Russia, Iraq May OK $40B Deal

AP | 8-18-02 | JIM HEINTZ

[Destro]

From abcnews: Trading With the Enemy U.S. Refiners Reportedly Buying Most of Iraq's Oil

The U.S. refiners largely obtain their crude oil from Russian firms, or middlemen working through Russian firms. "Everyone makes a commission or gets a rakeoff at every step between the Iraqi oil fields and the U.S. refineries, mostly in [the] southern U.S. states," said a knowledgeable oil industry source. Iraq's preference for Russian traders is becoming evident from the region's oil tanker traffic, sources say. Of the two main ports used by Iraq to exports its "legal" oil, the one used by Russian traders has been seeing much more use.

[mikhailovich]

Correct. Remember, this is an economic package. The thing Americans forget is that Russia, herself, is an enormous nation like the United States. She needs economic growth to sustain her, like the US. This means trade pacts with nations large enough to stimulate that growth.

Another thing forgotten in this quagmire is that countries tend to do the most volume with their neighbors, rather than across the world. Exceptions exist, but this is the norm rather than exception.

You naysayers come up with 10 countries that would be "OK" with you for Russia to sign co-ops with. 10 countries with large, healthy economies which would reciprocate with Russia.

Let me guess, no one is interested.

[MissAmericanPie]

Yes, we have neatly placed Russia in the position of possibly having to get into a war with us that they don't want but have no choice but to fight.

[My Favorite Headache]

Here you go:

http://www.afpc.org/faa/faa20.htm
http://www.russianlaw.org/nyt090299.htm
http://fas.org/man/docs/fy01/ <---start here work up.

Now go get your shinebox.

[A. Pole]

( http://www.russianlaw.org/nyt090299.htm )
At the same time, the IMF is conducting a routine review of its current lending agreement, which was signed last July.

Russia is eligible for $4.5 billion in loans from the fund over the next year and a half, of which $640 million was disbursed as a first installment in July.

[...]

Federal investigators are looking into the movement of at least $4.2 billion from Russia through the Bank of New York over the past 18 months.

You have funny problems with reading comprehension. That Russian is eligible for $4.5 billion in LOANS from IMF has nothing to do with your silly claim that America GIVES Russia $25 billions a year. Same with organised crimes extracting money from Russia and moving it to West. This is not a help from America either you claimed takes place.

[enrg]

http://www.afpc.org/faa/faa20.htm

Controversial figures. The Clinton administration has reported to Congress that the aid funds obligated to Russia total about $4 billion. However, administration figures fail to take into account the planned $12 billion cash buyout of Russian fissile material over the next two decades, and the exposure of U.S. tax dollars totaling the country's share of support for multilateral lending through the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other organizations (some Russian leaders are doubtful the money will ever be repaid). Overall, U.S. aid commitments far exceed $20 billion.

Overall aid far exceeds $20 billion, BUT over two decades not in one year. As A.Pole said, you can't consider loans as aid. It has to be repaid.

In any case I always thought Israel recieved the greatest amount of aid from the U.S and as far as i know that was around $2 Billion (could be wrong with the figure though). So I don't see how Russia could be getting $25 billion.

[enrg]

Overall aid far exceeds $20 billion, BUT over two decades not in one year. As A.Pole said, you can't consider loans as aid. It has to be repaid.

Oops... I stuffed this. Here it is again.

Overall aid far exceeds $20 billion, BUT over two decades not in one year. As A.Pole said, you can't consider loans as aid. It has to be repaid. Thus, it isn't even $20 billion.