March 3-9, 2007
THE FLASHLIGHT, March 2 – 9, 2007
The New Iraqi Oil Law
[The text of the new draft Iraqi Oil Law, in Arabic and in English, is now available on Al-Ghad.org, voice of the “democratic left” of Iraq based in the UK., 1-15-07 and 2-20-07. Commentaries on it may be found in The Nation and Mother Jones, 3-1-07, Z-Net 3-2-07, middle eastonline.uk 3-05-07, and Alternet 3-6-07.. There has been no mention or discussion of this law in the mainstream American media. For further information go to Google News and search for “Iraqi Oil Law”] .
The Iraqi Oil Law, now approved by the Iraqi Cabinet, will be submitted to the Iraqi Parliament this month. It may be difficult to get a quorum because many members of Parliament have fled the country. [But somehow “the willing” will probably be found.]
The law provides for a new Federal Oil and Gas Council to be controlled by the Prime Minister, bypassing Parliament. The law sets no minimum level for state participation in its operation.. Foreign firms may operate in Iraq, and the law does not cap the amount of profits they may be allowed. Most details remain to be specified. [And the devil may be in the details].
The law leaves the ownership of Iraq’s oil in the control of the Prime Minister and his advisors. Foreign companies must bargain for access by “Exploration Risk Contracts.”
In a free market, China has plenty of cash to bargain for access to Iraqi oil. .But the US, by virtue of its military presence in Iraq, has the advantage. The Oil Ministry in the present Iraqi government is considered very corrupt. But how will security be provided for the oil industry?
[Last week The Flashlight reported from truthdig that Halliburton had almost completed four “permanent” US military bases in Iraq, expected to last 20-30 years, and which can accommodate the landing of any airplane. The news was probably conveyed by Vice-President Cheney to many heads of state on his recent world journey. This appears to be the “new” plan of the Administration. Actually, Halliburton started the construction of the four bases four years ago but kept it secret. An unknown number of US troops serve as guards of Iraqi oil facilities.]
The principal opponent of the draft oil law is the Federation of Iraqi Oil Unions, headed by Hassan Jum’ah ‘Awwad al-Asadi] See infor@al-ghad.org]
US Public Opinion and Iraq
3-4. NBC. Two-thirds of Americans polled opposed continuing the Iraq War.
Democrats Plan for Withdrawal
3-8 CNN. The House Democrats disclosed a plan to pull US troops out of Iraq at the end of August, 2008. If Bush cannot certify that the Iraqi government is meeting its military, economic, and political benchmarks this year, the Democrats want to move the mandatory pullout date up to the end of 2007. Regardless of benchmarks, US troops are to be redeployed out of Iraq by Mar. 1, 2008, according to the Democratic plan. Some will be sent to Afghanistan to fight al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The House bill adds money for health care for returning veterans. The Senate Democrats are considering a similar bill.
A few hours later, Pres. Bush, en route to Brazil by air, threatened to veto any Democratic sponsored bill for troop withdrawal. Republicans are not lining up with the Democrats, and its takes a two-thirds Congressional majority to override a veto. [The Democrats know this, of course, but they are responding to public demand that they show backbone.]
Veterans Medical Care
3-3 PBS and NYTimes 3-5. The attention of most Americans this week was on the scandalous neglect of wounded war veterans after they become outpatients. A story in the Washington Post last week started the uproar by revealing disgusting conditions in Walter Reed outpatient facilities, and this was the tip of an iceberg. Veterans have been unable to get the attention either of Congressional or military leaders. Now that the two-party system has been restored in Congress, hearings are being held about the neglect of veterans. The Secretary of the Army has been fired, and more heads may roll.
Early information suggests two major causes of the scandal. As with FEMA the Bush Administration followed a policy of outsourcing and privatizing the management of post-op veteran care, thus driving competent government professionals from service. Since body armor and military doctors have saved many more lives than expected, the prewar budget underestimated the number of wounded.
