Will he or won't he? Who knows. Your guess is as good as mine. This article certainly clouds the picture a bit. Earlier articles said that the Iraqis wanted the whole sanctions program lifted permanently. Although they agreed to resume pumping with the extension for 6mos, the larger vote WAS scheduled for Saturday and the French, Russian and Chinese vote was far from in the bag. Also, an earlier article stated that the vote was put off til Monday (tommorrow). Then this thing says the vote was taken but gives NO outcome for the vote. How's that for ace reporting!!! I just don't trust Saddy after being screwed so many times. He's a real stinker!

It would really throw a wrench into Greenies economic balancing act if this asshole decided not to comply after all if the vote went bad (if in fact the vote even took place).

The extension of the program was held up while the Security Council debated a comprehensive policy on Iraq, which has been under negotiations for the last eight months.

On Saturday, the council decided to put to vote a final British-drafted resolution offering Iraq the possibility of suspending the sanctions. In return, Iraq would have to allow the resumption of weapons inspections.

for educational and research purps only (includes above snip):

Sunday December 12 7:56 AM ET Official: Iraq To Resume Pumping Oil By WAIEL FALEH Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq will resume pumping oil for export this week after a three-week stoppage, an Oil Ministry official said Sunday.

The announcement came after the U.N. Security Council voted Friday to extend its oil-for-food program, which allows Iraq to sell $5.26 billion in oil over six months to buy humanitarian goods.

Iraq had suspended pumping after the council initially failed to give a full six-month renewal when the program's last phase expired on Nov. 24. The council instead had extended it by two weeks and then by one week.

The three-year-old program is meant to ease the suffering on Iraq caused by the U.N. economic sanctions imposed in 1990 after Iraq invaded Kuwait.

The Oil Ministry official told The Associated Press that its two oil terminals in the north and the south would resume operations either on Wednesday or Thursday.

The extension of the program was held up while the Security Council debated a comprehensive policy on Iraq, which has been under negotiations for the last eight months.

On Saturday, the council decided to put to vote a final British-drafted resolution offering Iraq the possibility of suspending the sanctions. In return, Iraq would have to allow the resumption of weapons inspections.

A U.N. certification that Iraq no longer possesses weapons of mass destruction was the original condition for the lifting of the sanctions. But U.N. weapons inspectors left Iraq Dec. 16, 1998, just before the United States and Britain launched airstrikes to punish Baghdad for failing to cooperate with their efforts.

-- Gordon (g_gecko_69@hotmail.com), December 12, 1999

Answers

Gordon,

Thanks for the info. I agree with you on Saddam but he's not the only problem in the oil mix. Read some of the DoE reports on other countries. Venzuela doesn't look good, neither does Columbia, Nigeria Iran, etc, etc. V.,C. and N. are all facing determined rebellious forces which have repeatedly attacked various infrastructure points. Who knows what may happen in these countries prior to CDC even. It's not a leadpipe cinch that the status will remain quo in several oil exporting nations.

Keep up the good work, Gordo!

-- R.C. (racambab@mailcity.com), December 12, 1999.

The big ones that I'm anticipating having problems are Venz, Russia, Angola, Columbia, Nigeria. As far as the Mid-east, i would say, Iraq for sure, Iran probably. Only figuring on about 15% of the North Sea having probs, and 15% us domestic fubar. Still that's a shitload of oil. And I'm being pretty liberal. That's my best case scenario, not my worst.

No doubt, it's gonna be ugly.

-- Gordon (g_gecko_69@hotmail.com), December 12, 1999.