Iraq Oil Law Protests Roll Into DC

Rolling oil barrels with “Hands Off Iraqi Oil” spray-painted on the sides, labor and anti-war activists marched down icy downtown DC  streets Friday to protest an Iraq oil law they fear would turn over Iraq’s oil reserves to foreign oil companies. “Iraq oil is not war loot for the oil companies,” said Trina Zahller of Oil Change International at a press conference prior to the march, which concluded near the White House. Calling the law “a total disaster” for Iraqis, Gene Bruskin of US Labor Against the War said Iraq’s future success depends on the country maintaining control of its own oil resources. The law – which has been stalled in the Iraqi Parliament since its passage by the Iraqi Cabinet a year ago – has run into strong opposition from the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions. “Iraqi workers have been fighting for independence, the rights of union workers and against privatization,” Bruskin added. The event was one of dozens that took place in the US, England, and Iraq Friday and Saturday to protest the law and the occupation of Iraq. – reported on the Iraq Oil Report website