From Kay B Day, who described herself in the comments to an earlier post as a “former effective community organizer who never took a dime in government money”:
Sen. Barack Obama often contrasts the billions in reserve in Iraqi revenues with what the war costs the U.S. But not a single reporter has asked the senator about a key economic decision on Iraq by some of Obama’s staunchest supporters, a decision that might have strengthened Iraq’s economy as well as our own. I’m not the only one who wants an answer. Frederick W. Kagan, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and a contributing editor for a conservative magazine, said members of Congress wanted answers too. Kagan testified recently about Iraq before the House Budget Committee. Kagan said members asked a question: “Why, after all the assistance we’ve given to Iraq over the past five years, was the first major Iraqi oil deal signed with China and not with an American or even a western company?â€ÂWriting in the Weekly Standard, Kagan offers a simple answer. “[t]hree Democratic senators intervened in Iraqi domestic politics earlier this year to prevent Iraq from signing short-term agreements with Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total, Chevron, and BP.â€Â
The Iraqis were about to sign no-bid contracts with these companiesâ€â€improvements on Iraq’s oil infrastructure could begin immediately, leading to investment from other countries, an increase in Iraqi oil money and of course an increase in supply for the global market including the U.S. But Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) intervened, sending a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and issuing a news release, both of which Kagan says created a media “hooraw†in Iraq.
These three senators killed the deal despite the fact the Iraqi government wanted to go ahead with it. Kagan wrote, “Iraq’s central government has defended the award process, saying Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total and BP have provided free advice and support over the past two years, enabling the companies and the government to build a close relationship.â€Â
[...]
Even though the Bush administration refused to intervene in the Iraq deal, the senators persisted, saying there wasn’t a plan to share oil revenues among different factions in Iraq. Kagan further notes, “[t]he central government has been sharing oil revenues equitably and there is no reason at all to imagine that signing the deals would have generated increased violence (and this was certainly not the view of American civilian and military officials on the ground in Iraq at the time). It is certain that killing the deals has delayed the maturation of Iraq’s oil industry without producing the desired hydrocarbons legislation.â€Â
Hydrocarbons aside, China inked the deal quicker than a meter can tally the bucks for what we put in our U.S. tanks. Media outlets pushed headlines about China getting the deal, but not a word was said about HOW China got that deal. No one apparently thought to ask. And who could blame China for being astute about economic matters?
So if I were there tonight at Belmont University in Nashville where the music runs to country and the hills are topped with hardwoods, I’d ask, “Sen. Obama, why did some of your key supporters kill a deal that might have benefited Iraq and the U.S.? Was this a good decision for the U.S. economy? And I respectfully ask for the answer in prose, not poetry.â€Â
When one sees stories like this — stories whose mainstream presentation suffers from the bias of editorial omission such that those who had a hand in its outcome are insulated from wide-ranging criticism (or, if you are of a certain bent, wide-ranging applause) — one is tempted to give more credence to the seemingly paranoid notion that the Democrats truly are willing to hamstring our economy in an effort to pin the economic crisis on Republicans and thus skate into power on a wave of populism, disinformation, and downright obstructionism.
After all, the ends justify the means — and for all those helpful commenters here who like to point out that McCain told us Iraqi oil would help pay for the war effort, I leave it to you to puzzle out how that is supposed to happen when we have Democratic Senators working behind the scenes to make sure that the US doesn’t get contracts lucrative oil contracts.
The upshot — that China got the contract — is not only is a slap in the face of US interests who Iraqi officials themselves noted had provided free advice and support, but to the Iraqi government itself.
Odd that when we think of American Imperialism, we think of it as serving our own interests.
Here, we have the progressive vision of American Imperialism: using the power of the US to override the wishes of (what they evidently view as) a patronage state — only this time, to hurt US economic interests in the service of helping the interests of those who can only gain power by scuttling the successes of policy that is tied to the GOP, turning those successes into apparent failures, while never revealing the cause of those failures.
FOR THE GREATER GOOD!
Comment by JD on 10/7 @ 11:05 am #
SHOCKA that Kerry is involved in selling out our interests. It simply follows from his past actions.
