ayad allawi. i was in discussion this morning trying to take the temperature of where we are on these steps. there are also some names that are floating on compromised candidates for both of those ministries that you mentioned. again, we are encouraged by what we've heard over the last several days, but the proof is in the putting and we have to see if they will pp finish the job. it is important that they finish the job and get on with the business of our government. and on the oil account, two positive developments. as with everything else in iraq, it moves forward in relatively small steps, senator, but it does move forward. the kurds and the other coalition policies that agree on the 19-point plan that includes giving priority to a hydrocarbons law and a revenue-sharing law. in the meantime, prime minister allawi and the kurdish government have agreed on an interim step of allowing up to 150 million barrels of oil to flow out through the tush i. pipeline. this is a very significant development

a national council for higher policies with real executive power headed by former prime minister allawi. there's an agreement that the council be created, but there's no agreement yet on what their powers are. i think i misspoke. there's an agreement that such a council be be created, but there's no treatment yet on what -- agreement yet on what the powers of that council will be. the positions of ministers of defense, interior, national security are still unfilled. there is no agreement yet on oil policies, the division of oil revenues. these are huge issues that remain unresolved, and i believe threaten the goals and objectives that were and, hopefully, the iraqis have for themselves. can you comment on this matter? is it important that the leaders of iraq get on with the decisions in those areas, ambassador? >> thank you, mr. chairman. >> and we're going to have a seven-minute round, by the way. i usually announce how long the round of questions had been. >> it is vitally important that they finish the job of forming the government. they've taken most of the steps necessary, but you'