Breaking The Oil Curse

For the first time the Iraqi federal budget for 2010 legislated Jan.26 includes allocations that will see the wealth redistributed among regions and governorates in a bid to make those who produce the oil benefit from it directly, while at the same time compensate them for the environmental damage suffered as a result of the oil and gas operations. That must be a first in the history of Iraq as…

Iraq Targets Pipelines, LNG for Natural Gas Development

24 February 2003 Having missed the boat on sales of natural gas by pipeline to Turkey, despite signing a memorandum of understanding in 1996, Iraqi officials are now drawing up plans to enter the broader international gas market. These include proposals to join a regional gas pipeline network, as well as construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in southern Iraq. Boosting Iraq’s natural gas reserves and export capabilities…

Iraq: View From Baghdad

21 February 2003 The mood on the streets of Baghdad is as volatile as oil prices these days — hyper when war seems inevitable, more relaxed as the prospect recedes. But if and when war does finally start, it’s the battle for Baghdad that is preoccupying everyone, Iraqis as much as foreign observers based in the Iraqi capital. The recent global anti-war demonstrations astounded Iraqis to the point where they…

Interview: Jordan’s Foreign Minister Gives His Take On The War

14 March 2003 Ever since UN sanctions were imposed on Iraq, Jordan has been the only gateway to and from Baghdad. Ahead of the last Gulf War, the late King Hussein of Jordan played a major role mediating between Saddam Hussein and the international coalition that eventually drove Iraq out of Kuwait in 1991. Accused of siding with Iraq, Jordan was snubbed by the US, as well as its Gulf…