THE FIRST POST WAR CONTRACTS for Iraqi oil to be let today or tomorrow. Will this help stifle those who profess to believe we are in there to steal their oil...or will this just further encourage them? If you don't mind, I'll just sit this bet out.

The spokesman insisted there would be no discrimination against firms from countries which had declined to take part in the US-led war.

"It is a completely open bidding procedure," he said.

The story is here.