Reply #3: K&R, this is very important....

[AntiFascist]

If we truly want Iraq to succeed as a sovereign nation then the American people need to support this effort, and allow Iraq to DEMOCRATICALLY determine, by itself, how to manage its highly valuable natural resources. There are too many external influences disrupting this unity, including those of the US trying to force Iraq to turn over its oil resources to private companies. While the latter would certainly help out Bush and Cheney's neocon oil cronies, it would not do the American people any good since ongoing combat efforts would likely be required to secure the oil interests, and the resulting military spending would only further bankrupt our nation for the benefit of the oil elite.