11 January 2007

Victory in a few more months

"VICTORY" as the President defines it, is but a few more delicate moves and months away. As legislation makes it's way through the Iraqi Council of Ministers, the "Hydrocarbon Law", to allow for the first time since 1972, foreign oil companies to extract the easiest to get to OIL in the world under the sweetest-heart profit sharing deal in modern times. (75% of the profits to the OIL company until "infrastructure investments" are repaid and then 20% afterwards, more than double standard agreements)

Hence the simultaneous efforts by the Bush Administration to support and threaten Iraqi PM Maliki, for it is his job to shepherd the agreement through to it's conclusion. And thus the explanation for the "surge" to pacify Baghdad long enough to get the deal done, as well as the curious cooperation in the rush to execute Saddam by Sadr's militia.

But Maliki still holds the trump cards and the intricacies of Arab politics makes American's look clear-cut. Look for more foot-dragging, posturing, and blathering from both sides until the agreement is in place or another 'Tonkin' incident widens the war.

stephenhsmith
11Jan07