EU Commissioner Says U.S. Out to Seize Iraq's Oil

Bereta_Eder · May 9, 2003, 18:23

too good to pass since we're now entering the twilight zone (awake time for amerianskis)

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - A European Union (news - web sites) commissioner said on Friday he believed the United States aimed to take control of Iraq (news - web sites)'s oil and was 'on its way to becoming a member of OPEC (news - web sites).'

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Poul Nielson, EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, was speaking after the United States and Britain introduced a U.N. draft resolution that would phase out an existing oil-for-food humanitarian program for Iraq.

'They (the United States) will appropriate the oil,' he told Danish public service DR radio news on return from a three-day trip to Iraq. 'It is very difficult to see how this would make sense in any other way.'

'I think that the United States is on its way to becoming a member of OPEC,' he added, referring to the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Nielson, a Dane, said he did not expect U.S. troops who have toppled Iraq's Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) in a war launched in March would withdraw soon from the Arab state, whose oil reserves are estimated by industry experts to be the second largest in the world after Saudi Arabia's.

'It is very unclear what the Americans will end up doing. That they would pull out quickly does not look realistic,' said Nielson, whose visit to Iraq included talks with U.S. administrator Jay Garner.

The tough U.S.-British draft Security Council resolution would end 12 years of U.N. sanctions against Iraq and give them control of the country's oil revenues for at least a year.

The proposal would deposit Iraqi oil revenues in an 'Iraqi Assistance Fund' for humanitarian and reconstruction purposes, to be held by the Iraqi Central Bank, currently managed by Peter McPherson, a former deputy U.S. Treasury secretary.

Nielson said Washington, whose draft resolution in effect relegates the United Nations (news - web sites) and other international institutions to an advisory role with little power, planned to limit the U.N.'s role in Iraq.

'The unwillingness there is to give the United Nations a genuine real, legal well-defined role, also in the broader context of rebuilding Iraq after Saddam...also speaks a language that is quite clear,' Nielson said.

Denmark, a member of NATO (news - web sites), supported the U.S.-led war in Iraq. President Bush (news - web sites) held talks with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Washington on Thursday.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...q_nielson_dc_1

Imran Siddiqui · May 9, 2003, 18:26

What an idiot... yeah, we're gonna be joining OPEC

Ming · May 9, 2003, 18:32

Just another "one man's opinion"... and nothing else.

Should I post that I believe that Greece is only after Iraq oil... about as credible

Gee paiktis22, do you believe EVERYTHING you read on the net...

1/.000000000000000000000000001

Nubclear · May 9, 2003, 18:33

Originally posted by Ming
1/.000000000000000000000000001

Ned · May 9, 2003, 18:33

"'They (the United States) will appropriate the oil,'

The only problem with this statement is the word "will."

DinoDoc · May 9, 2003, 18:34

Originally posted by Ming
1/.000000000000000000000000001

Do you really have to rate his trolls so highly?

Bereta_Eder · May 9, 2003, 18:38

No need to get so jealous.

DinoDoc · May 9, 2003, 18:39

I can't help it. No one ever gives me that many points.

Giancarlo · May 9, 2003, 18:40

Another extremely lame troll. What was said was made by an absolute idiot. How can such idiots like this EU Commissioner ever be allowed to serve in such high positions? I just dismiss this as baseless and one more of pakky cakes baseless trolls.

Nubclear · May 9, 2003, 18:42

Originally posted by Fez
Another extremely lame troll. What was said was made by an absolute idiot. How can such idiots like this EU Commissioner ever be allowed to serve in such high positions? I just dismiss this as baseless and one more of pakky cakes baseless trolls.

Awww, poor fezzy is jealous of Paik for getting such a high rating........

It's OK fezzy, someday you'll match up to trolling greatness.

Someday

Bereta_Eder · May 9, 2003, 18:43

Originally posted by DinoDoc
I can't help it. No one ever gives me that many points.

10^10.

There you go.

DinoDoc · May 9, 2003, 18:43

Originally posted by Fez
How can such idiots like this EU Commissioner ever be allowed to serve in such high positions?

What do you care? It isn't like the person has any real power.

Dinner · May 9, 2003, 18:44

Just another lobotomized Eurotwat politician.

Giancarlo · May 9, 2003, 18:44

Good I hope this idiot doesn't have any power at all.

Tass, all that counts is I annoy people.

