Comments on: Iraqi Union Set to Strike over Oil Law http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/ Oil Change International campaigns to expose the true costs of oil and facilitate the coming transition towards clean energy. We are dedicated to identifying and overcoming political barriers to that transition. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:39:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Eric Swanepoel http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-72178 Eric Swanepoel Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:12:40 +0000 http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-72178 18 June 2007 PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Use IRAQI OIL FOR THE IRAQIS, URGES MSP Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland region, today lodged two Parliamentary Motions concerning the Iraqi oil industry. Speaking after lodging them, Dr Wilson said that he was concerned that Iraqis working in the oil sector should not be pressured to forego their right to strike should they choose to exercise this legal means of objecting to the proposed Oil Law. This law, he said, amounted to the de facto sale of their country’s oil industry to multinational companies and he had been alarmed to hear that objecting workers had received death threats. He continued, “I await the UK and USA governments’ responses. By speaking against the proposed privatisation of Iraq’s oil industry they would demonstrate the truth of their oft-made assertions that the invasion of Iraq was not motivated primarily by greed and self-interest. “I believe that every country should have the right to use its natural resources for the benefit of its people. Iraq needs all the income it can get to rebuild itself after the devastation of the last few years. Iraq lost over a million people due to sanctions and suffered over half a million war casualties as a result of the invasion. It would be obscene if Iraqis were to have their oil stolen from them as well. “I would like to believe that the UK and USA governments will act honourably in this matter but, sadly, I confess that I have little real expectation of it.” FULL TEXT OF THE MOTIONS Date of Lodging: 18 June 2007 Short Title: Iraq: Right to Strike S3M-00194 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with grave concern the death threats against members of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) who were recently protesting against the proposed oil law which would effectively cede control of Iraq’s oilfields to multinational companies; further notes that the right to strike is protected by the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation, to which the Iraq Government is a signatory, and accordingly expresses its support for calls for the threat of violence against the oil workers to be withdrawn and for their legitimate right to strike to be recognised should they choose to exercise it. Short Title: Iraq: Privatisation of Oil S3M-00195 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with concern proposals to pass laws allowing the privatisation of Iraq’s oil industry; notes that both the Blair and Bush administrations stated that their declared major purpose for invading Iraq was to remove weapons of mass destruction and that the invasion was not motivated by that country’s oil reserves; notes that both administrations have stated their support for the introduction of democracy in Iraq, and accordingly is confident that the UK and US administrations will demonstrate their good intentions by encouraging the Iraq Government not to privatise that country’s oil but to maintain it as a source of income to help Iraq’s reconstruction and recovery. -ends- Please address all correspondence to: Dr Bill Wilson MSP Scottish Parliament EH99 1SP Tel. 0131 3486805 Fax. 0131 3486806 e-mail: Bill.Wilson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk 18 June 2007

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use
IRAQI OIL FOR THE IRAQIS, URGES MSP

Bill Wilson, MSP for the West of Scotland region, today lodged two Parliamentary Motions concerning the Iraqi oil industry.

Speaking after lodging them, Dr Wilson said that he was concerned that Iraqis working in the oil sector should not be pressured to forego their right to strike should they choose to exercise this legal means of objecting to the proposed Oil Law. This law, he said, amounted to the de facto sale of their country’s oil industry to multinational companies and he had been alarmed to hear that objecting workers had received death threats.

He continued, “I await the UK and USA governments’ responses. By speaking against the proposed privatisation of Iraq’s oil industry they would demonstrate the truth of their oft-made assertions that the invasion of Iraq was not motivated primarily by greed and self-interest.

“I believe that every country should have the right to use its natural resources for the benefit of its people. Iraq needs all the income it can get to rebuild itself after the devastation of the last few years. Iraq lost over a million people due to sanctions and suffered over half a million war casualties as a result of the invasion. It would be obscene if Iraqis were to have their oil stolen from them as well.

“I would like to believe that the UK and USA governments will act honourably in this matter but, sadly, I confess that I have little real expectation of it.”

FULL TEXT OF THE MOTIONS

Date of Lodging: 18 June 2007
Short Title: Iraq: Right to Strike
S3M-00194 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with grave concern the death threats against members of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU) who were recently protesting against the proposed oil law which would effectively cede control of Iraq’s oilfields to multinational companies; further notes that the right to strike is protected by the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation, to which the Iraq Government is a signatory, and accordingly expresses its support for calls for the threat of violence against the oil workers to be withdrawn and for their legitimate right to strike to be recognised should they choose to exercise it.

