In his most recent press conference, George W. Bush decried, inartfully as usual, that Iraq's Nelson Mandela was already dead. It seems Saddem Hussein got him.
By happenstance or serendipity I have stumbled across Iraq's Nelson Mandela. And damn... if he doesn't come doubly equipped as Iraq's Lech Walensa.
Follow the line of argument:
I have been harboring, with lots of indy-media assistance, doubts about the oft-touted "Hydro-carbon Law" or the "Petroleum Law".
The administration line, in public, is that this is a benchmark piece of legislation which would enshrine oil revenue distribution in a fashion that would unite Iraq's various regions and provinces.
Most of us at Daily Kos have at least been alert to the ... whispered, alleged, or demonstrated evidence that the prime beneficiaries are three of the largest multi-national oil corporations. I've tried to link every source that writer's on the topic have referenced. What is in the law?
While researching this law I have now repeatedly stumbled across the following name.. a mouthful to be sure... Hasan Jum ah Awwad al-Asadi.
Al-Asadi is the head of the federation of oil workers unions in Iraq. By my measure he might also be a Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
Al-Asadi seems to be an authentic voice of Iraqi workers and national sovereignty.
The most recent piece of journalism to have added to credit is online at Mother Jones:
http://www.motherjones.com/...
His critique of the proposed oil law is highly informative. Executives of, and imperatives of, these oil conglomerates would be installed as part of Iraq's energy policy formation. No other country would admit to such a function, fewer still would permit it to be formalized into government process.
Al-Asadi notes that the regional control of resources will defeat national energy policies. The revenue sharing will take place after the investment costs of the multi-nationals is retrieved.
As for unification... he notes:
Al-Asadi called the law "unbalanced," arguing that "it has been drafted in a great rush in harsh circumstances" and would set "region against region."
Somewhere in the south, near Basra, there is an Iraqi who speaks for his nation's best interests. His only comments about "sectarian voilence" are to warn about things that would worsen it.
Every time my reading bumps me into this man I am impressed. I am not aware of what prices or penalties he may have faced for representing the oil field workers of Iraq.. perhaps none. If so, then perhaps not so much a Mandela.
But if the monstrosity of the "Oil Law" is jammed through the Iraqi Parliament under full-court pressure from Bush-Cheney to chalk up another benchmark... and if .. in three months time you read of dramatic action taken by Iraq's oil workers to defend their national self-interest... a strike...
Be prepared. They will be labelled as terrorists. They will be
the enemy. And much of what we understand about Bush's Iraq adventure will be revealed for what it is.
And there is the tragedy. There are in fact Iraqis with a secular following. They speak on behalf of a nation invaded and occupied. They accept current realities and care about what this interim government might do to permanently impair their sovereignty.
But George W Bush will never see an Iraqi Mandela or Walensa. To do so would be to admit that the US is playing the role of Boer hegemonist or Soviet occupier.
An Iraqi parliament or legislature that adopts the American backed "Oil Law" will be forever besmirched and undermined in its authority. That's not exactly how you create a stable Iraq.
If or when the Iraq oil workers strike, or call for a national strike, to defend their country against resource rape... consider Al-Asidi as a spokesman for an Iraq that can return to the international stage with a semblance of pride and unity.
And thank you to Mother Jones and James Ridgeway for another step forward in de-coding the "Oil Law".
Update...or going back to sources... this from a post of September 9 by Savage...that includes..
Hassan Juma'a Awad is the head of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions and has consistently led the opposition to this thievery. I have met Hassan Juma'a Awad. He's a serious man and he means what he says. He was subjected to arrests and imprisonments under Saddam Hussein for defying Saddam's laws against unions and I'm positive that he will not back down from this fight. Two weeks ago, the IFOU issued a statement in response to the Oil Ministry's statement that unions were "illegal" and not to be recognized:
IFOU Statement on Attack by Minister of Oil
and....
August 20th 2007
In the name of God the gracious the merciful
Statement
It is clear to everyone that the bygone dictatorial regime worked diligently to confront worker's unions by invalidating them in the public sector in accordance to decree number 150 issued in the year 1987. After the fall of the regime, activist workers from the oil sector reconstituted their unions.
The foundation was laid out by the Southern Oil Company, and later spread to all oil sector companies. The union has lead many strikes in all oil companies in order to expel foreigners from the oil sector. This lead to the formation of the Federation of Oil Unions with two main goals regarding the oil sector:
1- To maintain Iraq's oil wealth
2- To struggle for workers' rights. The union has organized scientific conferences discussing the situation of the oil sector of which the first and second scientific conferences against privatization were held in the years 2005 and 2006 respectively.
Preparations are still underway to hold the third such conference and to confront the passage of the oil and gas law, which lies under American administration pressure. Consequently, a symposium to discuss this law was held on February 6th 2007.
The Federation of Oil Unions, which is leading the struggle of the working class in the oil sector in order for the workers to receive their rights and in order to protect Iraq's oil wealth, is currently being subjected to a vicious attack headed by the Minister of Oil.
as well as:
The minister has issued decree number 12774 on July 18th 2007 banning union work [management working with or recognizing unions], using false pretexts based on decree number 150 that was issued in 1987 by the dictatorial regime.
The position of the minister contradicts all conventions of the International Labor Organization, especially relating to the "freedom of union work" which was signed by Iraq and should therefore abide by it.
This position is due to our union's position towards the American imperialistic project known as the oil and gas law. We view this law as an illegal way to seize the wealth of Iraqis without any economical or political excuse.
We call on all labor and vocational unions and all political movements to join our union in solidarity and to sign this statement which condemns the decision of the minister of oil. We call on him to withdraw his decree.
This is what all unions and movements demand and desire since our union is an integral part of the national Iraqi movement. May God be of assistance.
The Federation of Oil Unions
and lastly:
In a conference held by the Federation of worker councils and unions in Basra today, September 8, 2007, and in the presence of a large number of union activists and political figures, the leaders of the South Oil unions join the ranks of Anti-Oil Law.
In a statement to Sana TV, the president of the IFOU Hassan Juma announced that the union will shut down the oil pipeline in the event of passing the draft law. He also added that if the Anti-Oil Law Front calls on strike to pressure the Iraqi parliament, the IFOU will respond to the call and join the strike. Noteworthy that Sana TV will broadcast the full coverage of the conference soon.
The keynote speakers in the conference were Subhi al-Badri; president of the Anti-Oil Law front, Hassan Juma; president of Iraqi Federation of South Oil Unions (IFOU), Ali Abbas; Chairman of the Federation of worker councils and unions in Basra and Mufeed Haider; chairman of Iraq Freedom Congress in Basra. The conference concluded in passing a number of resolutions to tighten the campaign against the draft of oil-law such as demonstrations, sit-ins and strikes in various sectors including the oil sector.
Media Center
Iraq Freedom Congress
September 8, 2007