Iraq
The Lamassu is a celestial being from ancient Mesopotamian religion, dating back to the pre-Babylonian period of modern day Iraq.
It was adopted as an emblem by the British Army in Iraq in the 1940s, and by American military forces following the invasion of 2003. Months ahead of this invasion, BP were in talks with the UK government about accessing the country’s oil reserves.
BP, in collaboration with China National Petroleum Corporation, is now an operator of the Rumaila oil field in Iraq. If it reaches estimated production, it will become the second largest oil field in the world. It was negotiated that BP would be compensated by the Iraqi government for any civil unrest or government decisions to cut production.
If two fish fight in the Tigris, the English are behind them.
— An old Iraqi saying from colonial times about the art of divide and rule
Further Reading