[Becki]

Oil giant TotalFinaElf (Paris:TOTF.PA - News) threw down the gauntlet on Thursday to U.S. rivals eyeing Iraq's vast reserves, saying it was confident of winning its share of deals there despite French opposition to a U.S.-led war in Iraq.

They won't need it here. No one will buy it. We pass Total to go to BP.

Becki

[Vigilanteman]

". . . but said it was confident of winning some deals if Total were based on an equal footing with its rivals. "

Yep, and if their auntie were plumbed a little differently, she might be their uncle.