Short Title: Iraq: Privatisation of Oil
S3M-00195 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament notes with concern proposals to pass laws allowing the privatisation of Iraq’s oil industry; notes that both the Blair and Bush administrations stated that their declared major purpose for invading Iraq was to remove weapons of mass destruction and that the invasion was not motivated by that country’s oil reserves; notes that both administrations have stated their support for the introduction of democracy in Iraq, and accordingly is confident that the UK and US administrations will demonstrate their good intentions by encouraging the Iraq Government not to privatise that country’s oil but to maintain it as a source of income to help Iraq’s reconstruction and recovery.

-ends-

Please address all correspondence to:

Dr Bill Wilson MSP
Scottish Parliament
EH99 1SP

Tel. 0131 3486805
Fax. 0131 3486806

e-mail:
Bill.Wilson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

]]> By: eugene craig http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55865 eugene craig Fri, 11 May 2007 02:53:38 +0000 http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55865 No More blood for oil! Impeach Cheney, then Bush Intall Pelosi pres. withdraw all troops sterilize all republicans! find excellent alt/fuels...have peace No More blood for oil!
Impeach Cheney, then Bush

Intall
Pelosi pres. withdraw all troops

sterilize all republicans!

find excellent alt/fuels…have peace

]]> By: James Richardson http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55820 James Richardson Thu, 10 May 2007 23:59:41 +0000 http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55820 Now we come to the truth of the matter. The reason for our invasion of Iraq was not to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, nor to give the Iraqi people freedom and democracy. It was to seize control of Iraq's oil fields and to allow the US to dominate the region with massive military bases. Bush and Cheney have been willing to sacrifice American youth to make their rich friends richer. Talk about an "axis of EVIL". Nothing on the planet is more EVIL than President Bush and Vice President Cheney's lies about the reason for this war. The only good thing that may come from this is to see the Republican Party stomped out of existence. Stomped on without mercy by an enraged American electorate. And another good thing may be the realization that Israel has played a very significant role in ginning up this war. Israel and its AIPAC and Neo-Con allies in our government will now be exposed for what they are and for what they have done. It is time to let Israel fight its own wars and fight for its own oil. Kiss the Mosul Haifa oil pipeline goodbye. If justice really prevailed Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and all the Neo-Cons who started this disaster would be arrested and handed over to an international war crimes tribunal to be put on trial for their lives. They have led America into a catastrophe with lies and deception to say nothing of what they have done to the Iraqi people. It will take many years for America and Iraq to recover from this disaster and they deserve punishment for what they have done. Now we come to the truth of the matter. The reason for our invasion of Iraq was not to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, nor to give the Iraqi people freedom and democracy. It was to seize control of Iraq’s oil fields and to allow the US to dominate the region with massive military bases.
Bush and Cheney have been willing to sacrifice American youth to make their rich friends richer. Talk about an “axis of EVIL”. Nothing on the planet is more EVIL than President Bush and Vice President Cheney’s lies about the reason for this war.
The only good thing that may come from this is to see the Republican Party stomped out of existence. Stomped on without mercy by an enraged American electorate. And another good thing may be the realization that Israel has played a very significant role in ginning up this war. Israel and its AIPAC and Neo-Con allies in our government will now be exposed for what they are and for what they have done. It is time to let Israel fight its own wars and fight for its own oil. Kiss the Mosul Haifa oil pipeline goodbye.
If justice really prevailed Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and all the Neo-Cons who started this disaster would be arrested and handed over to an international war crimes tribunal to be put on trial for their lives. They have led America into a catastrophe with lies and deception to say nothing of what they have done to the Iraqi people. It will take many years for America and Iraq to recover from this disaster and they deserve punishment for what they have done.

]]> By: Mary http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55747 Mary Thu, 10 May 2007 19:12:58 +0000 http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55747 I hope the Iraqi people hold on tough. There will be a bloody battle if the "foriegn" (US/UK) oil companies take control of Iraqi oil. That is why Bush is trying to send in 35,000 more troops instead of withdrawing them. The money he is asking for will not go to the troops but the 125,000 private military (Blackwater/ Halliburton) to secure the oil over the next few months. The oil companies are worried about working in such a dangerous environment and will need far more boots on the ground in a population of 28 million to "free the Iraqis" (of their oil). So don't think Bushy and Co. is planning on leaving anytime soon. As usual, this issue is woefully unreported by our inept mainstream media. They've failed to ask the tough questions in the run-up to the war and are still being cowed by the AIPAC Lobby and big business. There needs to be a sea change from the ground up to rid the world of this stink. I hope the Iraqi people hold on tough. There will be a bloody battle if the “foriegn” (US/UK) oil companies take control of Iraqi oil. That is why Bush is trying to send in 35,000 more troops instead of withdrawing them. The money he is asking for will not go to the troops but the 125,000 private military (Blackwater/ Halliburton) to secure the oil over the next few months. The oil companies are worried about working in such a dangerous environment and will need far more boots on the ground in a population of 28 million to “free the Iraqis” (of their oil). So don’t think Bushy and Co. is planning on leaving anytime soon. As usual, this issue is woefully unreported by our inept mainstream media. They’ve failed to ask the tough questions in the run-up to the war and are still being cowed by the AIPAC Lobby and big business. There needs to be a sea change from the ground up to rid the world of this stink.

