US Treasury sees 'window of opportunity' for Iraq economic reform
02/29/08
WASHINGTON (Thomson Financial) - Iraq's government has made real progress on economic reform over the last year, and with better security now has a chance to make much more progress improving the standard of living of its people, a senior US Treasury official said today.
"There is a window of opportunity on the economic reform side that has been created by the security improvement," Undersecretary of Treasury for International Affairs David McCormick told reporters in a briefing after returning from two days of meetings with Iraqi economic officials in Baghdad. Now, it is "critical that they seize the opportunity on the economic side," he said.
Over the past year, for example, headline inflation has fallen below 2 pct from more than 65 pct at the end of 2006. The government has also signed a new economic program and stand-by lending agreement with the International Monetary Fund. It sets out economic benchmarks but does not provide immediate loans.
The IMF said "despite difficult conditions, Iraq has made progress toward stabilizing the economy," but that the economic outlook "hinges on improved security." The 2008 program includes maintaining lower inflation and expanding infrastructure projects in electricity, water, sanitation, education and health care.
McCormick emphasized that US Treasury technical assistance will focus on what officials call "budget execution" as the key reform goal ahead. That is a somewhat euphemistic way of referring to the fact that Iraq has lacked even the basic administrative ability to spend the oil revenue or aid accumulating in the government accounts, and lacked any reasonable accounting system to prevent massive portions of what it did spend from being diverted by corruption.
But McCormick said Iraq has made enough progress that there is a shift from reconstruction to development and toward building governing and banking capacity. Treasury also plans on doubling its assistance staff in Iraq to 24.
McCormick would not accept the wording, but he did seem to be describing a situation in which, despite ongoing stalemate at the political level, there are bureaucrats in the government who still manage to make progress on some basic economic issues.
One particular political stalemate, the inability to pass an oil revenue distribution law, does remain a significant barrier to economic reform and progress in the average Iraqi's standard of living, McCormick said.
You asked, "I would like to get you're opinions regarding M2 and the value of the Dinar. Does either an increase or decrease in M2 affect the value of the Dinar?"
My view is that NOTHING affects the value of the Dinar directly. It all goes through a process which is not market or demand driven, really. It is not in that sense "free"... therefore the value of the Dinar may be moved up or down but it isn't a direct relationship, someone (think of it as a cartel) is behind it moving the levers of economic value. So the M2 will only affect the Dinar value if the persons who are behind the daily values base their valuations on the increase or decrease of the M2. There is no direct relationship as it is not free floating with market force volatility affecting its value. It is what they call "a managed float". We see it move up and down, but it is not really in response to the market, but in response to the managers who are "managing" the float and what they call once they see various factors which may affect its value (such as the M2, economy, etc). Have you noted in all the money documents which come out that they praise the Iraqi money managers for doing a good job with setting the value of the Dinar and keeping it well managed? Iraq does not have a true free market value or a free float. It has money managers who manage the value of the Dinar and do so within set guidelines, as those documents point out.
If I think what your asking for I have an answer to you, but I'm a bit in the blue as to what bank you are referring to when you say that "The Dollar was bought up and the Dinar buying was down at one point".
I assume you are referring to the CBI's official page where the daily auction is announced and where it says how much Dollar was sold and how much was bought.
Well, actually it is not Dinars that are bought and sold, it is Dollars.
CBI issues Dinars, and have as many of them as you could wish for, but have to control the amount in circulation.
The auction is a mean for CBI to legitimize a value for the Dinar.
Imagine you are sitting on a desolate island, and have only monopoly money, worth nothing, but there are a couple of other people on this island, and you have all declared it a nation of your own.
Na monopoly money was perhaps not a good example, but lets say you have printed up a lot of bills, and you call them Credits.
You have 1, 5, 10 25 Credit bills, and you have a bundle of them.
You must create some kind of value to those bills, and one of the simplest ways is to have those bills exchanged somewhere toward a big and known currency. (Dollar)
You are producing fish, fish oil, and sheep wool in abundance from that small little island.
From those products you are getting Dollars.
Here is the trick...set any value you want on your Credit's, and make an auction out of it,.... but you can only buy the Dollar offered, with your Credits that you have neatly printed up in different denominations for your island kingdom.
If you bought much or little doesn't matter, because you have already in before hand set the exchange rate.
Just by the fact that you now have an auction and have in fact done an exchange between Dollar and Credits, make the Credits officially exchangeable with Dollar to that rate you set for that day.
The amount of Dollar bought or sold is of less importance. That's just smoke and mirrors, the RATE you bought or sold it for is the key.
Once you have established an exchange rate with one currency you will automatically have a level of exchange rate with other currencies as well.
You can now officially circulate your Credits on your island kingdom, and announce that they have already been exchanged for Dollars with such and such value, so...that is the value your Island Kingdom Credits are worth.
The Iraqi auction is an in-house auction, they're basically selling to themselves, so the money bought and sold stays in the house.
The amount you see on the auction site doesn't really reflect anything more other than how much Dollars they sold that day, it doesn't reflect the total state income.
Usually they put up as much Dollar on the auction that they need for their daily state budget.
Iraq is not a poor nation with any means, just a confused nation. Iraq have very big reserves both in Dollar and Gold.( and of course very very big reserves in oil)
Some bloggers have been spinning on the idea that the Iraqis are buying up Dinars with Dollars on the auction.
That's not the way it works.
They can withdraw and destroy as much Dinars they wish without auction, for heavens sake, they're sitting on them.
No need to buy anything with any Dollars, you just need to open a door and cart out a load of Dinars, if you want more in circulation, or burn some, whatever you wish.
The Dinar, the vast amount of bundles of paper they're storing...THAT is what they fork up for the Dollar.
Dollars that are bought by Dinars (in the auction) can be bought by either new issued Dinars OR old circulated Dinars.
So Laura, the amount of Dollar sold one day in comparison with another day, is of lesser significance.
===end quote===
So you see, we are not dealing with a real world scenerio.. we are in an "Island Kingdom" playing a monopoly game.. which has no relationship to the real world, the real Dinar value or the cash, gold and oil reserves of Iraq. It is based on the value set by the "king" in the scenerio that Roger outlined, not on the value of the cash, gold or oil.. or the M2 supply.
You then ask, "What if the Dinar is allowed to free float within the specific limits of cash reserves and gold? How will this affect the value of the Dinar?"
Here we are finally speaking of real market value.. a FREE FLOAT.. within the limits of its cash reserves and gold. This is now out of monopoly land. Certainly within that scenerio, Iraq would come out at LEAST as valuable as its neighboring countries.. in the 30 cent USD range. I cannot see that Iraqi currency is worth LESS than their neighboring countries' currency, in a free floating REAL market value.
As for the higher valuations often mentioned on other Dinar sites, it is only when people figure in the idea of monetizing the oil reserves.. which adds to the cash and gold figure.. that they come up with those larger valuations. Put on the market now at its current value, I think it is worth around 30 cents USD.
I think the 30 cents USD valuation is a good starting point for a truly free Iraqi currency and I believe it would have that value as solidly as the surrounding countries do. Why do they not allow this to happen? One scenerio which I have supposed is that they consider the potential for war with Iran so great that this would harm the fledgling new value so they are unwilling to allow it. Iran making war a constant reality (through helping militants) and threat (through seeking nuclear arms) could be a very influential factor preventing the "money managers" from being comfortable with giving Iraq the ability to trade freely (as do other currencies) based on their real worth (cash and gold reserves). Perhaps we are stuck in a monopoly game without end or real value to the Dinar instead of the real world based on their fears of Iran creating war if they go to real time instead of fairytales. In the monopoly world they have created, they can live in their imaginary kingdom forever.. without it affecting their currency. If they let it go to market.. they don't know what will happen. Stability is a key to investment so they keep their currency stable this way. Smoke and mirrors as Roger said... indeed.
Another scenerio I toy with when I read a lot about the corruption in Iraq is this.. We keep hoping for a RV.. but they never have to give one. They can live in fairyland forever if they wish to. They don't ever have to join the real world. They just make it LOOK real. There are no market forces changing the value of the Dinar. It is completely internally driven. They take our dollars when we buy Dinars and that is real money for monopoly money. They take real money for the goods they sell, too. But they never have to make their monopoly money worth anything on the market if they do not want to. They are insulated from the real world and can choose to stay that way.. impoverishing the population forever while the king and his court get their cut of the real money and wealth flowing through the country. They are monetary imperialists.. that is, they extend their authority over the people by establishing an economic stranglehold on the wealth of the country by their artificially setting the value of the Dinar.
Take your pick.. or suggest one of your own. Why do you think they live in monopoly land instead of in the real world? Are they unwilling to let the "infidels" get the real value of their currency, and so enrich us? Is it religiously motivated? Is it due to fears of war? Due to corruption and greed? Due to a desire to have power over the people and keep them impoverished? There are many scenerios.. only God knows I guess. Which do you think most viable?
