Coming months crucial for US Iraq strategy - General
Reuters
Published: September 05, 2007, 00:59


Baghdad: The next three to four months will be vital to determine if violence in Iraq can be cut further and security maintained with fewer American troops, the number two US military commander in Iraq said yesterday.

Lieutenant-General Raymond Odierno said last week had seen the lowest number of violent incidents against civilians and security forces across Iraq in the past 15 months.

US President George W. Bush, on a surprise visit to Iraq, raised the prospect of troop cuts after meeting top commanders at a desert air base in western Al Anbar province on Monday.

"I think the next three to four months is critical," said Odierno, head of day-to-day US military operations in Iraq.

"I think if we can continue to do what we are doing, we'll get to such a level where we think we can do it with less troops," Odierno told a small group of foreign reporters at a US military base near Baghdad airport.

Attacks in August were the lowest in 13 months, he added. Odierno gave no detailed numbers, but he said the attacks included all violent incidents such as bombings and shootings.

In fresh violence yesterday, a roadside bomb killed an Iraqi army major and four soldiers in the volatile oil city of Baji north of Baghdad. The Electricity Ministry also said eight workers had been kidnapped and killed in Baghdad on Monday.

During his seven-hour visit Bush met his top commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. The pair are due to deliver their assessment of his Iraq strategy to the Democrat-controlled Congress on September 10.

Bush said his deployment of 30,000 more troops to Iraq, raising force levels to 160,000, had eased violence in some areas.

Benchmark laws

"The most important thing is to see how sustainable that is. That will depend on how much progress is made towards national reconciliation," the head of the United Nations mission to Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, told Reuters in an interview before Bush's remarks. Iraq's leaders are expected to get poor marks in Crocker's report to Congress over a series of political benchmarks Washington believes will help heal the deep sectarian rifts.

Iraq's parliament reconvened yesterday after a month-long summer recess. It has not yet passed any of the benchmark laws, including measures that would equitably share oil revenues, ease restrictions on former members of Saddam Hussain's Baath Party holding public office, and set a date for provincial elections.

Lawmakers complain the government has yet to submit the draft laws to them.

Parliament adjourned after about 90 minutes after lawmakers asked for time to read 10 bills that had been presented for their consideration, lawmaker Hussain Al Falluji told Reuters.

The 10 bills did not include any of the benchmark laws. Bush flew into Iraq's western Anbar province on Monday, choosing the former Sunni Arab insurgent stronghold once considered a lost cause to showcase what he said was one of the main success stories of his new military strategy.

He hailed what he saw as significant progress in quelling violence in Anbar, a former hotbed of the insurgency where Sunni tribal chiefs have joined with US forces against Al Qaida militants.

lex ..... while laws that the present puppet government in iraq may indeed be legitimate, it by no means follows that acting on them is practically feasible, especially when it comes to new oil exploration and similar ..... by its nature this type of work means unprotectable exposure and unacceptably high risk to both equipment and, in particular, their personnel.

cynic,good morning.Healthy to have information and mix of views.Investors and potential investors must weigh up risk to high rewards for themselves.

I have bought and am holding long term.


Thank you for your contributions.

I would like to buy back into PET, maybe if they fall to 100p.

barkerman - 5 Sep'07 - 08:47 - 707 of 714


The Government expects the HCL to pass and prefers negotiations immediately after.We are flexible as long as there is good title and terms. ________________________________
From: peter barker [mailto:Sent: Wed 05/09/2007 08:14To:

David HorganSubject: Oil minister Dear David,I see in some press that it,s stated that if HCL is not passed then they will invite companies to explore southern oil fields rather than delay.Would PET go to Baghdad on this premise or do we have to wait for it,s passing.Thanks for your time.Best Rgds Pete.

Hi lex
which asylum is this guy katoema in, sounds like he is suffering from delusional grandiose problems

katoema - 4 Sep'07 - 20:20 - 573 of 585

(I cannot and will not place myself in the shoes of the PET management,)
but I suspect that they will have been advised of this already. K

katoema - 4 Sep'07 - 20:37 - 578 of 585

There is no reason, or in deed (I have not been informed of a change. I give you the facts as given to my office.) The quote today that they will go ahead with the south, prior to the HCL, is something that they can and looks like they may do.

katoema - 4 Sep'07 - 21:43 - 593 of 595

Amman:
You must read back over the months to ascertain that, but (I am close to what goes on,) from my different perspectives. However, (I tell it as it is, not what it should be - a subtle difference! K)
Whatever happens, (my group would place a contract to PET for all their oil.) That said, it would be best to wait and see what unfolds in the hours, days etc. K

katoema - 4 Sep'07 - 22:25 - 617 of 665


Amman:
I have a number of operations and also headup parts of the group that operate global consortiums. (the most important thing is that in life you must be able to communicate with all! K)

obviously they have internet access in this one

http://www.upi.com/International_Security/Energy/Analysis/2007/09/04/analysis_iraq_oil_law_still_coming_soon/6989/

Blue, nice bounce.

GSE Bid 120.94p v Offer 123.64p

james 1,geniune,well connected and valued poster on advfn is my humble opinion.

Bullish.Consider PET buying opportunity taking advantage of retracement 120p or less.Others disagree.Some peeps waiting to buy @ 100p.My view I think peeps will wait whilst sp rises i.e not see 100p though 107p-108p was possible yesterday rose back above important 112.5p.Feel comfortable with research and content holding.Yeah could have made money trading and buy back cheaper.Strategy hold,hold hold,no stop loss.aimvho

Blue UK & GSE

Keep watching for 100p aldwickk.We'd all "like" to load up @ 100p.Think you will never see PET that low again!aimvho

Possibly seeing breakout 119p/124p.Buyers paying 122p-124p.

Somebody pass Aldwick a straw please

Punters paying 127.7p for PET on GSE

Wide spread here in UK.btw possibility PET may get something even if HCL not approved soon.PSA or by whatever name.aimvho.

Bullish trading.

122p v 125p

You're either in or you're out.Prefer holding,no stops,than risk being out.aimvho

btw posts to alert PET breaking out.

If all sellers forced margins stops shorts,only one way to go ^

The Government expects the HCL to pass and prefers negotiations immediately after.We are flexible as long as there is good title and terms. ________________________________ From: peter barker [mailto:Sent


Wed 05/09/2007 08:14To: David HorganSubject: Oil minister

Dear David,I see in some press that it,s stated that if HCL is not passed then they will invite companies to explore southern oil fields rather than delay.Would PET go to Baghdad on this premise or do we have to wait for it,s passing.Thanks for your time.Best Rgds Pete.