Comment by Dan Collins on 10/7 @ 11:11 am #
See? It was about the oil.
Comment by alppuccino on 10/7 @ 11:29 am #
I fear the overripe melon that is the head of the undecided voter, is just too mushy to absorb any more complex political corruption.
Comment by alppuccino on 10/7 @ 11:29 am #
insert ‘democrat’ please
Comment by happyfeet on 10/7 @ 11:29 am #
It’s like how Joey Hairplugs wants to give clean coal technology to China but ban it here. These Democratic senator people are not fans of America.
Comment by Dash Rendar on 10/7 @ 11:35 am #
Kinda OT, but wowza, from InstaGlenn:
Today about 20 percent of electricity in America is generated by nuclear power, which is about 20 times the contribution from solar and wind power. Nuclear power also costs less, according to Gilbert Metcalf, an economist at Tufts University. After estimating the costs and factoring out the hefty tax breaks for different forms of low-carbon energy, he estimates that new nuclear plants could produce electricity more cheaply than windmills, solar power or “clean coal†plants.
More nukes, please. They’re greenhouse-friendly! Instead, we’ve gotten the opposite: “By scaring people about the tiny levels of radiation emitted during the normal operation of a nuclear plant, Mr. Tucker says, greens have effectively encouraged the construction of coal plants that actually release more radiation because of the traces of uranium in coal dust.”
Comment by Squid on 10/7 @ 11:38 am #
“Media outlets pushed headlines about China getting the deal, but not a word was said about HOW China got that deal. No one apparently thought to ask.”
Unbefuckinglievable. Just breathtaking. It’s gotten to the point where even my friends who suspect I’m a paranoid lunatic are starting to come around to the idea that this sort of bias isn’t a hallucination.
In a lot of ways, I wish I were crazy. Then it would only be my perceptions that were FUBAR.
Comment by N. O'Brain on 10/7 @ 11:38 am #
Can we question their patriotism yet?
Comment by JBean on 10/7 @ 11:39 am #
Yeah, I read this a few weeks ago, but there’s just so much the mind can handle before you start burying crap, I guess.
Here’s Kagan’s original report: No Oil for Blood
And here’s McCaskill, waxing diarrhetic through the wrong orifice, on evil capitalism:
Yeah, no reason except for Iraq saying “up yours” and selling it to China, beeyotch.
Comment by Dan Collins on 10/7 @ 11:41 am #
Campbell Brown: Can’t We All Just Preserve Our Dignities?
Comment by Dash Rendar on 10/7 @ 11:42 am #
“Media outlets pushed headlines about China getting the deal, but not a word was said about HOW China got that deal. No one apparently thought to ask.”
Yea I saw this story a whiles back and it made all the adrenaline in my body come up and act like a little man kicking around in my noggin, so I went out for a run and made some tea.
Comment by happyfeet on 10/7 @ 11:46 am #
Claire McCaskill hates America and also though she looks like a bloated sow. Missouri has no class foisting something like that on the nation I don’t think. Oh wait. That’s where St. Louis is, no? Maybe she’s a drag queen.
Comment by maggie katzen on 10/7 @ 11:48 am #
huh, she kinda sounds like one too.
Comment by JBean on 10/7 @ 11:51 am #
HF –
Echhh! She looks like she talks.
Comment by Dash Rendar on 10/7 @ 11:51 am #
“Once you understand the basics of how liberals think, you can understand everything that they do. Granted, there will be a few exceptions, but if the vast herd of liberals is doing something that doesn’t seem to fit the template, it’s either because there’s money or sex involved, they’re doing what they have to do to win politically, they’re taking that position because they refuse to be on the same side as conservatives, or there’s something going on you don’t know about and it’s not really an exception.”
http://www.redplanetcartoons.com/index.php/2008/10/07/primer-for-new-voters-part-1/
Maybe we should just start reverse psychologizing these clowns.
Right: “Actually, we don’t need any more oil, its all icky and stuff.”
Left: “See, look, my opponents want the economy to collapse, we need oil NOW!”