I go back to the spiritual causes (because they are the highest and rule over all). Remember what I shared about seeing those huge spirits of Persia which have been there since the time of Daniel? Spiritually, there are forces which do not wish to allow it. Do they use false religious views about enriching the evil West, Iraqi greed, corruption, power-mongering and fears of war to further their aims to keep the Iraqi people impoverished and at their mercy? (They have no mercy, by the way - see the news for what they motivate men to do to keep Iraq unstable.) Well.. I certainly think they are doing so... manipulating us humans for their infernal purposes, I mean. My view is to wait on God until He moves to make this happen.. as I am certain He wills it to go and will work it all out somehow in His way and time. I don't think the problem is political.. it is spiritual as the powers of darkness use these factors to prevent the RV... playing on fears, corruption, greed or lust for power. I'm just sad to see so many are their puppets. They have come so close to doing the right thing.. then pull back as the powers of darkness appeal to the human factors of greed, lust, fear, false religious zeal or false patriotism, etc. I wonder how long they can continue to do so.. how long they will remain in their grasp.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Fortunes of War: Death and Chaos No Problem for Profit-Seekers in Iraq
Written by Chris Floyd
Monday, 25 February 2008
We have long been told that the "security situation" in Iraq is the reason why the loudly promised "reconstruction" of the shattered nation by altruistic Western firms has been thwarted. Foreign corporations, particularly the oil companies, are eager to come to the aid of the suffering Iraqi people with expertise, technology and massive investment -- just as soon as those quarrelsome Arabs settle down and stop killing each other.
So the story goes. But as usual, the truth is far from that. As the British government's top advisor revealed this week in a remarkably candid interview with the Observer, Western business leaders don't care how many Iraqis die -- or who kills them -- just as long as their own profits can be guaranteed. It is the oil law -- not civil war, sectarian strife, or the cynical U.S. "surge" policy of arming all sides to guarantee continuing conflict -- that is holding up Western investment.
That's the word from Michael Wareing, chief executive of the multinational consultancy firm KPMG. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has put Wareing in charge of the Basra Development Commission, the Big Business quango tasked with developing southern Iraq -- where British forces once held sway, but now hide away in a remote enclave while Shiite militias and criminal gangs battle for control of the lucrative region.
Wareing told the paper that security in the area "was no longer an issue for investors." After all, he said, you will often find a spot of bother amongst the dusky peoples who have unaccountably found themselves living on top of America and Britain's oil:
"If you look at many other economies in the world, particularly the oil-rich economies, many of these places are quite challenging places in which to do business," he said. "Frankly, if you can successfully operate in the Niger Delta, that is a very different benchmark from imagining that Basra needs to be like London or Paris."
Indeed. You don't have to bring the savages up to the level of white folks in order to get in there and grab their oil. (And certainly not to the level of London or Paris! The very idea!) Again, Wareing is quite frank on this point:
Iraq's parliament has yet to pass a hydrocarbon law setting out the terms oil companies will operate on and how profits will be split. "My sense is that many of the oil companies are very eager to come in now, and actually what they're waiting for is the hydrocarbon law to be passed and various projects to be signed off. That is what is causing them to pause, rather than the security position," he said.
And what is the "security position" in this very juicy slice of the Iraqi pie? (As the Observer notes, the Basra region "accounts for 90 percent of government revenue and 70 percent of Iraq's proven oil reserves.") Commondreams.org gives us the lowdown on a situation that is perfectly acceptable to KPMG, the oil companies, Her Majesty's Government -- and Her Majesty's Government's true masters in Washington:
In Basra, Iraq’s second largest city, 2008 was ushered in with an announcement of the 2007 death toll of women targeted by Islamist militias. City officials reported on December 31 that 133 women were killed and mutilated last year, their bodies dumped in trash bins with notes warning others against “violating Islamic teachings…” But ambulance drivers who are hired to troll the city streets in the early mornings to collect the bodies confirm what most residents believe: the actual numbers are much higher.
The killers’ leaflets are not very original. They usually accuse the women of being prostitutes or adulterers. But those murdered are more likely to be doctors, professors, or journalists...Their crime is not “promiscuity,” but rather opposition to the transformation of Iraq into an Islamist state. That bloody transition has been the main political trend under US occupation.
It’s no secret who is killing the women of Basra. Shiite political forces empowered by the US invasion have been terrorizing women there since 2003.
The Observer story on Wareing has more:
Basra fell largely under the control of Shia militias after the ousting of Saddam Hussein and has witnessed a violent turf war, as well as high rates of murder and kidnapping. Corruption is rife, residents are afraid to use banks in case they are robbed and smuggling of oil and other goods helps fund militias and criminal gangs. Unemployment has been put at between 30 per cent and 60 per cent, and the agricultural sector is in serious decline as cheap imports grow.
An insight into the situation in Basra is also provided in a second candid interview that appeared in the same issue of the Observer, this time with one of Britain's top military men in the region:
In an unusually frank analysis, Colonel Richard Iron, military mentor to the Iraqi commander General Mohan al-Furayji, said "There's an uneasy peace between the Iraqi Security Forces [ISF] on the one hand and the militias on the other. There is a sense in the ISF that confrontation is inevitable. They are training and preparing for the battle ahead. General Mohan says that the US won the battle for Baghdad, the US is going win the battle for Mosul, but Iraqis will have to win the battle for Basra."
Basra has been the scene of a violent power struggle between rival Shia factions, prominently Jaish al-Mahdi (JAM) led by the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who last week announced an extension to its six-month ceasefire. It has seen armed groups move into hospitals and university campuses to impose their religious and political ideology, bullying or even beheading women for going out to work or dressing inappropriately.
Asked who runs the city now, Iron, who has been in Basra since December, said: "There's no one in charge. The unwritten rules of the game are there are areas where the army can and can't go and areas where JAM can and can't take weapons."
"There's no one in charge." Think of that: five years after the invasion of Iraq, a trillion dollars gone, a million people killed, and still, "there's no one in charge." The extremist Shiite militias -- including the militia known as the American-armed, American-funded, American-backed Iraqi government – are sharpening their knives for the eventual showdown within the sect; women are being killed and mutilated; professionals, doctors and teachers are being snatched off the streets, murdered or driven out; the city and region are being carved up into warring fiefdoms; murder and thievery are rampant; the chance for an ordinary, decent human life is receding for a population plunged into violent anarchy and immense suffering ...but none of this is "an issue for investors." They could not care less. If the Green Zone gang back in Baghdad can just get this damn oil law signed already, then Big Oil and its attendant industries will move in and start restoring and expanding the infrastructure of the Iraqi economy.
Naturally, since Nigeria is the openly stated model for what's to come, the actual people of Iraq will get the barest trickle of this bumper harvest of their national wealth. As in Nigeria, most of it will be shipped back to the West and spread around a thin layer of corrupt and corrupting local elites, while the majority lives in poverty and the society is riven with ethnic, religious and political conflict spurred by the twin goads of greed and vast injustice.
Wareing's revelations tie in to what we've been saying here (and elsewhere) for years: the Bush Faction (and the various elites it represents and embodies) has already "won" the war – no matter what happens. As I wrote here last fall, combining threads from a series of articles going back to August 2003:
In a world of dwindling petroleum resources, those who control large reserves of cheaply-produced oil will reap unimaginable profits – and command the heights of the global economy. It's not just about profit, of course; control of such resources would offer tremendous strategic advantages to anyone who was interested in "full spectrum domination" of world affairs, which the Bush-Cheney faction and their outriders among the neocons and the "national greatness" fanatics have openly sought for years. With its twin engines of corporate greed and military empire, the war in Iraq is a marriage made in Valhalla.
And this unholy union is what Bush is really talking about when he talks about "victory." This is the reason for so much of the drift and dithering and chaos and incompetence of the occupation: Bush and his cohorts don't really care what happens on the ground in Iraq – they care about what comes out of the ground. The end – profit and dominion – justifies any means. What happens to the human beings caught up in the war is of no ultimate importance; the game is worth any number of broken candles.
And in plain point of fact, the Bush-Cheney faction – and the elite interests they represent – has already won the war in Iraq...They've won even if Iraq collapses into perpetual anarchy, or becomes an extremist religious state; they've won even if the whole region goes up in flames, and terrorism flares to unprecedented heights – because this will just mean more war-profiteering, more fear-profiteering. And yes, they've won even if they lose their majority [in November 2006] or the presidency in 2008, because war and fear will still fill their coffers, buying them continuing influence and power as they bide their time through another interregnum of a Democratic "centrist" – who will, at best, only nibble at the edges of the militarist state – until they are back in the saddle again. The only way they can lose the Iraq War is if they are actually arrested and imprisoned for their war crimes. And you know and I know that's not going to happen.
So Bush's confident strut, his incessant upbeat pronouncements about the war, his complacent smirks, his callous indifference to the unspeakable horror he has unleashed in Iraq – these are not the hallmarks of self-delusion, or willful ignorance, or a disassociation from reality. He and his accomplices know full well what the reality is – and they like it.
Well I'm thinking, that it is in the better interest of Turkey Iraq and the US if the Turks are going in, doing what they are doing, (I think they claimed over 250 PKK's or there about) , and then get out, there is no indication if they were to get back in, and do another hit.
Who would this favor, well what is PKK, they are a terrorist band, in their eyes they are probably another version of "freedom fighters" with their own reasons, but either way, they are 1. Not a regular force. 2. Not under Kurdish official regime. ( there might very well be sympathy , silent agreements and mutual understandings on many issues , but still PKK is NOT under the official Kurdish Government.)....in fact not under ANY government. 3. They need funding, for weapons and materiel. 4. Iran need to move convoys of Katusha rockers to Lebanon via Syria.5. Iran needs to take the shortest route between Iran and Syria.5. Look at your map, where do they do that, and who do they buy out?.
Iran is for sure not sending convoys via Baghdad, Kuwait, Jordan or anywhere else.
