U.S. Companies Shut Out as Iraq Auctions Its Oil Fields
By Vivienne Walt....Time.com
Those who claim that the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 to get control of the country's giant oil reserves will be left scratching their heads by the results of last weekend's auction of Iraqi oil contracts: Not a single U.S. company secured a deal in the auction of contracts that will shape the Iraqi oil industry for the next couple of decades. Two of the most lucrative of the multi-billion-dollar oil contracts went to two countries which bitterly opposed the U.S. invasion - Russia and China - while even Total Oil of France, which led the charge to deny international approval for the war at the U.N. Security Council in 2003, won a bigger stake than the Americans in the most recent auction. "[The distribution of oil contracts] certainly answers the theory that the war was for the benefit of big U.S. oil interests," says Alex Munton, Middle East oil analyst for the energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie, whose clients include major U.S. companies. "That has not been demonstrated by what has happened this week."
The auction represents an astonishing transformation for Iraq. In just a few months, it has become a major oil power with the potential to overtake the world's biggest producer, Saudi Arabia. In a previous bid round last June, Iraq handed control to the giant Rumaila field near Basra to Britain's BP, while ExxonMobil later took an 80% stake in another huge field, West Qurna Phase 1, and plan to eventually pump 2.5 million barrels a day. Now, Baghdad officials say they aim to harness the know-how and technology of their foreign partners to pump about 12 million barrels a day by 2017. "It is difficult for any major oil company not to be in Iraq," Total's global exploration and production chief Yves-Louis DarricarrÉre told TIME last month. Despite intense negotiations, the French company was outbid by an alliance of Shell and Malaysia's Petronas for Iraq's giant Majnoon field. Total CEO Christophe de Margerie told TIME last Sunday that he had put in a "fair bid," and that he doubted his competitors would make solid profits in Iraq, given the stiff terms.
That might have been the thinking of U.S. oil giants, which largely stayed away from last week's bidding, and which have failed to negotiate oil deals with Iraq's government outside of the public auction process. Iraqi officials say they are not awarding contracts based on political considerations, but simply a straight comparison of prices and production targets. "The bidding was extremely tough," said one official in Baghdad, in an email. "My guess is that [the U.S. companies] could not match the offers from others." In Iraq, at least, the victor has no special claim on the spoils of war.
Well, I guess we will continue to have high gas prices here in the U.S. since our 'War' for Oil seems to have not turned out. Or was this war only really about stopping a tyrant and a dictator after all?
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The liar's punishment is not in the least that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else. -- George Bernard Shaw
I am almost certain that those in power, within our borders, will benefit somehow from the invasion in Iraq. It would be foolish to think otherwise. For my part, I will wait to see what "bubbles up" in the not so distant future...
Plunging a country into terrible warfare out of the goodness of our shallow hearts is beyond unlikely. Of course American oil companies can't go and unfurl their flags atop Iraqi oil fields... that'd be far too obvious. More will be revealed, I'm sure...
WE own that oil. It's been paid for with our blood. Saying our Oil Companies are not getting any profit is just crazy talk.
Chuxx - It was bad planning when Allah put our oil under his sand.
Skeptic...Mmmmm...perhaps He put it where we Americans would have to think twice about who we would sacrifice to get it...
Now that's irony.
Our coalition with the British bleeds but loses. A consortium with China and the British invests and wins. Darn those business-savvy socialist nations, anyway.
We've been punked.
In no case should one believe what one sees: Objective truth is nonsense. Only the subtle conspiracies, orchistrated to make right seem wrong and up seem down are the truth. The war was for oil---yet we get none; There is global warming yet it's colder than ever; The only way to keep America from going bankrupt is to spend trillions of dollars that we don't have; Peace can be achieved through weakness in the face of our adversaries; Yeah, that's right...don't let common sense creep in... heaven forbid that facts and evidence garner our attention. Like the man said---War is Peace... yeah brother.
"Or was this war only really about stopping a tyrant and a dictator after all?" Yes.
