Iraq oil profits reportedly used to back militants

[sabra]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2006/November/focusoniraq_November178.xml§ion=focusoniraq

Iraq oil profits reportedly used to back militants
(DPA)

BAGHDAD - The Iraqi oil ministry has uncovered illegal operations whereby oil products were sold and profits were pooled into financing local militancy, Al Sabah newspaper reported on Wednesday.

According to the Minister for Oil, Hussein Al Shahristany, ‘the ministry discovered operations where oil extracts from the Bayji refinery were sold, and the money was directed to terror elements who commit acts of sabotage.’

Some of those held responsible for the criminal operations were dismissed while others were referred to investigative courts and committees, said the minister.

The oil refinery at Bayji, 200 kilometres north of Baghdad, produces on average 700,000 barrels per day.

[Tempest]

1. No surprise here

Anyone with half a brain could have predicted this.

The local militia leaders were first in line for cherry government jobs and the fool Bremer was more than happy to play along.

[Cocoa]

2. did they hire Ollie North as an advisor?

[NOLADEM]

6. Stop reading my thoughts!

[buddysmellgood]

3. Hey! Bush wasn't lying about something. The oil really IS paying for the war.

[sabra]

4. remember Poppy says his son is an "honest man"

:sarcasm:

[Joe Chi Minh]

5. I would think a fair wad of the missing billions is spent on the mercenaries.

[gratuitous]

7. This surprises me

I thought nobody knew nothing about where Iraq's oil was going, who was paying for it (if they were paying for it), where it was being shipped, and what sort of mark-up was happening at the delivery point. Although I note that the story doesn't provide specifics about how much oil was sold, and what sort of money we might be talking about. Is it a significant portion (say 10%) of the 700,000 barrels allegedly produced at Bayji every day? Skimming at even $25 a barrel for 1% of that output is $175,000 a day. Something tells me that a pretty significant operation can be mounted in Iraq for that kind of money.

[VegasWolf]

8. That info is a State Secret that only Bush, Cheney and Halliburton know. nt