]]> By: Sarah http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55692 Sarah Thu, 10 May 2007 15:40:02 +0000 http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55692 Here we come liberating people again. First we want them to put Israel into their constitution, then we talk of splitting their country into 3 parts. Now we want complete control over their oil too. And we can't understand why their not grateful. Here we come liberating people again. First we want them to put Israel into their constitution, then we talk of splitting their country into 3 parts. Now we want complete control over their oil too. And we can’t understand why their not grateful.

]]> By: Paul Lozowsky http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55690 Paul Lozowsky Thu, 10 May 2007 15:37:41 +0000 http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55690 These Are the Bush/Cheney Orchestrated Middle East Wars to Ensure US Military Occupation & Corporate Control of 687.8 Billion Barrels of Middle East Oil Reserves Worth Over 44 Trillion 707 Billion US Dollars! $ 44,707,000,000,000 General David Petraeus Said, The top U.S. commander in Iraq, depicted the situation there as “exceedingly complex and very tough” Thursday and said the U.S. effort “ might become more difficult before it gets easier”. To General David Petraeus & Congress: It’s Not Complex! It’s Very, Very Simple! (Simple Fact #1 ) The Bush/Cheney Administration Invades Iraq Based On Lies To Ensure US Corporate Control of Middle East Oil Reserves & Military Industrial Profit, Installs a Democracy With Bullets & Bombs, Creates an (Oil Rich) US Backed Shia Controlled Government in Iraq, Which Will Force 6 Million (Oil Empty) Sunnis in Iraq To Choose Between Eating Sand or Setting Bombs! Oil accounts for more 70% of Iraq’s GDP and 95% of government revenue. (Simple Fact #2 ) Al-Qaeda and The People in the Middle East Do Not Hate Americans; Do Not Hate Our Freedoms, But They Do Hate, Very Much, Unfair U.S. Government Policies, Including Having Our Troops Marching On Their Sacred Land – Be It U.S. Troops or Soviet Troops! To: General David Petraeus & Congress: It’s Not Tough! It’s Mission Impossible! (Simple Fact #3 ) There is NO Iraqi Government - There are only US Backed Shia Death Squads Fighting Sunni Iraqi Death Squads! There Can Be and Will Be No End To The Civil War(s) in Iraq Until All U.S. Troops Are Removed From Iraq Because the U.S. Military Presence Delegitimizes Any Outcome! To Come To an Understanding of How Wealth and Power in Iraq Will be Shared, The Political Forces There, Must Measure Their Relative Capacity and Will! U.S. Diplomacy YES! U.S. Military Intervention NO! Support Senate Resolution S 759 IS Senator James Webb PROHIBITS THE USE OF FUNDS FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAN WITHOUT EXPRESS CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL Support House Joint Resolution 14 Congressman Walter Jones REQUIRING CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL PRIOR TO USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAN Support H.R. 413 Congressman Sam Farr LEGISLATION WHICH REPEALS THE IRAQ WAR RESOLUTION OF (2002) AND REQUIRES THE PRESIDENT TO START WITHDRAWING THE TROOPS! These Are the Bush/Cheney Orchestrated
Middle East Wars to Ensure US Military Occupation & Corporate Control of 687.8 Billion Barrels of Middle East Oil Reserves Worth Over
44 Trillion 707 Billion US Dollars!
$ 44,707,000,000,000
General David Petraeus Said,

The top U.S. commander in Iraq, depicted the situation there as “exceedingly complex and very tough” Thursday and said the U.S. effort “ might become more difficult before it gets easier”.

To General David Petraeus & Congress:
It’s Not Complex! It’s Very, Very Simple!
(Simple Fact #1 )

