WSWS: US convenes Iraqi council with aim of grabbing oil

[IndianaGreen]

Washington seeks cover for occupation
US convenes Iraqi council with aim of grabbing oil
By Bill Vann
12 July 2003

A new “governing council” appointed by Washington’s administrator in Baghdad, L. Paul Bremer, has been hailed by the Bush administration as a step toward democracy. However, numerous reports from both the US and Iraq indicate that the real function of this body will be to rubber stamp the privatization of the Middle Eastern country’s oil industry and the US expropriation of its earnings for years to come.

The so-called interim government, to consist of approximately 25 individuals hand-picked by Bremer, is to assemble this weekend for a formal swearing-in ceremony. It is to include right-wing, pro-US exiles, led by the convicted bank embezzler Ahmad Chalabi, Washington-backed Kurdish groups, and at least one Shiite Islamic group. The Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq told Bremer that it would not decide until Saturday whether it would participate. Its hesitancy reflects the growing hostility toward the US- British occupation among Iraq’s oppressed Shiite majority.

While the council was proposed by Bremer’s predecessor, retired General Jay Garner, as a means of lending the occupation an “Iraqi face,” Bremer backed off from initial pledges to convene a congress to select members of the body, and insisted that it would be no more than an advisory group. Over the past week, the US proconsul has tried to accommodate the groups and individuals agreeing to participate by affirming that they will “share responsibility” for governing the country, while “final authority” on every decision will rest with the US colonial authorities.

Among the principal concerns of US officials has been to parcel out the seats on the council to members of different ethnic groups and to include some relatively unknown women, apparently with the aim of lending the panel a superficial appearance of being representative. Excluded from the council, however, is anyone voicing opposition to the continued US occupation.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jul2003/iraq-j12.shtml

[IkeWarnedUs]

1. I guess that means I can't be on the council

"Excluded from the council, however, is anyone voicing opposition to the continued US occupation."

[NYC]

2. How democratic.

I wonder if the Iraqis will riot when/if the council rubber stamps the privatization of oil. I would expect them to.

[Gin]

3. Anything Chalabi is appointed to...is suspect...I can't imagine

the people of Iraq will accept this group as being the "NEW" government. Chalabi wants the place and the profits for himself.

This may be the newest reason for retaliation, once their policies are public.

[teryang]

4. This regime is a disgrace

<Plan to slap US mortgage on Iraq’s oil wealth

The plan would lay claim to Iraq’s future oil revenues, putting them up as collateral for loans to finance current reconstruction contracts.

This scheme, which would effectively mortgage Iraq’s future and ensure its indefinite subjugation to US-run financial institutions, has the support of both the US Export-Import Bank and a coalition of US multinationals that stand to profit handsomely off the contracts, including Halliburton, Bechtel and Northrop-Grunman.>

The build up to war was a cynical pack of lies and now the carpetbagging murderers in the white house are carving up Iraqi resources for their cronies.