One Is a Genius, the Other Insane

Gee, Brain, what are we going to do tonight?

The same thing we do every night, Pinky; try to take over the world! My secret energy task force has obtained the strategic maps of Iraq's oil fields. Are you pondering what I'm pondering, Pinky?

I think so, Brain *narf*, but don't camels spit a lot?

Pinky, you fool! Don't you see; with those oil reserves under our control, nobody will be able to stop us!

Iraqis face the dire prospect of losing up to $200bn (£116bn) of the wealth of their country if an American-inspired plan to hand over development of its oil reserves to US and British multinationals comes into force next year. A report produced by American and British pressure groups warns Iraq will be caught in an "old colonial trap" if it allows foreign companies to take a share of its vast energy reserves.

...According to the report, from groups including War on Want and the New Economics Foundation (NEF), the new Iraqi constitution opened the way for greater foreign investment. Negotiations with oil companies are already under way ahead of next month's election and before legislation is passed.

...Yesterday's report said the use of production sharing agreements (PSAs) was proposed by the US State Department before the invasion and adopted by the Coalition Provisional Authority. "The current government is fast-tracking the process. It is already negotiating contracts with oil companies in parallel with the constitutional process, elections and passage of a Petroleum Law," the report, Crude Designs, said.

Earlier this year a BBC Newsnight report claimed to have uncovered documents showing the Bush administration made plans to secure Iraqi oil even before the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US.

Narf! Sounds good, Brain! But it doesn't sound very bomby; where're the bombs, Brain? Maybe we could drop a few on those Al-Jazeera blokes? They've never liked us.

Don't be silly, Pinky; our plan will never succeed without Qatar's support. Besides, I don't think Pharfignewton will like that very much.

PRESIDENT Bush planned to bomb Arab TV station al-Jazeera in friendly Qatar, a "Top Secret" No 10 memo reveals.

But he was talked out of it at a White House summit by Tony Blair, who said it would provoke a worldwide backlash.

A source said: "There's no doubt what Bush wanted, and no doubt Blair didn't want him to do it." Al-Jazeera is accused by the US of fuelling the Iraqi insurgency.

Troz! You're right, Brain!

Of course. Are you pondering what I'm pondering, Pinky?

Yes Brain, but if our knees bent the other way, how would we ride a bicycle?



wing tip to dailykos and this lovely website, which has catalogued all of Pinky and the Brain's "are you pondering what I'm pondering?" exchanges