Bush tvingar igenom permanenta baser i Irak del 2

Igår skrev jag om att Bush-administrationen kommer tvinga igenom en lag i Irak som ger USA minst 50 permanenta baser och immunitet mot Irakiska lagar för dess armé och legosoldater. Det visar sig nu att Bushregimen använder ytterligare påtryckningsmedel för att driva igenom den lagen.

The US is able to threaten Iraq with the loss of 40 per cent of its foreign exchange reserves because Iraq's independence is still limited by the legacy of UN sanctions and restrictions imposed on Iraq since Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in the 1990s. This means that Iraq is still considered a threat to international security and stability under Chapter Seven of the UN charter. The US negotiators say the price of Iraq escaping Chapter Seven is to sign up to a new "strategic alliance" with the United States.

Och Irakierna får inte ens välja vilken valuta de önskar ha sina besparingar i.

The fact that Iraq's financial reserves, increasing rapidly because of the high price of oil, continue to be held in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is another legacy of international sanctions against Saddam Hussein. Under the UN mandate, oil revenues must be placed in the Development Fund for Iraq which is in the bank.

The funds are under the control of the Iraqi government, though the US Treasury has strong influence on the form in which the reserves are held.

Iraqi officials say that, last year, they wanted to diversify their holdings out of the dollar, as it depreciated, into other assets, such as the euro, more likely to hold their value. This was vetoed by the US Treasury because American officials feared it would show lack of confidence in the dollar.

John McCain: "100 år i Irak är helt OK med mig."


Bloggar om: Irakkriget, USA, Irak, McCain, ockupation, imperialism