America Puts Iraq Up For Sale

Those wonderful free markets, what lucky Iraqis

news.independent.co.uk...

www.washingtonpost.com...

"The U.S.-led occupation authority here has ordered the overhaul of fundamental elements of Iraq's socialist economy and instituted wide-ranging free-market reforms that will allow full foreign ownership in every sector except oil, U.S. and Iraqi officials said today."

It's just unbeleivable that there is so little outrage to what America + U.k has with the Iraq situation. Its an absoloute #ing joke and it's only gunna get worse.

You guys and your "play with words".......''
Well, according to the "Independent" article, let's examine "Iraq put up for sale"....: (smells like an economic overhaul but some will see this as 'something' else...)

"opening up all sectors of the economy to foreign investors in a desperate attempt to deliver much-needed reconstruction"

Ahh, well, lets play this a bit along the lines of the "Bush Agendas".....
Bush is reaping the dividends from this.....
"the biggest reconstruction contracts have been allocated to American firms such as Bechtel and Halliburton, which have ties to the Bush administration. They were selected behind closed doors, with no opportunity for competitors to present bids."

Whats all this called: "privatisation"....."Privatisation of everything from electricity and telecommunications to pharmaceuticals and engineering could see hundreds of previously state-owned companies sold off."

What would be the benefits: "the moves would open Iraq to free- market competition that would deliver investment, job creation and long-term economic growth."

What would be the draw-backs, besides the US and the Bush Administration reaping the dividends of this: "There's a fear that privatisation of too many things will lead to things being sold off for a mess of potage."


The "Washington Post" virtually says the same thing.....privatisation and economic overhaul out of US desperation to reconstruct Iraq.

Hmmm, just what exactly are you trying to say Peace and Earthtone....that you guys are against helping the Iraqi people get rebuilt...having a better life and future? Just what am I 'missing' here besides "who" is benefiting from this?

regards
seekerof












[Edited on 23-9-2003 by Seekerof]

I just feel like they have gone and truely #ed Iraq up and now they are just moving in American companys. I just wish that they were allowed to choose there own leaders and rebuild there own country with aid and democracy rather than the U.S completely in charge moving in American companys ya know? I mean yeh it's good that it wil start to rebuild Iraq, thats exactely what i want to happen, but it's just the principle of how its all gone through I guess. I think it all sucks and this war was a criminal activty.

Originally posted by earthtone
I think it all sucks and this war was a criminal activty.

'was' should be 'is'.

"Play with words"
Explain what on earth you mean Seekerof, "America Puts Iraq Up For Sale" was plastered on the front page of the Independent that morning, it is the title of the article I posted.

Second of all, this was the plan all along with Iraq, it is going to make a lot of western business men a lot of money. Interesting to note that the oil contracts were signed long ago.

"benefit from the future" Seekerof, you should go and get a job working for Rupert Murdoch, Privatisation is not all its cracked up to be, believe me, I live in London, Tony Blair is in the process of selling my country, I don't see many improvements. Besides why not let the Iraqis chose who re-constructs their country. Bechtel have got an exceptionally poor record in the re-construction industry, they are being sued as we speak.

Seekerof, how on earth can you accuse me of not wanting Iraq to be re-built, I just can't stand the way stinky crooked westeners are going to make # loads of $$$, while paying the Iraqis fvck all!

Free markets means survival of the fittest, this means no chance for Iraqi businesses, everything will be dominated by foreigners.

So Seekerof I think the Iraqi re-construction would go better if the Americans fvucked off and kept their greedy noses out. Simple.

Let the Iraqis chose! But oh no, they might not want Bechtel, Halliburton building their country, well fvck the Iraqis they don't know whats best for themselves, we know better, isn't that right Seekerof.

Yeh thanks Maskedavatar, I do realise the war is still continuing and seems to be in a terrible phase too. I completely agree Peace, When everything becomes privatised it gets pretty bad. Margeret thatcher did that to our country. And it's happened to the Tube now and ticket prices are going up goddammit.

Seeker: Okay, let me try to spell it out for you.

"In an unexpected move unveiled at the meeting in Dubai of the Group of Seven rich nations, the Iraqi Governing Council announced sweeping reforms to allow total foreign ownership without the need for prior approval. "

In other words, if Germany wants to, say, buy up Baghdad's main telephone company, they can. They can buy it and run it as they like, taking any of their profits and funneling them back into Germany.

"It remains to be seen whether the prospect of buying into Iraq's most essential services, pricing those services at will and repatriating profits in their entirety will be a strong enough lure to offset the continuing inability of the US military to make the country secure from resistance fighters and heavily armed criminal gangs."

Pricing at WILL. Not due to the market, due to WILL. Sheer unadulterated profit.

