October 4, 2007

The German earthquake scientist, who works in Iraqi Kurdistan, near the oil fields of Taq Taq, said, "You can dig anywhere you want and crude oil will flow." For more than two years, foreign companies had searched and discovered oil in Kurdistan region. What they had discovered may not be as giant as the field of Papa Kurkur near Kirkuk, but oil companies and the Kurds are happy to do so. Iraq has 115 billion barrels of oil reserve, but it is believed that its real oil wealth is much higher.

September 14, 2007

Section 1314 of the Act states that the President is to submit to Congress two reports assessing the status of each of the 18 benchmarks contained in the Act and declaring whether, in the President’s judgment, satisfactory progress is being achieved with respect to those 18 benchmarks. These benchmarks relate to Government of Iraq actions believed to be important to advance reconciliation within Iraqi society, to improve the security of the Iraqi population, to provide essential services to the population, and to promote its economic well-being. Iraqi Government efforts to achieve these benchmarks complement other U.S. and Iraqi collaborative actions as part of the New Way Forward.