It seems we will continue to practice scarcity as we all bring on solar panels for each home...or maybe we are waiting for much bigger oil fields near by...BP & ExxonMobil are not American...I would like to see the books on these two. Smart meters on cars..thats the ticket!
JonGreen: You're either sooo naive, or to speak the truth would admit you were wrong...which is it in your case??
Don't fool yourselves. American interest in the region would be screaming bloody murder if they didn't get their share. I hear nothing.
Maybe giving China the contracts are a way to pay off our debt.
Anyone can speculate what may be, but the facts speak volumes. It all boils down to what we “want” to believe.
My nephew is home from Iraq for the holidays. He's a civilian contractor.
Super Bases along the four major pipe lines are coming together. As the army pulls back the Air Force ramps up, occupying the "Super Bases".
Iran is the biggest concern; something about three factions wrestling for control and near collapse as civil war ???
OH! and the main thing. It's all about the OIL he says. When I told him about US interests not not getting a share of the oil he laughed so hard he nearly fell on the floor.
ChuxxR: I hope you nephew is right... but I doubt it. It appears that many countries, not ours have benefited from the war. Other than a big price tag.. I doubt we will see much oil from Iraq ourselves.
He says the pipelines are a joint effort by US, China, Russia and some other country. He has been 'in country' for at least 6 years. If you have any questions for him, I'll pass them along. Then I'll post the responses here.
The entire world apparently is now the game board and the corporate geo-political stage and I would not mind.... if I or we were actually ever told the truth about all matters and why we do the things we do...in order to make the world a better place.
It appears.. it is the truth that we can not handle as a nation and then... is it once a liar.. always a liar...really what some people say. So.. how many untruths are there now really circulating around us everywhere.... in our government institutionally created and controlled real world reality? How many Americans have really died or been maimed in order to protect and or promote a lie ...in our nation's past?
I have a 22 nephews spread out throught the world, all within high level of government, military, and intel agencies.
They told me there were 14,768,098,765 lies in circulation (4:56am GMT).
There are 17,879,876,984 truths at that same time.
And 2,9834,876,654,234,987,451,865,014 half truths in play.
On 11/16/09 Chux wrote:
"I never thought about the US bases being close to the pipeline's route. All the evidence in the world will not stop the war mongers. American imperialism at it's best. There's big bucks to be made and a thirsty Russia and China."
And a month later you offer an "insiders" view of the situation.
You didn't mention at that time one of your relatives was feeding at the trough of Imperialism.
He's been there for 6 years and yet only a very recent conversation with him has provided you with a timely "in-country" view just as you happen to be engaged in a blog about that very topic. Impressive underestimation of the readers here....
If this was anyone else but your nephew I'm sure you would be ranting and raving about such participation in the barbaric invasion of another country and it's resources. But I'm sure his role, is a guilt-free, good role.
Keep shoveling Chux.
Yeah Mike, I thought some people might see it that way. Can't say I blame you. I got my information from a trusted source and he verified most of it as true. My nephew and I have discussed his involvement. He says that all the jobs are over there and can make a man a millionaire in a short amount of time. He says Haliburton is there to move oil and gas and all the other men and women, whether in the military or not. are there to support that effort. Once the super bases are completed you will see that he speaks the truth.
BTW another thing that struck him as funny; The news.
I also have a nephew serving in the army in Iraq and his cousin is in the army in Afghanistan. Why they don't turn mercenary is beyond me. Same with my nephew down in twenty-nine palms. Three tours has taken it's toll. He's trying to go back and if the Marines wont let him he's threatened to join the army. All three of his tours ended the same way by bullet or bomb.
So go back and see where I talked about the ones in the military. I have also talked about my nephew that works for Haliburton before. Maybe you can find out when I wrote about all of them in the past. Sounds like your keeping tabs, are you a stalker?
Chux
Amazing isn’t it.
The whole western world just lives blind, deaf, and dumb to “the truth” of what is really happening in Afghanistan and Iraq; sealed tight under the lid of US Imperialistic propaganda. With the exception of a few who have relatives there as civilian contractors or in the military who return home and share “the truth” with a select few, like Uncle Chux. Because, every single person working over there has access to the one and only “truth”. Every single decision and intention, plan and procedure, be it US Military or Private Industry, is known in full from the janitorial personnel to the highest level positions. All you have to do is be there and you will know everything about everything, the real “the truth”.
