Why did Pelosi make taking Iraq's oil a withdrawal benchmark?

[TheConstantGardener]

Pelosi has made the passage of a bill that makes only 17 out of 80 Iraqi oilfields in state hands (the rest go to bidding western companies) a benchmark for withdrawal.

WHY is this a benchmark? It's basically telling the Iraqis, "Give us your oil or we won't leave."

Why is Pelosi oil-driven? Is there an ethical justification for this?

We need to stop this madness now. Go here: http://kucinich.us/node/3597 to learn about the law and then call your member of congress or write in to stop this madness please.

Thank you.

[mike_c]

1. agreed 100 percent....

The dem leadership has been trying to maneuver themselves into getting all the benefits of an imperialist war of aggression-- the oil, the corporate profits, the political payoffs for being patriotic war supporters-- with just the sheerest veneer of real opposition, i.e. opposition that actually stops the criminal war against Iraq and threatens all the profits and potential political futures.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. It's not our oil to take!

it's called stealing

[babylonsister]

3. Can you provide a link to Pelosi's oil benchmark? Thanks. nt

[TheConstantGardener]

4. If you go to the link provided

You will see Kucinich's explanation about it and I don't think he would lie. I don't think the bill is up on THOMAS yet because it hasn't been finished writing. A lot of Congresspersons are going to try to get it taken out hopefully.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

5. He doesnt say anything about Pelosi.

Where did you read about Pelosi's stand on this? Thanks.

[MonkeyFunk]

7. I'm still waiting

for him to tell me which foreign affairs subcommittee Pelosi passed him over for chairman. Or, rather, "AIPAC-Pelosi", as he refers to her.

[TheConstantGardener]

8. All of the plan comes from her

She had veto over all of it. She's the one trying to get the Progressives to approve of it. It's her "big tent" plan vs the Progressives

The question is: why is stealing oil part of the plan?

[babylonsister]

13. Bullshit. Prove it with links about the motives of Pelosi before you spew. nt

[LSK]

6. here is that portion of the supplemental summary

Meeting Benchmarks and Ending our Involvement in Iraq’s Civil War. The proposal would
pressure the Iraqi leaders to improve their performance by establishing a timeline for ending U.S.
participation in Iraq’s civil war.
:bluebox:Progressing Toward Political and Military Benchmarks. By July 1, 2007, the President
must certify that Iraq is making meaningful and substantial progress in meeting political and
military benchmarks, including a militia disarmament program and a plan that equitably shares
oil revenues among all Iraqis. If the President does not provide this certification then U.S.
forces must begin an immediate redeployment to be completed no later than December 2007
(180 days).
:bluebox:Achieving Political and Military Benchmarks. By October 1, 2007, the President must
certify that Iraqis have achieved the political and military benchmarks. If he does not provide
this certification then U.S. forces must begin an immediate redeployment to be completed by
March 2008 (180 days).
:bluebox:Ending U.S. Participation in the War. Should both certifications be provided, the
Administration must begin redeploying U.S. forces from Iraq by March 1, 2008 and complete
the redeployment by August 2008 (180 days).


http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/08suppsummary.pdf

[LSK]

9. "and a plan that equitably shares oil revenues among all Iraqis"

[Kagemusha]

10. Uh, aren't you reading this backwards?

Isn't it, either the oil law which is claimed to equitably distribute oil revenues among the regions (what revenues that are not taken by the oil corps first, which are considerable), or the US **WILL** leave?

The benchmarks are not for withdrawing. The benchmarks are conditions for STAYING.

So aren't you reading this backwards?....

[NYCGirl]

11. Seems the OP has abandoned this thread. NT

[MonkeyFunk]

14. He seems to have been given

an unfriendly escort out of the building. Thank you mods!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

15. I had a disagreeable exchange with the OP yesterday and although normally not into

tombstoning, appreciate it concerning this person. Very disruptive.

[babylonsister]

12. Busted, little person. Pipe up, or shut the hell up. We need to stop this

madness? Don't come to DU expecting total agreement, ever. You WILL be called on your b.s.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

16. Constant's gardening granite.