Libby Verdict
3-5 CNN. Scooter Libby was found guilty on four out of five counts of perjury and related charges.
New Nukes Planned
NYTimes. The Bush Administration announced Livermore National Laboratories to be the winner in a competition to design the nation’s first new nuclear weapon in a decade. If Congress approves, it will begin a long expensive process to replace America’s present nuclear warheads in the next few decades. Sen. Feinstein is opposed.
The FCNL is preparing to fight a huge new military appropriations bill.
US Finance
CBS 60 Minutes 3-4. David Walker, Comptroller General of the US, reported that the retirement of baby boomers is about to produce a tsunami of
financial obligations which wage earners will not able about to sustain. In particular, the present health care system is wasteful and unless drastically reformed it could bankrupt the US government. Economic growth alone, he emphasized, cannot solve the problem. A financial catastrophe is in the offing. He said that it is necessary to l) increase revenue, meaning to raise taxes; 2) cut spending and 3) reform entitlements.
.New Oil Technologies
NYTimes 3-5. New technologies are making it possible to increase production of gas and oil in old sources. New methods of extraction and new processing of heavier oils are available. [This may serve to reduce US dependence of Middle East oil and control petroleum prices.] However, drastic cuts in petroleum consumption soon are necessary to control global warming.
The US Family
Washington Post 3-4 and 3-7. A dwindling percentage of households are married couples with children: 23.7%, half of the 1950’s high. The highest percentage of such couples are college educated and affluent. This reflects the increase in income inequality in the last three decades and the growing economic stress on the working class.
Science: Anthropology of the British Isles.
According to genetic studies of the population done by Stephen Oppenheimer at Oxford University, both Britain and Ireland have been inhabited for thousands of years by a single people that remain in the majority. Only minor additions were made by the invading Celts, Romans, Angles, Saxons, Vikings, and Normans.
The original and still basic population of the British Isles came from Spain about 16,000 years ago and spoke a language related to Basque. The Angles and Saxons did not bring the English language to England: it was already there.
The New Iraqi Oil Law
[The text of the new draft Iraqi Oil Law, in Arabic and in English, is now available on Al-Ghad.org, voice of the “democratic left” of Iraq based in the UK., 1-15-07 and 2-20-07. Commentaries on it may be found in The Nation and Mother Jones, 3-1-07, Z-Net 3-2-07, middle eastonline.uk 3-05-07, and Alternet 3-6-07.. There has been no mention or discussion of this law in the mainstream American media. For further information go to Google News and search for “Iraqi Oil Law”] .
The Iraqi Oil Law, now approved by the Iraqi Cabinet, will be submitted to the Iraqi Parliament this month. It may be difficult to get a quorum because many members of Parliament have fled the country. [But somehow “the willing” will probably be found.]
The law provides for a new Federal Oil and Gas Council to be controlled by the Prime Minister, bypassing Parliament. The law sets no minimum level for state participation in its operation.. Foreign firms may operate in Iraq, and the law does not cap the amount of profits they may be allowed. Most details remain to be specified. [And the devil may be in the details].
The law leaves the ownership of Iraq’s oil in the control of the Prime Minister and his advisors. Foreign companies must bargain for access by “Exploration Risk Contracts.”
In a free market, China has plenty of cash to bargain for access to Iraqi oil. .But the US, by virtue of its military presence in Iraq, has the advantage. The Oil Ministry in the present Iraqi government is considered very corrupt. But how will security be provided for the oil industry?
[Last week The Flashlight reported from truthdig that Halliburton had almost completed four “permanent” US military bases in Iraq, expected to last 20-30 years, and which can accommodate the landing of any airplane. The news was probably conveyed by Vice-President Cheney to many heads of state on his recent world journey. This appears to be the “new” plan of the Administration. Actually, Halliburton started the construction of the four bases four years ago but kept it secret. An unknown number of US troops serve as guards of Iraqi oil facilities.]