How convenient for you...a nameless, ghost writer leaping into these blogs from the margins with your “truths” safely beyond refutation, skimmed like cream from raw milk.
It’s not stalking, I just have a nephew in Tibet who taught me how to see right through people.
chase2you,
Good article.
Unfortunately, no matter how much good America has done, is doing, and will continue to do in the World,
we will never be given credit by liberal anarchists who know only how to attack the host which carries them.
Their ability to mutate in this modern cut-n-paste information age makes a virus pause in envy.
I may be able to get a blogger to meet and speak with him. Will that be alright? He's been over there for 6 years, how long were your sources there? As for those in the military; well they never really say anything. soldiers seldom do.
I think you're upset because the real story doesn't match your fantasy war. You know the one where soldiers die for God and country.
Why don't you answer my question. You seem to have my past comments conveniently available. Why?
A blogger?
Did you not read what I wrote?
I have not made any claims about motivations, intentions, facts, truths, etc....what do I need a source for? For what?
You are making the claims and your source is weak....that is what I am saying.
I'm only mildly aggitated by you claiming to constantly "know the real story" on everything under the sun. A fantasy land indeed built upopn bogus half-baked online cut-n-paste garbage.
I can see right through it Chux.
Have you told your relatives that they are fighting a lost cause, participating in a mere rich man's power grab?
I'm sure they have their own opinions about Uncle Chux.
And what real question did you ask me anyway?
Tabs on you?
Your previous posts at my finger tips?
How else is one to hold another to what he claims to represent?
My ChuxxR file: (times only to save space)
On 10/15/09 at 10:21 AM,
On 10/17/09 at 10:50 AM,
On 10/18/09 at 03:17 PM,
On 10/12/09 at 09:46 PM,
On 10/3/09 at 10:25 AM,
On 10/3/09 at 12:16 PM,
On 10/13/09 at 01:02 PM,
On 10/4/09 at 11:11 AM,
On 10/4/09 at 02:45 PM,
On 10/5/09 at 10:45 AM,
On 10/6/09 at 02:10 PM,
On 10/12/09 at 01:34 PM,
On 10/12/09 at 05:48 PM,
On 10/6/09 at 05:17 PM,
On 10/13/09 at 03:45 PM,
On 10/13/09 at 09:38 PM,
On 10/14/09 at 09:46 AM,
On 10/17/09 at 11:21 AM,
On 10/16/09 at 02:14 PM,
On 10/26/09 at 09:52 AM,
On 10/23/09 at 11:21 AM,
On 10/20/09 at 12:24 PM,
On 10/20/09 at 09:35 AM,
On 10/20/09 at 02:51 PM,
On 10/20/09 at 08:25 PM,
On 10/22/09 at 12:11 PM,
On 10/23/09 at 10:52 AM,
On 10/29/09 at 11:56 AM,
On 10/25/09 at 11:42 AM,
On 10/17/09 at 11:58 AM,
On 10/30/09 at 10:10 AM,
On 10/24/09 at 11:23 PM,
On 10/25/09 at 10:56 AM,
On 11/2/09 at 04:54 PM,
On 11/3/09 at 09:03 AM,
On 11/3/09 at 05:06 PM,
On 11/7/09 at 09:39 AM,
On 11/7/09 at 10:36 PM,
On 11/8/09 at 11:12 AM,
On 10/31/09 at 11:06 AM,
On 11/2/09 at 02:25 PM,
On 11/3/09 at 09:34 AM,
On 11/4/09 at 09:34 AM,
On 11/4/09 at 04:20 PM,
On 11/4/09 at 08:22 PM,
On 11/9/09 at 12:51 PM,
On 11/16/09 at 01:21 PM,
cont.....
cont....
