From today's Rapid City, Iowa, Journal:

Iraqis Paying 5 Cents a Gallon for Gas

By JIM KRANE

BAGHDAD, Iraq - While Americans are shelling out record prices for fuel,
Iraqis pay only about 5 cents a gallon for gasoline _ a benefit of
hundreds of millions of dollars subsidies bankrolled by American taxpayers.

Before the war, forecasters predicted that by invading Iraq and ousting
Saddam Hussein, America would benefit from increased exports of oil from
Iraq, which has the world's second largest petroleum reserves.

That would mean cheap gas for American motorists and a boost for the
oil-dependent American economy.

More than a year after the invasion, that logic has been flipped on its
head. Now the average price for gasoline in the United States is running
$2.05 a gallon _ 50 cents more than the pre-invasion price.

Instead, the only people getting cheap gas as a result of the invasion
are the Iraqis.

Filling a 22-gallon tank in Baghdad with low-grade fuel costs just
$1.10, plus a 50-cent tip for the attendant. A tankful of high-test
costs $2.75.

In Britain, by contrast, gasoline prices hit $5.79 per gallon last week
_ $127 for a tankful.

Although Iraq is a major petroleum producer, the country has little
capacity to refine its own gasoline. So the U.S. government pays about
$1.50 a gallon to buy fuel in neighboring countries and deliver it to
Iraqi stations. A three-month supply costs American taxpayers more than
$500 million, not including the cost of military escorts to fend off
attacks by Iraqi insurgents.

The arrangement keeps a fleet of 4,200 tank trucks constantly on the
move, ferrying fuel to Iraq.

"We thank the Americans," Baghdad taxi driver Osama Hashim said. "They
risked their lives to liberate us and now they are improving our lives,"
said Hashim, 26, topping up the tank on his beat-up 1983 Volkswagen.

Iraq's fuel subsidies, which are intended to mollify drivers used to
low-priced fuel under Saddam, have coupled with the opening of the
borders to create an anarchic car culture in Baghdad.

Cheap used cars shipped from Europe and Asia are flooding into Iraq. A
10-year-old BMW in good condition costs just $5,000. Since gas is so
cheap, anyone with a car can become a taxi driver. Drivers jam the
streets, offering rides for as little as 250 dinars _ about 17 cents.

Iraq has no sales tax, no registration, no license plates and no auto
insurance. Some would argue there are no rules of the road. Cars barrel
the wrong way on the highway. They swoop into surprise U-turns. They
ignore traffic signals.

Analysts say the U.S. gas subsidies can't last forever _ and Iraqis may
be in for an unpleasant shock when they end. In the meantime, however,
the American taxpayer continues to foot a huge bill.

"The U.S. taxpayer has a right to be indignant, and Iraqis have to be
warned about the long-run damages of this," said Anthony Cordesman, an
Iraq analyst with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and
International Studies. "The minute the aid goes out, the party is over.
And there's going to be a hell of a hangover."

The U.S. government paid even more last year for Iraqis' gasoline _
between $1.59 and $1.70 per gallon _ when the imports were contracted to
Halliburton, the Texas oil services giant formerly headed by Vice
President Dick Cheney.

The cheap fuel is spurring unsustainable demand, promoting wasteful use
of energy and transportation, and squandering Iraq's oil output that
might otherwise be exported, Cordesman said.

"You're leading people to buy cars that aren't affordable at normal
costs," he said. "You need to move toward real market prices as quickly
as you can without causing instability."

Iraqi drivers protest that the price difference between a gallon of gas
in the United States and Iraq is fair, because the average Iraqi earns
around $1,000 per year, a thirtieth of the average U.S. wage.

"If the price of gas goes up, we'll see lots of anger in the street,"
said cab driver Hashim, at a grimy filling station on Saadoun Street in
central Baghdad.

Cheap gasoline is also needed to fuel the ubiquitous portable electric
generators in Iraq, which power air conditioners during long daily
electricity blackouts.

Hashim and another driver, convinced, like many Iraqis, that the United
States reaps huge amounts of cheap Iraqi oil, said subsidized gasoline
was the least Americans could provide in return.

"The United States controls all Iraqi resources now," said Jenan Jabro,
50, tanking up his black Opel. "So what if they have to pay a little bit
for gasoline? That's nothing compared to what they get in return."