So, northern Iraq is unstable AS LONG AS THERE IS AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY CONTROLING LAND, ROADS, BRIDGES, RIVERS, MOUNTAINPASSES, AND NOT BEING UNDER GOVERNMENTAL CONTROL.
Kurds in general, not PPK members, for sure are ducking, and may have a silent disapproval of the operations taking place, but can't do much about it. Kurdistan is prospering more than any other region in Iraq, and the Kurds will have a very hard time, starting smashing windows, and overturn cars in the streets about this.
They have got so much lately, and even in their eyes, the PKK movement that in the past must have really been the only way out for them, have now dropped into fifth or sixth priority between Coca Cola, Internet, Cellphones, good wages, decent living and funny TV shows.
Who wants to go and muddy down the shoes in the mountains, they're Italian and handmade.
The era of PKK is over, and the PKK only exist now as an annoyance to Turkey, but there is more.
Turkeys part in this...follow the money line,...in the report posted by "investor" the scenario is outlined.
A new energy hub is created, where Turkey is a major part of the plan. There can not be a bunch of ragtag guys running around in the mountains, blowing up pipelines between Iraq's northern oil fields and Turkey.
Israel is part of that energy hub. Israel will not be part of an energy hub that have paid off PKK terrorists either getting bribes, and letting the oil flow or blow it up, or letting Iranian Katusha rockets reach Lebanon.
It all depends on reliable oil getting to Turkey.
Also, as the pan called out for,... is a little bit more global than that.
With Turkey getting in on the energy heavy weight side, this will start to make a leverage on the Russian oil.
Russia are kind of rouge, and are not too diplomatic, and doesn't mind stepping on a toe here and there. The development of eastern Europe have taken good steps, but have been slowed down by Russian arm wrestling with Russian oil.
There are conflicts, between Russia and the smaller former Soviet republics, and even instances where the Russians have just turned the oil tap off.
The key to a counter leverage is Turkey. Oil to Europe will make Turkey Europe's supplier, and with Turkeys interest in entering the European Union, this will fit like the hand in the glove.
So it looks like it is a matter of mopping up the last rest of the rouge bands running around in the hills, and it seems that Turkey got the honor this time. It is the natural enemy after all, and it wouldn't seem really in the eyes of the Kurdish public to be too tasteful if the US went after them with full force.
No Sara, I don't think this is something that will escalate into something ugly, on the contrary, the involved parties, are cheering on. The only parties that would lose is Iran and Syria. Their inter connecting "highway" would be no more.
So this is business as usual.
Your analysis of the free floating currency is very spot on.
No need to develop more on that, you nailed that one.
Then to get in a bit on the philosophical side of things, your last posting, got me thinking, the forces that are holding Iraq down, and for what reason.
Well, you may have perception of big old spirits having a powwow over there, but me, for my part I would like to have something more tangible to designate the causes to.
I would perhaps put it this way.
Confusion in itself is not a feeling, or intention, but it is a condition of something.
Confusion in itself is not evil, but when evil is present, confusion is present.
When you KNOW all the particles, their purposes, their natural places and their order of importance, you will not have confusion. You will even be able to observe confusion and have no problem with confusion because you can assign all the particles their correct order of importance, know their correct places, and know their ranks and order.
If you know, it will get in order. and what is not in order will get there (eventually, when the snow melts, when I get my next paycheck, or when the paint dries, or whenever, but you know the order, so that particles have no effect on you)
Thus, when you are told lies, misinformation or wrong order of importance, you will get confusion.
The confusion I can observe in Iraq is on many levels.
It's the old way of living, where old truths (that are false) will slowly be replaced by working applicable truths.
It is the lies and confusion that follows in big entities like the UN, and all it's organization's, we have IMF, we have the WB and we have a very uneducated Iraqi work force in the economical field, that will be very hard pressed to get everything straight right at this moment in Iraq.
We have the lies and confusion on the educational field, old false lies that are following generation after generation and false, or wrong economical moves are done over and over again, just as they were taught by the good ol professor.
We have a field of politics, where the power brokers are playing over and under the table, with their own agenda as the first priority, books have been written about this earths human race doing politics, so not much have to be added to the lies and deceits that have, and are floating around there.
In all parts of life there is always this insane solution that always seem to hang in, and prevail, even after the crowd on the street are screaming and pointing to the obviously, it will be "decided" that it will be there, stay there and stay in effect, in the interest of the public, or something like that.
So to go back to Iraq, and why the Iraqi Dinar is kept in a ridiculously low range year after year, and the correct steps have never been taken, I see the thing as a collective stupidness, where the intention of a self is governing the action of many.
It is like when a movie theater is burning.
If everyone is acting with full responsibility for each other, and acted in unison, not pushing and walk out in unison, like a fast marching marching band, the whole movie theater would have been vacated in no time.
But as the interest of the individual is higher than the interest of the whole group of individual, everyone is acting in the exact way that will kill everybody.
I agree with you that self-interest is the key to what is happening with the Dinar right now. When you said, "So to go back to Iraq, and why the Iraqi Dinar is kept in a ridiculously low range year after year, and the correct steps have never been taken, I see the thing as a collective stupidness, where the intention of a self is governing the action of many."
I believe this evaluation of yours is spot-on. (I just think that the collective stupidity through self-interest is being manipulated from a higher dimension for unkind purposes against the Iraqi people. But how it manifests in this earthly realm is as you said, as collective stupidity and self-interest.) Another factor I mused upon after my last post is the fear of death which the terrorists give to the Iraqi government.. including kidnappings and so on.. such extortion is likely also a great factor in why they have not RVed. But if one man (Maliki) is too scared to do what is right, there are other Iraqis with the internal fortitude to do it and he should step down and let someone else take the lead and do the revalue who has the bravery to do so instead of his timidity. Because some Iraqis do see that it is the only way the Iraqi people will be set free and a necessary leg to victory and freedom. Without it, the Iraqi people remain impoverished and held under false control and manipulation. So there are those who will do the right thing and RV if given the power to do so. May God give us that person (and/or persons) in power who will RV for the good of the Iraqi people.. and the good fortune of the currency of Iraq (both of which we Dinar investors would cheer).
Even Investor's post of a rant from the lunys on the left fringe has some truth to it (though not much). Such as when they said, "Wareing told the paper that security in the area "was no longer an issue for investors." Good news which shows the improvement in Iraqi security to date and how the troops have been doing a wonderful, blessed job in protecting the Iraqi people and gaining peace for them. In spite of his denials, it WAS an issue before, and that situation has changed. Kudos to the troops and forces on the ground for a job well done!
He also notes the death of innocent Iraqi women, saying, "Their crime is not “promiscuity,” but rather opposition to the transformation of Iraq into an Islamist state." So the ENEMY here is those seeking to transform Iraq into an Islamist state, NOT the Bush Administration and oil.. BUT, he will find a way, stepping back from that very plain situation one step at a time and adding on layer after layer of accusations, to shift the blame from the real cause of the deaths stated here of "opposition to the transformation of Iraq into an Islamist state" - onto the government of the US which he so dispises and anyone seeking to help the Iraqis develop their oil sector.
The article goes on to deprecate all attempts to give Iraq prosperity and make money in the process. Making money? After all, businesses are in the business of making money, ask your employer. And businesses want to make money in Iraq. As for the characterization of them and President Bush as totally demonic for wishing to make business deals which do make a profit - which is the basis of a free economy (how evil, right?) when the article concludes, "So Bush's confident strut, his incessant upbeat pronouncements about the war, his complacent smirks, his callous indifference to the unspeakable horror he has unleashed in Iraq – these are not the hallmarks of self-delusion, or willful ignorance, or a disassociation from reality. He and his accomplices know full well what the reality is – and they like it."
THAT turns my stomach. Because it is without respect or dignity to a great man whose heart is not callously indifferent, nor is his having confidence in what he is doing for the good of the Iraqi people an evil. When the Iraqis appealed to his humanity and begged him to rid them of Saddam and his rape rooms, his heart was moved. I swear God, who knows the thoughts and intents of the hearts will judge these detractors who speak such evil things very harshly for their slander of the man. They are truly of those who dispise government and speak evil of dignitaries:
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust to the Day of Judgment to be punished:
2Pe 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. They are presumptuous, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries.
Who are these people who speak such evils of a duly elected official and those who stood and voted to go into Iraq? When they talk of unleashing "unspeakable horror" in Iraq.. all war is hell, always is. But sometimes it is necessary. Has the surge ended up bringing nothing but "unspeakable horror" to the Iraqi people? Are the Iraqis better off under the Parliament now or Saddam? The Iraqis themselves state they believe they are better off now.
2007 - Four years into the war, the biggest poll since coalition troops entered Iraq on March 20, 2003 showed that by a majority of two to one, Iraqis preferred the current leadership to Saddam Hussein’s regime, regardless of the security situation and a lack of public services. http://www.conservapedia.com/Operation_Iraqi_Freedom#Liberation_From_Ba.27athist_Tyranny
That poll saying 2/3rds say it was a good move was pre-surge, and things have only gotten better since then. Iraqis are returning in droves, and violence is down. From that same url/section: "Since the surge, this has ceased as 60-80% of the violence has been stopped. On Sat Feb 16, 2008 reuters reported, "Attacks by insurgents and rival sectarian militias have fallen up to 80 percent in Baghdad. The U.S. military says attacks have fallen across Iraq by 60 percent since June on the back of security clampdowns and the deployment of 30,000 extra American troops."
