit territory, our childrens grand children will still be paying off this mess.

[slipslidingaway]

9. Pissed away or transferred to those in need of additional

millions.

Actually I was thinking more along the lines of increased hatred towards our nation, but it is definitely both.

:(

[annabanana]

4. "there would be concerns among Iraqis about multinationals"

gee... ya think?

[slipslidingaway]

6. Fortunately for those looking to cash in and control the resources

many of the people needed to rebuild have left, been killed or threatened with arrest.

Who will be left to fight any take over and who be left to rebuild.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

10. And EVERYONE is going to point and say, "SEE! IT WAS ABOUT OIL!!!"

The greedy effers who got us in this UNLAWFUL occupation will bankrupt this country attempting to control the resources over there. They will incite further attacks on Americans and westerners, as well.

[slipslidingaway]

12. Controlling resources...Military spending...no money for the poor. nt

[NNN0LHI]

11. Right after our military cleanses the area of "undesirables" the oil companies move in

Something doesn't seem right here.

Don

[slipslidingaway]

13. Agree and yet the topic is barely discussed :( n/t