Lift Sanctions

[bfez1]

The United States and its allies ask the U.N. Security Council to lift sanctions on Iraq and give the coalition control over the country's oil revenue.

[Stephanie]

I agree with lifting the sanctions. The person that those were designated for is now gone. They are now only hurting the Iraqi people.

As for the coalition controlling the Iraqi oil revenue - how long? Hopefully it's only for the term of how long we are suggesting that we control/run the country which is one year.

[streetsoldier]

Steph, it's not as though the coalition wants to line its own pockets (unlike Russia and France); the revenue from oil sales are desperately necessary for a complete overhaul of Iraq, from its water and power facilities to new schools, textbooks and teachers, rebuilding its pipelines and refineries (which are antiquated 1960's maufacture and in terrible shape), etc...AND the US and UK want outside (UN, Arab and coalition member states) observers to affirm what we're doing in the interest of the Iraqi people.

As to Halliburton...they are simply the best in the game...Russia, Norway, UK, etc. call on them first if any problems develop in their oil wells, drilling, pipeline and distribution capabilities. And, from what we've seen of the state of Iraq's petrochemical systems, only the best will do.

[Stephanie]

I didn't say anything about Haliburton - but I realize that they are the big name to call for situations like these. I also know of the potential conflict between giving them a lucrative contract and the fact that VP Cheney was once a part of it. I'm afraid of perception by the Iraqi people and also by the outside. We've been saying all along that this is not a "colonization" act by the US and UK and so far we've been good at moving the re-building along and getting the Iraqis more involved in determining hteir country's fate. I also realize that the oil revenues will help with the rebuilding of Iraq and so will the lifting of the sanctions. I just want to make sure that what we have been doing so far with regards to handling the rebuilding of Iraq continues to do so.

[JQ Public]

Good they should lift them. Maybe they can move forward instead of backwards for once

[weatherlover427]

I think this back and forth game should end.