So war isn't always "unspeakable horror" and evil. It does accomplish some very worthwhile things for people (like freedom from a dictator called the Butcher of Baghdad). Sometimes, war is necessary to attain good goals. In this ongoing war against Islamic extremist terrorists, he notes, "Basra fell largely under the control of Shia militias after the ousting of Saddam Hussein and has witnessed a violent turf war, as well as high rates of murder and kidnapping. Corruption is rife, residents are afraid to use banks in case they are robbed and smuggling of oil and other goods helps fund militias and criminal gangs. Unemployment has been put at between 30 per cent and 60 per cent, and the agricultural sector is in serious decline as cheap imports grow."
What could help this.. more military action to remove the militias, certainly - we have seen how the surge has brought more peace to the people in Iraq already, and removed violence and fear. But the unemployment is a HUGE factor there. Does this article say get the money going and people back to work by stimulating the economy of Iraq which means developing their oil? No. It is all a grab to steal their oil from the greedy monsters. What will help is seen as wickedness. The article has nothing but bad and evil to say on the question of how the government has and is conducting the war. Instead of the fault lying with the terrorists, somehow these detractors always put it back on the US government and oil, particularly anyone daring to try and make money in Iraq for themselves and the Iraqis (true business deals are win-win, both must profit for people to enter into business deals, that is real life and reality).
This anti-US-government article is correct in that going to war wasn't self-delusion, willful ignorance or dissasociation from reality, that is true. But neither was it from malicious intent to steal Iraq's resources which motivated President Bush AND both houses of Congress to endorse the war in Iraq. As I posted before, President Bush would not have approved the war measure without the stimulus of 911. And, it HAS helped the Iraqi people and they will be better off for it in the long run. AND, the making of profit by the oil industry is a normal business practice done throughout the world and not a horribly wicked thing.. so long as the Iraqi people are properly compensated for it. My concern is that the Iraqi government will not RV and they will only give the Iraqi people their "fiat" or monopoly money, keeping the real profit to themselves. They can take in real money for their product (oil) then give the people only tiny amounts based on their falsely set Dinar exchange rate. This will give the Iraqis more than they have now, but never get them to a world-class economy or economic standard of living. The corrupt (or scared) government can then keep the gravy train to themselves.. because they are making very sure that Iraq will prosper through this. By that, I fear they mean themselves and not really the people.
It would take a man of great bravery and faith to RV the Dinar while running the Iraqi government. We have not seen one yet. I believe Maliki will never RV the Dinar. He hasn't the faith, vision or ability to hope for good for the Iraqi people. What the motives he has are.. fear for his life or his loved ones, greed or corruption, misplaced religious zeal, an agent for Iran.. I cannot tell. But he isn't the man for this task. I pray the Iraqis replace him with someone who will do what is necessary to get prosperity for the masses by joining the world economy and not living in their monopoly money kingdom. Maliki, and any others who will not RV, have a lot of blood on their hands for their inaction. I say that because the lack of an RV is a direct cause of more instability and fosters terrorism as well as a lack of prosperity for everyday Iraqis. It steals jobs, prosperity and hope from the Iraqi people, and some of them have turned to terrorism as a result. Sins of OMISSION are as evil as sins of commission. And this omission (to RV) is a very great sin against the good of the Iraqi people.
Instead of it being wicked interests spurring on and endorsing keeping the prosperity from the Iraqi people as stated in the article when it slanderously says, "Naturally, since Nigeria is the openly stated model for what's to come, the actual people of Iraq will get the barest trickle of this bumper harvest of their national wealth. As in Nigeria, most of it will be shipped back to the West and spread around a thin layer of corrupt and corrupting local elites, while the majority lives in poverty and the society is riven with ethnic, religious and political conflict spurred by the twin goads of greed and vast injustice. And this unholy union is what Bush is really talking about when he talks about "victory.""
Instead of this, I think it is the West taking their rightful profit from a normal business venture and helping Iraq to have prosperity, which is not evil. The problem is not the rightful profit from a successful business venture, but the corrupt Iraqi officials keeping the Iraqi part of the profits out of the hands of the Iraqi people by not doing the RV. That way they keep the money to themselves and live on in monopoly land.. where they stay rich and the ordinary Iraqis have little. Look at Iraq today.. see how it is now? That is the way they wish to keep it, for whatever motives. It isn't the US government or big oil's fault.. it is the Iraqi government's fault for not doing the RV and joining the real world so their people can have normal lives and prosperity. My view and belief is that the Iraqi people can have as much prosperity as Kuwait or Saudi Arabia has.. if they have a good enough government... one which will live in the real world and let the prosperity flow to its people in real terms not the current fiat monopoly money.
Investor - My taking umbrage at the article in your last post was not meant in any way as a deprecation of you or your posts, which I have appreciated very much. I just differ in my opinion from the views expressed within that particular post.. and I discussed my views of it since it fit with the dinar discussion Roger and I were having about the RV. Again, no offense was intended, and I hope to hear your viewpoint on advancing the good fortune of Iraq for the people of Iraq and the Dinar.
U.S. casualties drop in Iraq in February
Sat Mar 1, 2008
By The Associated Press
BAGHDAD - An Associated Press count finds 29 U.S. troops died while serving in Iraq in February, the third-lowest monthly casualty toll for the U.S. military since the American-led invasion in 2003.
Troop fatalities declined from 40 in January, and also dropped steeply from February 2007, when at least 81 troops died in Iraq.
Three factors are widely credited with reducing violence in Iraq over the past six months: an increase in U.S. troop levels; a ceasefire by radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia; and the decision by tens of thousands of Sunni fighters to accept U.S. funding and turn against al-Qaida in Iraq.
Did you know that 47 countries have re-established
their embassies in Iraq?
Did you know that the Iraqi government
currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?
Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated,
364 schools are under rehabilitation,
263 new schools are now under construction
and 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq ?
Did you know that Iraq 's higher educational
structure consists of 20 Universities,
46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers,
all currently operating?
Did you know that 25 Iraq students depar! ted
for the United States in January 2005
! for the re-established Fulbright program?
Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational?
They have 5 -100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels
and a naval infantry regiment.
Did you know that Iraq 's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons,
which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft
(under Iraqi operational control)
which operate day and night, and will soon add
16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?
Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist
unit and a Commando Battalion?
Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000
fully trained and equipped police officers?
Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq
that produce over 3500 new officers every 8 weeks?
Did you know there are more t han 1100
building projects going on in Iraq ?
They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics,
15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations,
22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities
and 69 electrical facilities.
Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5
have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?
Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were
enrolled in primary school by mid October?
Did you know that there are 1,192,000
cell phone subscribers in Iraq
and phone use has gone up 158%?
Did you know that Iraq has an independent
media that consists of 75 radio stations,
180 newspapers and 10 television stations?
Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange
opened in June of 2004?
Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi
presidential election had a televised debate recently?
OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW!
WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW?
BECAUSE...
OUR MEDIA WOULDN'T TELL US!
Instead of reflecting our love for our country,
we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib
and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades.
Tragically, the la! ck of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes:
It is intended to undermine the world's perception of the United States
thus minimizing consequent support,
and it is intended to discourage American citizens .
---- Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense web site..
Fiat money, (money that are valued because of a decision(controlled) or opinion(bought and sold), as opposed to backed money), will always have a tendency to be manipulated in one way or the other, as Gold or Silver or cows in the corral, is not the basis of it's value.
Another aspect of why I think the Iraqi Dinar is held where it is held is very much in the culture of the Arabian and Persian countries, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait , Dubai and other oil producing states, have such a strong economy, and could have had their currency free floating, but as their neighbours to the east doesn't, the neighbour to the north doesn't, and the neighbour to the west doesn't, well then, that is what we are suppose to do, it is an accepted thing to do.
So the truth about money in those part of the world, would be, an expectancy to control it artificially.
Leave a room empty, and leave it uncontrolled, and in no time it will be a storage space. Some one will take over that control, and make a decision in how to use it.
Walk to a crowded area and look confused, and you will almost as an automatic function, pull in people that are willing to take control, -"do you need help sir?"
The hard part is when someone that have taken control over something , will have to give up that control, he will fight for keeping the control.
The teenager that filled all his stuff in the empty room with make all kind of problems and try to convince that the stuff has to stay there, and the person that helped you when you were confused, giving you directions, almost can't stop, and are explaining it three times for you, and keep explaining how to get there, long after you have got it.
Control over something is not easily taken, when someone or something is already controlling it.
In the Middle East, monetary control is expected, and I have very little faith in that it will be less controlled.
It may, but the resistance of letting it lose on the Forex, and let the market decide on it's value will probably be very hard fought. This will be about the same as yanking an electronic video game control unit out of the hands from an 9 year old.
It wont go easy.
Whatever Iraq will have to decide upon, they have to start moving again, as long as the Dollar is showing weakness, and the Dinar is pegged to the Dollar, the Dinar will go down with the Dollar, and have to be re-adjusted. The value of the neighbouring states money are rising, and that puts another pressure on the Dinar to rise.
The value of the Iraqi reserve is rising and that put another pressure on the value of Iraq,
The amount of the Iraqi debt is sinking, and that puts another pressure on the Iraq Dinar to go up.
The amount of violence is shrinking, and stability is rising, thus business, that put another pressure on the Iraqi Dinar to rise.
