RE: Apikur16 Apr 2024 18:33
Situation appears to be continuing ad-infinitum:
Baghdad wants Erbil to give up their semi-autominous status, and get them (Kurd oil fields and revenues) back under their control.
Erbil wants an independent state for the Kurds, and the ruling family will take over fully, if they then can get us annoying little IOCs out, and auction off the oilfields anew to whoever - then think of the signing fees and the scope for the return of fullscale pilferring (without Baghdad interfering for their cuts this time).
Both parties want to collect US aide at all costs (the general population will see none of it, of course).
Nobody wants to pay our overdue debts, naturally.
These reasons are why Akipur has no significant ‘say’ in anything, and are a token attempt at honesty and fairness in a hugely corrupt region.