Analysts say there never was a good case _ either before the war or
afterward _ that a U.S. invasion would pay dividends in cheap oil.

"Some of the neo-conservatives might've been saying that, but no energy
analysts were walking around saying that," Cordesman said.

Iraq's current exports of just under 2 million barrels of oil a day
aren't enough to dent the world market price. It will take up to three
years to bring Iraq back just to 1991 export levels, said Rachel Bronson
of the Council on Foreign Relations. The country is still too unstable
for most oil companies, she said.

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 05:16:27 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

From today's Rapid City, Iowa, Journal:

Iraqis Paying 5 Cents a Gallon for Gas

By JIM KRANE

BAGHDAD, Iraq - While Americans are shelling out record prices for fuel,
Iraqis pay only about 5 cents a gallon for gasoline _ a benefit of
hundreds of millions of dollars subsidies bankrolled by American taxpayers.

Before the war, forecasters predicted that by invading Iraq and ousting
Saddam Hussein, America would benefit from increased exports of oil from
Iraq, which has the world's second largest petroleum reserves.

That would mean cheap gas for American motorists and a boost for the
oil-dependent American economy.

More than a year after the invasion, that logic has been flipped on its
head. Now the average price for gasoline in the United States is running
$2.05 a gallon _ 50 cents more than the pre-invasion price.

Instead, the only people getting cheap gas as a result of the invasion
are the Iraqis.

Filling a 22-gallon tank in Baghdad with low-grade fuel costs just
$1.10, plus a 50-cent tip for the attendant. A tankful of high-test
costs $2.75.

In Britain, by contrast, gasoline prices hit $5.79 per gallon last week
_ $127 for a tankful.

Although Iraq is a major petroleum producer, the country has little
capacity to refine its own gasoline. So the U.S. government pays about
$1.50 a gallon to buy fuel in neighboring countries and deliver it to
Iraqi stations. A three-month supply costs American taxpayers more than
$500 million, not including the cost of military escorts to fend off
attacks by Iraqi insurgents.

The arrangement keeps a fleet of 4,200 tank trucks constantly on the
move, ferrying fuel to Iraq.

"We thank the Americans," Baghdad taxi driver Osama Hashim said. "They
risked their lives to liberate us and now they are improving our lives,"
said Hashim, 26, topping up the tank on his beat-up 1983 Volkswagen.

Iraq's fuel subsidies, which are intended to mollify drivers used to
low-priced fuel under Saddam, have coupled with the opening of the
borders to create an anarchic car culture in Baghdad.

Cheap used cars shipped from Europe and Asia are flooding into Iraq. A
10-year-old BMW in good condition costs just $5,000. Since gas is so
cheap, anyone with a car can become a taxi driver. Drivers jam the
streets, offering rides for as little as 250 dinars _ about 17 cents.

Iraq has no sales tax, no registration, no license plates and no auto
insurance. Some would argue there are no rules of the road. Cars barrel
the wrong way on the highway. They swoop into surprise U-turns. They
ignore traffic signals.

Analysts say the U.S. gas subsidies can't last forever _ and Iraqis may
be in for an unpleasant shock when they end. In the meantime, however,
the American taxpayer continues to foot a huge bill.

"The U.S. taxpayer has a right to be indignant, and Iraqis have to be
warned about the long-run damages of this," said Anthony Cordesman, an
Iraq analyst with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and
International Studies. "The minute the aid goes out, the party is over.
And there's going to be a hell of a hangover."

The U.S. government paid even more last year for Iraqis' gasoline _
between $1.59 and $1.70 per gallon _ when the imports were contracted to
Halliburton, the Texas oil services giant formerly headed by Vice
President Dick Cheney.

The cheap fuel is spurring unsustainable demand, promoting wasteful use
of energy and transportation, and squandering Iraq's oil output that
might otherwise be exported, Cordesman said.

"You're leading people to buy cars that aren't affordable at normal
costs," he said. "You need to move toward real market prices as quickly
as you can without causing instability."

Iraqi drivers protest that the price difference between a gallon of gas
in the United States and Iraq is fair, because the average Iraqi earns
around $1,000 per year, a thirtieth of the average U.S. wage.

"If the price of gas goes up, we'll see lots of anger in the street,"
said cab driver Hashim, at a grimy filling station on Saadoun Street in
central Baghdad.

