Oil giants lining up for slice of Iraqi resources!

So, here we go folks, this is it and this is what it's all about! so, having failed to pass a law that will virtually hand over Iraq's natural resources to the the GIANT oil companies soon enough, the Iraqi government is handing out two-year, "NO-BID" contracts (wink wink) to companies that have been "ACTING in ADVISORY ROLES" to the Iraqi Oil Ministry in recent years. These companies are the U.S.-based Exxon Mobil and Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, France's Total and the British oil company BP. Their offers are preferred to 40 other contractors from Russia, China and India! I wonder why?!!! well Assem Jihad, the oil ministry spokesman, said the ministry chose companies it was "comfortable working with" under the charitable memorandum of understanding agreements, and for their technical prowess. "Because of that, they got the priority," he said. WOW, I'm sure the same crteria is followed all over the world, right? what a heap of BS.

Now let's have a closer look folks: first these are NO-BID contracts! and I would like to ask WHY? WHY NO BID? do you think that Iraq will get the best out of this deal by making these a NO BID contracts? OF COURSE NOT! Furthermore, Let's assume that these folks were playing advisory roles to the minister of oil in Iraq, do you think that these guys will give advise that would undermine their long term interests in Iraqi natural resources and any opportunity of giving their respective companies an edge against other oil companies that are willing to fairly compete? NO, of course.

Also, if the Iraqi oil ministry wanted some advise from oil experts, don't you think that it would have been much cheaper to hire experts and pay them handsomely rather than now pay $2.0 billion in No-bid contracts in return for some advise and some management expertise to the oil ministry? what do you think Me Shahrestani?

Few final points I would like you to know or refresh your memory about. These are; 1-Back in 2003, all the Iraqi governmental establishments (buildings, HQs, warehouses... absolutely everything) were left out by the US forces for the looters to virtually strip them clean EXCEPT for the Oil Ministry HQ! 2-Iraq's 2008 budget of US$46.8 billion was calculated based on US$57 per barrel oil, roughly less than half the current market rate. I wonder where the extra income will go, we'll see! keep an eye on that. 3-Condi said in an interview on FOX News "The United States government has stayed out of the matter of awarding the Iraq oil contracts. It's a private sector matter". Really! I mean why do you want to insult our intelligence? do you really think that anybody with some brain will buy that? give me a break.