Neither mounting tensions between the U.S. and the Iraqi people nor the growing violence in the country (as we have seen in the past days) can make President Bush leave Iraq.

American occupation started roughly a year ago and coalition forces have lost more men than during the heavy fighting of the war. But control of Iraq still remains a top-priority for the U.S. government.

In 2001 (OPEC), Iraq's oil production was at a level of 112 500 mb/d (million barils a day), and the country's reserves were estimated to be the second highest behind Saudi Arabia (OPEC). In september 2003, the Coalition for International Justice estimated Iraq's oil revenues at approximately 8,5 billion dollars a year.

Considering President Bush got 79 billion dollars from Congress on April 12th, 2003 to pay for the war, for antiterrorism measures, for interior security and to fund countries like Israel, Afghanistan and other U.S. allies, the math is simple.

With these calculations, it would take approximately 10 years of American control over Iraq's oil fields (given the production is that of before the war), to make the occupation profitable.

Who said Operation Iraqi Freedom was about freedom?

P.S.: from the BBC: "Certainly one of the key reasons for the current price of crude oil is reasonably strong economic growth in two very large economies - the US and China - that have been sucking in vast amounts of Opec oil. " and "There is a debate about whether the dollar really is the best currency to use for the oil trade."

** Updated at 15h27 **

Abdel,
I agree with you entirely. I have never agreed with the American invasion. The only thing I wanted to point out was the fact this war was started for money... and continues because of proft.
I have stumbled upon an article from Reuters in The Age, reporting the occupation costs 5 billion dollars a month. Seems the Americans have no choice but to stay, in hopes of making some profit.

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