Michael Klare on oil and Iraq

Michael Klare has a post on oil in Iraq and argues that the major powers now seem to be collaborating over Iraq rather than competing.

He writes:

"Nevertheless, it appears that, for the first time since the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War in 1980, the stars in the energy firmament are aligning in ways that may favor Iraq’s reemergence as a major oil producer. Whereas the major powers once competed among themselves for influence in Iraq or backed one or another of Iraq’s local rivals in efforts to weaken or contain that country, all now seem inclined to invest in, and benefit from, the reconstruction of its energy infrastructure. The Bush administration, which looked with alarm at Saddam Hussein’s growing ties to Russia and China, invaded the country in part to reassert American dominance in the Persian Gulf region and diminish the role played by Moscow and Beijing. Today, Washington appears to welcome the growing role of Chinese and Russian firms in the rehabilitation of Iraq’s dilapidated energy infrastructure."

He says that one reason behind this is that the world may be facing a shortage of oil and that oil production needs to be increased, hence Iraq's role:

"Under such circumstances, it is understandable that – no matter what their governments felt about the Bush administration’s invasion and occupation of Iraq – the major powers now share a common interest in facilitating that country’s recovery as a major oil exporter."