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| Iraq |
| U.S. Mulls Revival of Mosul-Haifa Pipeline |
| 2003-08-25 |
| The U.S. Defense Department sent a telegram to the Israeli Foreign Ministry last week on the possibility of pumping oil from U.S.-occupied Iraq to Israel, reported a leading Israeli newspaper Monday, August 25. A "senior Pentagon official" has sent a telegram to a "top Foreign Ministry official" on the cost estimate for repairing the Mosul-Haifa pipeline that was in use prior to 1948, reported Haaretz. It quoted sources as confirming that "the Americans are looking into the possibility of laying a new pipeline via Jordan and Israel." The new pipeline would take oil from the oil-rich Iraqi northern area of Kirkuk, where some 40 percent of Iraqi oil is produced, transport it via Mosul to Jordan and then to Israel, said the daily. Thus enriching our Zionist masters in their bid to dominate to world, blah, blah, blah. After the end of the British mandate, the 1948 war and the creation of Israel, Iraq stopped the flow of oil to Haifa and the pipeline, only 8 inches in diameter, fell into disrepair since then. A recent research by the Israeli National Infrastructure Ministry put the construction of a 42-inch diameter pipeline between Kirkuk and Haifa at some 400,000 dollars per kilometer. Be a bitch to defend, but worth it. On Sunday, August 24, Israeli National Infrastructure Minister Yosef Paritzky vowed to discuss the issue with the U.S. secretary of energy during his envisaged visit to Washington next month. He asserted that the whole project depends on Jordan’s consent, adding that the kingdom would receive a transit fee for allowing the oil to flow through its territory. Thanks for your help. Paritzky believes restarting the pipeline could reduce Israel’s fuel costs by 25 percent and turn Haifa into "the Rotterdam of the Middle East." Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon’s government "views the pipeline to Haifa as a ‘bonus’ the U.S. could give to Israel in return for its unequivocal support for the American-led campaign in Iraq," according to Haaretz. Works for me, there’s also a bonus. Keep reading, Murat. At present, Iraqi oil is being shipped via Turkey to a small Mediterranean port near the Syrian border. Ankara, which considers the transit fee it collects an important source of revenue, has warned Israel it would regard the talked-about Kirkuk-Mosul-Haifa pipeline as "a serious blow to Turkish-Israeli relations." Haaretz quoted sources as saying reports about the alternative pipeline are part of an American "attempt to apply pressure on Turkey" which had opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and is still reluctant to commit troops to the neighboring country to ease the burden on American forces. Payback’s a bitch, ain’t it? |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #17 FYI, the latest economic news from Turkey: - Growth rate of GDP has increased to 8.1% - Industrial production up by 11.7% - Exports up by 35.4% - Stock markets up by 22% Yeah. They are in trouble big time... I think I've just discovered why Turks are continually migrating to Western Europe and the US. The Czech Republic is an ex-Soviet satellite state. Its GDP per capita is $7,000. Turkey's GDP per capita is just shy of $3,000, despite never had the benefit of Communist rule. It's appears that the successors to the Ottomans have not entirely cast off its reputation as the sick man of Europe. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-8-25 10:00:54 PM |
| #16 FYI, the latest economic news from Turkey: - Growth rate of GDP has increased to 8.1% - Industrial production up by 11.7% - Exports up by 35.4% - Stock markets up by 22% Yeah. They are in trouble big time... This must be why Turks keep on turning up in Western Europe and the US, looking for work or welfare payments. Yup, Turkey's a regular paradise. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-8-25 9:15:28 PM |
| #15 I don't remember Murat being *this* nasty in the past? Posted by: Tony 2003-8-25 4:52:37 PM Tony, You're right. I don't either. I've been away from this forum for awhile but before Murat quit in a huff some time back, he seemed like an earnest interlocuter looking for debate and answers. More jaundiced Eurocynic than raving Islamoparanoid. Also, and I'm serious, wasn't his English better then, too? The "new" Murat seems less friendly and less fluent. Maybe he's like the Dick York/Dick Sergeant switcheroo on "Bewitched" and we're supposed to act like he's the same Darren? |
