Iranian troops seize Iraq oil well

[Streck-Fu]

LINK


Iran troops 'seize Iraq oil well'
Map

Iranian troops have entered southern Iraqi territory and taken control of an oil well, reports say.

An Iraqi official played down the incident, saying the area was abandoned and right on a disputed border section.

Iranian soldiers crossed the border and raised an Iranian flag over the Fakkah oil field, a US military spokesman told the AFP news agency.

Iraq's Deputy Interior Minister confirmed the Iranians stayed in Iraq and were in control of the well.

Earlier it was reported that they had withdrawn back across the border.

Deputy Interior Minister Ahmed Ali al-Khafaji initially told the Reuters news agency the reports of the Iranian incursion were not true.

But Mr Khafaji later confirmed the incursion had taken place, and said 11 Iranians had dug-in at the oil well and had not left.

He said there had been no military response from Iraqi forces..

"We are awaiting orders from our leader," he said.

The incursion is one of several that have occurred in the last few days, he said.
The well is about 500m from an Iranian border fort and about 1km from an Iraqi fort, US Colonel Peter Newell told AFP.

[nmap]

Why do I think the Middle East is going to explode some day soon?

I guess what I keep wondering is when Shiite Iraq ad Iran are going to gang up on Sunni Saudi Arabia. That's when life gets interesting, in my opinion.

[HisDisciple]

Originally Posted by nmap

Why do I think the Middle East is going to explode some day soon?

I guess what I keep wondering is when Shiite Iraq ad Iran are going to gang up on Sunni Saudi Arabia. That's when life gets interesting, in my opinion.

I read this and couldn't resist. I Had to put this picture up.

[Sten]

Originally Posted by nmap

Why do I think the Middle East is going to explode some day soon?

I guess what I keep wondering is when Shiite Iraq ad Iran are going to gang up on Sunni Saudi Arabia. That's when life gets interesting, in my opinion.

Peak Muslim?

[nmap]

Originally Posted by Sten

Peak Muslim?

You jest...but in all seriousness...peak oil is likely to mean peak muslim.

Recall, the Iran/Iraq war (1980-1988) started over disputed territory. IIRC, Iraq invaded Iran that time. Iraq is in no position to defend itself against Iran without major US involvement. I think Iran just upped the ante.

Maybe someone can use some off-the-shelf software to see if a video feeds shows them there?

[Marina]

The Iranians are cunning and lethal. They are playing to win. We aren't.

Saudi Arabia - just another "frenemy" like Pakistan. But keeper of the oil.

What would CENTCOM do if they didn't have to protect Saudi Arabia and the oil.

Isn't that why we invaded Iraq? Oil security.

Follow the money.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Marina

Isn't that why we invaded Iraq? Oil security.

Follow the money.

I don't think so.

We spent trillions in Iraq, and let the Iraqi government sell their oil leases to non-American companies.

Would we have done that if it has really been all about the oil?

TR

Originally Posted by Marina

Isn't that why we invaded Iraq? Oil security.

Can anyone argue that plentiful, reasonably and stably priced oil is not in our national interest? Except for those who oppose developing our own resources. Perhaps, that's why I consider them border-line traitors.