Iraq has worst fuel shortage since '03

[Barrett808]

Iraqi has worst fuel shortage since '03
By RAWYA RAGEH, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Under a scorching sun, Baghdad taxi driver Sameer Abdul Razzaq wraps a wet towel around his head and waits for gasoline in a line stretching a mile. "I've been here since 6 a.m.," he said Sunday. "If I'm lucky, I'll get to the end of the line by sunset. I actually think I might end up spending the night here."

This is the capital of what should be one of the world's great oil producers, but corruption and insurgent attacks have Iraqis mired in their worst fuel shortage since

Saddam Hussein was ousted, with black market gasoline costing as much as $4 a gallon.

The official price is $1 a gallon, but the fuel is often unavailable, forcing most Iraqi drivers to shell out the higher price to streetside vendors or wait in long lines at gas stations.

The shortage affects other petroleum products too. A cylinder of cooking gas costs about $18 on the black market — double the price a few months ago.

...

The shortage is so bad that even a gas station inside the Green Zone, home of major Iraqi government offices and the U.S. Embassy, ran out of fuel Sunday afternoon.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060813/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_energy_crisis_lh1

On edit: Fixed broken headline.

[leftchick]

1. this is very bad

it is just amazing how bad it gets just when you think it can't get worse. I know I am not going to complain about the price of gas here anytime soon. These poor people...



Iraqis rest on the roof of their vehicle as they wait in a queue outside a gas station, in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday Aug. 12, 2006. Frustration has sparked violent demonstrations in northern Iraq as police fired in the air to disperse hundreds of stone-throwing protesters on Sunday protesting against fuel and power shortages.Iraq is the world's third largest oil reserves country. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

[Barrett808]

2. There was a "crackdown" on black market fuel a couple of years ago

Like every other Bush policy in Iraq, it seems to have failed miserably.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Oil doesn't mean gas.

And Freedom isn't Free.

:patriot:

[Roland99]

4. They should just learn to "adapt to win"

[jpak]

5. Look at the bright side

They're doing their part to fight global warming.

And who sez ChimpCo didn't have a plan...

[Barkley]

6. Price ceilings cause shortages but this is ridiculous!

I thought the U.S. had a grand plan to privatize part of Iraq's oil industry and modernize its production.

The Iraqi government blames the problem on insurgent attacks on pipelines and other infrastructure, which snarl the distribution system.

But this is what happens when you disband the Iraqi Army...

I wonder if they are still importing gasoline from Kuwait
and Saudi Arabia?

"Iraq's Winter of Discontent"
http://www.beiruttimes.com/news/Opinion/index.phtml

[Hissyspit]

7. Iraq Has Worst Fuel Shortage Since '03

http://my.earthlink.net/channel/news/print?guid=20060813/44dea3c0_3ca6_15526200608131714724180

Iraq Has Worst Fuel Shortage Since '03
August 13, 2006 3:28 PM EDT

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Under a scorching sun, Baghdad taxi driver Sameer Abdul Razzaq wraps a wet towel around his head and waits for gasoline in a line stretching a mile. "I've been here since 6 a.m.," he said Sunday. "If I'm lucky, I'll get to the end of the line by sunset. I actually think I might end up spending the night here."

This is the capital of what should be one of the world's great oil producers, but corruption and insurgent attacks have Iraqis mired in their worst fuel shortage since Saddam Hussein was ousted, with black market gasoline costing as much as $4 a gallon.

The official price is $1 a gallon, but the fuel is often unavailable, forcing most Iraqi drivers to shell out the higher price to streetside vendors or wait in long lines at gas stations.

The shortage affects other petroleum products too. A cylinder of cooking gas costs about $18 on the black market - double the price a few months ago.

- snip -

The irony is especially bitter in a country that sits atop the world's third-largest proven petroleum reserves. Iraq's estimated 115 billion barrels are exceeded in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries only by Saudi Arabia and Iran.

MORE

[napi21]

8. And people have the gall to ask why they HATE Americans????

Think about putting yourself in the position of being an iraqi near Bagdad. You hated Saddam, but you had A/C, a job, cheap gas, and relative safety as long as you didn't cross Saddam.

NOW, you have electricity a few hours a day, no gas, no job, and no safety. Hmmm, I'd HATE Americans TOO!!!!!

[Crunchy Frog]

9. I thought the oil production had finally reached prewar levels.

Where is it going? :shrug:

[Amonester]

10. India, China, Korea, Japan, Australia (?) n/t

[ryanmuegge]

11. Mission Accomplished!

Big oil is trying to limit supply from Iraq to drive up the price. Indeed, this was their vision all along. The operation in Iraq is most certainly going as planned.

[Miss Chybil]

13. Bingo! This was the war for NO oil. nt

[tinrobot]

14. Exactly... Greg Palast explains it quite well

nt

[struggle4progress]

12. Iraq and Iran sign oil agreements

Iraq and Iran sign oil agreements

posted: August 13, 2006

Tehran, Aug. 13, (BNA) Iranian Oil Minister, Khadim Waziri and his Iraqi counterpart, Hossein Shahrastani, signed here on Sunday a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the oil field.

Iran News Agency (IRNA) said the Mou stipulated that Iran should supply Iraq with kerosene and liquefied Gas in return for crude oil. Iran's Oil Minister said in a statement following the signing of the Mou that Iran will receive 100 thousand crude oil barrels and get them refined on its soil and in return Iraq will receive two million litres of kerosene. He added that Iran will soon meet an Iraqi desire to purchase oil tanks and oil derivatives from Tehran. On the other side, the Iraqi Minister of Oil said the two countries reached an agreement on exchanging and trading in crude oil and oil derivatives and signed another accord on formation of joint delegations to study oil fields in both countries.

http://english.bna.bh/?ID=48884

[TheFarseer]

15. That will be Anytown, USA in a few years

except gas will be more like $10, not $1.

[Barrett808]

16. Peak Oil's a-comin'

If it's not already here.