In case you were wondering about peak oil and Iraq/Iran's future as a glass covered nuclear wasteland (fused sand) with holes punched in the glass to extract the oil...
It's not there... Oil going... going... gone. : Q: What is your view on the future of Iraq's oil sector? A: The oil in Iraqi Kurdistan exceeds that produced in Kirkuk, which is starting to run out. TEXT-Q&A with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani 18 Jan 2007 16:31:17 GMT Source: Reuters http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/OWE858789.htm DAMASCUS, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Iraqi leader Jalal Talabani told Reuters on Thursday that Iraq will ask Syria to hand over senior Saddam Hussein aides suspected of stealing millions of dollars and helping the anti-U.S. insurgency. Following are excerpts from Reuters' interview with Talabani, who is on a visit to Damascus, the first by an Iraqi president to Syria in decades. Q: Could your visit lead to a change in Syria's position toward Iraq? A: I expect Syria to affirm its declared positions toward Iraq. Syria has previously said it supports the political process and democratic march and it stands against terrorism and killing innocent citizens. It wants security and stability for Iraq. This public position represents a moral contribution toward strengthening security in Iraq. We expect that Syria will take all measures to stop terrorists from crossing and put a stop to their activity inside its territory. There is already an agreement to share intelligence, which will help improve the security situation in Iraq. President Bashar al-Assad is very responsive to our requests and supports our goal for peace and stability. Q: Have you asked Syria to hand over former Baathists? The Iraqi officials concerned will ask Syria to hand over all those wanted by the Iraqi judiciary, including those suspected of committing non-political crimes, such as theft and corruption. I didn't personally ask for any suspects to be handed over but there is an extradition agreement between Iraq and Syria. Q: Have you met figures in Syria linked to the insurgency in Iraq? I haven't, although I am willing to do so. I am not sure how many are in Syria. It had been said that Izzat al-Douri was in Syria but he is in Yemen. The government has not yet discussed requesting from Yemen to hand him over. We have had this information for a while. We have been tracing his movement. Q: What is your view on the future of Iraq's oil sector? A: The oil in Iraqi Kurdistan exceeds that produced in Kirkuk, which is starting to run out. The issue of this city must be resolved according to the constitution. It should be turned into a city of tolerance between the Arabs, Turkmen, Kurds and Assyrians. Oil revenue has always gone to the central government and should remain a part of the general budget of the Iraqi state and not belong to a certain province or administration. Management of the fields would be an issue to be concluded between the central government and the provincial government so the inhabitants of the province are treated fairly. We should not repeat the example of Kirkuk where the Northern Oil Company hired 15,000 workers, who included only 450 Kurds. Approval by the central government is crucial to pass any oil deal. A provincial government can negotiate with foreign companies, but the centre has to approve the deal. (Editing by Samia Nakhoul)
