Iran, Iraq discuss oil exchange deal

[ProSense]

Iran, Iraq discuss oil exchange deal

1 hour, 20 minutes ago

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iranian and Iraqi oil ministers reportedly discussed details of a plan for Tehran to provide refined products in return for Iraqi crude.

Snip...

Iraq, which has the world's third largest proven reserves of crude, has faced chronic shortages of refined products ever since the US-led invasion of 2003, as insurgents have targeted its oil infrastructure, bringing production from the northern fields around Kirkuk to a virtual standstill.

The Iraqi government has been forced to import refined products from a number of neighboring countries.

Relations between Iraq and Iran, which were at war from 1980-88 when
Saddam Hussein was in power in Baghdad, have improved markedly since a Shiite-led government took power this year.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060812/wl_mideast_afp/iraniraqoil_060812191922

[globalvillage]

1. Un-freaking-believable.

"Relations between Iraq and Iran, which were at war from 1980-88 when Saddam Hussein was in power in Baghdad, have improved markedly since a Shiite-led government took power this year."

bush* said he was a uniter, didn't he?

[ProSense]

2. Yup!

Bush is uniting the world against America.

[ProSense]

3. 2 U.S. soldiers among the dead in Iraq (speaking of Iran)

2 U.S. soldiers among the dead in Iraq

By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 5 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Police found a dozen bodies trapped in a grate in the Tigris River, and a roadside bomb killed two U.S. soldiers on a foot patrol south of Baghdad Saturday as nearly 50 violent deaths were reported across
Iraq.

Snip...

U.S. and Iraqi officials have said the reinforcements will focus on about four neighborhoods where Sunni residents do not trust the Shiite-dominated Iraqi security forces.

Nevertheless, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he would not rule out significant U.S. troop reductions this year. Pace, who arrived in Baghdad on Saturday, said such a decision would depend on improvements in the security situation and would come after consultations with U.S. commanders in Iraq.

Snip...

In an interview with the New York Times published Saturday, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said Iran was encouraging Shiite militias to step up attacks on U.S. forces in retaliation for the Israeli assault on Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Shiite Hezbollah is backed by Iran.

Privately, some senior U.S. officials are skeptical the Iranian government is doing more than providing money to select Shiite groups. Others insist Iran is providing weapons and training to some Shiite factions.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060812/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq