Iraq Oil Report

Iraq Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani’s comments in Dubai about Iraqi Kurdistan’s oil prerogatives, calling into question their legitimacy and legality, didn’t sit well in Irbil.
The KRG issued a statement Tuesday calling the remarks “totally unacceptable.”

Dr Shahristani was already strongly advised to stay out of issues over which he has no authority. But once again he has repeated his false mantra of “it is illegal”. Unfortunately this has been his way of dealing with the legitimate concerns of the hard working oil union members in the south, with the achievements of the KRG or with any other organization that he does not like.

The KRG also alleges Shahristani isn’t doing enough to reign in the booming fuels black market and has told other countries not to supply fuel to the KRG.
The statement accused Shahristani of blocking progress on a federal oil law and said he should either fix that or quit.

Meanwhile, Vivienne Walt of Fortune catches up with Shahristani in Vienna. He’s attending the OPEC meeting.

An interesting read following my report yesterday, Deeper than an oil law in Iraq, Joshua Holland and Raed Jarrar write The Battle for Iraq is About Oil and Democracy, Not Religion!

Three articles from the Institute for War & Peace Reporting looking at security and institutional problems affecting Iraq’s oil sector:
Oil Industry Fails to Fulfill Potential
Smuggling Thrives in Basra
Tribes Sabotage Kirkuk Pipelines

McClatchy on the opening round of Petraeus/Crocker vs. Congress

Hiba Dawood’s daily report for UPI: the Iraq Press Roundup

Ali al-Fadhily of IPS reports on two trends in religious and intra-sectarian developments:

Religious clerics are beginning to play an increasingly powerful role in Iraq. Many Iraqis now fear that they are endangering human rights and religious freedom in the once largely secular country.

and

Clashes between rival Shia militas in Kerbala have spread across southern Iraq and Baghdad, adding a new dimension to sectarian violence.

A must-read backgrounder: Anatomy of a Tribal Revolt by Dave Kilcullen