Iraqis to U.S. Congress: Back off oil law
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WASHINGTON, June 8 Iraqi union leaders met with a U.S. congressman they say is their biggest friend in Washington, urging a united front against Iraq's draft oil law.Faleh Abood Umara, general secretary of the Iraq Federation of Oil Unions, and Hashmeya Muhsin Hussein, president of the Electrical Utility Workers Union, called the proposed law a theft of Iraq's oil."We believe this is a new invasion of our economy and especially to take over our oil fields," Umara told Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, in a private meeting Thursday in the congressman ' s inner office, which UPI was allowed to attend. Kucinich is a presidential candidate and Congress ' most vocal war opponent. The law, which is stuck in negotiations, is feared by the unions as giving foreign oil companies too much access to Iraq's oil.Umara was one of 10 union leaders for whom arrest warrants were issued earlier this week as Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki responded to a strike of oil workers, who are demanding improved working conditions and a seat at the oil law negotiating table.The unions began a strike Monday over the law, as well as working conditions, but the work stoppage has been temporarily halted as negotiations continue in Basra."Therefore we believe this is a very aggressive act to take over our resources," Umara said. "The oil law, in its current status, does not serve the Iraqi people." Umara said foreign companies were welcome to Iraq's oil sector, but warned it should be limited.The unionists urged the United States, via Kucinich, to oppose the law. President Bush and the Democratic-led Congress have called on the Iraq parliament to pass the law soon, both in official speeches and as part of legislation funding the war through September."Mr. Kucinich, we see you as a friend of the Iraqi people and that is the general belief over there," Umara said. "We would hope that your government could put pressure on our government to not pass the oil law." Kucinich replied, "Unfortunately our government is putting pressure on your government to pass it." Ben Lando, UPI Energy CorrespondentCopyright 2007 by UPI
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Iraq Oil Law
By:
Kax ,
Sat, 09 Jun 2007 15:32:21 GMT
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Dennis Kucinich has been so very right on from Day One, I'm trully grateful for his diligence and honor, in his execution of his Congressional duties.
Our country would be well served by a man of such valour in the face of opposition. He may be a featherweight in physical stature, but he is a very skilled warrior for protecting our Constitution, a Champ.
AlterNet is reporting that the Iraqi Parliament passed a BINDING RESOLUTION to the UN Security Council, to ask them NOT TO EXTEND authorization for the Coaltion Forces to remain in Iraq when the current authorization expires in December. We should all support their request by contacting the members of the UN Security Council.
Support Kucinich's legislation HR1234, calling for replacing our troops with UN PeaceKeepers in Iraq, at www.ipetitions.com/petition/HR1234
Incidentally, what we are doing in Iraq, we have done numerous times to Native American Tribes and the natural resources on their tribal lands. It's a very old game.
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Big Oil the mutual enemy of Americans and Iraqi people.
By:
Ewastud ,
Sat, 09 Jun 2007 06:08:24 GMT
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Kucinich is right on target. Big Oil the mutual enemy of Americans and Iraqi people. They are screwing us Americans at home at the gas pump and vigorously resisting efforts to attack global warming/climate change. There is also growing evidence American oil companies are connected to international narcotics trafficking, illegal arms trade, and other criminal activities with a nexus in the Middle East.
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Dennis is the champion of peace and human rights
By:
Ruth ,
Sat, 09 Jun 2007 00:06:37 GMT
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Dennis is the only candidate truly working for peace and to protect the rights of all people.
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