The amount of investment, ( not only private, but also another record big state budget, to be sink'ed into the society) is rising, and that also put a pressure on the Iraqi Dinar to be raised.
The amount of money in circulation in the business system (most money in existence is not physical money), is increasing, putting a pressure on the Iraqi Dinar to rise.
Some may object to the last statement, but please notice that I said the amount in the business system, not the amount printed, quite a difference, you print up a bunch of money but can't make it work in the system, you will of course have inflation.
I need to expand a little bit on the last issue here.
A very small system, an island with three persons, with their own money, have in all essence no impact on any trading partner outside of their own system. Their own system will not permit for much value, and their own currency almost by necessity have to be a controlled currency in order for it to have any exchange value at all, while a big system, Europe, the US, Japan or something similar, will just by it's presence have value.
Thus, in order for a big system to work, it needs a big amount of currency to float around in it's veins, thus the bigger the system, the more need for more currency in order to make it continue to work.
If you print exactly what you need in order for the veins in the beast to operate optimally, and the beast is growing, you will of course have to print more money, and even by doing so, the money will be more valued, as the value of the hardware in that system, harbors, land, bridges, machinery, work force, profitability, and so on, will have an inherited higher value, than three houses on an island where the three inhabitants have their own money.
That is one of the reasons why richer and higher producing countries, or economical systems have higher valued money compared with (on the other extreme) 3'rd world countries.
A currency can go up in value over other currencies, and still have inflation.
In a free trading economic system there is an inherent annual inflation of a few %.
Most money in this world doesn't exist.
Depending on the laws in each country, that will permit banks to hold liquidity in comparison with their lending volume, you will in general find that about 10% of existing money exists only in paper, as Dollar bills, Stirling or Euros (or whatever).(Don't panic now, but banks don't have much money, most of their assets are in loans, same with the feds, where the values are in securities, and the industry, where they have obtained or are giving credits)
Ok lets leave that subject now, so Iraq have all the ingredients, plus one of the obvious one, oil, in itself worthless, until pumped and sold, but it acts as a guarantee for future debit and credit.
Question is, if they will do the dreaded, zero lop or an RV, or a slow recovery.
Either way, this year will probably show the intentions of the Iraqis in what way they want to go. The Iraqi industry and oil are in negotiating phase, and contracts are signed to the point that they have an ink shortage right now.
The effects on the industry when a period like that is experienced, is less of a boom, but more of an optimistic look on the future, and a willingness to invest, develop and in general have a more entrepreneurial attitude.
The real economic effects, will most probably be seen this year, as the first big investment projects are moving in. People are getting jobs, and the trickle down effect will go far, but it will only happen when the Iraqi man can come home with a paycheck.
The Dinar can not stay where it is, in a boom economy.
Probably by the middle or in the late part of this year we will see the first substantial moves in the Iraq economy, the first invested wheels will start to pay out. THAT will by definition be the start of the economic boom....we have had enough of the poitical stuff....
The value of the Iraqi industry is right now pretty low, but what they have is a hope for the future, they can see solutions, they can wheel and deal, like they have never been able to do before.
So, the Dinar will not stay, it can not stay. It will be an impossibility.
The hard part is to yank the controlling fingers from the Dinar, and let it prove itself.
There is always someone along the control line that knows best.
Published: Feb. 28, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Print story Email to a friend Font size:By BEN LANDO
UPI Energy Editor
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Iraq's draft oil law is stalled in Parliament, the national government and Kurdistan Regional Government are moving forward with their own deals -- unconstitutional, the each says of the other -- and Iraq's oil production is stalled at just more than 2 million barrels per day.
Perhaps it's a good time to take a step back and recap the debate over Iraq's oil sector and its possibilities. To do so, United Press International has reviewed three recently published documents providing contrasting and varying insight. It's not exhaustive, but a good addition to an important discussion.
The first is "An Opinion Opposing the Existing Draft Iraqi Oil & Gas Law," by Fouad al-Amir, a 70-year-old Iraqi resident with "40 years in the Iraqi Ministry of Oil," according to an ex-Iraqi oil official.
"The importance of Iraq comes from its high oil reserves, and the very good possibility of increasing it," al-Amir wrote. He called it suspect that U.S. officials and Big Oil companies have had their eye on Iraq's oil since before the war, citing Vice President Cheney's energy task force documents, State Department study groups and an oil company-funded think tank calling for a certain type of contract.
Iraq's oil sector has been nationalized since the 1970s, though Saddam Hussein gradually displaced many technocrats with political allies, and oil production decreased.
A proposed oil law that receives heavy backing from Washington is being touted as a way to direct investment to the oil sector, through at least partial denationalization. The fear by opponents, such as al-Amir, is that through production-sharing contracts private companies will be allowed too much access and even control over Iraq's oil. PSCs, which the KRG has signed in frustration with Baghdad, give companies a guaranteed minimum cut of the oil, after recouping their costs, deals looked upon as favorable by Wall Street.
"The existing laws in Iraq allow all kind of oil development, except foreign sharing in Iraqi oil," al-Amir wrote. "There would be a need for (an) oil law later when safe and stable, political and social, matured conditions are prevailing. … It should be reorganized to emphasize central planning and decentralized application of the plans."
The Iraq National Accord, a political party led by former Iraq Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who is angling to replace current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's governing coalition, has issued a critique of the current process of the oil and gas law, as well as of the national Oil Ministry.
The INA calls for an immediate passage of the Revenue Sharing Law to "create trust on all sides." It's set to be included in a package of laws along with the oil law, the Ministry of Oil law and the Iraqi National Oil Co. law.
INA calls for the INOC to be re-established and given the task of operating currently producing fields "and double their current production," while international and Iraqi private oil companies should bring into production the discovered but not developed fields.
"The government's role should be regulation and oversight, while having capable companies Iraqi and international, investing and working in all areas of Iraq," the paper said.
And it repeated the claims of the KRG in its dispute with the national government. It said Baghdad made "unauthorized changes" to the draft oil law agreed to in February 2007. That law is now stuck in Iraq's Parliament. The KRG decided to move forward on its own, passing a regional oil law and signing dozens of contracts with international oil companies.
The INA said any contracts will increase oil production, thus revenues, and should be considered "positive." It said the Supreme Court of Iraq should determine which side is correct in the dispute, which is based on either sides interpretation of the 2005 Constitution, and criticized national Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani for, among other things, calling the KRG deals "illegal," blacklisting companies that signed with the KRG and cutting those firms from Iraq oil purchases.
While the timeline for finding agreement on the oil law is unknown, a new report from the Center for Global Energy Studies says there is much than can, and should, be done to enhance Iraq's hydrocarbons sector in the meantime.
"The fact that the nation is composed of different sects and races has contributed less to the problem than politics, the security vacuum post April 2003, and the very slow process of building up and equipping the national army and security forces. The conditions in Kurdistan have been safe enough for business. In the southern governorates of Basra and Missan, security conditions have been relatively satisfactory for field activity to continue," according to the Executive Summary of the report -- which is offered by the London-based consultancy for more than $26,000.
"Field activity in the short term can, however, go ahead in Anbar, Basra, Missan, South Thi Qar (Nasiriyah), parts of Wasit, in addition to Dohuk, Erbil and part of Sulaimaniya" provinces, the report added. Large-scale exploration is the biggest holdout until the government decides who controls the oil strategy.
Other issues include the flaring of 70 percent of gas produced during oil production, instead of utilizing it in power generation.
Plans in the early 1980s to boost production to 6 million bpd were cut short by successive wars, U.N. sanctions and Saddam's mismanagement of the sector. Security issues keep out contractors and political stalling keeps Iraqis from doing any major projects. Production increases will come after wells, pipelines and other infrastructure are fixed, upgraded and protected, the report said.
And although Iraq's export facilities have a 3.5 million bpd capacity, according to the report, increasing production to the 6 million bpd target -- or higher -- "would definitely require expansion of the production centers, trunk lines, main lines and export facilities."
The northern pipeline from Kirkuk to a Turkish port has only recently been regularly protected from insurgent attacks, and is now flowing at about 350,000 bpd -- less than a quarter of its capacity. Meanwhile exports from the southern ports are heading toward the 1.9 million bpd mark. Other pipelines have been bombed and remain out of operation.
The report predicts average daily production will reach 2.692 million bpd by 2010, with exports at 2.217 million bpd. Such oil sales would continue to bring in the tens of billions of dollars -- especially at today's oil prices -- which fund nearly the entire Iraqi federal budget.
ANALYSIS: Iraq welcomes Ahmadinejad, Sunni Arabs object
Mar 2, 2008
Cairo/Baghdad - The Iraqi government lavished hospitality and praise on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Sunday during the first visit by an Iranian head of state to a country that was for decades considered a bitter foe.
Yet, the visit was met with a mix of reservation and outright protest from Iraq's Sunni Arabs, who watch nervously Iran's growing political and economic clout in their country.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani played the good host by avoiding any public mention of what could perturb the visit.
The border treaty was not discussed Sunday, Talabani said. His Sunni Arab Vice-President, Tariq al-Hashimi, however, did not hide his nationalist position towards Iran.
'We hope we can put an end to troubled relations between both countries. As for normalizing ties, this should be on the basis of respect of sovereignty and non-interference,' al-Hashimi said in a statement published on the website of his Iraqi Islamic Party.
Both countries should start simultaneous negotiations over a number of unsettled, complex issues, al-Hashimi said.
