Rochester

U.S. does not want to control M.E. oil? Then...if that is true...then the U.S. is acting quite strangely, by building a $750 Million Embassy in Baghdad and then staying there, much longer than we need to, if access to their oil was the only concern. It's not the only concern. My guess as to why the U.S. wants to control M.E. oil: not so much that they need the oil. (they don't, you are right about that). It's more like, the political practicality that: if America doesn't stay in Iraq, then Iran will move in, with it's army, and claim control over a very sizable chunk of the world's oil. Since Iran hates our guts and wants to build or buy nuclear weapons and Iran hates SA, our biggest oil ally, who helps prop up the American dollar by only trading oil in dollars, America has plenty of motivation to control ME oil....even if America exports oil. If the U.S. leaves the ME and things go bad and some bad scenarios play out, there is a very high cost to the U.S., if that happens. Avoiding those costs is best, which is why America still has troops in Iraq....imo

Iran to Iraq: if you want a new Prime Minister, he has to continue letting us steal your money....via the currency auctions. Sure, Iraq, this stifles your economy and keeps Iraqis poor and unable to benefit from their own oil wealth, but that's a small price to pay, for allowing corrupt Iraqi politicians and equally corrupt Iranian mullahs to continue pillaging your country.... ....over to you, Iraqi citizen....you OK with this arrangement?

Let me guess: inside this compound are many economists, engineers, contractors, bankers, computer programmers, lawyers, military and diplomatic people....and many other trades and professions. This many talented people in a Third World Country with oil....this all cost a lot of money. What for? My guess is thousands of people have been busy making sure Iraq eventually succeeds....because America wants to control the oil in the Middle East, because it is that important to America's global dominance. This was a long term project. We will soon learn if all this effort was worth it. I think it was. Enjoy your money when it comes. Use it wisely.

Younger Iranians are generally quite pro-American. Keep that in mind. It is the old Guard in Iran we are fighting, for the most part. Iranian soldiers mostly do what soldiers do everywhere: obey orders. The Iranian young people are not looking for a war. Neither are we. Only the old Guard rulers are looking for a war, to distract from their mismanagement of the Iranian economy and their foolish decisions. Time is on the side of America, the younger generation in both Iran and Iraq, they want change, they want to be part of the civilized world, they want jobs and trade. Iran is starting to hurt. The last thing we need to do is invade Iran.

Trump wrote an op-ed, before the War even started. He said the best political balance is if Iran and Iraq are roughly equal in power...then they balance each other out in power. That's why Trump said the war would be a bad idea: it would throw out the power balance in the region.....Trump was right.....When Iraq was weakened by the war, Iran moved in, controlled the politicians, and the Iranians wanted to control Iraq, so they could control the oil and have a lot of power and money. Trump had different ideas about that: Trump started to weaken Iran as soon as he got in, putting economic sanctions on them.....fast forward several years, till today: Now Iran is much weakened and this civil unrest is happening. So now there are native forces in Iraq who want massive change....the Iraqi people. This includes Iraqis who want Iranian influenced removed from Iraq, which is also part of the American Agenda. So now Iraqis and Americans are on the same page. We have common interests and a common enemy. That's good. It means we are going to win. So now, it's not that America is manipulating the process. It's more like America and Iran are still fighting a war for influence in Iraq....and have been for a while, but things are shifting, very very quickly. That's what this news means. And now? Iran is losing, very very badly. Trump has played this brilliantly. He knew the solution to the crisis, even before the crisis and war began. He knew the mistakes the other players would make and how to fix them. He knew that, before the game had even begun. And now President Trump is implementing the solution to that crisis. This is what 4D Chess looks like: before the game had actually started, President Trump knew where the game was headed and how to win that game. Absolutely brilliant. And the great thing is, the game will be won, not by imposing on Iraq what they don't want, but rather by helping Iraqis take control of their own country and give themselves a positive future. That's my interpretation, of the last post from DinarThug on this thread. For me the best part is, Iraqi people get to have a great future, that starts shortly, plus I'll make a lot of money on this bet. America will win. Iraq will win. Iran will lose. You will win. My bank account is going to win. So will yours. Be prepared. The smell of Victory is in the air.....👃

Saddam did not allow new geophysical surveys with modern equipment. It's been a very long time since a proper survey was done. I've never believed the low estimates on Iraq's oil wealth. They may have more oil than Saudi Arabia.

