Getting out of the Black Gold

Getting out of the black gold

It was this very fear of stability in Basra that prompted al-Maliki’s US conceived assault. With elections mandated for October 1 now seemed as good a time as any to kick Sadr’s forces severely and prove to the people of Basra Sadr is a false god. His removal is also required by those who wish for a rich Shiite southern state or national entity, one that provides immense revenue though oil and can be easily exploited by big oil. Sadr won’t have partitioning as he wants all Shiites and perhaps even Sunnis to participate in a single Federation. A blow to him now and his hopes for legitimate political power in October would have been ruined.

Thus thought the US in their never-ending displays of wisdom. Instead the opposite happened and Sadr now grows in power and prestige and has become a truly national figure, perhaps leader, I don’t pretend to know his ambitions and he is particularly reluctant to divulge them. If he were to win the coming elections, and here we get to the hopeful bit, he would have political legitimacy and an army that has shown great mettle over which he seems to have adequate control. Unfortunately for the Americans he wants them out but if elected he could offer the oil companies oil. That was the plan, was it not, five terrible years ago. Basra could return to its rightful position of one of the great hubs of world commerce, the people of Iraq would be enriched and the world would get a desperately needed million or two barrels of oil a day we are not currently getting.

Of course this would be unacceptable to the Bush-Cheney crowd. It makes sense, and, given Bill Clinton’s bloody handed approach to Iraq during 8 years of economic sanctions and bombings might not be Hillary’s cup of tea. But Obama, he who talks to Paul Volker, might just see it as a possible beginning. In fact Basra, kept intact through the British occupation, and perfectly positioned for oil export, would be at the economic heart of a new Iraq and its revival might herald a reborn nation. These people desperately need some solution to their travails and Basra is as good a place to start as any. Iraq has been at war now for some 30 years and vast amounts of oil and gas will be found when exploration begins again and new technology is applied. All we are saying is, give peace a chance.