Badara

[Drax]

FRSC THINKS QOS MAY BE BEYOND REGULATION
 
MANARA  ALBRAYD SRIA AL-MUSAMI
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)
 
Bier Qassem, February 17, 5714: The Monsoon asked former Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz if the Free Radical Supper Club faction in the Majlis was going to participate as a party in the next election and, if so, how they would present themselves, and Aziz replied:
 

Yes, think we will be ambiguous about whether to shorten the name to Free Radicals, a party which was operating here about 900 years ago, or keep the faction name for the party.  Either way, our mission will change somewhat.
 
Our faction was acting as a bridge between the members of the Majlis who really wanted governmental institutions to be working again and those members who really wanted to prevent a return to massive corruption, benefits only flowing to the rich and powerful, and domination by the oligarchy.
 
With several actual parties wanting to run things, believe there is a need for us to have a slightly different mission.  We will be presenting ourselves as technocratic problem solvers protecting the safety net and individual liberties.


We have credibility in shaping and making the structure of the government workable particularly in restoring the safety net and financial stability.  In a multi party system such as ours, predicting outcomes is difficult; but I can say we expect to do well on the next round and are talking to potential coalition partners.

Asked by the Monsoon if he felt there were institutions beyond the regulatory authority of the Government, and Aziz responded:
 

Of course.  You are likely thinking of the General Intelligence Service (GIS).  Its head is picked by a Governing Board.  Consisting of whom? And who selected them? And funded by whom? Probably the government. But possibly by parts of the oligarchy.  The GIS did restore Al’Baharia to the nation on good terms.  So honestly there is little appetite to make GIS more accountable. 
 
But there is another. Qat Oil Services (QOS) saw that nationalizing everything was likely so it went international.  Built and serviced oil rigs off Rildanor and in in Lake Majatra. Helped the Kafuris get their oil operation going again.  So we could nationalize them or regulate them to the nth degree and how would they respond.  QOS would leave again leaving a vast hole in our expertise, employment  and operating capacity.
 
What all do they do? They do not refine crude oil. They do occasionally purchase oil leases.  They provide exploration, drilling and extraction services to oil lease holders.  Sometimes as joint ventures and sometimes as contractors for services.  They have a transport fleet for crude oil, liquefied natural gas and refined petroleum products.  And they market crude oil domestically and internationally in their own name and as agents of others.

A majority of our crude oil passes through QOS at one stage or another.    And who knows where all they have invested. Or in what industries or institutions.  So do not think we want to suggest QOS go on its travels again.  Certainly not now.

FRSC's Aziz