Regarding the possibility of Petronas chief Mohd Hassan Marican becoming the Iraq oil chief, were he offered the job and should he accept it or not, surely the drop in oil price will happen, if Aizuddin's exciting projections hold true.

In any case, if Hassan were to get the job, he would most certainly be in familiar territory where instructions and compliance go hand in hand.

Just like when he was instructed to stop payment of oil royalty to Terengganu notwithstanding the existence of a valid and binding agreement, Hassan may well face similar instructions from US President George W Bush and his men. And his defined job scope will give way to the specific demands of his neo-conservative Yankee bosses.

By accepting the offer, if it comes, Hassan will conveniently fall with his legs between the laid-out palms of the neo-cons.