Iraq - Rebels make $1.5 billion from refinery

Reuters (excerpt) ^ | January 14, 2007

[HAL9000]

Excerpt -

Iraqi militants are taking most of the $US1.5 billion a year that's stolen from Iraq's main oil refinery through smuggling and corruption, the government told parliament today.

Speaking at the second reading of the 2007 budget, Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih said crime is behind the crisis in the oil industry, which is struggling to meet Iraq's own fuel needs despite having the world's third biggest reserves.

"We have a system and an administration which encourage corruption," said Mr Salih, who has oversight over the economy.

~ snip ~

[Abcdefg]

This story is very demoralizing. Oh wait, it's Reuters again.

[Earthdweller]

It's like Afghanistan with the drug market. Someone has to ween these guys off this stuff eventually. Get a real job son.

[Jaysun]

Now this is ridiculous. The handful of corrupt people at the top who are making this possible need to be killed or jailed.

[Abcdefg]

Killed is good. It sends the right message.

[LeGrande]

The solution to the Middle East problem is to destroy or seize the oil Fields of anyone who attacks us or our allies, declares war on us or our allies, or supports those who attack or threaten us.

Oil is their lifeblood. It is more important to them than it is to us. We just have to be willing to pay a short term price.

[rottndog]

That's been my thought all along--put the oil fields under threat of destruction, and watch them start to behave themselves. Take the oil (their source of funding) away, and they go back to just being barbarians, instead of wealthy barbarians...

[Cobra64]

Bush's oil buddies at it again?

[LeGrande]

The oil money gives them power and influence. Without it they are simply starving barbarians :)

I guarantee that after we destroy or seize the first oil field the problem will be over. We should start with Iran. We can seize the oil fields in the Gulf and destroy the rest. Iran will no longer be a threat to anyone.

Iran gets support from the rest of the world because they buy it.

[river rat]

The case for total destruction of Iraq -- is getting stronger by the week..

Same for Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia --- etc.....

Some things simply can't be fixed.....
Because "CULTURES ARE NOT EQUAL"....

Semper Fi

[RightWhale]

crime is behind the crisis in the oil industry

What crisis?

[SolidWood]

I suspect Iraqi officials and their nepots are behind most of the "lost money". Corruption is a real problem there (as it is around the world), and it's easier to blame it on the "insurgents".

I'd also suspect that Reuters is trying to spread the impression the terrorists are self-sustaining, to take the heat of Iran, the real financer of the terrorists.

[taxed2death]

Hmmmm, I thought Iraq's oil was "supposed to pay for the war and reconstruction". Guess not. The US taxpayer gets fisted one more time.

[frankenMonkey]

Iraq - Rebels make $1.5 billion from refinery

Rebels???

Oh yeah, it's Rooters.

[HAL9000]

I don't have a major objection to Reuters calling the terrorists 'rebels' or 'insurgents'. It's terms like 'freedom fighters' or 'liberation forces' that are unacceptable.