Iraq moves towards self-rule.

[lord of the mark]

note that it also includes one member of the long banned Iraqi communist party.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by lord of the mark



At least one faction in the admin wants democracy out of US self interest - the argument goes that the only alternative, "friendly authoritarian" states like Egypt and Saudi, tends to generate terrorists who blow up large building the US. Democracy in the region is therefore in the US national interest, regradless of whether the democrat regime supports us on bases and oil, etc. In any case, what incentive would a democratic regime have to keep Iraqi oil off the market??? They will continue to have large development needs, best served by pumping as much oil as they can. Main reason to restrain oil production would be pressure from neighbors like Saudi, but a democracy may be in better position to resist such pressures that an authoritarian state.

Iraq won't be able to control the price of oil in the least bit. However, they might be able to prevent OPEC from doing so as much as they would like. OPEC, and especially the Saudis have been responsible with the supply of oil for decades. Remember Sadam was pissed because the Saudis were keeping the price of oil too low. I think a new independent Iraqi would probably do the same thing while pumping out as much oil as possible.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

good start...