Western oil companies are positioning themselves for a huge payday in Iraq. This is after all the real reason the war was fought - to steal oil.

3,000 soldiers and 1 million Iraqis dead...over oil profits. It's so cruel and unconscionable it defies comprehension. However, the term "war crimes" comes to mind.

Deals with Iraq are set to bring oil giants back

June 19, 2008 - 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.

Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total and BP — the original partners in the Iraq Petroleum Company — along with Chevron and a number of smaller oil companies, are in talks with Iraq's Oil Ministry for no-bid contracts to service Iraq's largest fields, according to ministry officials, oil company officials and an American diplomat.

The deals, expected to be announced on June 30, will lay the foundation for the first commercial work for the major companies in Iraq since the American invasion, and open a new and potentially lucrative country for their operations.

http://www.iht.com