So much for 'progress'

About that political progress that Amb. Ryan Crocker has been touting all week...

A carefully constructed compromise on a draft law governing Iraq’s rich oil fields, agreed to in February after months of arduous talks among Iraqi political groups, appears to have collapsed. The apparent breakdown comes just as Congress and the White House are struggling to find evidence that there is progress toward reconciliation and a functioning government here.

Hilzoy explains the significance and implications of the breakdown: "This is very serious, and very bad."

Tags: Iraq


Login or Register to post comments.

52 comments

Uh...oh....Big Oil get mad....tell their boys in WH to bomb Iran....if we can't control Iraqi Oil...we can send our stocks through the roof by destroying the world Oil supply...

could this be the huge breakthrough that senator graham was predicting?

Geez - the Iraqi's keep dragging their feet about essentially turning over their oilfields (a huge resource for corrupt officials [essentially the entire government] siphoning off revenue and oil for their Swiss accounts) to American Big Oil - long term - with double the usual cut for the oil companies.

Go figure.

Who could have predicted the Iraqis wouldn't be able to agree on an oil law?

The Sunnis, for one, have proclaimed that they will hold any agreements that surrender any sovereignty over Iraq's oil to foreigners as null and void. If Since this illegal war's prime objective has never been about anything other than confiscating Iraq's oil, it means that this has all been for nothing.

Read on another post that the Bush family has ties to Hunt. He is also a a family member of the man that started the John Birch society.
Can't find the post, sorry. Read a lot this am.

Weren't you listening to Petraeus and Crocker...it doesn't matter about the agreements...they are already going ahead to disperse the oil and revenues...Don't you believe them? Careful now or you'll be swift boated like Hillary when a comment is made about "suspending belief"...that's the same as calling someone a liar! Well, anyone who believed the opening statement that the general made about NO ONE knowing what was in his report until he passed it out at that moment DESERVES to be snookered. He lost all credibility with me the moment that statement passed his lips...it's all doublespeak and dissembling...just enough of a kernel of veracity then surrounded by lies to allow spinners like SNOW to grab onto that tiny bit of what passes for TRUTH with them.

That sentence ran on, so I will clarify.

A) The oil law was essentially written by the Bush administration.
B) It provides for long term leases to U.S. big oil at sweetheart rates.
C) Virtually the entire Iraqi government is corrupt and Malaki refuses to prosecute his allies. (Can you say Scooter?)
D) Someone is getting very rich stealing huge amounts of the oil now. (I wonder who?)
E) Guess who is gonna be "protecting" that oil after it is turned over to EXXON?
F) The Bush administration is (illegally) building huge permanent bases in Iraq. Any guesses what their intended purpose is?
G) The Iraqis don't seem to be entirely stupid.
H) They are gonna pass that oil law the day after hell freezes over.
I) Why are Pelosi, Reid and most of the Democrats pushing for passage of this "benchmark" just as hard as Bush and Cheney when they know that it's passage will necessitate a large troop presence (to protect fields and pipelines) until the #@!%^# oil is gone??!!?

Wow that's a huge shock. I can't believe the iraqi's are reluctant to allow their natural resources to be stolen by an illegally invading foreign country. How unamerikan of them.

This is the straw that breaks the back of the "progress" report! Now they have zippo to tout. Increased deaths, increase in violence, increased infrastructure destruction for the Iraqi people, and now the collapse of the oil partitioning.

How many ways can you spell O-V-E-R??

It's become evident that the US is meddling into this oil distribution to get their sticky fingers on it so the Iraqis are, quite understandably, balking. It's THEIR natural resource and NOT ours!

UnEasyOne @ 8:

That sentence ran on, so I will clarify.

A) The oil law was essentially written by the Bush administration.
B) It provides for long term leases to U.S. big oil at sweetheart rates.
C) Virtually the entire Iraqi government is corrupt and Malaki refuses to prosecute his allies. (Can you say Scooter?)
D) Someone is getting very rich stealing huge amounts of the oil now. (I wonder who?)
E) Guess who is gonna be "protecting" that oil after it is turned over to EXXON?
F) The Bush administration is (illegally) building huge permanent bases in Iraq. Any guesses what their intended purpose is?
G) The Iraqis don't seem to be entirely stupid.
H) They are gonna pass that oil law the day after hell freezes over.
I) Why are Pelosi, Reid and most of the Democrats pushing for passage of this "benchmark" just as hard as Bush and Cheney when they know that it's passage will necessitate a large troop presence (to protect fields and pipelines) until the #@!%^# oil is gone??!!?

