Author Daniel Yergin narrated the oil century in his book “The Prize: the Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power,” which won a Pulitzer prize. This week he helps us take a look back at the history of Iraqi oil following that first gusher in Kirkuk.
Almanac/Iraqi Gold
This week we have facts about the discovery of oil in Kirkuk, Iraq. Seventy five years ago, explorers struck black gold in Baba Gurgur, a region of Iraq know for its small “eternal fires” fed by natural gas leaks.
The northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk has not seen the level of violence that has plagued other areas in Iraq in recent years, but that changed today. A suicide bomber killed dozens of people today.
Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with The World’s Quil Lawrence about his new book, “Invisible Nation: How the Kurds’ Quest for Statehood is shaping Iraq and the Middle East.”
The World – Episode 20071218 – The status of Kirkuk
The World’s Katy Clark reports on the power struggle over the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. The oil-rich city is an ethnic mix of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen. And it’s seen as a potential flashpoint for Iraq.
