"As a fuel crisis deepened in Iraq, the government replaced its oil minister with controversial Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Chalabi, whose poor performance in the Dec. 15 elections was a setback in his recent attempt at political rehabilitation.
The oil minister, Ibrahim Bahr Uloom, was put on a mandatory, month-long leave. He had previously threatened to resign over the government’s recent decision to increase gasoline prices sharply, a move that has outraged motorists and sparked attacks on gas stations and fuel convoys." Washpost
Rising like a phoenix from the ashes of his electoral debacle, "The Ahmad" as he is affectionately known in the Pentagon and the Old Executive Office Building (NSC staff) marches on like a beacon of looming economic difficulties, bearing a torch for someone or other.
Iraq’s petroleum production is in decline due to persistent guerrilla attacks and menaces against refineries and distribution nodes, but "The Ahmad" will fix this in spite of his not having won a seat in parliament. Oh! Sorry, I forgot that they are not through "counting" the votes. He may yet…
This appointment is supposed to be temporary. We will see. Bankers across the world are licking their chops in anticipation..
Pat Lang
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/30/AR2005123001307.html