The answer to #I of your comments is clear. Why do you think the Bush Crime Cabal almost flaunted the fact that they were spying illegally on american citizens? Do the math.

It implies that they've been spying on people for whom they could not get legitimate warrants - like the Democrats. You KNOW that Pelosi and Reed have many skeletons in their respective closets which they now feel could be used as blackmail against them - and probably already has when this "deal was cut".

That's why it's time to "sweep congress clean" of the filth therein in 08. They're all corrupt due to too much time in these positions. Term limits would clean all of that up in a hurry.

Isn't it peculiar that these people actually grow "balls" before our very eyes once they decide to get out of office??

It's been rumored that some of Pelosi's personal cabinet of horrors includes running her winery with illegal aliens as well as some shady real estate deals by her hubby.

The collapse of the compromise is good news for the Iraqis. As one of the previous posters said, it demonstrates they are not stupid or completely cowed by Washington. The Iraqis are never going to get back on their feet until they kick us out and dismantle all of our imperial infrastructure.

Paul @ #5

They will never reach an agreement .And even if they do, by chnace , all you need is another Ayatollah Khomeni type character to arrive on the scene and the game is over. The Iraq Crusade is not a good investment except for those like Haliburton, Blackwater , etc that make money upfront, and the sleazy types that have their hand in the cookey jar who are siphoning off money and depositing it their Swiss Bank Accounts. American tax payers get screwed.

orion @ 13:

It's been rumored that some of Pelosi's personal cabinet of horrors includes running her winery with illegal aliens as well as some shady real estate deals by her hubby.

rumored???...while your at it why don't you provide a link to said rumor.....

I am also sick of the pretence that the Dems need 60 votes to pass troop reductions.

Reid and Pelosi could announce tomorrow that there will be no more blank checks. Period. At the same time, they should announce that they will provide adequate funding for orderly withdrawal of the troops - on a month-to-month basis - whenever Bush and the Republicans are willing to cooperate. If the Rethugs filibuster or Bush vetoes they are denying the funding. They will blink first.

UnEasyOne @ 18:

I am also sick of the pretence that the Dems need 60 votes to pass troop reductions.

Reid and Pelosi could announce tomorrow that there will be no more blank checks. Period. At the same time, they should announce that they will provide adequate funding for orderly withdrawal of the troops - on a month-to-month basis - whenever Bush and the Republicans are willing to cooperate. If the Rethugs filibuster or Bush vetoes they are denying the funding. They will blink first.

They may not need 60 votes but they do need the balls to do it.

MargeAggedon @ 19:

UnEasyOne @ 18:

I am also sick of the pretence that the Dems need 60 votes to pass troop reductions.

Reid and Pelosi could announce tomorrow that there will be no more blank checks. Period. At the same time, they should announce that they will provide adequate funding for orderly withdrawal of the troops - on a month-to-month basis - whenever Bush and the Republicans are willing to cooperate. If the Rethugs filibuster or Bush vetoes they are denying the funding. They will blink first.

They may not need 60 votes but they do need the balls to do it.

AMEN!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20754861/ so much for progress...this little tidbit is interesting

I read the whole article in the NY Times. It doesn't mention anything about the contract language. It only talks about how the fact that there is disagreement. It doesn't mention that the agreements were drafted by the oil companies or that they give over 70% of the revenues to the oil companies. It's a farce and the only reason we invaded Iraq.

The Crock Ryan Crocker will say anything to quench his daddy fetish

Ron @ 22:

I read the whole article in the NY Times. It doesn't mention anything about the contract language. It only talks about how the fact that there is disagreement. It doesn't mention that the agreements were drafted by the oil companies or that they give over 70% of the revenues to the oil companies. It's a farce and the only reason we invaded Iraq.

Add link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/13/world/middleeast/13baghdad.html?_r=1&t...

