I refer to ' The Iraq war not about WMDs but oil ' . Saying that the war o­n Iraq is o­nly about oil reflects NE's lack of knowledge about the oil industry. It would be more accurate to say that the first Gulf War was more directly about oil.

The world's oil reserves in not a static figure, but determined by technology, politics and economics. Since the first Gulf War more than a decade ago, oil exploration technology has changed considerably, but Iraq did not benefit from the improvement as much as other producers as a result of the UN embargo, and Saddam's obsession with power and aggression.

As such, Iraq now accounts for o­nly 3 percent of the world's proven oil reserves. Therefore, it is foolish to suggest that the Iraq war is about oil.

The war is directly about oil to the extent that Saddam, with WMD, can intimidate other oil-producing Arab nations (apart from terrorist groups) to abide by his evil wishes to the detriment of US and its allies. o­ne must remember that Iraq invaded Kuwait a decade ago for its oil.

Does NE seriously believe US and UK can make money from Iraqi oil production without political

repercussion?

As it stands, the coalition forces are encountering severe difficulties o­n the issue of reconstructing Iraq. To stake claim o­n Iraqi oil-fields would be political suicide o­n the international arena. I am sure Bush and Blair are not that stupid.