United States
U.S. President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair emerged from a meeting to reiterate their commitment to assisting the Iraqi people in achieving peace and democracy. The two leaders emphasized their resolve to stand by the Iraqi people, despite initial challenges and difficulties in the conflict. Bush and
United States
The images of large-scale fighting in Iraq, portrayed in television shows, are misleading. The actual numbers of killed and wounded, in the low hundreds for the Iraqis and in the low tens for the coalition forces, indicate that the violence is extremely localized. This localized violence is due in part
United States
As I watched two women marching around the Aspen Mountain ski lift, protesting against war in Iraq, I was struck by the irony of the scene. The same auto traffic whizzing by them, with gas-guzzling vehicles and Humvees, made me wonder if the war being prepared by the Bush team
United States
US Secretary of State Colin Powell announced on television talk shows that President George W. Bush has not yet decided to attack Iraq, but is taking "prudent action" by positioning US forces in the Persian Gulf. This military buildup, which includes tens of thousands of troops, scores of
United Nations
Iraqi scientist Salman Yassin Zweir, a 39-year-old design engineer who worked for 13 years for the Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission, has come forward with information about a secret document issued in August 1998 ordering him and other former nuclear scientists back to work on the country's nuclear weapons
United Nations
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has been playing a delicate game with the outgoing US President Bill Clinton and the incoming President-elect George W. Bush, all while maneuvering the global market with oil prices in flux. Saddam began this game in September when he accused Kuwait of stealing Iraqi oil, followed
United Nations
Iraq and the UN were close to a pricing compromise last week, but obstacles remain, including a threat by Iraq to ban buyers from selling to the US. The surcharge issue, which triggered the stoppage, remains unresolved, and term customers are set to visit Baghdad in December to discuss volumes
United Nations
The crude market has suffered a steep decline over the past two weeks, with prices plummeting 20% since the Wednesday preceding the Thanksgiving weekend in the US. Light, sweet January crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) ended at $28.44/bbl last week, down $3.58 from the
Petroleum
Iraqi crude oil contracts traders are cautiously optimistic that Iraq may be able to resume exports soon. Iraq halted exports on December 1 due to a pricing dispute with the UN. However, a ship waiting at Mina al-Bakr reportedly moved from outer to inner moorings, which some executives see as
United Nations
The United Nations Security Council voted to extend the 'oil for food' program for six months, allowing Iraq to spend $525 million of its accumulated oil revenues on local projects. The deal includes a provision that will release 600 million euros to Iraq, allowing the country to repair
United Nations
The United Nations and Iraq are set to resume critical negotiations on resolving the impasse that led Baghdad to halt its oil exports. Iraq's oil minister, Amer Rasheed, hinted that a resolution could be achieved soon. The crisis began over Iraq's attempt to establish a new,
Petroleum
The oil market has exhibited a relatively muted response to Iraq's decision to cancel crude liftings and demand that buyers pay a premium of 50 cents per barrel outside official channels. Despite this, the threat of a fully-fledged sales halt looms, given Iraq's significant export volumes