Cheap gasoline is also needed to fuel the ubiquitous portable electric
generators in Iraq, which power air conditioners during long daily
electricity blackouts.

Hashim and another driver, convinced, like many Iraqis, that the United
States reaps huge amounts of cheap Iraqi oil, said subsidized gasoline
was the least Americans could provide in return.

"The United States controls all Iraqi resources now," said Jenan Jabro,
50, tanking up his black Opel. "So what if they have to pay a little bit
for gasoline? That's nothing compared to what they get in return."

Analysts say there never was a good case _ either before the war or
afterward _ that a U.S. invasion would pay dividends in cheap oil.

"Some of the neo-conservatives might've been saying that, but no energy
analysts were walking around saying that," Cordesman said.

Iraq's current exports of just under 2 million barrels of oil a day
aren't enough to dent the world market price. It will take up to three
years to bring Iraq back just to 1991 export levels, said Rachel Bronson
of the Council on Foreign Relations. The country is still too unstable
for most oil companies, she said.

This makes no sense whatsoever. According to jps, we're stealing all their oil.
If we are stealing it, and then selling it to them for 5 cents, how are we
making money on the deal?


John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

John H wrote:

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 05:16:27 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:


From today's Rapid City, Iowa, Journal:

Iraqis Paying 5 Cents a Gallon for Gas

By JIM KRANE

BAGHDAD, Iraq - While Americans are shelling out record prices for fuel,
Iraqis pay only about 5 cents a gallon for gasoline _ a benefit of
hundreds of millions of dollars subsidies bankrolled by American taxpayers.

Before the war, forecasters predicted that by invading Iraq and ousting
Saddam Hussein, America would benefit from increased exports of oil from
Iraq, which has the world's second largest petroleum reserves.

That would mean cheap gas for American motorists and a boost for the
oil-dependent American economy.

More than a year after the invasion, that logic has been flipped on its
head. Now the average price for gasoline in the United States is running
$2.05 a gallon _ 50 cents more than the pre-invasion price.

Instead, the only people getting cheap gas as a result of the invasion
are the Iraqis.

Filling a 22-gallon tank in Baghdad with low-grade fuel costs just
$1.10, plus a 50-cent tip for the attendant. A tankful of high-test
costs $2.75.

In Britain, by contrast, gasoline prices hit $5.79 per gallon last week
_ $127 for a tankful.

Although Iraq is a major petroleum producer, the country has little
capacity to refine its own gasoline. So the U.S. government pays about
$1.50 a gallon to buy fuel in neighboring countries and deliver it to
Iraqi stations. A three-month supply costs American taxpayers more than
$500 million, not including the cost of military escorts to fend off
attacks by Iraqi insurgents.

The arrangement keeps a fleet of 4,200 tank trucks constantly on the
move, ferrying fuel to Iraq.

"We thank the Americans," Baghdad taxi driver Osama Hashim said. "They
risked their lives to liberate us and now they are improving our lives,"
said Hashim, 26, topping up the tank on his beat-up 1983 Volkswagen.

Iraq's fuel subsidies, which are intended to mollify drivers used to
low-priced fuel under Saddam, have coupled with the opening of the
borders to create an anarchic car culture in Baghdad.

Cheap used cars shipped from Europe and Asia are flooding into Iraq. A
10-year-old BMW in good condition costs just $5,000. Since gas is so
cheap, anyone with a car can become a taxi driver. Drivers jam the
streets, offering rides for as little as 250 dinars _ about 17 cents.

Iraq has no sales tax, no registration, no license plates and no auto
insurance. Some would argue there are no rules of the road. Cars barrel
the wrong way on the highway. They swoop into surprise U-turns. They
ignore traffic signals.

Analysts say the U.S. gas subsidies can't last forever _ and Iraqis may
be in for an unpleasant shock when they end. In the meantime, however,
the American taxpayer continues to foot a huge bill.

"The U.S. taxpayer has a right to be indignant, and Iraqis have to be
warned about the long-run damages of this," said Anthony Cordesman, an
Iraq analyst with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and
International Studies. "The minute the aid goes out, the party is over.
And there's going to be a hell of a hangover."

