From: "Geo." 

I'm not saying it's not a crooked deal, I'm saying pretty much all oil
deals are crooked deals.

Geo.

"John Beamish"  wrote in message
news:op.tlx0w8pam6tn4t{at}dellblack.wlfdle.phub.net.cable.rogers.com...
> It is difficult for most people to believe that the government of Iraq is
> not a quasi-puppet government.  While I'm sure that, in pubic statements,
> it appears to be an independent government, it is well aware that its
> claim to legitimacy rest on US military support and that support is
> conditional on ... well, you can fill in the blank.
>
> As was pointed out upthread, it makes emminent sense to offer the oil
> development to the open market and let Iraq get the best deal it can.
> Since that apparently isn't going to happen, the question "why not"
> bubbles to the surface.

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