And there's your answer

It seems that we have finally reached the point where the underlying reasons for the Iraq invasion are surfacing.

"Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total and BP — the original partners in the Iraq Petroleum Company — along with Chevron and a number of smaller oil companies, are in talks with Iraq’s Oil Ministry for no-bid contracts to service Iraq’s largest fields, according to ministry officials, oil company officials and an American diplomat."

So, after decades of nationalized oil production in Iraq under Hussein, the western powerhouse oil companies have been selected over the Russians, Indians and Chinese companies to extract what's left of the Iraqi oil reserves and continue to make an obscene profit. They know that the world is watching and they are already hiding under the viel of anyomity while making ludicris comments like they are "helping Iraq rebuild its decrepit oil industry". We knew someone was going to profit from this war and it certainly isn't the Iraqi people.

My question: As we have seen with the bogus facade of Gitmo trials that have recently been put in full throttle by a Bush administration who despirately wants to change the story for November, I wonder if the timing of this deal is an attempt to pad the voters' wallets in order to lessen the blow of a failed Republican economy.

I hope I'm wrong.