Following the National Security Council’s February 24, 2003, briefing on what would happen to the Iraqi oil industry in the event of war: “The president [Bush] affirmed the need to enlist Iraqis and Americans knowledgeable about the oil business to help run the sector. ‘We want to put an Iraqi face on the temporary oil administration,’ he said…The early revenues should go directly to the Iraqis, he added. ‘Repayment of debt ought to be the last in line….I’m worried about the adequacy of the oil market,’ the president stated, expressing concern for the world market’s ability to absorb temporary shortfalls during a war in the Middle East.”
– Bob Woodward, Plan of Attack, Pages 323-324