IRAQIS WAIT TO SEE GAINS FROM COUNTRY'S OIL BOOM

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_IRAQ_OIL_BOOM_BLUES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-08-20-12-37-14

BAGHDAD (AP) -- Iraq is fast becoming an oil producing powerhouse, but you'd never know that by looking at the faded Unknown Soldier gas station in downtown Baghdad. There's no repair garage or mini-mart, just a cramped office with tattered vinyl couches. Horns blare as a string of waiting cars backs up into busy Sadoun Street, slowing traffic.

Electricity from the power grid is available only for a few hours a day, so a noisy generator burns through 200 liters (53 gallons) of fuel daily just to keep the lights on and pumps running. That eats into what little profit is left over after government-imposed price caps, says manager Anmar Abdul-Sattar.

Like many Iraqis, he sees little reason to celebrate the postwar petroleum gains that have turned Iraq into a leading oil producer. "The country is increasing its oil revenues, but we're not feeling it on the ground," he said.

It's a widely shared sentiment. Frequent power cuts, the state's inability to prevent near-daily bloodshed and yawning gaps in basic services have left ordinary Iraqis convinced they are sharing little in the country's growing oil wealth. Insurgent attacks have killed more than 200 people just since the start of this month.

[Amonester]

1. DUH...

We knew that long before that stupid 'Operation Iraq Liberation' started, didn't we.

Poor people have no say.

[Fumesucker]

2. "No one could have predicted".. -Condi Rice

[msongs]

3. oil companies, state owned or otherwise, have no intention of sharing the wealth nt