At the risk of sounding nuttily conspiratorial...it may be time to forget about the LOST CAUSE of Iraq and begin to focus on the real WAR that this gang will attempt to perpetuate with IRAN before then have to face the potential of a huge loss of seats in Congress during the next election...you don't seriously think they'll go QUIETLY do you?

Another boosh corporate giveaway and the Iraqis are NOT BUYING!

PROGRESS?!

Maybe Fux Noise should interview the Iraqi government and ask them why they don't see the rosy picture Fux keeps painting for the booshistas, eh?

Dancer @ 25:

At the risk of sounding nuttily conspiratorial...it may be time to forget about the LOST CAUSE of Iraq and begin to focus on the real WAR that this gang will attempt to perpetuate with IRAN before then have to face the potential of a huge loss of seats in Congress during the next election...you don't seriously think they'll go QUIETLY do you?

All the shrub has to do is order the bombing of Iran, which he has the authority to do. I believe that he can do so for 90 days before making his case to Congress.

After the first bomb drops, we're stuck with the new war. So long as the shrub remains president, there is nothing anyone can do about this.

Dancer @ 25:

At the risk of sounding nuttily conspiratorial...it may be time to forget about the LOST CAUSE of Iraq and begin to focus on the real WAR that this gang will attempt to perpetuate with IRAN before then have to face the potential of a huge loss of seats in Congress during the next election...you don't seriously think they'll go QUIETLY do you?

With what military?? We've managed to tank our own military machine and squander it in Iraq for their oil. Now what's left? We're in very serious trouble now, thanks to Bush.

Oh, this is so good, I'm not going to abbreviate it...

Laughing My Fucking Ass Off, I am. The deal was apparently assisted into that big place in the sky for deceased deals by none other than Hunt oil, and the Mr. Hunt who currently runs it, is buddies with Lil' Boots!

OK, so say it with me now: Governmental interference is bad, the markets will take care of everything!

LMFAO squared!

Maybe Bush will cancel his speech tonight after all? Two of his main points of progress have been nullified today. The death of his compadre in Anbar and the collapse of the oil distribution plan. What's left? Discussing the fudged numbers which the people already have obtained from the source of truth? I'd like to see him try this charade because it will stack up as another "impeachable offense" of lying again to the american people in something as serious as an illegal, amoral, unnecessary war which has killed thousands of innocent patriots and iraqis - and FOR WHAT?

Why on Earth WOULD the Iraqis allow such a law that is in their WORST interests to pass??????

This Machine Kills Fascists @ 29:

Oh, this is so good, I'm not going to abbreviate it...

Laughing My Fucking Ass Off, I am. The deal was apparently assisted into that big place in the sky for deceased deals by none other than Hunt oil, and the Mr. Hunt who currently runs it, is buddies with Lil' Boots!

OK, so say it with me now: Governmental interference is bad, the markets will take care of everything!

LMFAO squared!

Hunt Oil only? I think we need to dig a little deeper and I'm sure we can find the Carlyle Group with their greedy hands in the mix. No doubt Pappy Bush is feathering his nest for Chimp's exile to Paraguay soon.

orion @ 13:

It's been rumored that some of Pelosi's personal cabinet of horrors includes running her winery with illegal aliens as well as some shady real estate deals by her hubby.

Care to share that evidence? Oh, rumor, right.

LMFAO, indeed! Today becomes Bush's "nightmare" as he's scheduled to give a speech shot full of holes. It will turn out to be a "case history for profound psychiatric illness" instead and he will be an international laughingstock.

Maybe he can feign illness and beg out rather than making a larger buffoon of himself at the eleventh hour?

orion @ 32:

This Machine Kills Fascists @ 29:

Oh, this is so good, I'm not going to abbreviate it...

Laughing My Fucking Ass Off, I am. The deal was apparently assisted into that big place in the sky for deceased deals by none other than Hunt oil, and the Mr. Hunt who currently runs it, is buddies with Lil' Boots!

OK, so say it with me now: Governmental interference is bad, the markets will take care of everything!

LMFAO squared!

Hunt Oil only? I think we need to dig a little deeper and I'm sure we can find the Carlyle Group with their greedy hands in the mix. No doubt Pappy Bush is feathering his nest for Chimp's exile to Paraguay soon.