The Bush/Cheney Administration Invades Iraq Based On Lies To Ensure US Corporate Control of Middle East Oil Reserves & Military Industrial Profit, Installs a Democracy With Bullets & Bombs, Creates an (Oil Rich) US Backed Shia Controlled Government in Iraq, Which Will Force 6 Million (Oil Empty) Sunnis in Iraq To Choose Between Eating Sand or Setting Bombs! Oil accounts for more 70% of Iraq’s GDP and 95% of government revenue.
(Simple Fact #2 )
Al-Qaeda and The People in the Middle East Do Not Hate Americans; Do Not Hate Our Freedoms, But They Do Hate, Very Much, Unfair U.S. Government Policies, Including Having Our Troops Marching On Their Sacred Land – Be It U.S. Troops or Soviet Troops!
To: General David Petraeus & Congress:
It’s Not Tough! It’s Mission Impossible!
(Simple Fact #3 )
There is NO Iraqi Government - There are only US Backed Shia Death Squads Fighting Sunni Iraqi Death Squads! There Can Be and Will Be No End To The Civil War(s) in Iraq Until All U.S. Troops Are Removed From Iraq Because the U.S. Military Presence Delegitimizes Any Outcome! To Come To an Understanding of How Wealth and Power in Iraq Will be Shared, The Political Forces There, Must Measure Their Relative Capacity and Will!
U.S. Diplomacy YES! U.S. Military Intervention NO!
Support Senate Resolution S 759 IS Senator James Webb
PROHIBITS THE USE OF FUNDS FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAN WITHOUT EXPRESS CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL
Support House Joint Resolution 14 Congressman Walter Jones
REQUIRING CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL PRIOR TO USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAN
Support H.R. 413 Congressman Sam Farr
LEGISLATION WHICH REPEALS THE IRAQ WAR RESOLUTION OF (2002) AND REQUIRES THE PRESIDENT TO START WITHDRAWING THE TROOPS!

]]> By: Vincent http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55621 Vincent Thu, 10 May 2007 11:50:57 +0000 http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55621 Not only Iraqi Unions should oppose this, but all the world's Trade unions and all peace loving people should condemn this illegitimate occupation and robbing of Iraq. The only way to peace in the world is to respect the soverignty of other countries and to promote the dialogue of civilisations. Promote fair trade between nations and protect the weaker from the powerful. Not only Iraqi Unions should oppose this, but all the world’s Trade unions and all peace loving people should condemn this illegitimate occupation and robbing of Iraq.
The only way to peace in the world is to respect the soverignty of other countries and to promote the dialogue of civilisations. Promote fair trade between nations and protect the weaker from the powerful.

]]> By: Bettejo Indelicato http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55605 Bettejo Indelicato Thu, 10 May 2007 10:56:30 +0000 http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55605 Godspeed to the Iraqis who are working to keep their nation and its resources out of the hands of foreign invaders and occupiers. Godspeed to the Iraqis who are working to keep their nation and its resources out of the hands of foreign invaders and occupiers.

]]> By: John Francis Lee http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55560 John Francis Lee Thu, 10 May 2007 08:55:07 +0000 http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55560 On May 14th Mike Gravel will make public a draft of legislation calling for the repatriation of all American troops from Iraq with 60 days. It is my intention and the intention of many, many other Americans to force the 535 people in Washington DC responsible for this war to end it. Solidarity with the 26,000 member of the IFOU and with the 20 some millions of Iraqis whose country has been destroyed by the Neocon invasion and occupation. Keep hold of your oil. Never let go. When American troops are forced to leave Iraq, and they will be, you will then be in possession of the means yourselves to rebuild the country the Neocons destroyed. On May 14th Mike Gravel will make public a draft of legislation calling for the repatriation of all American troops from Iraq with 60 days. It is my intention and the intention of many, many other Americans to force the 535 people in Washington DC responsible for this war to end it.

Solidarity with the 26,000 member of the IFOU and with the 20 some millions of Iraqis whose country has been destroyed by the Neocon invasion and occupation. Keep hold of your oil. Never let go. When American troops are forced to leave Iraq, and they will be, you will then be in possession of the means yourselves to rebuild the country the Neocons destroyed.

]]> By: michael krug http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55530 michael krug Thu, 10 May 2007 07:06:56 +0000 http://priceofoil.org/2007/05/09/iraqi-union-set-to-strike-over-oil-law/#comment-55530 The Pentagon is accutely aware of the need for the US military to secure adequate supplies of oil for military operations. The US military is one of the single largest consumers of oil in the world. Recent estimates conclude that Iraq may contain the largest untapped oil reserves in the world; perhaps as much as 200 to over 400 billion barrels, though this may be wishful thinking. However, the important thing is, if one believes these figures, Iraq becomes the greatest source of wealth and power in the world, and the US has an army sitting on top of it all. Don't expect a military pull-out any time soon! The Pentagon is accutely aware of the need for the US military to secure adequate supplies of oil for military operations. The US military is one of the single largest consumers of oil in the world. Recent estimates conclude that Iraq may contain the largest untapped oil reserves in the world; perhaps as much as 200 to over 400 billion barrels, though this may be wishful thinking. However, the important thing is, if one believes these figures, Iraq becomes the greatest source of wealth and power in the world, and the US has an army sitting on top of it all. Don’t expect a military pull-out any time soon!

]]>