Comments on: Iraqi oil sparks political sour note http://www.iraqoilreport.com/2008/07/13/iraqi-oil-sparks-political-sour-note/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:42:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: We Are Stealing Iraqi Oil and Calling It Democracy. « The Proud Political Junkie’s Gazette http://www.iraqoilreport.com/2008/07/13/iraqi-oil-sparks-political-sour-note/#comment-824 We Are Stealing Iraqi Oil and Calling It Democracy. « The Proud Political Junkie’s Gazette Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:34:20 +0000 http://www.iraqoilreport.com/?p=189#comment-824 [...] Iraqi oil sparks political sour note [...] [...] Iraqi oil sparks political sour note [...]

]]> By: Greg http://www.iraqoilreport.com/2008/07/13/iraqi-oil-sparks-political-sour-note/#comment-802 Greg Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:47:45 +0000 http://www.iraqoilreport.com/?p=189#comment-802 Transition to privatization, if it occurs at all, will be extremely difficult. One reason for this, and why the unions protest, is that during the Sadam era the numbers of people employed in state-owned industries far exceeded the labor requirement for efficient production. In other words, many who have lived off state "largese" fear losing their jobs if the oil and other industries were efficiently run and operated under modern profit-driven management. Basically, the unionmembers are concerned more with self-interest other than national interests. This puts at risk certain international interests. Currently the US Government has partnered with the Iraqi government to encourage privatization and developement of Iraqi state-owned industries. This initiative has just begun to bear fruit as some foreign businesses and joint ventures have begun to sign production-sharing agreements with the Iraqi government. Under these agreements foreign investment and expertise will be tapped to refurbish, operate and manage selected state-owned industries. The future success of these initiatives hinge greatly on future US involvement which a new US administration may or may not have. We can only hope for the best as Iraqi developement and future stability is in the best interest of us all. Transition to privatization, if it occurs at all, will be extremely difficult. One reason for this, and why the unions protest, is that during the Sadam era the numbers of people employed in state-owned industries far exceeded the labor requirement for efficient production. In other words, many who have lived off state “largese” fear losing their jobs if the oil and other industries were efficiently run and operated under modern profit-driven management. Basically, the unionmembers are concerned more with self-interest other than national interests.

This puts at risk certain international interests. Currently the US Government has partnered with the Iraqi government to encourage privatization and developement of Iraqi state-owned industries. This initiative has just begun to bear fruit as some foreign businesses and joint ventures have begun to sign production-sharing agreements with the Iraqi government. Under these agreements foreign investment and expertise will be tapped to refurbish, operate and manage selected state-owned industries. The future success of these initiatives hinge greatly on future US involvement which a new US administration may or may not have. We can only hope for the best as Iraqi developement and future stability is in the best interest of us all.

]]> By: Old Sailor http://www.iraqoilreport.com/2008/07/13/iraqi-oil-sparks-political-sour-note/#comment-800 Old Sailor Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:26:24 +0000 http://www.iraqoilreport.com/?p=189#comment-800 "Oil privatization is a red line for the unions in occupied Iraq, and a red rag to the workers on the front line, who have vowed to resist any privatisation of what they see as national assets" RED: an appropriate color for Socialists and Communists who made up the core of Saddam Hussein's government. We need to get back to painting the Democrats in the US with that same color in the election season, because it fits them so well. “Oil privatization is a red line for the unions in occupied Iraq, and a red rag to the workers on the front line, who have vowed to resist any privatisation of what they see as national assets”

RED: an appropriate color for Socialists and Communists who made up the core of Saddam Hussein’s government. We need to get back to painting the Democrats in the US with that same color in the election season, because it fits them so well.

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