| Posted by: JDB 2003-8-25 8:52:11 PM |
| #14 FYI, the latest economic news from Turkey: - Growth rate of GDP has increased to 8.1% - Industrial production up by 11.7% - Exports up by 35.4% - Stock markets up by 22% Yeah. They are in trouble big time... |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-8-25 6:34:50 PM |
| #13 I don't remember Murat being *this* nasty in the past? Posted by: Tony 2003-8-25 4:52:37 PM Yeah, but what can you expect--he is afterall Turkish and a Muslim. Did you really think he was sincere about rational discourse? |
| Posted by: Flaming Sword 2003-8-25 6:25:15 PM |
| #12 I don't remember Murat being *this* nasty in the past? |
| Posted by: Tony 2003-8-25 4:52:37 PM |
| #11 Murat thinks we should just pump all the oil back into the ground. |
| Posted by: Pete Stanley 2003-8-25 4:17:25 PM |
| #10 Thought we'd ruled that line out, must be some re-thinking (and money, perhaps even from Jordan which would profit) going on. And adding a pipe does not mean closing down a pipe: once there is enough of an Iraqi military and police to defend against the nutjobs and thieves (or earlier, if enough other countries send troops and cops), I would expect both lines to be in constant use. Our recent French-inspired ("Do this or we won't let you into th EU!" Followed, of course, with "Glad to se you are cooperating, but we still don't want you - and by the way, we don't think you have any need for defence") troubles with Turkey are actually relatively minor, as long as they don't start shooting up Iraq. |
| Posted by: John Anderson 2003-8-25 3:15:31 PM |
| #9 Now we see why Turkey REALLY didn't want a second front, hoping that a denial would put the kibosh on the liberation of Iraq. All about oil? You can't eat oil. You sell it to get MONEY. Money, plain and simple. It's all about money, eh Murat? |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-8-25 3:06:21 PM |
| #8 Nothing personal,Urat.Just buisness.(Snicker,snicker) |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-8-25 2:53:50 PM |
#7 Steve says:I've heard that the big shopping area in the village outside the base is now a ghost town. Awww, ain't that just too bad! Guess the Turks are learning the meaning of "be careful what you wish for" etc. Shame the Turkish leaders who caused this don't have to take the economic losses personally instead of the people around the airbase. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2003-8-25 2:17:40 PM |
| #6 Incirlik is a Turkish AB, we just used most of it the same way we do at most of our overseas air bases, it's not ours to dismantle. The downgrade started back in the spring, Northern Watch shut down and all the planes and personnel with that left. It has recently been downgraded from Wing to Group status, that's a big drop. Mostly just used to support transient aircraft, a few planes there TDY for a while, then they are gone. I've heard that the big shopping area in the village outside the base is now a ghost town. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-8-25 1:58:51 PM |
| #5 this rumour seems to pop up mainly at islamic sites - or at israeli ones like Debka. I doubt its for real, probably just some pressure on the Turks. But why shouldnt the Iraqis be able to ship their oil out any way they want? And if Jordan, Turkey and Egypt can deal with Israel, why not Iraq? |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-8-25 1:26:28 PM |
| #4 Frank G - Re: Incirlik... After we completely dismantle it, blow up and haul away the concrete and asphalt, are we going to plow the whole thing and sow salt? I certainly hope so. |
| Posted by: .com 2003-8-25 1:15:07 PM |
| #3 Okay, Murat, I see you're still trolling. Now, go back a few rants and apologize to Zhang Fei like a gentleman should -- if you can. |
| Posted by: Tom 2003-8-25 1:13:21 PM |
| #2 heh heh - it'd be worth it to screw the Turks over for their fine work in the war. Jordan gets some stabilization $, our Israeli friends make $ and the Iraqis get their export $. Plus, it would pinch the Princeling's panties in Soddy. I like it. BTW - when does the downgrading at Incirlik start? We need to relocate - I'm thinking Cyprus? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-8-25 12:56:58 PM |
| #1 Well it certainly fits in the not for oil blah blah, just for the sake of the Iraqi people hypocrisy, nothing unexpected here |
| Posted by: Murat 2003-8-25 12:48:54 PM |