<A primer on reserve growth - Part 3 of 3 The Oil Drum The Union of Concerned Scientists Report on XOM: How Does It All Fit In?>

52 comments on New Iraqi oil law: some facts on PSAs

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

| Show without comments | PDF version

Dave Cohen on January 8, 2007 - 11:48am Permalink | Subthread | Comments top

I see you did mention the phrase "civil war". I just want to emphasize it:

Civil War

Who among us can say where Iraq will be 30 years from now? This is old stuff -- The Origins of the Sunni/Shia split in Islam

Ali is the central figure at the origin of the Shia/Sunni split which occurred in the decades immediately following the death of the Prophet in 632. Sunnis regard Ali as the fourth and last of the "rightly guided caliphs" (successors to Mohammed as leader of the Muslims) following on from Abu Bakr 632-634, Umar 634-644 and Uthman 644-656. Shias feel that Ali should have been the first caliph and that the caliphate should pass down only to direct descendants of Mohammed via Ali and Fatima, They often refer to themselves as ahl al bayt or "people of the house" [of the prophet].

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
neon9 on January 8, 2007 - 12:02pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I agree-as the article stated, these agreements are unlikely to amount to anything until the small issue of the civil war is taken care of.

At this point if a major oil company moved in under these terms they would be a very appealing target.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
DelusionaL on January 9, 2007 - 10:16am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

does it cross anyones mind that the civil war (provoked?) is "eliminating the opposition" with fewer causualties to occuping troops. Once the fighting population has been reduced we can then "instill order" and go about our merry way of taking the oil.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Kevembuangga on January 9, 2007 - 2:55pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

does it cross anyones mind ...

Yes, this is about the same that what I suggested earlier,
the only problem is that even with a reduced fighting population "instilling order" isn't likely to be very successful.
Thus taking the oil will happen along the fighting and from Cornucopia latest post this is what seems to be planned.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Buckler on January 10, 2007 - 4:02pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Exactly, they have been fighting for more than 1000 years. According to the book the "The Turks Today" the Ottomon Empire had tremendous problems with Arab tribes in modern day Iraq -- in one example, Istambul sent representatives to REFUND Arabic tribes taxes for their benefit, but the Turkish representatives were killed and tortured "in the customary way." Istambul ruled Baghdad from a distance. Based on history it isn't reasonable to think things will quiet down in Iraq any time soon.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

52 comments on New Iraqi oil law: some facts on PSAs

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

| Show without comments | PDF version