Which one is Goofy?

Let me guess: Europe and Iraq and Kurdistan agreed that Iraq will be Europe's gas station, that they will speed up building a pipeline through Turkey, which is part of NATO. The pipeline will go from Turkey, which is Kurdistan's neighbor, into Greece, which is next to Turkey. Then into the rest of Europe. This will be an enormous source of revenue, as the combined economy of Europe is bigger than the United States. But unlike The United States, Europe has no oil to run it's economy. So Europe will re-build Iraq, along with the Chinese and we will drink Margaretas in our hammock.....and read about it.

I'm not ready to pop the champagne....but I did check in the fridge, to make sure I have a bottle, on hand...🍷

Based on this, I'm updating my Opinion from "Soonish"....to "Real Gosh Darn Soon" Let me put it this way: Merry Christmas Everyone! 🌴<----Arab Christmas Palm Tree 🐫🐫🐫....Three Wise Men riding into .

No one wants to be Prime Minister of Iraq? 😂😭😉Even with money to steal?....lmao Civil war General William Tecumseh Sherman resisted Republican pressure to run for president. His statement was: If drafted, I will not run. If nominated, I will not accept. If elected, I will not serve. Dipping into history, there was President Johnson announcing he would not run for a second term - "I will not seek, I will not accept." And my favorite, Congressman Mo Udall of Arizon: "If nominated, I will run to Mexico. If elected, I will fight extradition."

After the ARAB Prime Minister resigns, then a KURD becomes caretaker PRIME MINISTER....and the HCL will pass....with blessing of the KURDS....Days away....my opine....treat as rumor

The CIA is heavily involved behind the scenes, backing the protesters. They have a new Prime Minister picked. The Oil Law is approved today. RV tomorrow. Mike Pence laid down the law in his recent visit. Treat as rumor. My opine. Verified by Luigi.

This is good news. Mike Pence was recently in Iraq. He told them who should be the next Iraqi Prime Minister.

There's an old saying that comes to mind, in the midst of this: "**** or get off the pot" ....best wishes and sympathy for the Iraqi people, who deserve better.

I know a few Iranians. You'd be surprised. Young Iranians tend to like Americans. Young Iranians, they like America and Americans. Please don't forget that. It's the old crazy corrupt Muslims that are the problem, not the young people, who want to open up to the rest of world. This is a generational thing, more than a religious thing.

👃

In my opine, that's hilarious😭

Iran wants a war with America. They want America to invade, so they can deflect from their incompetence, which their people are aware of and suffer from. Idiots.

thanks

So, I predicted long ago, permanent U.S. bases in Iraq. My prediction was based on either the Kurds or the Arabs down south, being hard to get to an agreement. Then America would say screw it, we'll give in, to Kurdish requests for American protection from the southern Arabs in Iraq, who murdered 50,000 Kurdish women and children, decades ago under Saddam. Kurds, they like and trust Americans, and kurds live next door to Iran, our enemy. So Iran would hate us to get a permanent base there. Speculation: Maybe lraqi Kurds are being reasonable in their demands on the rest of Iraq. Maybe the Shiite Arabs are being hard to live with. Maybe America is telling the Kurds that if the Shiite Arabs don't make a deal on oil, then America will support Kurdish independence, establish a permanent base in Kurdistan, to keep an eye on Iran. Maybe that's why VP Pence is there, meeting the Kurds in Erbil, but not going to Baghdad Maybe..

Perfect

The Iranian young people are burning banks in Iran. I guess the Insanian leaders need the money.