Now we hear that it is needed because Iraq has cut off oil exports.

Under Russian law, the government has some control over oil exports.

With new found oil export to other countries and pay down our national debt.

More than 90 percent of Iraq's government revenues come from oil exports.

Oil exports provide about 60 percent of Soviet foreign exchange.

Libya gets 98 percent of its income from oil exports.

Indeed, Iraq's oil exports have effectively been shut off already.

Half or somewhat more - about $3.5 billion - would come from oil exports, they said.

Solar energy is not yet popular in Russia because of the country's focus on oil exports, she said.

Oil exports are Baghdad's main source of money to buy food and weapons.