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| Iraq |
| Russia airlifts out remaining nationals |
| 2003-03-06 |
| Would-be suicide bombers on Wednesday marched through Baghdad and Iraqi home guards drilled outside Baghdad's National Theatre, as the Russian embassy began to airlift its 700 nationals left in Iraq. The Russian embassy was evacuating nationals over four days starting on Thursday. These included workers constructing an electricity plant at Youssifia south of Baghdad, and oil men drilling near Kirkuk in northern Iraq. I guess they expect to have four more days. The announcement appeared to bring down the curtain on Russia's main trade and economic partner in the Middle East. Russian experts say hundreds of Russian companies trade with Iraq, and that nearly half of Iraq's UN oil-for- currently vacant The UN co-ordinator for humanitarian affairs, responsible for feeding Iraq under the oil-for-food programme, says only 500 of the 900 foreign staff on its payroll are at work in Iraq. Russia's Lukoil, signed a $20bn contract in 1997 to drill the West Qurna oilfield. Zarubezhneft was granted a multi-billion dollar concession to develop the bin Umar oilfield. However, Russia's stake in Iraq's oil was cast in doubt in December, after Iraq cancelled Lukoil's contract on the grounds that it had failed to start work on development. What good was the contract to Sadaam if the Russians wouldn't make anything he could blow up? The parade of 60 white-clad "martyrdom seekers" during the morning rush hour in the Iraqi capital emphasised the country's desperation in the face of a US attack. Only 60? If they are like the dedicated human shields, they chose white so they can turn those robes into white flags, pronto. |
| Posted by:Anonymous |
| #3 The French have been bluffing, the Russians are folding, and Bush is calling. Time to show your hands, gentlemen......... |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-03-06 21:13:46 |
| #2 Even though the Russians are currently standing with the French and Germans against the war, they surely understand that the U.S. will not allow their appeasement to thwart U.S. policy. The Russians understand that. I'm not so sure about the French. |
| Posted by: Kamil Zogby 2003-03-06 13:21:55 |
| #1 In regards to the Russians, it's always refreshing to see pragmatism in action. |
| Posted by: Hiryu 2003-03-06 10:01:00 |