Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
FNC
June 24, 2008
Special Report With Brit Hume (FNC), 6:00 PM
BRIT HUME: The Bush administration says it has no plans to interfere with negotiations between the Iraqi government and several big Western oil companies. The firms want to help Iraq boost oil production. Some Democrats have said a deal could inflame anti-American sentiment.
National security correspondent Jennifer Griffin joins in from the Pentagon. Jennifer?
JENNIFER GRIFFIN: Brit, the White House fought back today against Democrats on the Hill who are arguing that the Iraqi government should not cut no-bid deals with Western oil companies to develop its oil industry. White House spokesperson Dana Perino said, quote, “I’m curious as to why the Democrats seem to on the one hand want Iraq to take over more control of their own country, but on the other hand want to continue to meddle in their business.”
Iraq needs nearly $30 billion to develop its untapped oil potential and aging infrastructure. Oil giants such as Exxon Mobil and others are the only ones with the expertise and incentive to invest. The Democrats argue that cutting no-bid deals with Western oil companies before the Iraqi parliament passes a stalled hydrocarbon law and Kurds and Shias agree how to share the revenues would fuel sectarian violence. Democrats say it could also reinforce a belief the U.S. invaded Iraq for a slice of its oil.
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D-MO): If it’s in Iraq, I’ve got news for you, it’s not a private sector matter. We are spending hundreds and billions of dollars of taxpayer money in order to help stabilize that nation.
They must be competitively bid and they must be transparent. You’re only going to foster more instability, more violence, more corruption, and who knows – we’ll end up being there for 100 years.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY): The last thing Iraq needs is further impetus for the three factions to fight over billions of dollars of oil revenues as American troops are caught in the crossfire.
GRIFFIN: The White House said today that it has no intention to interfere and that the federal government here in the U.S. does not plan to get involved in telling the Iraqis what to do with regards to these oil contracts. That being said, the president, President Bush, plans to meet at the White House tomorrow with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. The White House says this is a routine meeting. Jalal Talabani has not been here to the U.S. in the past year. Brit?
HUME: Jennifer, thank you.
June 24, 2008
Special Report With Brit Hume (FNC), 6:00 PM
BRIT HUME: The Bush administration says it has no plans to interfere with negotiations between the Iraqi government and several big Western oil companies. The firms want to help Iraq boost oil production. Some Democrats have said a deal could inflame anti-American sentiment.
National security correspondent Jennifer Griffin joins in from the Pentagon. Jennifer?
JENNIFER GRIFFIN: Brit, the White House fought back today against Democrats on the Hill who are arguing that the Iraqi government should not cut no-bid deals with Western oil companies to develop its oil industry. White House spokesperson Dana Perino said, quote, “I’m curious as to why the Democrats seem to on the one hand want Iraq to take over more control of their own country, but on the other hand want to continue to meddle in their business.”
Iraq needs nearly $30 billion to develop its untapped oil potential and aging infrastructure. Oil giants such as Exxon Mobil and others are the only ones with the expertise and incentive to invest. The Democrats argue that cutting no-bid deals with Western oil companies before the Iraqi parliament passes a stalled hydrocarbon law and Kurds and Shias agree how to share the revenues would fuel sectarian violence. Democrats say it could also reinforce a belief the U.S. invaded Iraq for a slice of its oil.
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D-MO): If it’s in Iraq, I’ve got news for you, it’s not a private sector matter. We are spending hundreds and billions of dollars of taxpayer money in order to help stabilize that nation.
They must be competitively bid and they must be transparent. You’re only going to foster more instability, more violence, more corruption, and who knows – we’ll end up being there for 100 years.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY): The last thing Iraq needs is further impetus for the three factions to fight over billions of dollars of oil revenues as American troops are caught in the crossfire.
GRIFFIN: The White House said today that it has no intention to interfere and that the federal government here in the U.S. does not plan to get involved in telling the Iraqis what to do with regards to these oil contracts. That being said, the president, President Bush, plans to meet at the White House tomorrow with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. The White House says this is a routine meeting. Jalal Talabani has not been here to the U.S. in the past year. Brit?
HUME: Jennifer, thank you.