Oh, I'm sure it goes way deeper, but just on the surface, it's too funny.

This Machine Kills Fascists @ 33:

orion @ 13:

It's been rumored that some of Pelosi's personal cabinet of horrors includes running her winery with illegal aliens as well as some shady real estate deals by her hubby.

Care to share that evidence? Oh, rumor, right.

I'm certain the evidence is out there and it will take someone near the Winery to come forward as a whistleblower.

Police: Bomb kills sheik working with U.S.

BAGHDAD (AP) — The most prominent figure in a revolt of Sunni sheiks against al-Qaeda in Iraq was killed Thursday in an explosion near his home in Anbar province, Iraqi police and tribal leaders said.

This Machine Kills Fascists @ 35:

orion @ 32:

This Machine Kills Fascists @ 29:

Oh, this is so good, I'm not going to abbreviate it...

Laughing My Fucking Ass Off, I am. The deal was apparently assisted into that big place in the sky for deceased deals by none other than Hunt oil, and the Mr. Hunt who currently runs it, is buddies with Lil' Boots!

OK, so say it with me now: Governmental interference is bad, the markets will take care of everything!

LMFAO squared!

Hunt Oil only? I think we need to dig a little deeper and I'm sure we can find the Carlyle Group with their greedy hands in the mix. No doubt Pappy Bush is feathering his nest for Chimp's exile to Paraguay soon.

Oh, I'm sure it goes way deeper, but just on the surface, it's too funny.

So here 'tis: Hunt Oil, Chimpy's pal, stands to profit from the natural resource of the iraqis. Are you telling me that Pappy, Jr. and The Dick don't have their grubby hands in there stealing the oil right now? There's plenty being stolen every day. It's time to investigate Haliburton - oh, I forgot - they suspiciously moved their HQ to Dubai recently - of course, it meant nothing.....hah! It meant plenty and everyone knows it.

orion @ 38:

This Machine Kills Fascists @ 35:

orion @ 32:

This Machine Kills Fascists @ 29:

Hunt Oil only? I think we need to dig a little deeper and I'm sure we can find the Carlyle Group with their greedy hands in the mix. No doubt Pappy Bush is feathering his nest for Chimp's exile to Paraguay soon.

Oh, I'm sure it goes way deeper, but just on the surface, it's too funny.

So here 'tis: Hunt Oil, Chimpy's pal, stands to profit from the natural resource of the iraqis. Are you telling me that Pappy, Jr. and The Dick don't have their grubby hands in there stealing the oil right now? There's plenty being stolen every day. It's time to investigate Haliburton - oh, I forgot - they suspiciously moved their HQ to Dubai recently - of course, it meant nothing.....hah! It meant plenty and everyone knows it.

No matter how you dice it, it's "war profiteering" by the Bush Crime family and their friends.

mudshark @ 21:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20754861/ so much for progress...this little tidbit is interesting

well, the guy was a thug, according to 'reports'. do you think boosh would work with anyone honorable? would anyone honorable work with boosh? no and no.

all boosh ever brought to iraq is death!

orion @ 28:

Dancer @ 25:

At the risk of sounding nuttily conspiratorial...it may be time to forget about the LOST CAUSE of Iraq and begin to focus on the real WAR that this gang will attempt to perpetuate with IRAN before then have to face the potential of a huge loss of seats in Congress during the next election...you don't seriously think they'll go QUIETLY do you?

With what military?? We've managed to tank our own military machine and squander it in Iraq for their oil. Now what's left? We're in very serious trouble now, thanks to Bush.

FYI, there are 160,000 well-equipped blackwater over there!

Why WOULD the Iraqis pass a law that is in their WORST interests???

Liam @ 37:

Police: Bomb kills sheik working with U.S.

BAGHDAD (AP) — The most prominent figure in a revolt of Sunni sheiks against al-Qaeda in Iraq was killed Thursday in an explosion near his home in Anbar province, Iraqi police and tribal leaders said.

he was a boosh collaborator, therefore an enemy of the Iraqis.

orion @ 36:

This Machine Kills Fascists @ 33:

orion @ 13:

It's been rumored that some of Pelosi's personal cabinet of horrors includes running her winery with illegal aliens as well as some shady real estate deals by her hubby.

