Iraqi Leader’s Catch-22 Over Oil Law

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, fears the Americans will torpedo his government if his parliament does not pass Iraq’s controversial oil law.

In what could be construed as diplomatic blackmail, American support for the al-Maliki administration is dependent on passage of the Oil Law which essentially gives control of Iraq’s oil wealth to foreign oil companies.
al-Maliki associates said that U.S. officials have told the prime minister that President Bush was committed to the current government but continued White House support depended on positive action on the oil law by the close of this parliamentary session June 30. “Al-Maliki is committed to meeting the deadline because he is convinced he would not survive in power without U.S. support,” one of the associates said.
So Mr al-Maliki is caught is a classic Catch-22. If he wants to survive politically he has to pass an oil law that robs his people of their oil wealth. If he doesn’t pass the oil law, he is out of a job…