"The moves presented by Mr Gailani, approved by the US and UK's coalition provisional authority, include:

� 100 per cent foreign ownership in all sectors except natural resources;

� direct ownership as well as joint ventures and setting up branches;

� full, immediate remittance to the host country of profits, dividends, interest and royalties.

Privatisation of everything from electricity and telecommunications to pharmaceuticals and engineering could see hundreds of previously state-owned companies sold off. "

Full immediate remittance to the host country. None of it to Iraq.

"Hmmm, just what exactly are you trying to say Peace and Earthtone....that you guys are against helping the Iraqi people get rebuilt...having a better life and future? Just what am I 'missing' here besides "who" is benefiting from this? "

Full remittance to the host country of all profits. None of it gets back into the Iraqi economy. They can employ ALL foreign workers, and they don't have to give a penny of their profits to Iraq.

So in other words, everyone else benefits from foreign privatization EXCEPT Iraq.

Of course, it remains to be seen how many companies will set up shop in a country where they may be killed, but hey, that's capitalism.

This just really shows that the US doesn't give a rat's tookus about Iraq and "democracy". If they did, they would give Iraqis the right to self-determination. If they democratically elect a secular Islamic government, IT'S THEIR RIGHT TO DO SO.

They're in it for the cash and for the oil.


jakomo

So Jakomo.......
Your still a firm believer that the war in Iraq was for 'oil'?
(oil equating to money)

Really?

regards
seekerof

Them Iraqi's sure like the idea of privatisation.
Just found this:

"45 corps, 150 factories up for grabs"
Link:
www.iraqpress.org...\2003-09-23\03.htm

Excerpt:

"Baghdad, Iraq Press, September 23, 2003 � The Ministry of Industry and Minerals has prepared a list of 45 major corporations and 150 companies which it wants to privatize.

The figure represents the remaining state-owned enterprises which were not included in the first privatization campaign the former regime announced in mid 1990s.

The list is part of the latest sweeping package of economic reforms to open up Iraq for foreign investment, allowing 100 percent foreign ownership in all sectors except oil.

"The privatization of the ministry's enterprises has become a must since they are almost all working at 35 percent of their capacity," Muhannad Abdulmajeed Alaa, a consultant at the ministry, told Iraq Press....."



regards
seekerof

For sale already?
Didn't they just buy it?

All wars are ciminal activity.

And two more articles on the privatisation of Iraq....

"Oil Ministry adopts new export, output policy"
Link:
www.iraqpress.org...\2003-09-23\04.htm

"Ministry executes 37 projects, creates 35,000 jobs"
Link:
www.iraqpress.org...\2003-09-23\01.htm



As to the "war for oil and money"
Found this interesting article:

"Gref Sees U.S. Oil Route by 2007"
Link:
www.themoscowtimes.com...

But let's look at what will happen because of this:

STEP ONE: The Saudis will discover this grave threat to their control of the world oil market.

STEP TWO: The Saudi oil minister will call the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and ask them to find a way to get American opinion to oppose Russian oil.

STEP THREE: CAIR will go through one of their intermediaries to give money to some environmental or human rights group to do research on the Russian oil pipeline.

STEP FOUR: The researchers will come up with something, however minor. The oil drilling will kill the reindeer, or the threat of a spill could destroy the pristine beauty of Murmansk harbor. (Murmansk harbor may not in fact be beautiful, but what American will go up there and check?)

STEP FIVE: Saudi money will flow through channels to whatever group most dramatizes the problem of evil Russian oil. The various environmental groups and human rights groups realize that the more they publicize the "problem" of Russian oil, the more money they'll get. They don't know or don't want to know where a lot of that money is coming from.

STEP SIX: The competition becomes intense. The usual groups turn out pamphlets, web sites, songs, and skits. At every leftist rally, people show up wearing reindeer antlers to protest the importing of Russian oil.

STEP SEVEN: The artistic community reads the direct mailings from the environmental groups and gets in on the act. A group of famous singers rally to ask "Must we destroy the precious irreparable tundra to drive around in SUVs?" Off-Broadway features many plays that symbolically show how big oil rapes mother earth. Michael Moore makes a documentary called "From Russia With Greed."

STEP EIGHT: The movement crosses over from the fringe to regular discourse. Congressmen who support importing oil from Russia get asked at town meetings what they have against baby reindeer. Some conservative politicians point
out that Russian drilling would have very limited effects. These politicians are denounced as tools of the oil industry.

STEP NINE: Congress votes to ban import of oil from Murmansk harbor. The leftists do high-fives. The Saudis nearly die of laughter at how easy it is to manipulate Americans.

STEP TEN: Saudi will eventually come out and claim that the war on and in Iraq was for 'oil' also.


regards
seekerof

seeker,

yeah man. and maybe this too will happen,...

as the US collapses aka Titor syndrome the Russians attack and overtake USA.

