MntGoat’s latest on July 13, 2023 is a mixed bag, optimistic and pessimistic. It seemed like the RV was all but in the bag, awaiting the inevitable project to delete the zeros, but something’s happened to delay it.
We know the reinstatement is planned or should I say was planned. The project to delete the zeros was even announced in the Mosques on both past Fridays but where is it?
She goes on to say that she thinks entities in the US are primarily responsible for the holdup, speculating over three variations of reasoning:
- they still see too much corruption in Iraq or potential for bad actors to profit off of the RV
- they are themselves terribly corrupt and fear that pulling the trigger could reveal their corruption
- they are committed to holding out until the Oil and Gas Law is finalized and in place.
MntGoat also discusses the question: so much money has flowed into Iraq, why is the country’s infrastructure still so beat-down, and war-damage still in evidence? (Answer: corruption and provincialism)
She discusses the new fuel-swap arrangements with Iran. Iraq and Iran have established a trade where Iran provides electricity and natural gas to feed Iraq’s electricity generators (a chronic issue) and Iraq provides “black” oil (raw crude and fuel-oil, I think) in return. No dollars involved, so no sanctions-violations, they think. Personally, I think we’ll know something is fishy if the US government agrees or fails to act on it (of course it is a sanctions violation!).
MntGoat has much more, and much more depth. I strongly encourage you to visit her blog.