The principal opponent of the draft oil law is the Federation of Iraqi Oil Unions, headed by Hassan Jum’ah ‘Awwad al-Asadi] See infor@al-ghad.org]
US Public Opinion and Iraq
3-4. NBC. Two-thirds of Americans polled opposed continuing the Iraq War.
Democrats Plan for Withdrawal
3-8 CNN. The House Democrats disclosed a plan to pull US troops out of Iraq at the end of August, 2008. If Bush cannot certify that the Iraqi government is meeting its military, economic, and political benchmarks this year, the Democrats want to move the mandatory pullout date up to the end of 2007. Regardless of benchmarks, US troops are to be redeployed out of Iraq by Mar. 1, 2008, according to the Democratic plan. Some will be sent to Afghanistan to fight al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The House bill adds money for health care for returning veterans. The Senate Democrats are considering a similar bill.
A few hours later, Pres. Bush, en route to Brazil by air, threatened to veto any Democratic sponsored bill for troop withdrawal. Republicans are not lining up with the Democrats, and its takes a two-thirds Congressional majority to override a veto. [The Democrats know this, of course, but they are responding to public demand that they show backbone.]
Veterans Medical Care
3-3 PBS and NYTimes 3-5. The attention of most Americans this week was on the scandalous neglect of wounded war veterans after they become outpatients. A story in the Washington Post last week started the uproar by revealing disgusting conditions in Walter Reed outpatient facilities, and this was the tip of an iceberg. Veterans have been unable to get the attention either of Congressional or military leaders. Now that the two-party system has been restored in Congress, hearings are being held about the neglect of veterans. The Secretary of the Army has been fired, and more heads may roll.
Early information suggests two major causes of the scandal. As with FEMA the Bush Administration followed a policy of outsourcing and privatizing the management of post-op veteran care, thus driving competent government professionals from service. Since body armor and military doctors have saved many more lives than expected, the prewar budget underestimated the number of wounded.
Libby Verdict
3-5 CNN. Scooter Libby was found guilty on four out of five counts of perjury and related charges.
New Nukes Planned
NYTimes. The Bush Administration announced Livermore National Laboratories to be the winner in a competition to design the nation’s first new nuclear weapon in a decade. If Congress approves, it will begin a long expensive process to replace America’s present nuclear warheads in the next few decades. Sen. Feinstein is opposed.
The FCNL is preparing to fight a huge new military appropriations bill.
US Finance
CBS 60 Minutes 3-4. David Walker, Comptroller General of the US, reported that the retirement of baby boomers is about to produce a tsunami of
financial obligations which wage earners will not able about to sustain. In particular, the present health care system is wasteful and unless drastically reformed it could bankrupt the US government. Economic growth alone, he emphasized, cannot solve the problem. A financial catastrophe is in the offing. He said that it is necessary to l) increase revenue, meaning to raise taxes; 2) cut spending and 3) reform entitlements.
.New Oil Technologies
NYTimes 3-5. New technologies are making it possible to increase production of gas and oil in old sources. New methods of extraction and new processing of heavier oils are available. [This may serve to reduce US dependence of Middle East oil and control petroleum prices.] However, drastic cuts in petroleum consumption soon are necessary to control global warming.
The US Family
Washington Post 3-4 and 3-7. A dwindling percentage of households are married couples with children: 23.7%, half of the 1950’s high. The highest percentage of such couples are college educated and affluent. This reflects the increase in income inequality in the last three decades and the growing economic stress on the working class.
Science: Anthropology of the British Isles.
According to genetic studies of the population done by Stephen Oppenheimer at Oxford University, both Britain and Ireland have been inhabited for thousands of years by a single people that remain in the majority. Only minor additions were made by the invading Celts, Romans, Angles, Saxons, Vikings, and Normans.
The original and still basic population of the British Isles came from Spain about 16,000 years ago and spoke a language related to Basque. The Angles and Saxons did not bring the English language to England: it was already there.
posted by THE FLASHLIGHT at 7:40 AM
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