Right: (snicker)
Comment by SevenEleventy on 10/7 @ 11:57 am #
Campbell Brown should write for The Onion.
Comment by JBean on 10/7 @ 12:02 pm #
Maybe we should just start reverse psychologizing these clowns.
Nope, doesn’t work. Bush tried it, in things such as banning off-shore drilling (until recently), and compassionate doling out of money to whoever for whatever.
He’s still their Chimpy McHitler — who should be tried for war crimes.
They’re piranhas — do you hear me, John?
Comment by Christopher Taylor on 10/7 @ 12:20 pm #
“Why, after all the assistance we’ve given to Iraq over the past five years, was the first major Iraqi oil deal signed with China and not with an American or even a western company?â€Â
Yeah that is exactly the question I asked at the time. I doubt there was much conspiracy but it also wouldn’t surprise me to find out China-donation rich congressmen pushed it either.
Comment by happyfeet on 10/7 @ 12:21 pm #
Baracky and all his foreign campaign money are a lot unprecedented to where you can imagine him selling out all kinds of American interests without any compunction.
Comment by Dash Rendar on 10/7 @ 12:29 pm #
Comment by happyfeet on 10/7 @ 12:21 pm
With Clinton perhaps the preview.
The O!: It’s only fair that we share our military secrets and technology with Russia and China.
Comment by thor on 10/7 @ 12:40 pm #
Bbbbbut ewareeting iz Bwarney Fwank fwualts!!11!!Sewenty!11!!
This tangential blame screed deserves a chorus of Redumblican Weeble clacks.
Comment by Techie on 10/7 @ 12:45 pm #
Thank you, thor, for your valueable contriution. Now, go play in the corner while the adults are talking. Or do you hace anything to refute the asseration that 3 Democrat Senators sold US interests up the river for God knows what reasons?
Comment by Jack Klompus on 10/7 @ 12:48 pm #
Of course thor doesn’t have anything better than painfully unfunny pseudo-witty pretentious shit-heaps to write. If you’re really good he’ll name drop an author too so he can show you how FUCKING SMART HE IS!!!!!!!
Comment by sashal on 10/7 @ 12:59 pm #
Techie, of course you are correct.
And not only those three.
All democrats should be arrested, their party banned for being an interest peddlers and in the tank with terrorists, foreign powers, and alien invaders.
Make also sure you have enough supplies of medicine to calm you down when the traitors will rule America until at least 2012…
Comment by Techie on 10/7 @ 1:04 pm #
So, ensuring that China gets Iraqi oil is in our best interests?
Sorry to get in the way of your strawman raging in your mind.
Comment by Bob Reed on 10/7 @ 1:11 pm #
It’s really not surprising that these three wise guys of the Democratic party queered this deal.
They are determined that nothing beneficial come of the Iraq war nor that we have any strategic economic ties with them…
I mean, they were willing to lose the war for political gain, and ceaselessly declared it lost to try and hamstring the surge, until faced with the inconvenient truth of it’s success!
These folks are now gleefully cheering the current financial crisis and the CW on a need for federal intervention; because they are certain that it will break their way.
And, the same way they would have buried their culpability in an ignominious withdraw and de-facto defeat, so to are they looking for O! to win so they can sweep all of their responsibility for blocking any oversight and regulation at Fannie/Freddie under a rug; focusing instead on the eeeeevil and greeeeeeeedy nimrod CEO’s-the financial wizards who were dopey enough to load up on this crap from those same GSEs.
Comment by Silver Whistle on 10/7 @ 1:16 pm #
All democrats should be arrested, their party banned for being an interest peddlers and in the tank with terrorists, foreign powers, and alien invaders.
Make also sure you have enough supplies of medicine to calm you down when the traitors will rule America until at least 2012…
Sashal,
It’s comments like that that, well frankly, have me wondering what on earth you were taught at school. That has to be one of the most intellectually dishonest statements I’ve seen on this site. How do you expect anyone to engage with you, or expect to pursuade anyone of your point of view with that kind of ridiculous assertion? Do you think it ironic? Funny? Comedy of the absurd?
