Freedom on the Rise and Fall

Contrasts in the news today...

Deals with Iraq are set to bring oil giants back

BAGHDAD: Four Western oil companies are in the final stages of negotiations this month on contracts that will return them to Iraq, 36 years after losing their oil concession to nationalization as Saddam Hussein rose to power.

Daily Blog Buzz: Another Oil Option

As the calls for domestic drilling grow louder, some Democrats have another idea: nationalize the oil refineries! During a House briefing yesterday, Democratic Rep. Maurice Hinchey said, "We (the government) should own the refineries. Then we can control how much gets out into the market."

Link: sevenload.com

So an American congressman proposes we act like Saddam? While Iraq chooses privatization? True irony would be to bequeath the dreamt-of free democracy while America votes to go socialist.

At first I was offended by this video:

Now I realize I'm looking at interviews with two future members of Congress.

Why were American oil companies chosen by Iraq?

Assem Jihad, the Oil Ministry spokesman, said the ministry chose companies it was comfortable working with under the charitable memorandum of understanding agreements, and for their technical prowess. "Because of that, they got the priority," he said.

Too bad we can't do that here. And hopefully for the Iraqis, these companies will hold onto their technical prowess if the Democrats get away with stealing them from their owners.

Nationalize This!