Seeker is overjoyed at downfall of own country but he is happy because he is big socialist supporter.

He expects big welcome from invading comrades!

but they not trusting him, American Scum they lock him in jail, he cannot be trusted, Amerikaninsky!

Seeker doesn't mind because at least it is a socialist jail!

So he feels priviledged!

Gee NEO, I thought we all felt priviledged to live in the so-called 'socialist jails.'

Btw.....got anything to add to the topic concerning "America Puts Iraq Up For Sale" or you just critiquing me?

Either way...doesn't matter.
I got a decent laugh at your analogy.

regards
seekerof

[Edited on 24-9-2003 by Seekerof]

Originally posted by Seekerof
So Jakomo.......
Your still a firm believer that the war in Iraq was for 'oil'?
(oil equating to money)

C'mon man, open your eyes. Aerica is running out of oil and is a large amount of debt. Iragq has the largets oil fields apart from Saudi arabia (which they can't invade) The WMD were destroyed years ago and there was hardly even a program running about biological weapons, it was all bull#. America don't care about regiem (dunn ohow to spell it) change, they wouldn't spend all that money on a war to liberate some people. Plus the fact that there is absoloutely no proof that SAddam had anything to do with Bin Laden. so why else apart from oil? ?

There is one thing I have been finding out here of late...in just the last month.....there are many people here that need to open their eyes!!

Your telling me to open mine.........
You keep reading the internet 'conspiracy' drivel.....good for the addiction levels.....

I'll get back to this once I get home from campus.

regards
seekerof

Seeker: Good links. By the way, who appointed the entire Iraqi "provisional" government, including the Minister of Oil?

Oh, yeah, the U.S. handpicked every single one of them. So whatever they propose is only gonna happen if their US occupying powers okay it. Not exactly the same as your assumption that Iraqis seem to be behind the plan.


jakomo

Seekerof, you should go and join the white house spin machine. I always thought of you as one of the good guys, your comments on this thread are making me think otherwise.

"Hmmm, just what exactly are you trying to say Peace and Earthtone....that you guys are against helping the Iraqi people get rebuilt...having a better life and future? Just what am I 'missing' here besides "who" is benefiting from this?"

Whoever benefits is the only issue, think about what you are saying.

Yes Peace...I am sorry to have disappointed you and others.
Me? A spin-doctor? Nay, but if you wish to perceive me as that, you are certainly welcome to do just that. In all conflict, there are those who will "reap" and those who "won't" Peace....thats common sense.
I read 'into things' almost as much as anyone else Peace but I tend to think that sometimes, just maybe, we all often "read" too much into something.

Btw...found this letter from a US serviceman currently serving in Iraq to this day....:

"Subject: Postcard from the edge: how goes the war?


News from the front:

Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 1:45 PM
Subject: Open Current Events Letter From A U.S. Army Major In Iraq


It has been a while since I have written to my friends at First Lutheran Church about what's really going on here in Iraq. The news you watch on TV is exaggerated, sensationalized and selective. Good news doesn't sell.


The stuff you don't hear about on CNN? Let's start with Electrical Power production in Iraq. The day after the war was declared over, there was nearly 0 power being generated in Iraq; 45 days later, in a partnership between the Army, the Iraqi people and some private companies, there are now 3200 mega watts (Mw) of power produced daily, or 1/3 of the total national potential. Downed power lines ( big stuff, 400 Kilovolt (Kv) and 132 Kv) are being repaired and are now about 70% complete.


Then there is water purification.


In central Iraq between Baghdad and Mosul, home of the 4th Infantry Division, water treatment was spotty at best. The facilities existed, but the controls were never implemented. Simple chemicals like Chlorine for purification and Alum (Aluminum Sulfate) for sediment settling (the Tigris River is about as clear as the Mississippi River) were in very short supply. Or not used at all. And when chlorine was used, it was metered by guessing.


So some people got pool water to drink and some people got water with lots of little things floating around in it. We are slowly but surely solving that. Contracts for repairs to facilities [that are only 50% or less operational ] are being let. Chemicals are being delivered, although we don't have the metering problem solved yet (... but again, it's only been 45 days).


How about oil and fuel?


Well the war was all about oil wasn't it? You bet it was. It was all about oil for the Iraqi people ! They have no other income. They produce nothing else. Oil is 95% of the Iraqi GNP. For this nation to survive, it MUST sell oil.


The Refinery at Bayji is at 75% of capacity in producing gasoline. The crude oil pipeline between Kirkuk (Oil Central) and Bayji will be repaired by tomorrow (2 June). LPG, what all Iraqi's use to cook and heat with, is at 103% of normal production. And WE, the US ARMY, are insuring it is being distributed FAIRLY to ALL Iraqi's.