Nubclear · May 9, 2003, 18:46

Originally posted by Fez
Tass, all that counts is I annoy people.

Yes, you do annoy people, but so does a fly.

In other words: Fez is to a fly as Paiktis is to Mr. Miyagi.

Nubclear · May 9, 2003, 18:47

Originally posted by Oerdin

Just another lobotomized Eurotwat politician.

Believe it or not, but most of the world agrees with this "lobotomized Eurotwat politician".

Can't say the same for Bush OR Blair, can I?

Giancarlo · May 9, 2003, 18:49

Tass, get a clue. You don't speak for the world. If you honestly believe that the US is out for the oil, you are more braindead than this guy.

Bereta_Eder · May 9, 2003, 18:54

Originally posted by DinoDoc
What do you care? It isn't like the person has any real power.

Ts,ts... that's where you're wrong. Commissioners are the closest to being ministers (and legislators and regulators) of the European Union.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/commissioners/index_en.htm

Nubclear · May 9, 2003, 18:55

Originally posted by Fez
Tass, get a clue. You don't speak for the world. If you honestly believe that the US is out for the oil, you are more braindead than this guy.

Sorry Fez, but the world backs me here....If you can't see that, your the one whos braindead

Poor Fezzy......

Giancarlo · May 9, 2003, 18:56

Originally posted by Tassadar5000

Sorry Fez, but the world backs me here....If you can't see that, your the one whos braindead

Poor Fezzy......

You are so full of crap. You actually think people want to listen to your rhetoric for even a day? You are the one who is braindead, not me.

Sandman · May 9, 2003, 18:57

It probably was for oil. It certainly wasn't about WMD.

Giancarlo · May 9, 2003, 18:59

Originally posted by Sandman
It probably was for oil. It certainly wasn't about WMD.

Uh huh. Right... if it was for the oil, why didn't the US take Kuwaits oil in 1991?

It is never about the oil. In this case it was about the WMD.

Nubclear · May 9, 2003, 19:02

Originally posted by Fez

You are so full of crap. You actually think people want to listen to your rhetoric for even a day?

There is a fallacy in that statement (though I shouldne be surprised): I'm not spewing out rhetoric for either party.

I'm telling the truth, and the truth is like a sword.....Some realize its full power and masterfully use it to chop their opponents down to size....

But because you do not use the truth, I continue to slash through you and your "blade" dulls more and more.

Oh well. Lifes tough, isn't it Fezzy?

Nubclear · May 9, 2003, 19:02

Originally posted by Fez

Uh huh. Right... if it was for the oil, why didn't the US take Kuwaits oil in 1991?

It is never about the oil. In this case it was about the WMD.

The US wants to be able to control the oil for an entire year......

But its not about oil. Seriously.

*Chop*

Giancarlo · May 9, 2003, 19:05

Originally posted by Tassadar5000

There is a fallacy in that statement (though I shouldne be surprised): I'm not spewing out rhetoric for either party.

I'm telling the truth, and the truth is like a sword.....Some realize its full power and masterfully use it to chop their opponents down to size....

But because you do not use the truth, I continue to slash through you and your "blade" dulls more and more.

Oh well. Lifes tough, isn't it Fezzy?

You know... once I see your official call sign and listen to your beliefs... you got less credibility than the former Iraqi Information Minister.

When you start talking truth... ehhh... nevermind.. you will never talk truth. You are a liar as it is.

Nubclear · May 9, 2003, 19:13

Originally posted by Fez

You know... once I see your official call sign and listen to your beliefs... you got less credibility than the former Iraqi Information Minister.

When you start talking truth... ehhh... nevermind.. you will never talk truth. You are a liar as it is.

Ad Hominems

Giancarlo · May 9, 2003, 19:14

Well Tassy, when you claim you are the one who only speaks the truth, there is nothing ad hominem about my post. Fact is, you don't speak the truth and you never have. You have been lying here long enough.

raghar · May 9, 2003, 19:15

Originally posted by DinoDoc
What do you care? It isn't like the person has any real power.

Are you sure? Was Humphrey Appleby from "yes minister" with no real power? You might like to rewiev the EU political system.

Cyclotron · May 9, 2003, 19:25

The war is all about Wolfowitz and the neocons.

Now, certainly, all our policies there have something to do with oil, as do the policies of all other foreign countries in the region...

...but the idea that the war was started for oil is so laughable that it strains the very bounds of logical reality.