ExxonMobil this month became the first U.S. oil company in 35 years to sign an oil-production contract with the government of Iraq. Several other contracts with the world's largest oil companies are being finalized, and more are expected when a new negotiating round kicks off in Baghdad on Dec. 11. Do these contracts represent a "victory" for Big Oil in Iraq? Yes ...

Before the United States and Britain invaded Iraq in March 2003, their oil companies were shut out of contracts negotiated by the government of Saddam Hussein. Today, more than six years of war later, Saddam is gone, and the U.S. and British oil companies are not only in on the oil contracts, they have managed to sweeten the terms.

If the negotiations proceed on their current path, foreign companies will produce the vast majority of Iraq's oil.

Cartoonist Rob Rogers does "Rob's Rough," an early look at his work and his creative process, exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.