>American oilmen insist that any new regime would tear up existing contracts.
>After all, they were signed by a ruthless tyrant with companies eager to
>keep him in office. Why would any democratic Iraqi government, especially
>one brought to power by America's efforts, honour them? The head of the
>Iraqi National Congress, an umbrella opposition group, has openly declared
>that "American companies will have a big shot at Iraqi oil"-if he gets to
>run the show. Assorted other opposition leaders have been touring Texas
>making similar promises to the oil giants.
Of course we learn in this morning's NY Times that Bush plans to make Gen Tommy Franks the king of Iraq, on the model of MacArthur running Japan after WW II. I'm guessing Gen Franks wouldn't be offering too many contracts to French oil companies.
Doug