Anti-Tehran sentiment ran high in Sunni-dominated Fallujah in western Iraq where protestors burnt Iran's flag and announced a boycott of its goods, the Voices of Iraq news agency (VOI) reported Sunday.
'The protest is a message to Iran from the Iraqi people, expressing our indignation towards Iran's conduct. It is backing and training militias that killed hundreds of Iraqis,' Sabah al-Ilwany, a senior member of the Fallujah Assembly Party, told VOI.
A rally bringing together Sunni Arab tribal and political leaders in the multi-ethnic city of Kirkuk voiced strong opposition to the visit.
'We have seen today a visit by [a president] of a state with hands tarnished by the blood of innocent people in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine,' Ahmed al-Ubaydi, the leader of the Iraqi Kirkuk Front, told the congregation.
Al-Ubaydi was referring to Iran's growing influence in the region, which causes unease in many Sunni-dominated Arab countries.
Tribes in Shiite-dominated southern Iraq joined those criticizing Ahmadinejad's visit.
A member of the association of southern Iraqi clans, Hasan al- Lami, called for the border with Iran to be redrawn and an end to its 'oil theft.'
Iran has denied allegations recently made by Iraqi oil officials that it has seized oil wells on its border with the southern Iraqi provinces of Basra and Missan.
It continues to be unwise for insurgents to kill US/coalition soldiers (or others who oppose them in Iraq).
Major al-Qaeda figure in Iraq killed, says US
Ap, Baghdad
Monday, March 3, 2008
A US military helicopter fired a guided missile to kill a wanted Saudi Arabian al-Qaeda in Iraq leader who was believed responsible for the bombing deaths of five American soldiers, a spokesman said Monday.
US Navy Rear Adm. Gregory Smith said Jar Allah, also known as Abu Yasir al-Saudi, and another Saudi known only as Hamdan, were both killed Wednesday in Mosul. Al-Saudi headed up the al-Qaeda network in southeast Mosul, an insurgent hotbed where US forces wage daily battles against the group.
Whoever got that info sure had a lot of things connected to the date 3/18.
Most is purely coincidental, but hey, who knows.
The bank that have to pay back their creditors with the rate that they were payed is not necessarily bound by a current exchange rate, that is most probably stipulated in the contract.
If party A recieved from party B, a credit, at the sum of X, with a certain value of party A and B's countrys currency at the time...lets say a 1:1 (just for the discussion) , then party A have receive a value that is determined by that exchange rate, and party B have given something with that same value.
Lets say party A's countrys currency goes down the drain, and at the time of repayment, 20 years later, it is worth only 10.000 to : 1, then the party that gave the loan (Party B) will of course not be happy to get something back that is 10.000 times smaller than they originally borrowed to party A.
Usually the stronger currency is used in the whole transaction, you borrow in Klondykian Nuggets, and you pay back in Klondykian Nuggets, but not all the time.
Some times, in credit contracts between two different parties using two different currency systems, this is adjusted to the value that was given and recieved at the time of the transaction, so if a credit is announced to be adjusted on a lets say 20 year old credit, and numbers from that time is used, please don't jump into the conclusion that this is a precursor or a leak about an RV.
But...hey, we'll keep our eyes open for something the 18th of Mars.
We can of course hope, soooooome day they're going to just have to do something about it, so why not that date.
US Treasury sees 'window of opportunity' for Iraq economic reform
02/29/08
WASHINGTON (Thomson Financial) - Iraq's government has made real progress on economic reform over the last year, and with better security now has a chance to make much more progress improving the standard of living of its people, a senior US Treasury official said today.
"There is a window of opportunity on the economic reform side that has been created by the security improvement," Undersecretary of Treasury for International Affairs David McCormick told reporters in a briefing after returning from two days of meetings with Iraqi economic officials in Baghdad. Now, it is "critical that they seize the opportunity on the economic side," he said.
Over the past year, for example, headline inflation has fallen below 2 pct from more than 65 pct at the end of 2006. The government has also signed a new economic program and stand-by lending agreement with the International Monetary Fund. It sets out economic benchmarks but does not provide immediate loans.
The IMF said "despite difficult conditions, Iraq has made progress toward stabilizing the economy," but that the economic outlook "hinges on improved security." The 2008 program includes maintaining lower inflation and expanding infrastructure projects in electricity, water, sanitation, education and health care.
McCormick emphasized that US Treasury technical assistance will focus on what officials call "budget execution" as the key reform goal ahead. That is a somewhat euphemistic way of referring to the fact that Iraq has lacked even the basic administrative ability to spend the oil revenue or aid accumulating in the government accounts, and lacked any reasonable accounting system to prevent massive portions of what it did spend from being diverted by corruption.
But McCormick said Iraq has made enough progress that there is a shift from reconstruction to development and toward building governing and banking capacity. Treasury also plans on doubling its assistance staff in Iraq to 24.
McCormick would not accept the wording, but he did seem to be describing a situation in which, despite ongoing stalemate at the political level, there are bureaucrats in the government who still manage to make progress on some basic economic issues.
One particular political stalemate, the inability to pass an oil revenue distribution law, does remain a significant barrier to economic reform and progress in the average Iraqi's standard of living, McCormick said.
Prime Minister Announces a 90% Increase in Governorate Budgets
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki revealed on Sunday a 90% increase in Iraq's 2008 federal budget, as Vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi disclosed an amended draft for the election law of governorate councils that will soon be submitted to the parliament.
(www.noozz.com)
Baghdad, 03 March 2008 (Voices of Iraq)
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Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki termed as "positive" Sunday's talks with visiting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, calling on the once-bitter enemy country to help in reconstruction efforts.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Ahmadinejad in Baghdad, Maliki said, "We had very good talks that were friendly and brotherly...We have mutual understandings and identical views in all fields."
Maliki said Ahmadinejad's visit "would encourage the leaders of neighboring countries to do similar trips and bolster the bilateral ties with Iraq."
Citing Iranian help in stabilizing security conditions in Iraq, the Iraqi premier called on Iran to "help in Iraq's reconstruction."
Though much of the public talk focused on the warming relations between the two countries, Ahmadinejad denounced U.S. accusations that Iran was training and supplying Shiite militia fighters in Iraq with weapons designed to kill U.S. troops.
"Such accusations worsen the problems of the Americans in the region and are not going to solve their problems," Ahmadinejad said in a press conference with Maliki.
The Iranian leader lauded the Iraqi people's culture, describing it as "lasting and self-reviving."
Earlier on Sunday Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said many agreements were reached with the visiting Iranian president.
"We have reached many agreements with Iran in various fields, particularly in economic and political domains," Talabani told reporters in a news conference jointly held with Ahmadinejad.
Replying to a question on the amendment of the Iranian-Iraqi accord of 1975 in Algiers, Talabani said, "We have never touched on this issue in our meeting today."
On March 6, 1975, with the mediation of the former Algerian President Houari Boumedienne, Iraq – represented by the then-vice president Saddam Hussein – and Iran – represented by the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, signed in Algeria the Algiers Accord to demark the borders between the two countries.
By virtue of the agreement, Iran officially agreed with Iraq to have part of Shatt al-Arab under Iranian sovereignty, according to the Thalweg Line (meaning the median course of the Shatt Al-Arab waterway).
"The negotiations were positive and we are resolved to enhance cooperation in all fields," Talabani remarked.
Ahmadinejad who expressed happiness to visit Saddam-post Iraq, said "I am here to consolidate the friendly ties between the two countries."
The Iranian president arrived in Baghdad on a two-day-visit.
(www.iraqupdates.com)
28 February 2008 (Iraq Directory)
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Experts confirmed that Iraq has an oil stockpile of more than 100 billion barrels which is a massive amount, enough, if used, to satisfy the growing international demand for energy and reduce the high oil prices, but they say that the current situation will not allow any development in this sector, especially with the security situation and the lack of regulating laws.
The Government in Baghdad hopes to raise oil production to six million barrels over the past five or six years ahead, which prompted major oil companies, such as "Shell" and "Chevron" to race to invest in Iraq; however, investments are linked to several other factors, mainly the need to stabilize the security situation, making the appropriate legislations and developing the infrastructure. Therefore, Robert Powell, an expert at the Research Unit "Economist", expects the Iraqi oil sector will not be improved unless foreign investments and expertise return, and even then, the development will be slow and gradual. Powell added that the legal issue is of utmost importance because major oil companies will not spend their money in contracts that may be revoked in future causing them heavy losses.
It is noteworthy that the Iraqi parliament has been trying for years to pass an Oil Law in vain, and tumultuous debates have been going on for years around this issue, which leaves the organization of the oil sector a matter of disagreement among the political, ethnic and sectarian parties because each one of the wants to ensure its respective share and determine the revenues distribution.
Iraqi Oil Minister, Hussein Al-Shahrastani, says that Iraq had already begun increasing production capacity, after the Government has adopted security strategies helped to protect the installations, through the adaptation of gunmen who used to attack oil pipelines in units to protect them, an experience similar to the "awakening" councils. But Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, Barham Salih, highlighted another aspect of the problem, saying: "We want to obtain financial returns quickly; we must complete the reconstruction efforts and provide jobs for people, because this is very important and will be reflected on the security environment."
(www.iraqupdates.com)
OF NOTE: SADDAM HAD SLEEPER GROUPS IN THE US...
a truly "SUBSTANTIAL OPERATION"..
