Oil Vultures Gather Around Iraq's Corpse

"As Iraq's political factions move closer to forming a new government, the world's oil leaders are dusting off their Baghdad Rolodexes with an eye toward lucrative production agreements."

"The world's three biggest integrated oil companies -- BP PLC, Exxon Mobil Corp. and the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Cos. -- recently struck cooperation or training deals with Iraq. France's Total SA regularly invites Iraqi engineers to Paris for training."