Care to share that evidence? Oh, rumor, right.

I'm certain the evidence is out there and it will take someone near the Winery to come forward as a whistleblower.

great imagination! you think Fux would have dug up somethink by now? I'm sure she hires her illegals from Obama's Madrassa. THAT'S why they can't find any evidence.

Police: Bomb kills top Sunni ally working with U.S.
BAGHDAD (AP) — The most prominent figure in a U.S.-backed revolt of Sunni sheiks against al-Qaeda in Iraq was killed Thursday by a bomb planted near his home in Anbar province, 10 days after he met with President Bush, police and tribal leaders said.

Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha was leader of the Anbar Salvation Council, also known as the Anbar Awakening — an alliance of clans backing the Iraqi government and U.S. forces.

Officials said his assassination would be a huge setback for U.S. efforts in Iraq, because it sends a message to others who are cooperating with coalition forces or thinking about cooperating against al-Qaeda.

Abu Risha and two of his bodyguards were killed by a roadside bomb planted near the tribal leader's home in Ramadi, Anbar's provincial capital, said Col. Tareq Youssef, supervisor of Anbar police.

A spokesman for Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, confirmed the report.

"It is confirmed that the sheik and two of his bodyguards were killed today near or outside his home," Col. Steven Boylan said in an e-mail from Washington, where Petraeus testified before Congress this week on recent successes in Anbar province.

No group claimed responsibility for the assassination but suspicion fell on al-Qaeda in Iraq, which U.S. officials say has suffered devastating setbacks in Anbar thanks to Abu Risha and his fellow sheiks. It's unclear how his death would affect U.S. efforts to organize Sunnis against the terrorist network.

Abu Risha was among a group of tribal leaders who met with Bush on Sept. 3 at al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province.

Weaseldog @ 27:

Dancer @ 25:

At the risk of sounding nuttily conspiratorial...it may be time to forget about the LOST CAUSE of Iraq and begin to focus on the real WAR that this gang will attempt to perpetuate with IRAN before then have to face the potential of a huge loss of seats in Congress during the next election...you don't seriously think they'll go QUIETLY do you?

All the shrub has to do is order the bombing of Iran, which he has the authority to do. I believe that he can do so for 90 days before making his case to Congress.

After the first bomb drops, we're stuck with the new war. So long as the shrub remains president, there is nothing anyone can do about this.

boosh has no authorization to bomb Iran. he WILL certainly use the 'war-on-terrrrah' act to claim the authorization, but in fact he does NOT have authorization. You can blame this in the compliant and implicitly complicit dems in the congress and senate.

Liam @ 45:

Police: Bomb kills top Sunni ally working with U.S.

No group claimed responsibility for the assassination but suspicion fell on al-Qaeda in Iraq, which U.S. officials say has suffered devastating setbacks in Anbar thanks to Abu Risha and his fellow sheiks. It's unclear how his death would affect U.S. efforts to organize Sunnis against the terrorist network.

Abu Risha was among a group of tribal leaders who met with Bush on Sept. 3 at al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province.

I don't believe the alqaeda bouillschitt! there is no Al Qaeda in Iraq. there is a group that is now called al qaeda, no relation. betrayus said as much in the hearings. even as a concoction, this is a pitiful story. it's so convenient that there is an "Al Qaeda" to blame for this. It's also convenient that booshitArtist is giving a speech tonight right after an 'al qaeda in Iraq' event.

UnEasyOne @ 3:

Geez - the Iraqi's keep dragging their feet about essentially turning over their oilfields (a huge resource for corrupt officials [essentially the entire government] siphoning off revenue and oil for their Swiss accounts) to American Big Oil - long term - with double the usual cut for the oil companies.

Go figure.

they had running water before we got there. go figure.

More "progress" -- a key Sunni ally was assassinated by one of those pesky roadside bombs.

I obviously didn't read any posts above mine. Whoops.

I just can't understand why the Iraqis don't want us to steal all their oil. I tend to think it's an ethnic problem.

The price of a barrel of oil hit an all time high yesterday on an "unexpected drop in crude supplies". Do they NOT think we can see right through this whole war?????????????

52 comments

Login or Register to post comments.