It's the oil stupid

U.S. Warns Iraq That Progress Is Needed Soon

BAGHDAD, June 11 — The top American military commander for the Middle East has warned Iraq’s prime minister in a closed-door conversation that the Iraqi government needs to make tangible political progress by next month to counter the growing tide of opposition to the war in Congress.

And so exactly what is "tangible political progress"? You guessed it - the bill that gives away much of the Iraqi's oil to Exxon, Chevron, BP and Shell.

In a Sunday afternoon discussion that mixed gentle coaxing with a sober appraisal of politics in Baghdad and Washington, the commander, Adm. William J. Fallon, told Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki that the Iraqi government should aim to complete a law on the division of oil proceeds by next month.

As Julian E. Barnes reported a couple of weeks ago the passage of the oil "sharing" law is considered a long shot.

Enactment of a new law to share Iraq's oil revenue among Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish regions is the only goal they think might be achieved in time, and even that is considered a long shot.

The Iraqi parliament may not agree on much but they seem to share a lack of enthusiasm for giving away Iraq's oil wealth to the Cheney administration and big oil.

The occupation of Iraq will end when the Cheney oil cabal finally recognizes they won't be able to get their hands on the oil. When they realize the cookie jar is closed.