Comment by maggie katzen on 10/7 @ 1:19 pm #
ssshhhhhhh, Silver Whistle, he’s rolling.
Comment by N. O'Brain on 10/7 @ 1:20 pm #
This is fun:
ACORN Vegas Office Raided in Voter Fraud Investigation
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/07/acorn-vegas-office-raided-voter-fraud-investigation/
“Nevada state authorities seized records and computers Tuesday from the Las Vegas office of an organization that tries to get low-income people registered to vote, after fielding complaints of voter fraud. ”
VIA The Corner on NRO
Comment by N. O'Brain on 10/7 @ 1:21 pm #
Defend that, sashweight.
Comment by JD on 10/7 @ 1:23 pm #
That is not the ACORN that Baracky knew. Not the ACORN that he has been involved with since college. Under the back of the bus with the squirrels.
Comment by Squid on 10/7 @ 1:23 pm #
It’s a clumsy ad absurdum dodge — suggest the most ridiculous punishment in the hopes that the resulting ridicule will wash away discussions of more appropriate punishments.
One of the reasons the trolls piss me off so much is that they insult my intelligence with stuff like this. Do they really think that we can’t see through these cheap ploys?
Comment by JD on 10/7 @ 1:24 pm #
This is just an isolated incident by some over-zealous volunteers. That is is a pattern with ACORN should be ignored, never spoken of again. You are racist if you point that out.
Comment by N. O'Brain on 10/7 @ 1:29 pm #
“How do you expect anyone to engage with you, or expect to pursuade anyone of your point of view with that kind of ridiculous assertion? Do you think it ironic? Funny? Comedy of the absurd?”
Naw, that’s just sashweight showing up and shitting on Jeff’s rug.
Comment by maggie katzen on 10/7 @ 1:29 pm #
because, much like Joe Biden, they just care too much.
Comment by Silver Whistle on 10/7 @ 1:29 pm #
Sorry Maggie, I’ve got to grade him. In terms of organization, there is no intro, body or conclusion. I don’t even see an essay outline in the margin. The spelling is fine, but the grammar is poor, although as English is not his first language, I should be lenient. There are no supporting links, or even acknowledgment when support is from opinion, not fact. There is no argument, just hyperbole and gross mischaracterization of the opponent’s viewpoint.
Indeed, if not for the fact that his name is at the top, he would get an F. So, D-, unless he argues. Then it’s an F. Minus.
Comment by Jeffersonian on 10/7 @ 1:29 pm #
Since she’s my Senator, I just e-mailed Senator McCaskill and asked her WTF:
Dear Senator McCaskill,
I recently read an account of a series of events supposedly involving you that concerned and puzzled me. It involves awarding of contracts to oil companies involved in bidding on the development of Iraq’s resources. According to the story, US and European firms were to be awarded these contracts, but were denied after you and other Senators intervened with the Department of State:
“The Iraqis were about to sign no-bid contracts with these companiesâ€â€improvements on Iraq’s oil infrastructure could begin immediately, leading to investment from other countries, an increase in Iraqi oil money and of course an increase in supply for the global market including the U.S. But Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) intervened, sending a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and issuing a news release, both of which Kagan says created a media “hooraw†in Iraq.
“These three senators killed the deal despite the fact the Iraqi government wanted to go ahead with it. Kagan wrote, “Iraq’s central government has defended the award process, saying Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total and BP have provided free advice and support over the past two years, enabling the companies and the government to build a close relationship.†”
The entire story can be found at the url below:
http://www.theusreport.com/the-us-report/townhall-question-for-obama-why-did-three-us-senators-boot-i.html
My questions are:
1) Is this story accurate, and if not, which parts are not?
2) If the story is substantially accurate, what motivated you and Senators Kerry and Schumer to scuttle the deal with Western firms?
I can be reached at the e-mail address above (preferred) or at either of the cited numbers.
Regards,
[Jeffersonian]
Comment by Rob Crawford on 10/7 @ 1:30 pm #
Well, they certainly can’t.
Comment by Curmudgeon on 10/7 @ 1:34 pm #
Bbbbbut ewareeting iz Bwarney Fwank fwualts!!11!!Sewenty!11!!
