Al-Maliki tells aides U.S. benchmark deadline is June 30 or his ouster possible

[denverbill]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/13/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Oil.php

BAGHDAD: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki fears the Americans will withdraw support for his government — effectively ousting him — if parliament does not pass a draft oil law by the end of June, close associates of the Iraqi leader told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The legislature has not even taken up the draft measure for a fair distribution of the nation's oil wealth — only one of several U.S. benchmarks that are now seen by al-Maliki, a hardline Shiite, as key to continued American support for his troubled government.

<snip>

It's all about 'democracy' and 'freedom' for the Iraqis. It has nothing to do with oil.

[thereismore]

1. How the hell is oil revenue distributed now??? nt

[AndyA]

2. It goes directly into Halliburton's bank account, and Halliburton is

under contract with the U.S. Government to oversee how it's spent from that point.





























(Just kidding.) :rofl:

[endarkenment]

3. The benchmark is 'all your oil bases are belong to us'

I'm glad that has been clarified.

[pinniped]

6. "All your prime ministers are belong to us."

effectively ousting him

Their sovereignty isn't even worth the toilet paper POS* scribbled "let freedumb reign" on. He probably pulled it out of his a$$, too. It had a stain on it.

[yurbud]

4. the Iraqis will get the same generous tips as the caddies, waiters, and man hos at the country club

[maddezmom]

5. Iraqi leader fears ouster over oil money

Iraqi leader fears ouster over oil money By STEVEN R. HURST
Tue Mar 13, 9:47 PM ET



BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki fears the Americans will torpedo his government if parliament does not pass a law to fairly divvy up the country's oil wealth among Iraqis by the end of June, close associates of the leader told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The legislature has not even taken up the draft measure, which is only one of several U.S. benchmarks that are seen by al-Maliki as key to continued American support, a crucial need for the survival of his troubled administration.

Aside from the oil law, the associates said, American officials have told the hardline Shiite Muslim prime minister that they want an Iraqi government in place by year's end acceptable to the country's Sunni Arab neighbors, particularly Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt.

"They have said it must be secular and inclusive," one al-Maliki associate said.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070314/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_oil_3