The U.S. government paid even more last year for Iraqis' gasoline _
between $1.59 and $1.70 per gallon _ when the imports were contracted to
Halliburton, the Texas oil services giant formerly headed by Vice
President Dick Cheney.

The cheap fuel is spurring unsustainable demand, promoting wasteful use
of energy and transportation, and squandering Iraq's oil output that
might otherwise be exported, Cordesman said.

"You're leading people to buy cars that aren't affordable at normal
costs," he said. "You need to move toward real market prices as quickly
as you can without causing instability."

Iraqi drivers protest that the price difference between a gallon of gas
in the United States and Iraq is fair, because the average Iraqi earns
around $1,000 per year, a thirtieth of the average U.S. wage.

"If the price of gas goes up, we'll see lots of anger in the street,"
said cab driver Hashim, at a grimy filling station on Saadoun Street in
central Baghdad.

Cheap gasoline is also needed to fuel the ubiquitous portable electric
generators in Iraq, which power air conditioners during long daily
electricity blackouts.

Hashim and another driver, convinced, like many Iraqis, that the United
States reaps huge amounts of cheap Iraqi oil, said subsidized gasoline
was the least Americans could provide in return.

"The United States controls all Iraqi resources now," said Jenan Jabro,
50, tanking up his black Opel. "So what if they have to pay a little bit
for gasoline? That's nothing compared to what they get in return."

Analysts say there never was a good case _ either before the war or
afterward _ that a U.S. invasion would pay dividends in cheap oil.

"Some of the neo-conservatives might've been saying that, but no energy
analysts were walking around saying that," Cordesman said.

Iraq's current exports of just under 2 million barrels of oil a day
aren't enough to dent the world market price. It will take up to three
years to bring Iraq back just to 1991 export levels, said Rachel Bronson
of the Council on Foreign Relations. The country is still too unstable
for most oil companies, she said.


This makes no sense whatsoever. According to jps, we're stealing all their oil.
If we are stealing it, and then selling it to them for 5 cents, how are we
making money on the deal?


John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

We're not...Bush-Cheney buddies are...they're getting price support money.

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 09:09:48 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:

John H wrote:

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 05:16:27 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:


From today's Rapid City, Iowa, Journal:

Iraqis Paying 5 Cents a Gallon for Gas

By JIM KRANE

BAGHDAD, Iraq - While Americans are shelling out record prices for fuel,
Iraqis pay only about 5 cents a gallon for gasoline _ a benefit of
hundreds of millions of dollars subsidies bankrolled by American taxpayers.

Before the war, forecasters predicted that by invading Iraq and ousting
Saddam Hussein, America would benefit from increased exports of oil from
Iraq, which has the world's second largest petroleum reserves.

That would mean cheap gas for American motorists and a boost for the
oil-dependent American economy.

More than a year after the invasion, that logic has been flipped on its
head. Now the average price for gasoline in the United States is running
$2.05 a gallon _ 50 cents more than the pre-invasion price.

Instead, the only people getting cheap gas as a result of the invasion
are the Iraqis.

Filling a 22-gallon tank in Baghdad with low-grade fuel costs just
$1.10, plus a 50-cent tip for the attendant. A tankful of high-test
costs $2.75.

In Britain, by contrast, gasoline prices hit $5.79 per gallon last week
_ $127 for a tankful.

Although Iraq is a major petroleum producer, the country has little
capacity to refine its own gasoline. So the U.S. government pays about
$1.50 a gallon to buy fuel in neighboring countries and deliver it to
Iraqi stations. A three-month supply costs American taxpayers more than
$500 million, not including the cost of military escorts to fend off
attacks by Iraqi insurgents.

The arrangement keeps a fleet of 4,200 tank trucks constantly on the
move, ferrying fuel to Iraq.

"We thank the Americans," Baghdad taxi driver Osama Hashim said. "They
risked their lives to liberate us and now they are improving our lives,"
said Hashim, 26, topping up the tank on his beat-up 1983 Volkswagen.

Iraq's fuel subsidies, which are intended to mollify drivers used to
low-priced fuel under Saddam, have coupled with the opening of the
borders to create an anarchic car culture in Baghdad.

Cheap used cars shipped from Europe and Asia are flooding into Iraq. A
10-year-old BMW in good condition costs just $5,000. Since gas is so
cheap, anyone with a car can become a taxi driver. Drivers jam the
streets, offering rides for as little as 250 dinars _ about 17 cents.