Saddam had 'substantial operation' in U.S.
Published: March 3, 2008 at 12:15 PM
WASHINGTON, March 3 (UPI) -- U.S. prosecutors filed more charges against alleged Iraqi spies operating in the United States than against any other nation since the Cold War, officials say.
Patrick Rowan with the Justice Department's national security division said Iraq under Saddam Hussein "had a substantial operation" in the United States, USA Today reported Monday. He said since 2003 they have filed charges against 12 alleged spies, using documents and information seized from Iraq government offices after the invasion.
The "sleeper" groups intended to influence U.S. foreign policy in Saddam's favor and spy on Iraqi opposition groups, Rowan said.
One of the alleged spies, Najib Shemami, stands accused of giving Saddam's regime details on Iraqi expatriates slated to work with the U.S. government on its planned military operations there.
Shemami and several others were charged by federal prosecutors with spying inside the United States since 2003, when the U.S. launched operations in Iraq.
Draft Law oil and gas up to the House of Representatives and will be discussed after the end of parliamentarians from their holiday
2008-03-03 2008-03-03
مسودة قانون النفط والغاز تصل الى مجلس النواب وستناقش بعد أنتهاء البرلمانيين من عطلتهم Draft Law oil and gas up to the House of Representatives and will be discussed after the end of parliamentarians from their holiday
كA member of the Committee of oil, gas and natural wealth in the Iraqi Parliament, Adnan Nation on the arrival of the final and official version of the draft law of oil and gas to the House of Representatives
هبل For the reading and discussion and approval during the first meeting, which will resume after the leave, which expires in 18 months in March next
وأت The Nation told Agence (Lucky) Italian News that "the draft law had been lifted from the Cabinet, in its final version, to Parliament in February of last year, but the discussion did not take place after the government asked to re-draft the law for the settlement of some controversial points contained therein with the Kurdistan Regional Government, in July last bill was submitted to parliament again in the amended version, but the Cabinet asked the House to slow down in the second discussion and deferred the failure to reach a compromise formula on the draft law "and pointed to the Nation "Directive of the Council of Ministers in 31 months in January last official memo to the House of Representatives requesting the adoption of the amended version of the law in reading, discussion and approval, as the final version of the law which has been agreed between the Central Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government", as he put it
ورحياوله He favored the Nation that "there are differences in viewpoints and objections among parliamentarians about the Iraqis draft during the discussion because some deputies felt no need for a new law for the oil, they said Law National Oil Company (SOMO) integrated law and appropriate for all variables, and granted wider powers to the Ministry of Oil in relation to the signing of oil contracts, except contracts participate, along with prospecting and exploration of oil fields, while others saw him as parliamentarians need legislation for a new law defines responsibility and oil rights between the central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government on oil contracts, and international companies which undertake prospecting The exploration and how the distribution of income and the share of mineral wealth which the territorial ", as he put it
ظ The Kurdish government has concluded contracts with 20 2005, which irritated Baghdad's government promised its oil minister Hussein Shahrastani encroachment on the powers of the Government Center, with the Kurds confirms that the signing of contracts to decorate a constitutional violation, and came under a law enacted by Parliament Territory leave him constitution in the light of Article 115 which provides for (Everything that is not provided for in the exclusive competencies of the federal authorities is the power to the regions and governorates irregular in the territory, and other powers shared between the federal government and regions have priority for the Law of the regions and governorates irregular in the territory in the event of disagreement between them.
I believe the dinar is being held low due to a decision by banking interest and the government to help in buying goods at low costs. Since oil is based in US dollars, and construction is going to be bought in Iraqi dinars, what I am thinking is that the dinar will be controlled for many years yet to come---while construction of the infrastructure is taking place. I am not looking for an RV soon, due to this factor. If the currency does RV, I will be pleasantly surprized.
I have been thinking on the posts given.. thanks again to you, Rob N, for the excellent and intriguing articles.. thanks to cornishboy too for the summary of what is happening in Iraq (a truly excellent post, thank you!) and his post about the oil debate, thanks to ahire for the post about another "maybe" date, and thanks to you for for your thoughtful insights Roger. :)
My thoughts below.. please read and comment:
Playing "The Shell Game" and then Blaming us
In the article I posted earlier today it says, "Iraq has lacked even the basic administrative ability to spend the oil revenue or aid accumulating in the government accounts, and lacked any reasonable accounting system to prevent massive portions of what it did spend from being diverted by corruption."
In this I see a great deal of the real money coming into the Iraqi government, but merely accumulating there or being siphoned off into "corruption".. this is what I feared was happening. Instead of the money going to Iraqis and creating jobs, it is being hoarded in limbo or siphoned off to greedy politicians. The Iraqi people have the right to have a piece of their own resources, perhaps as Kuwait has for its citizens, and this will not happen without the RV. The disparity between the real money's value and the Dinar value is so great that the Iraqi government can give huge amounts of Dinar to their pet projects and it isn't a drop in the bucket or a dent in the accumulated wealth which they are keeping for themselves. I do not believe that they "lack the basic administrative abilities" to oversee these areas of cashflow. They are intentionally keeping the money from reconstruction in order to siphon it off for their own greed.
It appears to me from this that the real wealth stays unused in the revenue column.. while they find ways to siphon it off into their own accounts, instead of going directly into the budget and creating jobs and opportunities for the Iraqi people. I think this will continue without a RV of the currency. They are playing "The Shell Game".. you remember it? That is the game where they put one pea under a shell and shuffle the three shells and you have to pick which one the pea is under. Even so, there are a great many Iraqis who just don't see which shell they put the "pea" under when they shuffle it. In comes the "pea" of, say, 20 million oil revenue DOLLARS, and these officials shuffle around the three shells and when they pick up the shell, there is either nothing under it, or an identical "pea" with the number 20 on it, but it is now 20 million DINARS. They took the "pea" for themselves entirely, or they only gave a tiny bit of it in the exchanged Dinar form to the people. This is a very real barrier to progress because they are robbing their own resources from the Iraqi people.
How long can this continue on? As long as they wish it to, unless the Iraqi people demand that the government gives it ALL to them (all 20 million DOLLARS worth, not 20 million DINARS worth). But do the Iraqi people SEE that this is what it happening? I don't think they do, and until they do and there is a change, these corrupt politicians can live on in their paradises, siphoning off more and more revenues as it comes in.. making themselves very rich.. while the people become poorer and poorer and more desperate. All the while the people hear nothing but blame going to the Americans and the "oil giants" - saying it is the US who is "stealing" the oil, and that is why the Iraqi people are not getting the revenues. What lies.. and hypocrisy!
Who will stand up for what is right? Well, if they were talking the same value of money the average Iraqi could easily SEE the difference, but the exchange rate hides the shell game in plain sight. These officials can say they took in 20 million and gave 20 million.. and that seems good enough. Remember that the level of education there is abysmally low.. how many really understand the financial situation well? We know that 20 million Dinar is nothing in value in relation to 20 million DOLLARS.. certainly not enough to do a reconstruction project.. but it sure sounds like a lot of money.. and the rest of what used to be 20 million DOLLARS gets siphoned off into an offshore account for the greedy politicians. How convienient for the corrupt officials that the Dinar remains unrevalued... hiding their antics in plain sight.
The oil majors are setting a fair deal, but they cannot control what happens to the Iraqi side of the revenues once the Iraqis receive it. They cannot run their government for them. They can do a fair business deal and get the profit made for both sides, so both sides are satisfied and win. But they cannot make the Iraqi side take the money and use it for the benefit and good of the people of Iraq. I believe without a fair value for the Dinar the ordinary Iraqi (who is more concerned with survival and day-to-day living) will miss what they are doing and may end up believing the conspiracy theorists that it is the "wicked oil guys" who are "stealing" the oil.. even though they know the Iraqi government is the one putting out the tenders for oil development and calling the shots about who gets what. Remember that it is the Iraqi government which decides who will get what.. and when the deal is struck.. if the Iraqi people get nothing from it.. who will get the blame? (We will, the "wicked" and "stealing" West.. NOT the corrupt Iraqi officials who are siphoning it off into their own coffers.)
I see the blame as squarely on the shoulders of the newly rich Iraqi government.. who is not managing the small amount of oil revenues they have at this point correctly but are "losing" it to corruption and greed. Read that quote again, "Iraq has lacked even the basic administrative ability to spend the oil revenue or aid accumulating in the government accounts, and lacked any reasonable accounting system to prevent massive portions of what it did spend from being diverted by corruption." MASSIVE portions were diverted by corruption.. what safeguards do they have in place to prevent a similar phenomenon from disenfranchising the Iraqi people in the future? The Iraqis are squabbling over who gets a piece of the pie at the table with the Sunni, Shiite and Kurds.. but once they finish their "political reconciliation" will the hard-won process only have enriched the politicians themselves? Will the average Iraqi ever see it.. or will the Iraqis end up like Nigeria as Investor's article guy said.. with no money going to the people but it all being wasted at the administrative level by corrupt officials? Remember the Iraqi people cannot force their government to do what they need, they rely on them to do the right deals and get them the reconstruction, jobs and revenue they and their families need.
