IRAQ: Coalition Provisional Authority: The Iraqi Ministries

Last updated March 10, 2010 7:00 am (EST)

Backgrounder: Current political and economic issues succinctly explained.

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Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Iraq’s Pledge to Cut Oil Production

Iraq faces an uphill battle in meeting its obligations to the historic production cut agreement reached by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other major producers such as Russia. The production cuts are due to begin today. Not only is Baghdad mired in deep economic and political crises that show little signs of abating but Iraq’s complex service agreements with international oil companies (IOCs) operating its southern fields means that the Gulf producer would actually have to pay more money to the foreign firms working in its oil sector in excess of existing service fees if it demands the IOCs rein in output to help Iraq meet its targeted quotas. The supplemental fees, which could be millions of dollars, are stipulated in the oil field service contracts that Iraq holds with foreign oil companies that have been assisting with its oil production capacity expansion program over the last several years. The payments structure for Iraq’s service contracts means that output cuts put an added financial strain on the ability of OPEC’s second largest oil producer to comply fully with its pledged one million b/d plus output reductions in the coming months.

Blog Post by Guest Blogger for Energy Realpolitik May 1, 2020 Energy Realpolitik

Iran

Top Conflicts to Watch in 2020: An Armed Confrontation Between Iran and the United States

This year, an armed confrontation between Iran and the United States or one of its allies over Iran's involvement in regional conflicts and support of militant proxy groups was included as a top tier priority in the Center for Preventive Action’s annual Preventive Priorities Survey.

Blog Post by Ray Takeyh January 15, 2020 Strength Through Peace

Iraq

There Is Nothing Left for Americans to Do in Iraq

Qassem Suleimani and Tehran have won the battle for Baghdad. U.S. policymakers should understand that—and leave.

Article by Steven A. Cook January 13, 2020 Middle East Program

Agriculture: Trevor Flugge (Australia)

Culture: Pietro Cordone (Italy’s former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates)

Defense: Walter Slocombe (former undersecretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Defense)

Education: Dorothy Mazaka (U.S. Agency for International Development)

Finance: David Nummy (U.S. Department of the Treasury)

Foreign Affairs: David Dunford (former ambassador to Oman)

Health: Stephen Browning (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Higher Education and Scientific Research: Andrew Erdmann (U.S. Department of State)

Housing and Construction: Dan Hitchings (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Industry and Minerals: Tim Carney (U.S. ambassador to Haiti)

Information: Robert Reilly (former head of Voice of America)

Interior: Bob Gifford (U.S. Department of State). Bernard Kerik, former New York City police commissioner, serves as the ministry’s senior adviser for police.

Irrigation: Gene Stakhiv (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Justice: Clint Williamson (U.S. Department of Justice)

Labor and Social Affairs: Karen Walsh (U.S. Agency for International Development)

Oil: Philip Carroll (former chief executive of Shell Oil)

Planning: Simon Elvy (United Kingdom)

Religious Affairs: Andrew Morrison (U.S. Department of State)

Trade: Robin Lynn Raphel (former U.S. ambassador to Tunisia)

Transportation and Communications: Stephen Browning (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Youth: Don Eberly (former deputy director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives) Source : U.S. Department of Defense

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