On 11/9/09 at 04:43 PM,
On 11/11/09 at 09:50 PM,
On 11/16/09 at 06:19 PM,
On 11/20/09 at 11:27 AM,
On 11/11/09 at 12:36 PM,
On 11/23/09 at 12:17 PM,
On 11/25/09 at 11:30 AM,
On 11/27/09 at 06:55 PM,
On 11/29/09 at 10:23 AM,
On 11/30/09 at 10:14 AM,
On 11/30/09 at 12:15 PM,
On 11/30/09 at 07:16 PM,
On 12/1/09 at 12:05 PM,
On 11/25/09 at 11:53 AM,
On 11/26/09 at 11:49 AM,
On 11/28/09 at 11:16 AM,
On 11/29/09 at 10:01 AM,
On 11/30/09 at 10:38 AM,
On 12/3/09 at 01:19 PM,
On 12/4/09 at 11:21 AM,
On 11/29/09 at 10:37 AM,
On 12/7/09 at 10:08 PM,
On 11/29/09 at 10:52 AM,
On 11/29/09 at 10:58 AM,
On 11/29/09 at 04:48 PM,
On 11/29/09 at 04:48 PM,
On 11/30/09 at 09:57 AM,
On 11/30/09 at 12:19 PM,
On 11/30/09 at 07:07 PM,
On 12/1/09 at 12:14 PM,
On 12/5/09 at 11:26 AM,
On 12/7/09 at 01:18 PM,
On 12/5/09 at 05:19 PM,
On 12/10/09 at 10:04 AM,
On 12/11/09 at 01:22 PM,
On 12/11/09 at 01:26 PM,
On 12/12/09 at 12:22 PM,
On 12/7/09 at 08:27 PM,
On 12/12/09 at 01:02 PM,
On 12/7/09 at 01:58 PM,
On 12/7/09 at 08:47 PM,
On 12/7/09 at 09:13 PM,
On 12/8/09 at 05:05 PM,
On 12/9/09 at 09:09 AM,
On 12/9/09 at 05:54 PM,
On 12/9/09 at 06:07 PM,
On 12/10/09 at 09:58 AM,
On 12/11/09 at 11:13 AM,
On 12/12/09 at 12:37 PM,
On 12/13/09 at 10:05 AM,
On 12/12/09 at 02:31 PM,
On 12/13/09 at 09:30 AM,
On 12/14/09 at 04:12 PM,
On 12/15/09 at 10:00 AM,
cont....
On 12/15/09 at 03:42 PM,
On 12/16/09 at 10:43 AM,
On 12/16/09 at 10:18 PM,
On 12/18/09 at 11:33 AM,
On 12/21/09 at 10:27 PM,
On 12/22/09 at 09:51 PM,
On 12/20/09 at 11:33 AM,
On 12/21/09 at 11:49 AM,
On 12/21/09 at 10:02 PM,
On 12/22/09 at 09:19 AM,
On 12/22/09 at 03:26 PM,
On 12/20/09 at 04:10 PM,
On 12/21/09 at 12:03 PM,
On 12/22/09 at 09:40 AM.
and that is all I got.
That took me 2.5 hours.
I hope you appreciate the effort.
Mike..very impressive!
Yeah Mike, I told the ones in the military not to join. After they did I told them to keep their heads down.
You're a freak dude stay away from me.
So Chux, the great war hero-patriot, does not think anybody should participate in the US military.
Why? Because of his conspiracy ridden apathetic world view that all power is corrupt and evil
and America he believes should embrace Obama’s agenda of socialism, the very thing American soldiers have fought against all over the world.
And you are calling me a freak?
I’m just fed up with your constant disregard and toxic posts against the principles upon which the greatest country on the planet was built.
You are toxic.
You have called me a terrorist for owning a gun, a wife-beater for questioning a survey, a fascist for voting Republican, an idiot, a nut job, and called evangelicals a religious terrorist group who threaten to execute or make slaves of non-citizens and citizens alike.
While at the same time claim: “I’m all for individual liberty”.
And you are calling me a freak?
I’m just tired of the broken glass of your conflicted angry life all over this blog.
Dumpsters of it...you should read what you have been writing.
Happy Holidays!
Happy New Year!