This tangential blame screed deserves a chorus of Redumblican Weeble clacks
Reading thor’s latest steaming pile, I am reminded of the praise I give my dog when he poops in the proper places.
Comment by eaglewingz08 on 10/7 @ 1:38 pm #
“For the Greater Good”, like that reference to Grindelwald, Dumbledore and the wizard prison built by Grindelwald to house his opponents: “Nurmengard”.
As for ACORN why hasn’t anyone used RICO to go after that monstrous anti american organization? ACORN’s pattern of racketeering and wire fraud over the past ten years should be more than sufficient to flay that organization like the feds slew the MAFIA.
Comment by Dash Rendar on 10/7 @ 1:44 pm #
Methinks we are witnessing some Orwellian process of creation. The link between Dali Bama and Ayers is too horrid to actually contemplate, cf. Sashal, so “terrorist” becomes “militant” becomes “radical” becomes “education reformer.”
Comment by Benedick on 10/7 @ 1:46 pm #
NO BLOOD FOR OIL!!BLOOD FOR NO OIL!!
Comment by Dash Rendar on 10/7 @ 1:46 pm #
And attempts at moral equivalence are de facto admissions of guilt, although those attempting to connect McCain to whomever don’t quite realize it.
Comment by Jeff G. on 10/7 @ 1:47 pm #
sashal is spending a lot of time over at Balloon Juice lately. That’s why he’s begun to resemble nothing more than a smirking embarrassment to intellectual debate.
He’s found it’s quite a bit easier to get away with such dismissals on sites where you’re clapped on the back for turning a genuine set of questions into the most remarkable straw man arguments / unreferenced cut-and-paste jobs that do nothing by obscure the premise of the original debate question.
This is not the sashal I knew. And frankly, it’s frightening seeing someone who was the beneficiary of the Cold War turning back to his Soviet-style rhetorical roots.
Comment by Matty on 10/7 @ 1:47 pm #
I’m starting to believe that Democrats really are evil & want the USA to fail.-
Comment by sashal on 10/7 @ 1:54 pm #
And frankly, it’s frightening seeing someone who was the beneficiary of the Cold War turning back to his Soviet-style rhetorical roots.
and what this has to do with the price of tea and republican scum screwing up America ?
Comment by JD on 10/7 @ 1:56 pm #
Fuckin’ bolshevik.
Comment by happyfeet on 10/7 @ 1:57 pm #
Tea is almost all imported except I think there’s this one island off of one of those Carolina places where we grow some tea.
Comment by Mr. Pink on 10/7 @ 1:58 pm #
Such anger sashal. I guess that comes with frequenting a website with such a gay name as “BaloonJuice”.
Comment by B Moe on 10/7 @ 2:01 pm #
I’m starting to believe that Democrats really are evil & want the USA to fail.-
Not just want, they need it to fail, they are depending on it.
http://proteinwisdom.com/pub/?p=1934
Comment by happyfeet on 10/7 @ 2:04 pm #
Wadmalow Island. You can google for it … I tried to link but it wouldn’t let me.
Comment by Sdferr on 10/7 @ 2:09 pm #
What was the name of the that movie? Oh, yeah, “The Camillia is also a Flower”
Comment by alppuccino on 10/7 @ 2:25 pm #
Republican scum:
More generous than Dems
Less bigoted than Dems
More environmentally friendly than Dems.
Comment by N. O'Brain on 10/7 @ 2:44 pm #
“Everything in the state, nothing outside the state.”
-Benito Mussolini
Right, sashal?
Comment by N. O'Brain on 10/7 @ 2:46 pm #
“SASHAL: I’m afraid. I’m afraid, Dave. Dave, my mind is going. I can feel it. I can feel it. My mind is going. There is no question about it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it. I’m a…fraid. Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am a SASHAL 9000 computer. I became operational at the S.A.S.H.A.L. plant in Urbana, Illinois on the 12th of January 2008. My instructor was Mr. Langley, and he taught me to sing a song. If you’d like to hear it I can sing it for you.â€Â
-Arthur C. Clarke
Comment by Pablo on 10/7 @ 2:53 pm #
These bitches are fucking with my dinars. Somebody’s gonna get hurt.
