So much for "democracy" in Iraq - it's just another welfare scheme for the super-rich and the oil giants

forget workers' rights... we don't need 'em in the u.s., and we SURE as hell don't need 'em in iraq...

Iraq's oil minister said Iraq's oil unions are not legitimate and have no more standing in the debate over the oil law than an ordinary citizen.

"There are no legal unions in Iraq," Hussein al-Shahristani said Wednesday in response to a question about various factions' positions on the controversial oil law. "Those people who call themselves representatives of the oil workers have not been elected to the position."

[...]

Saddam Hussein outlawed worker organizing in the public sector; subsequent U.S. occupying powers and now the Iraqi government do not recognize the workers' rights to organize.

and, besides, why the hell would anybody want to listen to the positions of WORKERS when there's an oil bonanza to be PRIVATIZED...? hmmmmm...? i ask you...

Iraq's Parliament has approved a law privatizing the country's oil-refining sector in order to lure investment and stem a fuel shortage.

The law, approved Tuesday, is a step toward relinquishing government involvement in the refining sector and, when poverty is alleviated, moving Iraqi consumers from state-subsidized to market prices for fuel.

Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani told United Press International Wednesday from his mobile phone in Baghdad that the government will provide incentives to both domestic and foreign private oil companies whose refinery plans the ministry approves.

"This is a law that will privatize the refining sector in Iraq and allow the private sector, whether it's local or international investments, to be able to invest in refining activities in Iraq, including building refineries," Shahristani said.

this al-shahristani fella is quite the busy guy... i don't have the motivation to do any research on him, but i will bet tomorrow morning's cafe cortado that he's in somebody's pocket, or maybe they're in his, whatever...

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