Ten deals makes a happy minister

BAGHDAD - Even in the cut-throat world of modern Iraqi politics, there may be no one who has persevered like Iraq's Oil Minister, Hussain al-Shahristani.

He holds a highly politicized job as Iraq decides how decentralized and denationalized its oil sector will be. He's being urged to act fast, since Iraqi oil sales are nearly the sole source of revenue for the country, which needs to fund expensive reconstruction efforts.