James Baker’s Double Life – Bush’s special envoy has a private interest in Iraqi debt, documents reveal. By Naomi Klein *

When President Bush appointed former Secretary of State James Baker III as his envoy on Iraq’s debt on December 5, 2003, he called Baker’s job “a noble mission.” At the time, there was widespread concern about whether Baker’s extensive business dealings in the Middle East would compromise that mission, which is to meet with heads of state and persuade them to forgive the debts

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World Bank. Iraq: New Partnership to Improve Public Sector Governance, Increase Private Sector Participation, and Rebuild Human Capital

Washington DC, August 05, 2021—The World Bank Group has renewed its commitment to the continued support of Iraq, approving a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to form the basis of its 2022–2026 partnership with the country. The framework lays out the main development goals the World Bank Group aims to support in Iraq and proposes a series of strategic interventions to hel

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Iraq, the United States, and the “New” Middle East. By Anthony H. Cordesman

The U.S. “long war” in Afghanistan may be ending, although it is far from clear what will happen when U.S. forces fully withdraw, and there is no way to predict what kind of new government will emerge and what level of U.S. aid and assistance – if any – will continue. The story in Iraq, however, is very different. The “long war” in Iraq against ISIS and extremist movements has

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Kurdistan gives oil companies 18-month deadline to end gas flaring

The unexpected directive could spur progress toward ending the wasteful and environmentally damaging practice of flaring, but it also raises concerns for oil companies. Kurdistan gives oil companies 18-month deadline to end gas flaring A flare burns at the Taq Taq oil field in 2016. (STAFF/Iraq Oil Report) By LIZZIE PORTER AND RAWAZ TAHIR of Iraq Oil Report Publishe

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