Comments on Brightwork Article on the Problems with Justifying Stealing Natural Resources

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This article contains comments from the articles on justifying stealing natural resources.

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These comments are in response to the articles on stealing natural resources.

Comment #1: From Darren

“US oil companies now receive 75% of every dollar of crude oil that is pulled from the “newly democratic” Iraq.Do you have a source supporting this?”

See this quote from SourceWatch:

“In March 2009, the Iraqi government was forced into action over the low oil price. It proposed to give foreign oil companies a majority stake in projects developing oil and gas fields. The government admitted that foreign companies could bid for as much as 75 percent of the profit from new oil and natural gas development projects, up from the previous limit of 49 percent.”

Iraq’s oil minister, Hussain al-Shahristani, who was attending an OPEC meeting in Vienna, said that Iraq would be open to bids from such companies as Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell for 75 percent stakes in new development projects. This move was seen as controversial and likely to add to tensions around the country’s controversial oil law.”NY Times“Foreign companies could own as much as 75 percent of the new ventures, the officials said. In its negotiations with dozens of international companies, including Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell, Iraq had until now offered stakes of no more than 49 percent in new joint ventures to develop existing and new oil fields.”However, it is important to note, this is the desired state for countries where the US has total control. Roughly speaking, 75% goes to the oil companies, 20% goes to corrupt government officials in the recipient government – Swiss bank accounts, etc.. and roughly 5% goes to pay for projects for the population.The interesting question to ask is how many times have you heard the words “terrorism” and “democracy” with regards to Iraq, and how many times have your heard about the percentage of oil profits going to US oil companies. This must be that liberal media I keep reading about.

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