[Polynikes]

Originally Posted by SpartanStu

From the IEA

Oil Production

In 2006, Iraq’s upstream crude oil production under the control of the regional state-owned oil companies averaged 2.0 million barrels per day (bbl/d), down from around 2.6 million bbl/d of production and a nameplate capacity of 2.8 to 3.0 million bbl/d in pre-invasion January 2003. Estimates of Iraq’s current production levels vary and metering systems have been put in place at Basrah to improve export accounting.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/Iraq/Oil.html

This page conflicts from your BBC info.
Iraq oil exports and revenue up, but production is down… at Iraq Oil Report

This page conflicts from your BBC info too.
Iraq's revival boosted as oil production rises to 2.4m barrels a day - Times Online

This page conflicts with your BBC info as well.
Power cuts plague Iraq, hurt oil production | Reuters

I believe all of these reports are dated after your reference. (except the Gov. info on pre war Iraq oil production.

Good quotes. They are newer. Sounds like there was a little dropoff from March to April. Things are revving back up again.

Here's a little something even more recent:

Analysis: The new Iraq rebuilding report - UPI.com

Although both crude production and crude exports are above target levels, Iraq is not taking full advantage of higher oil prices," the report said. "Inadequate investment in the infrastructure hindered production and export gains."

Iraq produced an average of 2.38 million barrels per day in the first three months of 2008, exporting an average of 1.97 million bpd, a post-war high, according to the SIGIR report. Exact numbers for oil production and export are impossible as Iraq hasn't implemented the needed modernized oil flow accounting system yet, sometimes putting SIGIR report numbers at odds with Iraqi government, other U.S. government and other international reports

Sounds like there is some trouble getting exact numbers. Further, the Iraqi's think they are going to go to 6,000,000 barrels of production.

This flies in the face of the liberal talking point of: EVERYTHING WAS GREAT IN IRAQ. STABLE. WE'LL NEVER GET THEM BACK TO PREWAR LEVELS.

Here's a little extra fun:

Meanwhile, demand continues to grow at a faster pace than power production and capacity and in first quarter 2008 Iraqis needed 7,882 megawatts per day compared with the 3,985 MW per day supplied, including 225 MW of Iranian and Turkish imports.

Iraq's operating capacity was 4,300 MW in 2003 and is now 10,000 MW. "Approximately 2,200 MW in new and rehabilitated power has been added as a result of U.S.-funded projects," the SIGIR report said, with $4.46 billion spent of the $4.91 billion allocated.