Iraq has no sales tax, no registration, no license plates and no auto
insurance. Some would argue there are no rules of the road. Cars barrel
the wrong way on the highway. They swoop into surprise U-turns. They
ignore traffic signals.

Analysts say the U.S. gas subsidies can't last forever _ and Iraqis may
be in for an unpleasant shock when they end. In the meantime, however,
the American taxpayer continues to foot a huge bill.

"The U.S. taxpayer has a right to be indignant, and Iraqis have to be
warned about the long-run damages of this," said Anthony Cordesman, an
Iraq analyst with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and
International Studies. "The minute the aid goes out, the party is over.
And there's going to be a hell of a hangover."

The U.S. government paid even more last year for Iraqis' gasoline _
between $1.59 and $1.70 per gallon _ when the imports were contracted to
Halliburton, the Texas oil services giant formerly headed by Vice
President Dick Cheney.

The cheap fuel is spurring unsustainable demand, promoting wasteful use
of energy and transportation, and squandering Iraq's oil output that
might otherwise be exported, Cordesman said.

"You're leading people to buy cars that aren't affordable at normal
costs," he said. "You need to move toward real market prices as quickly
as you can without causing instability."

Iraqi drivers protest that the price difference between a gallon of gas
in the United States and Iraq is fair, because the average Iraqi earns
around $1,000 per year, a thirtieth of the average U.S. wage.

"If the price of gas goes up, we'll see lots of anger in the street,"
said cab driver Hashim, at a grimy filling station on Saadoun Street in
central Baghdad.

Cheap gasoline is also needed to fuel the ubiquitous portable electric
generators in Iraq, which power air conditioners during long daily
electricity blackouts.

Hashim and another driver, convinced, like many Iraqis, that the United
States reaps huge amounts of cheap Iraqi oil, said subsidized gasoline
was the least Americans could provide in return.

"The United States controls all Iraqi resources now," said Jenan Jabro,
50, tanking up his black Opel. "So what if they have to pay a little bit
for gasoline? That's nothing compared to what they get in return."

Analysts say there never was a good case _ either before the war or
afterward _ that a U.S. invasion would pay dividends in cheap oil.

"Some of the neo-conservatives might've been saying that, but no energy
analysts were walking around saying that," Cordesman said.

Iraq's current exports of just under 2 million barrels of oil a day
aren't enough to dent the world market price. It will take up to three
years to bring Iraq back just to 1991 export levels, said Rachel Bronson
of the Council on Foreign Relations. The country is still too unstable
for most oil companies, she said.


This makes no sense whatsoever. According to jps, we're stealing all their oil.
If we are stealing it, and then selling it to them for 5 cents, how are we
making money on the deal?


John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

We're not...Bush-Cheney buddies are...they're getting price support money.

If Bush-Cheney is stealing it, wouldn't they be better off selling it to us for
$2.25 a gallon? Something in all this thievery talk from you guys just doesn't
make a lot of sense.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

John H wrote:

On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 09:09:48 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:


John H wrote:


On Mon, 07 Jun 2004 05:16:27 -0400, Harry Krause
wrote:


From today's Rapid City, Iowa, Journal:

Iraqis Paying 5 Cents a Gallon for Gas

By JIM KRANE

BAGHDAD, Iraq - While Americans are shelling out record prices for fuel,
Iraqis pay only about 5 cents a gallon for gasoline _ a benefit of
hundreds of millions of dollars subsidies bankrolled by American taxpayers.

Before the war, forecasters predicted that by invading Iraq and ousting
Saddam Hussein, America would benefit from increased exports of oil from
Iraq, which has the world's second largest petroleum reserves.

That would mean cheap gas for American motorists and a boost for the
oil-dependent American economy.

More than a year after the invasion, that logic has been flipped on its
head. Now the average price for gasoline in the United States is running
$2.05 a gallon _ 50 cents more than the pre-invasion price.

Instead, the only people getting cheap gas as a result of the invasion
are the Iraqis.

Filling a 22-gallon tank in Baghdad with low-grade fuel costs just
$1.10, plus a 50-cent tip for the attendant. A tankful of high-test
costs $2.75.

