USA struggles to keep up flow of Iraqi oil

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4075764.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Pipelines carrying crude oil through Iraq's unguarded desert suddenly collapse after weeks without disruption _ a single bullet puncturing a line, halting Iraq's main source of revenue.

At the same time, daily bloodshed is pushing the country closer to a civil war. These two dynamics at work in Iraq _ the quest for prosperity amid an endless struggle for security _ tug firmly on Iraq's future and the U.S. involvement here.

Since resuming petroleum exports after the U.S. invasion in 2003, Iraq has struggled for lasting security of its pipelines and refineries. It sits atop the world's third-largest reserves, but saboteurs routinely disrupt the 4,300-mile system of pipelines.

For weeks in June, Iraq exported millions of barrels to Turkey. But during the second week of July, flow to the country's largest refinery in Beiji stopped when pipelines were attacked. Such topsy-turvy progress is symbolic of the delicate balance between oil and security.

The whole world has seen through this charade, that the US either can't or won't bring oil out of Iraq in any meaningful quantity or reliable schedule. The whole line that Bush pedaled about "Iraqi oil paying for the rebuilding of Iraq" was a farce to begin with, yet here they are, still continuing to beat a dead horse while Iraq and the entire ME burns.

Pathetic, just fucking pathetic.

and went with arguments about PNAC and drinking water (so as to look all read about it and whatnot) but this whole thing basically boils down to this

This is the biggest heist in the history of the world

Think about the oil companies (Bremer's rules allow for foreign ownership of natural resources) get the US taxpayers to pay to send THEIR boys and girls into a country so the oil company have complete control over the second biggest reserve that we know about. Think about that. It is actually much like the stem cell research thing (stay with me here) the front end of both are very expensive and there is no revenue stream that comes from it. If you could only get someone...say the government to cover the initial costs then you swoop in and make the huge margins. Much the same.

Biggest heist ever. THAT is why they wouldn't let the French in-too many hands in the cash bag. Poor Tony sold his guys out and they don't even get a cut.

Isn't it a good thing American taxpayers are around to pick up the tab instead?

they pledged in aid support to Lebanon.

Is that a problem.

when, in fact, it is from us.