It’s nice once in a while to get a laugh out of an otherwise grim situation. Iraqis were once fairly well off, but this morning CNN did a story on the destitute economy and 60 percent unemployment after more than four years of occupation. The people know that their country could be as wealthy as Saudi Arabia if not for Saddam and the Americans.

Desperate as they may be, Iraqis are proud enough that they might not bow down to the oil companies after all. A committee of experts has advised the parliament to reject the latest draft of the oil law.