In Britain, by contrast, gasoline prices hit $5.79 per gallon last week
_ $127 for a tankful.

Although Iraq is a major petroleum producer, the country has little
capacity to refine its own gasoline. So the U.S. government pays about
$1.50 a gallon to buy fuel in neighboring countries and deliver it to
Iraqi stations. A three-month supply costs American taxpayers more than
$500 million, not including the cost of military escorts to fend off
attacks by Iraqi insurgents.

The arrangement keeps a fleet of 4,200 tank trucks constantly on the
move, ferrying fuel to Iraq.

"We thank the Americans," Baghdad taxi driver Osama Hashim said. "They
risked their lives to liberate us and now they are improving our lives,"
said Hashim, 26, topping up the tank on his beat-up 1983 Volkswagen.

Iraq's fuel subsidies, which are intended to mollify drivers used to
low-priced fuel under Saddam, have coupled with the opening of the
borders to create an anarchic car culture in Baghdad.

Cheap used cars shipped from Europe and Asia are flooding into Iraq. A
10-year-old BMW in good condition costs just $5,000. Since gas is so
cheap, anyone with a car can become a taxi driver. Drivers jam the
streets, offering rides for as little as 250 dinars _ about 17 cents.

Iraq has no sales tax, no registration, no license plates and no auto
insurance. Some would argue there are no rules of the road. Cars barrel
the wrong way on the highway. They swoop into surprise U-turns. They
ignore traffic signals.

Analysts say the U.S. gas subsidies can't last forever _ and Iraqis may
be in for an unpleasant shock when they end. In the meantime, however,
the American taxpayer continues to foot a huge bill.

"The U.S. taxpayer has a right to be indignant, and Iraqis have to be
warned about the long-run damages of this," said Anthony Cordesman, an
Iraq analyst with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and
International Studies. "The minute the aid goes out, the party is over.
And there's going to be a hell of a hangover."

The U.S. government paid even more last year for Iraqis' gasoline _
between $1.59 and $1.70 per gallon _ when the imports were contracted to
Halliburton, the Texas oil services giant formerly headed by Vice
President Dick Cheney.

The cheap fuel is spurring unsustainable demand, promoting wasteful use
of energy and transportation, and squandering Iraq's oil output that
might otherwise be exported, Cordesman said.

"You're leading people to buy cars that aren't affordable at normal
costs," he said. "You need to move toward real market prices as quickly
as you can without causing instability."

Iraqi drivers protest that the price difference between a gallon of gas
in the United States and Iraq is fair, because the average Iraqi earns
around $1,000 per year, a thirtieth of the average U.S. wage.

"If the price of gas goes up, we'll see lots of anger in the street,"
said cab driver Hashim, at a grimy filling station on Saadoun Street in
central Baghdad.

Cheap gasoline is also needed to fuel the ubiquitous portable electric
generators in Iraq, which power air conditioners during long daily
electricity blackouts.

Hashim and another driver, convinced, like many Iraqis, that the United
States reaps huge amounts of cheap Iraqi oil, said subsidized gasoline
was the least Americans could provide in return.

"The United States controls all Iraqi resources now," said Jenan Jabro,
50, tanking up his black Opel. "So what if they have to pay a little bit
for gasoline? That's nothing compared to what they get in return."

Analysts say there never was a good case _ either before the war or
afterward _ that a U.S. invasion would pay dividends in cheap oil.

"Some of the neo-conservatives might've been saying that, but no energy
analysts were walking around saying that," Cordesman said.

Iraq's current exports of just under 2 million barrels of oil a day
aren't enough to dent the world market price. It will take up to three
years to bring Iraq back just to 1991 export levels, said Rachel Bronson
of the Council on Foreign Relations. The country is still too unstable
for most oil companies, she said.


This makes no sense whatsoever. According to jps, we're stealing all their oil.
If we are stealing it, and then selling it to them for 5 cents, how are we
making money on the deal?


John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

We're not...Bush-Cheney buddies are...they're getting price support money.


If Bush-Cheney is stealing it, wouldn't they be better off selling it to us for
$2.25 a gallon? Something in all this thievery talk from you guys just doesn't
make a lot of sense.

John H


They're doing that, too.

I'll bet the guy in Iraq works a lot longer to make a nickel than I work to
make $2.50

Gas is cheaper here. :-)