Summary here.

Testimony in the hearings on Hamdania underway.

Lawyers for Corporal Marshall Magincalda, who allegedly bound Awad’s feed [sic] and kidnapped him, had asked that the hearing be closed to the public, arguing that it could prejudice the case, but investigating officer Colonel Robert Chester denied the request, saying the public had a “very compelling right to hear these proceedings”.

The prosecutor, Captain Nicholas Gannon, told Col Chester statements by three members of the squad included an alleged confession by squad leader Sergeant Lawrence Hutchins.

[snip]

Another hearing was also under way concerning Private John Jodka, 20, one of the defendants accused of firing on Awad.

The hearings, held under Article 32 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, will determine whether the men should be tried in a general court martial.

[snip]

…The charges include kidnap, murder and conspiracy. Article

With so much attention paid to the war on the gorund, sometimes it is too easy to forget the war for what is under the ground. And don’t for a second think, with oil prices high (and with nothing to temper them from reaching the $100 a barrel level) that, awash in profits, that the multi-nationals are not champing at the bit to lay claim to as much more as they can.

…In February [2006], the IRMO advisers accompanied eight senior officials from the Oil Ministry on a trip to the U.S., sponsored by the U.S.’ Trade and Development Agency. On the trip, they met oil company representatives to discuss the future structure of the Iraqi oil industry.

The same month, at the request of the State Department, USAID provided an adviser to the Oil Ministry, again from BearingPoint, to work directly on a new oil law, providing “legal and regulatory advice in drafting the framework of petroleum and other energy-related legislation, including foreign investment.”

The U.S. campaign on the fledgling Iraqi government has been successful. Following his appointment in May, new Oil Minister Husayn al-Shahristani announced that one of his top priorities would be the writing of an oil law to allow Iraq to sign contracts with “the largest companies.”

This would be the first time in more than thirty years that foreign companies would receive a major stake in Iraq’s oil. Oil was brought into public ownership and control back in 1975.

[snip]

…the draft law has not been seen by the Iraqi parliament. Meanwhile, an official from the Oil Ministry has stated that Iraqi civil society and the general public will not be consulted at all.

The issues could hardly be more important for Iraq. Oil accounts for more than 90% of government revenue, and is the main driver of Iraq’s economy. And decisions made in the coming months will not be reversible - once contracts are signed, they will have a major bearing on Iraq’s economy and politics for decades to come.

No wonder a recent poll showed that when asked what Iraqis thought were the three main reasons why the United States invaded Iraq, 76% gave “to control Iraqi oil” as their first choice.

Attempting to reverse this perception and change U.S. policy, lawmakers in the House and Senate have passed legislation stating that the United States should not exert “control over any oil resource of Iraq.” But usurping democracy here at home, Republicans stripped this language out of the bill’s final version Hoping for better luck the second time around, Senator Joe Biden successfully led the charge to add this language to another bill currently awaiting final passage.

In an ideal world, this legislation wouldn’t be needed after Bush promised that, “The oil belongs to the Iraqi people.” But actions speak louder than words. If democracy is to be upheld in Iraq and the constitution is to be protected, it should be the Iraqi people who decide how oil is managed, not the U.S. administration and Big Oil. Article