Is is too early to say that Jim Webb is America's best U.S. Senator? Is it? I don't think so. The man hasn't even been sworn in and look at all the impact he has had thus far.

Damn, it's good to be a Virginian today.

Apparently the ISG has recommended that Iraqi oil be open to international markets. Translated:

Make sure our oil companies get the oil after the troops leave.

This is, of course, one of the problems the Iraqi people have with us. That we want their oil.

I am proud that we had a senator who can use big words like Solomonesque and know what it means. Certainly, if we demand that our and the British oil companies control Iraqi oil that would be a slap in the face to the Iraqi's  national aspirations. The message of the report seems to be "have our cake and eat it too". That is, let's get out and save face but find a way to get the oil anyway. These people (ISG) are s-o-o-o-o slimy. They just don't get it.

Are you sure we're looking at the same report?  I thought that the report was pretty reasonable on balance.  The recommendations may be coming too late to save the Iraqi central government, but it's a start. 

The report also establishes some "ground facts" as part of the public record.  For the purpose of a political debate this leaves a lot less wiggle room for people who want to claim that "progress is just around the corner".  This is significant.

As far as Iraqi oil goes, this seems like a pretty small item in a non-binding report.  Presumably the Iraqis will have a state run company that handles the pumping of oil--similar to Venezuala and other Middle East nations.  The international oil companies would be involved in shipping and possibly in the refining of the oil.  I'm not an economist, but my sense is that Iraqis will probably make a lot more money opening their prime commodity up to an international market, rather than simply using the oil for domestic purposes, or competing with the Saudis, Kuwaitis, and the Iranians for the Middle East market.

I don't think the Iraqis have any problem selling their oil to us.  I didn't get the sense that opening the oil up to international markets equaled U.S. seizure of the assets.  My sense is that this means foreign companies will have the opportunity to bid on delivery of the oil to international markets.

We need to make sure that they aren't trying to set up a fire sale of Iraqi oil companies. The have done this with other assets in the country. To top it off some Ameican companies are now collecting "reparations" from Iraq for business lost during the first Gulf war. It seems like we should be the ones paying reparations for the current invasion.

The first concern is the central government.  If Iraq collapses into civil war all of this is a moot point, because Iraqi oil will not be delivered to international (or even local) markets at all.

I agree that Big Oil shouldn't be allowed to come in and screw the Iraqis either.  I also agree that no one should be paying big oil "reparations" either. 

As far as the U.S. is concerned, we are already paying "reparations" in a big way--$300 billion + dollars; 2,900 dead; 20,000+ wounded; and the bills are still coming due. 

to say that was said about this war in the beginning is still the same reason we are stil there. It was and is still about oil, so what happens to it is what will make us either thieves or liberators. I prefer to let them have all control over their oil and we say nothing or give nothing to our oil companies. Don't the people in this country understand why we are hated. Our Government is the richest in the world yet we continue to steal other peoples assets.

My vote was for a man I believe will not steal others assets and will be a fair and just man. I just pray he is strong enough to convince the other senators to follow his lead.

As I said in an earlier comment. We do not need the Bidens with presidential hopes stabbing our new senators in the back before they even get off the ground.

was almost certainly a background consideration for this administration. 

But I also don't doubt that G.W. Bush believes his rhetoric about Democracy in the Middle East, for NeoCons there was certainly a consideration vis a vis American interests with Israel, there may have been some psychological issue for GWB involving the Iraq War's impact on his father's legacy, and the groupthink in the White House probably helped everyone to convince each other that Sadaam Hussein did in fact have WMDs and posed a "growing threat" to the U.S.  A lot of foreign policy people inside the White House viewed Iraq as the magic bullet to solve all of the U.S.'s problems. 

If this was just blood for oil, we would have been better off invading Venezuala.  Venezuala is within our hemisphere; it is the 4th largest oil reserve, and by some accounts it may even have enough untapped reserves to push it up to #1 on the list (ahead of Saudi Arabia and Iraq). 

I voted for Jim Webb too.  And I hope he is able to win people over to his point of view through the powers of persuasion. 

I've read that the US represents approximately 5% of the world's population, yet we consume 25% of the world's energy sources.  No wonder the rest of the world is disgusted with our greed. 

I'm looking for the Press Release and not coming up with anything.  Do you have the link handy?  Thanks much

From Press Secretary Jessica Smith Of Webb's Senate Office

How can we get on the email list from the Webb Senate office so we can get these updates and announcements?

like to be on the e-mail list

I am not sure who can or cannot be on the email list. I would contact Senator-Elect Webb's Senate office. There's a lot of email lists I am on and don't know how I got on them.

Sorry, I can't be of better help.