On August 5, 2003, the Americans' hope of controlling the Iraqi's oil industry and, indirectly, the cost of oil is failing. The oil production in Iraq is still very limited due to the poor state of the equipments, the effects of the war and, now, sabotage. As a result the owners of the Iraqi's oil have no way to impose a reduction of the oil price on the world market that is still dominated by Saudi Arabia.

On August 8, 2003, we were told that Bechtel, one of the main bidders for work in the oil industry in Iraq, dropped out of the US Army's tendering process to apply directly to the Iraqi oil ministry for work. They said that this is due to the fact that Halliburton, the old firm of US Vice-president Dick Cheney, is unfairly favoured. In addition control is returning steadily to Iraq.