16 March 2008

Iraq Insurgency Runs on Stolen Oil Profits

Well, there is an insurgency, and oil is being siphoned off into the black market, but the vast majority of those profits are going to corrupt officials and businessmen, my money says. In the small print, the article says:
"Nor is the skimming limited to the insurgency; illicit earnings from the Baiji refinery also flow to criminal gangs, tribes, the Iraqi police, local council members and provincial officials who also smuggle fuel, Iraqi officials say."
But the insurgency is a better headline.
The role of organised crime in the Iraqi state and economy needs to be analysed. Equally, why does crime erupt the minute an authoritarian regime is overthrown? Why did the Sicilian and other Mafias reappear so rapidly after the overthrow of Mussolini? [hmm there was US involvement in that, mum] after the overthrow of communism in Eastern Europe? In Vietnam? Is it the Milo Minderbender factor from Catch 22? And where can I get the necessary research grant?

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