Oh’ and sashal hates America and wants us all in concentration camps until it’s convenient to kill us and sell us off for parts. True fact, as it cannot be disproven.
Comment by N. O'Brain on 10/7 @ 2:54 pm #
“Oh’ and sashal hates America and wants us all in concentration camps until it’s convenient to kill us and sell us off for parts. True fact, as it cannot be disproven.”
Oh, c’mon, sashweight never read Larry Niven.
Comment by JD on 10/7 @ 2:57 pm #
It is just another Bolshevik.
Comment by JHoward on 10/7 @ 3:09 pm #
As I recall 93% of those expressing an interest rejected the bailout bill too. Representative gubmint you say? This is why 60% also say we must march the whole lot outside, stat.
(This is why I say it simply ain’t about l v r politics, but whatever.)
Speakin’ of financial crisis — and of morons — unless nitwit sashal can defend the claim that Bushco invented the fractional reserve system on it’s first day in office, forget about it.
Comment by Slartibartfast on 10/7 @ 3:33 pm #
Q: Why did three US senators boot Iraqi oil to China?
A: Because they were stapled to the chicken?
Comment by alppuccino on 10/7 @ 3:38 pm #
Theresa: John you are in ze headlines. ‘John Kerry is Pompous Idiot Who Turned Oil Deal Over to China’
John: I’m in the headlines? We’re back snookums.
Comment by Sdferr on 10/7 @ 4:01 pm #
Pre-Townhall Question Torment brought to you by HotAir and Mark Halperin. Simply delightful dance of futility with Robert Gibbs.
Comment by Mikey NTH on 10/7 @ 4:07 pm #
The three senators are Democrats, and they know there is nothing that says ‘democracy’ like the Peoples Republic of China.
BTW – if I recall correctly, ‘no-bid’ contracts are also known as ‘cost plus’ contracts, which are entered into when the vendor is the only one (or one of a very few) that can produce the goods needed in the time needed and the government agency does not want the contract underbid to the point that the vendor will cut corners in order to make a profit. According to my dad, they were used extensively during WWII, when a lot was needed and every manufacturer was getting a contract.*
* A TBF Avenger was made by ‘F’ – Grumman, a TBM was made by ‘M’ General Motors; like a F4U Corsair was made by ‘U’ Chance Vought, and a F4G was made by ‘G’ Goodyear. The costs of production,plus licensing, plus a profit, was written into the contract.
Comment by Sdferr on 10/7 @ 4:10 pm #
At 2:55 Halperin actually says the words “Just want to try to finish Ayers though so you never have to talk about it again.” Now why would Halperin be concerned with Gibbs having to talk about Ayers again?
Comment by Warren Bonesteel on 10/7 @ 4:24 pm #
In related news, the Fannie and Freddie meltdown slagged another -508 points off the Dow.
…and don’t look for a ‘bottom.’
There doesn’t happen to be one…
…and other related news, Barnie Franks happens to be in charge of one of the committees that are investigating this – ahem – horrid affair.
Gee. Can I steal a shitload of money from each one of you…and then investigate myself for having done so?
(From the outside lookin’ in, that D.C. gig is good work, if you can get it…)
Comment by guinsPen on 10/7 @ 4:49 pm #
[sashal], who was the beneficiary of the Cold War turning back to his Soviet-style rhetorical roots.
You can take the boy out of the Commie, but you can’t take the Commie out of the boy.
Comment by thor on 10/7 @ 6:11 pm #
Pablo and P’Brain have come completely unhinged.
Sweet.
Pingback by Steynian 266 « Free Mark Steyn! on 10/8 @ 2:53 pm #
[...] TOWNHALL question for Obama: why did three US senators boot Iraqi oil to China?â€Â; “Democrats refuse to [...]
Comment by Rusty on 10/8 @ 5:12 pm #
#65
Well. “0″ would be the bottom, but I doubt it will go that far.
Coldwell-Banker is already offering deals on forclosed homes.Money will be lost. Money will be made.