|
by Sarah Meyer,
member of the
BRussells
Tribunal Advisory Committee
(11 Sep 2007) Sarah Meyer articles and researches published by the BRussells Tribunal |
MAP: AL BADRAH, IRAQ
Reuters (10 September 1007) had a headline:
US to build military base on Iraq-Iran border.
“The base, which the military describes as a "life support area", will be
set up near the headquarters of the Department of Border Enforcement in
Badrah, in the central province of Wasit.”
“The province, currently the theatre of a massive US-led military crackdown
targeting Shiite militiamen allegedly
involved in weapons smuggling, shares a 200 kilometre (125 mile) border with
Iran.”
+
Hassan Jumaa Awad, Iraqi union leader, was recently travelling to raise
awareness of the
US attempts to grab Iraq’s oil. Among the interesting points that he
raised: “There is a newly discovered field in Wasit province in central
Iraq with the potential to fill millions of barrels of oil. Under the law
this new field will be given over to multinationals.”
Iraq revenue watch (pdf file) notes: “This field lies in the two
provinces of Baghdad and Salaheddin, and probably extends southward within
the province of Wasit.1
Hence, it should be jointly managed by the provinces of both Baghdad and
Salaheddin, and perhaps that of Wasit too. … initial production has averaged
20,000 barrels per day from its Baghdad section compared with a potential
production of about 120,000 barrels daily.”
+
Problem? Perhaps. In 2006, the Iraqi Oil Ministry announced, it will revise
a contract signed with a
Chinese company to develop an oil well in Wasit province. In June ’07,
according to the
Middle East Times, the Iraqi leaders were “beginning a weeklong China
visit” and were “hinting at reigniting a Saddam-era oil deal, though such a
move is clouded by Iraq's stalled oil law." The US and Britain are exerting
maximum pressure on the Iraqi government to pass such a law.
Meanwhile, Washington is ignoring such niggling inconveniences. Walter
Pincus wrote (10.09, Washington Post) that the "United States has decided
that Iraq needs a U.S.-funded expert who will be responsible "to review
draft [Iraq] subsoil laws and draft subsoil regulations to ensure their
compliance with international legal standards" and share his or her
conclusions with U.S. agencies "or with Iraqi authorities." This a long-term
prospect. 'The proposal says the contract will run from the date of the
award through July 31, 2008, and has two 12-month extension options through
July 31, 2010. During that time period, the contract lawyer is expected to
spend no less than 360 hours (45 days equivalent full time) on Iraq oil
matters. Commerce said it would take into consideration the contractor's
teaching and research commitments when setting dates for finishing
projects." Apparently, the
U.S. Department of Commerce had been, since 21 August,"seeking an
international legal adviser who is fluent in Arabic 'to provide expert
input, when requested' to 'U.S. government agencies or to Iraqi authorities
as they draft the laws and regulations that will govern Iraq's oil and gas
sector.' " Iraq officials would be able "to access the expertise of [US]
world-class professors and practitioners; they will also attend technical
workshops which will address Iraq-specific legal and tax issues.'
The US has another reason to draw swords with Iran - the
Iraq / Iran pipeline plan.
Well, of course, we cannot expect the U.S. to build a new base without a
connection to oil, can we? So nevermind the bogeyman, Iran. IT’S
ABOUT OIL.
UPDATES
The 'proxy war': UK troops are sent to Iranian border (13.09.07.
K. Sengupta, Independent - British soldiers return to action as tensions
between US and Iran grow)
Brown faces domestic pressure over 'proxy war'
(13.09.07. Independent) Gordon Brown faces anger over the deployment of UK
troops to Iraq's border with Iran and warnings that the strategy could drag
Britain into confrontation with Tehran. [maybe that's the deal?]
Proxy war could soon turn to direct conflict, analysts warn. (15.09.07,
J. Borger, I Black: Guardian). This story focuses on the "US strikes
predicted in Iran." ... "If a smoking gun is found in terms of Iranian
interference in Iraq , the US
will retaliate on a tactical level." Now, what about the American occupation
of Iraq - is that not ""interference"? And while this article
mentions the Wasid base, there is no mention of the nearby oil find.
Move troops to Iran border, Brown told
16.09.07. Telegraph. General David Petraeus will press Gordon Brown to
increase the number of British troops patrolling the Iraqi border with Iran
when he meets the Prime Minister this week. The US commander in Iraq wants
Britain to move a significant proportion of the 5,000 troops garrisoned at
Basra airport to cut off the smuggling of Iranian weapons to Shia militias…
Petraeus would use the meeting to brief Mr Brown on how Iran is stepping up
the supply of weapons and the training of insurgents. [it is natural for
Iran to support Iraq – they are part of Middle East, both have oil, both in
serous trouble with US. what is NOT natural is for US / UK occupying forces
from western countries, to be ‘on their patch’ Should
the trooops refuse service in Iraq.?
Media Slow Off the Line
War Inches Closer to Iran
26.09.07. ABC. Manufacturing
Consent for War . U.S.
Soldiers Create Military Base on Iraq-Iran Border to Halt Weapons Smuggling
From Iran. [no mention of oil nearby? no map? Also: Raw
Story (28.09.07).
Cat Amongst the Pidgeons Dept.
China begins work on $900 million power plant and agrees to develop oil
field in southern Iraq
16.08.08. Salah al-Rubaai, Azzaman/uruknet. The Chinese firm, Shanghai, has
started constructing a major thermal power plant in the southern Province of Wasit,
the Ministry of electricity said. / Electricity Minister Kareem Waheed
attended the laying down of the foundation stone for the plant, the largest
ever project a foreign firm begins constructing in Iraq since the 2003 U.S.
invasion.
+
Sarah Meyer
is a researcher living in the UK. She is on the
BRussells
Tribunal Advisory Committee
Footnote
[1]
map, Burzurgan, Wasit: oil
The url to Iraq: new U.S. Base, Wasit
is :
http://indexresearch.blogspot.com/2007/09/iraq-new-us-base-wasit.html
and
http://www.brusselstribunal.org/Meyer/Bases110907.htm
Shorter url is:
http://tinyurl.com/34xnze
+
Related:
Iraq Oil: The Vultures are Waiting (03.09.07, Index Research: a full
resource history of Iraq oil).
PNAC: Part I - Blueprint for Imperialism
PNAC: Part II - "Special Interests" - The Persian Gulf (Updated to
17/08/07)
US Bases in Iraq: Part I: Baghdad (updated 13/08/07)
US/UK Bases in Iraq, Part II. The South (updated 09/09/07)
IRAQ: Green Zone Blowback: Index Timeline(updated 10.09.07)
See articles of Sarah Meyer published by the BRussells Tribunal website: http://www.brusselstribunal.org/Meyer.htm
+
Sarah Meyer
is a researcher living in the UK