[ArneFufkin]

Whether Iraq wants to be in OPEC is going to be their ultimate decision I would say. I think OPEC - i.e. Saudis - just might be shaken up a bit with a new player who is bringing billions of barrels of negotiating heft to the game. Who really knows? We have a fiduciary duty in the short term to get the proceeds directed to their reconstruction.

That's why objective one in this poorly planned Rumsfeld debacle was to secure the fields, pipelines and terminals. That was job one in our quest to survive the aftermath of this ridiculously bold and historic endeavor. We're toppling Hitler ... and it's 1936. The world can thank us later.

[ken5050]

If Iraaq opts out of OPEC,the cartel is kaput, because the lowest price becomes the benchmark.....also, don't forget that Pair based PNB-Paribas bank is the repository for $40 BILLION of Iraqi money being held under the UN food/oil/sanctions thingee.....we've got to get that back, ASAP

[Wyatt's Torch]

We're toppling Hitler ... and it's 1936. The world can thank us later.

Ahhh, but here's the leftists rub: Would they have ever know what would have been prevented? They would have been bitching about us being interventionist is European affairs.

[US_Pride]

Anyone catch the Russian defense minister last night? Heard him quoted as saying that global "security is coming apart at the seams" and that they "would have to increase their defense spending" to compensate...

He also said that the Iraqi army still had some fight left, and the outcome was in no way certain...

Didn't we hear the same kind of stuff back in '91 & GW1?