[lbo-talk] Iran, Iraq and US Power

[Robert Wrubel]

The US attempt to control Middle Eastern oil by
imposing a highly prejudicial oil law on Iraq runs
counter to prevailing practices in the region, in
which state-owned monopolies strike deals with foreign
companies for technical extractive help. This article
in Asia Times argues that the Iraqi congress, a
surprisingly resilient al Maliki, and the oil workers
unions may defeat the US attempt by not renewing the
annual UN occupation and oil mandates beyond 2008. 
That doesnt mean the US will go along, but it will
certainly rob it of any vestige of legality and make
European compliance much harder.

http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IJ26Ak02.html

BobW