You have to remember that only 3 months ago, ALL these things were used by the Sadam regime as weapons against the population to keep them in line. If your town misbehaved, gasoline shipments stopped .. LPG pipelines and trucks stopped .. water was turned off .. power was turned off.


Now, until exports start again, every drop of gasoline produced goes to the Iraqi people. Crude oil production is being stored and the country is at 75% capacity right now. They need to export or stop pumping soon, ... so thank the UN for that delay.


ALL LPG goes to the Iraqi people EVERYWHERE. And water is being purified as best it can be, but at least it's running all the time to everyone.


Are we still getting shot at? Yep. Are American Soldiers still dying? Yep, about 1 a day from my outfit, the 4th Infantry Division, most in accidents. But dead is dead.


If we are doing all this for the Iraqis, why are they shooting at us?


The general Iraqi population isn't shooting at us. There are still bad guys, who won't let go of the old regime. They are Ba'ath party members (read Nazi Party, but not as nice) who have known nothing but .. and supported nothing but .. the regime all of their lives. These are the thugs for the regime that caused many to disappear in the night. They have no other skills. At least the Nazis had jobs and a semblance of a national infrastructure that they could go back to after the war, .. as plumbers, managers, engineers, etc. These people have no skills .. but terror. They are simply applying their skills. But we are applying ours. There is no Christian way to say this .. but they must be eliminated and we are doing so with all the efficiency we can muster.


Our troops are shot at literally everyday by small arms and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs). We respond and 100% of the time, the Ba'ath party guys come out with the short end of the stick.


The most amazing thing to me is that they don't realize that if they stopped shooting at us, we would focus on .. fixing things more quickly .. and then leave back to the land of the Big PX. And the more they shoot at us, the longer we will have to stay.


Lastly, all of you please realize that 90% of the damage you see on TV was caused by Iraqi's, NOT by us and not by the war. Sure we took out a few bridges from military necessity, we took out a few power and phone lines to disrupt communications, sure we drilled a few palaces and government headquarters buildings with 2000 lb. laser guided bombs (I work 100 yards from where two hit the Tikrit Palace), he had plenty to spare. But, ANY damage you see to schools, hospitals, power generation facilities, refineries, pipelines, was ALL caused either by .. the Iraqi Army in its death throes .. or from much of the Iraqi civilians looting the places.


Could we have prevented it? Nope.


We can and do it now, but 45 days ago the average soldier was fighting for his own survival .. and trying to get to his objectives as fast as possible. He was lucky to know what town he was in much less be informed enough to know .. who owned what .. or have the power to stop a 1,000 people from looting and burning a building by himself.


The United States and our Allies, especially Great Britain, are doing a very noble thing here. We stuck our necks out on the world's chopping block to free an entire people from the grip of a horrible terror that was beyond belief.


I've already talked the weapons of mass destruction thing to death, .. bottom line, who cares? This country was one big conventional weapons ammo dump anyway. We have probably destroyed more ground weapons and ammo in the last 30 days than the US Army has ever fired in the last 30 years (Remember, this is a country the size of Texas), so drop the WMD argument as the reason we came here ... if we find them GREAT.. if we don't, SO WHAT?


I'm living in a "guest palace" on a 500 acre palace compound with 20 palaces with like facilities built in half a dozen towns all over Iraq that were built for one man. Drive down the street and out into the country side 5 miles away, like I have, and see all the families of 10 or more, all living in mud huts and herding the two dozen sheep on which their very existence depends, ...then tell me why you think we are here.


WMD ? ...important .. have to find 'em wherever they may be (.. in Syria?), but not OUR real motivator. Don't let it be yours either.


Respectfully,


E. R. MAJOR Deputy Division Engineer 4th Infantry Division"


Perception is a motivator of many things. Sometimes the truth is found easily and sometimes you have to dig for it. Just what is the truth Peace....you judge me, question my intentions...why? Cause they differ from yours? I see things differently, perceive things differently? And because of that, I have no clue to what the "real truth" is.....but you do?

I've stated many times my feelings on Bush, his policies, etc. But because I see some things differently..I am labeled a "spin-doctor" or "disinformant"? I mean geezus.....who really knows the complete truth? Do you really know it or have it?
Its all perceptions........
The media is biased, as history is, as news sites are, etc......just who knows the complete truth?


regards
seekerof


[Edited on 26-9-2003 by Seekerof]

Originally posted by THENEO
seeker,

yeah man. and maybe this too will happen,...

as the US collapses aka Titor syndrome the Russians attack and overtake USA.

Seeker is overjoyed at downfall of own country but he is happy because he is big socialist supporter.

He expects big welcome from invading comrades!

but they not trusting him, American Scum they lock him in jail, he cannot be trusted, Amerikaninsky!

Seeker doesn't mind because at least it is a socialist jail!

So he feels priviledged!

[Edited on 27-9-2003 by maynardsthirdeye]