Iraqi oil unmetered 4 years after illegal invasion - Turkey bombs Kurds with US help and approval in N. Iraq

Warren Sach (born in Essex, UK. University College, London, and Magdalene College, Cambridge -see pic) is the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's representative on the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB), which audits the Development Fund for Iraq.

He told the UN Security Council yesterday that 4 years after the US invasion the Iraqi Government the government had made some progress in metering it'c crude oil production and refined product but it was also concerned about cost controls and smuggling.

"Overall progress has been very slow and there is still no comprehensive metering at oil fields, storage facilities or refineries," Sach said before the council voted in favor of extending the Iraqi requested mandate (they say for the last time) of U.S.-led foreign forces for one year. The IAMB stated in December 2006 that an oil metering contract had recently been let - It became apparent by January 31st this year however that the , the December 28 statement that the oil metering contract was in place was incorrect. No one has apologized, and the (unmetered) oil continues to flow. See also CNN 28th Dec 2005 / See IAMB Press release Jan 30th 2007 final paragraph

Sach said the IAMB remains concerned about significant unresolved control deficiencies and that without a comprehensive oil metering system, it is difficult to control smuggling. (Ho.Ho.Ho.)

The majority of Iraqi oil is exported through the southern port of Basra. On Dec. 16, Iraqi forces assumed responsibility for security over the southern region of the country from British forces, including Basra, the nation's second largest city.

Iraq's U.N. ambassador Hamid al Batyati explained to the SEcurity Council that he acknowledged past monitoring problems but now, the government has some meters in Basra and is tightening up security. (So that's all right then ?)

See Shell holding Iraq oil metering talks By Thomas Catan Financial Times 12 th April 2006

Turkey Bombs PKK in Iraq

Turkish media reports ( Turkey's NTV television ) that up to 50 planes have bombed 10 villages in Northern Iraq in an attempt to squash the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels. BBC reports that Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the air strikes as a "success".

A "comprehensive air campaign" was carried out from 0100 on Sunday (2300 GMT Saturday), hitting the regions of Zap, Hakurk and Avasin as well as areas in the Kandil (Qandil) mountains in an operation lasting three hours, the Turkish military said.

Cross-border artillery barrages were also used fom the town of Cukurca in Turkish territory.

Reuters reports that Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hajj Humoud summoned the Turkish ambassador and demanded an end to strikes which "may affect the friendly relations between the two governments and peoples," the foreign ministry said.

The BBC World at One reported that American military had provided the Turkish Air Force with Targetting information and had approved the attack although there was no official comment in Baghdad.

On Sunday, Ankara's most senior general Yasar Buyukanit said Turkey had received tacit US consent for the operation by providing "intelligence" and opening up northern Iraqi airspace.

"We strongly condemn this cruel attack on Iraqi sovereignty and on the principle of friendly neighbourhood," the Iraqi parliament said in a statement that spoke of "several innocent civilian casualties".

State Department spokesman Tom Casey said that they declined to confirm or deny what help might have been given, saying only that the strikes were "in keeping with" past air raids in northern Iraq.

"That said, we want to make sure that the actions that are taken are done in an appropriate way, that hit only those targets that are PKK and avoid civilian casualties," Lying fucker.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who made an unannounced visit to Iraq yesterday, only referred to the Turkish operation indirectly, saying: “No one should do anything that threatens to destabilise the north [of the country].” Lying Fucker

Masoud Barzani, the Prime Minister of Kurdistan decided not to travel to Baghdad to meet Ms Rice because of his anger over the US's role in the Turkish military action.

See more comment and information about damage .\/ deaths / injuries in bombed areas here at Countercurrents