Is Iraq's U.S. Backed Oil Law "Robbery?"

Six Nobel Peace Prize Laureates have released a statement in opposition to the legislation. The laureates include Betty Williams, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Rigoberta Menchu, Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi and Wangari Maathai. The statement read, in part, "The Iraq Oil Law could benefit foreign oil companies at the expense of the Iraqi people, deny the Iraqi people economic security, create greater instability, and move the country further away from peace."

Last month, the Iraqi oil workers union went on a strike to protest the law. Two leading union members recently traveled to the United States to meet with members of Congress and attend last week's U.S. Social Forum in Atlanta.

So was it all about the oil? All the evidence seems to say yes, the U.S. wanted to secure the Iraqi oil for U.S. and U.K. companies. While some in the industry expressed concern the occupation would drive down the price of oil, the long term neo-con strategists saw control of energy as domination of the future.

Tags: Iraq, oil, neo-conservatives, Oil War, Democracy Now