Iraq has been given a chance at democracy. But it may be that their officials are too corrupt to have it work. If there is one measure which MAY have a shot at making honest men out of corrupt ones, and keeping the honest ones toeing that straight and narrow line without dipping into the cookie jar - it is making the accounting figures equal.. in other words, RV. If the Iraqi people can see one dollar coming in and then get one dollar in their bank account (1 to 1 RV), they will see real spending power and follow the money trails more easily themselves. They can then purchase with their money any goods they wish from abroad on equal footing, and also see how the government is buying and spending their hard earned resource money - which will keep the Iraqi politicians honest (even those who are corrupt). It removes "The Shell Game" from existence. Without the RV, what is going on financially gets lost on the Iraqi people.. they don't see "The Shell Game" going on and who is doing what.. and they will not know enough to hold these corrupt officials accountable for what they do not understand or see.
Personally, I don't see how Iraq will work properly without the RV at a decent rate. The RV is an anti-corruption and accountability necessity. Without it, the oil majors will end up continuing to deal with the corrupt officials in the government of Iraq, as they do other despots in the world.. with the oil majors making their legitimate profit while the corrupt dictators (or parliamentarians in this case) rake in the cash and go on their spending sprees and buy great goodies and large plots of Iraqi land, while the people live in squalor and real need. Did we really remove Saddam only to develop the oil fields for a bunch of henchmen? In my view, if they were honest men they would RV at a decent rate for the good of the Iraqi people.. instead, they play monopoly money kingdom and shell games with the revenues they get in - all the while blaming the "evil" west for making a legitimate business profit. But as for their falsified blame game to divert from the real Iraqi corruption, I believe - "Wisdom is justified of her children." (Matthew 11:19)
Laura, you said, "I believe the dinar is being held low due to a decision by banking interest and the government to help in buying goods at low costs."
IF that were the case then buying goods at low cost would mean that there was a LOT of progress.. is that happening? Is there only TINY amounts of revenue going into the Iraqi coffers at this point? I don't think so.. hence my post that it must be "MASSIVE" corruption keeping the reconstruction from happening. There just isn't enough progress to account for the amount of revenue going IN being put to proper use, in my view.
I see what you say here as a red herring to divert from where "The Shell Game" is being played. An excuse to say to the Iraqi people that they stay impoverished for many MANY years to come (even with increased revenue!!) due to trying to build a better building project. That doesn't cut it with me. Buying goods at low cost has to mean better living for the Iraqi people... do we see that widespread now? Is the full picture given in the merely unreported as cornishboy posted.. or is it also not happening because of MASSIVE and ongoing corruption and greed? I think time will tell in full.. but I think we can see a bit of the truth now. I think the West is being set up here to take the fall for the corruption with the conspiracy nuts pre-programming the Iraqi people to say the West is "stealing" the revenues from oil while the corrupt officials siphon it off for themselves. Remember, it is IRAQ calling the shots about who gets the oil contracts and how much money they get to make.. not those winning the oil contracts.
No, I do not see the US as "ultimately responsible" for the Iraqi greed and corruption. There is only so far the US can go in "oversight" of an independently sovereign nation. The US would be responsible if they held the keys to this process, but they do not. They took over Iraq but then put the IRAQIS in charge of their own economy (and likely rue the day they did so because it means they cannot correct the corruption as they would wish to). Because the Iraqis are calling the shots, the US cannot FORCE them to use the Iraqi revenues in an uncorrupt way. If the corruption extends into the upper levels of government (as it does with despots), then you have to negotiate with the corrupt government as it stands. The only other choice is to overthrow the corrupt government and put in a new one.. but what guarantee is there that the next set of Iraqis will be any less vulnerable to corruption and greed? And the idea of putting in a puppet government - I hardly think the world will condone the US taking over and running the government of Iraq themselves. This leaves the US negotiating with Iraqi officials.. corrupt and greedy OR true and responsible.. whichever they happen to be. Which do you think they are.. corrupt or true? greedy or responsible?
I am not implying that Iraq's government official may or may not be corrupt in their deeds. There certainly is a great deal of corruptions!. I agree with these observations. Part of this is the responsiblity of the USA in our ability to oversee and account for the money we give them. Instead, we hand these government and politicians money, when we know they are suspected in corruption-- simply because they have the right words. Doing the right deeds have not been what Iraqi's have learned in their dealing with the former regime.
Having said this, it is still my belief that there are still officials in the government that want to do right by the people. I believe that not all people in government or the banking industry are corrupt.
I believe there is a plan to rebuild Iraq and that Iraq,s government and banking institutions are working with the USA government to hold the dinar low. I think this is true due to all wages, building materials etc are going to be paid in Iraqi dinars.
The higher the dinar value, the more expensive the rebuilding process will be. This is the reality despite widespread corruption.
I also believe that corruption will have to be dealt with and as the USA gets more accountability in place, corrupt people will be caught. This past week, I read the USA Secretary of Treasury is sending more people to do accountablity studies of the money we have given to the Iraqi government because of corruption. While I admit your observation on corruption is correct Sara, I still stand by my observations of the decisions I believe that the Iraq government, bank officials and USA government are working towards.
Look at what has happened since year 2003. The currency has moved from over 3000 dinars to the rate of 1210 thereabouts. This move has been systematic and while it has not moved as quick as some of us might have wanted, the slow re-valuing has taken place. We also know that tons of equipment has been delivered to Iraq for the rebuilding process (Information we got through Panhandler).
In addition,the USA government has spent a great deal of money in Iraq and for this reason alone, I do not believe dispite what the politicians are saying that the USA is going to leave Iraq to fail. I believe, our troops are there for the long haul. If you listen to Hillary, our combat troops will come home (noting that there will be troops in Iraq).
It may just be that USA pulls out and goes to distant bases like we have talked in out blogs of the past. This would leave the Iraqi's to sort out there own affairs. Sometimes, it if very difficult to allow people to be sortly dependent on USA and this may take distance on our parts to get the people to stand up to their politicians. After all, they (the people of Iraq) are electing these folks.
The process of reconstruction maybe very slow, and eventually, someone in Iraq has got to take the lead for the people. How long can the suffering continue. I am like Roger, in his last post, the RV will have to happen to allow the people a descent living. There are many indicators that says it needs to happen. However, like Roger stated, the people are used to a controlled economy. It's hard to get away from this culturally. They have not lived in a free floating economy for their currency.
However, I am still convince that someone (Iraq Government, Banking Institutions, IAF, and USA government are controlling the rate of the re-value of the dinar currency and there has to be some reasoning behind the process of revaluing of the dinar currency. I think it is related to reconstruction from USA side of it. The USA has made many promises to the Sunni population that joined forces with USA instead of the insurgency.
Maybe, I am naive Sara, I still believe that dispite the corruption that there are still some good people in Iraq that want to do the right deeds. It is just a hunch.
I wanted to address your reference to a revaluation of the Iraqi currency. If we all agree the managed rate is not good for Iraq or its people, how is a managed revaluation any better?
I do not think we should be looking for a revaluation of the currency by the CBI. A revaluation fails to reach the "real rate" of the Dinar. For sometime I have been advocating a limited free float of the Dinar. This limited free float of the exchange rate is limited by the GoI cash reserves, gold on hand, and petro dinars.
A limted free float within these parameters will achieve what a managed rate cannot the "real rate". Once the Hydro Carbon Law is passed and Iraq is released from Article VII (returning Iraq's national soverignty) could lead to full de-dollarization that could pave the way for a limited free float of the Dinar on the foreign exchange market.
The beginning of oil majors in Iraq has begun.
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Oil firms line up for contracts in Iraq
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115 registered to offer extraction and services
Mar 01, 2008 04:30 AM
Mariam Karouny
reuters news agency
BAGHDAD–More than 100 companies including foreign majors are vying for deals to tap Iraq's vast oilfields, but a vital oil law is stalled by tension involving the Kurdish region, Baghdad's oil minister said yesterday.
Hussain al-Shahristani said 115 companies had registered to compete for oil extraction and service contracts to help develop Iraq's oil reserves, the world's third-largest.
Of these, 10 are American, with companies also from Japan, Russia, Britain, Canada and South Korea.
Shahristani said Iraq was close to finishing negotiations with several oil majors for two-year technical support contracts that hopefully would be signed in March.
Those majors include Royal Dutch Shell, BP, Exxon Mobil Corp, Total and Chevron Corp., he said.
Iraq currently exploits only a fraction of its reserves, among the cheapest to produce in the world, and international oil companies have been positioning for years to gain access.
Shahristani said the fields up for grabs under the contracts included Iraq's giant fields in the south along with Kirkuk in the north. He said the qualified companies would be announced in March.
"From announcing the qualified companies to the signing of the contracts will take a minimum one and a half or two years, but we will try to make it within a year," he said.
Shahristani said he hoped the technical support contracts would add 500,000 barrels per day of oil to Iraq's output in a year.
"We are negotiating with these five companies. We are at the end of the negotiations," Shahristani said, referring to the five majors.
"They will study the fields with us, we will put together a plan to boost production, they will help us to select the equipment and deliver this equipment to us."
Iraq produces about 2.5 million barrels of oil a day, dwarfed by its 115 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves. Only those of Saudi Arabia and Iran are larger.
One oil official said last year that Iraq's oil sector could need as much as $75 billion (U.S.) in investment.
The extraction and service contracts should add 1.5 million bpd to output once they were in place, Shahristani added.
Combined with the additional flows from the technical support contracts, Iraq's output would hopefully rise to 4.5 million bpd in five years, he said. Of this total, 3.5 million bpd would be exported and the rest kept for domestic use.
Shahristani said technical support contracts did not entitle companies to any share in production.
"The benefit is that they will show interest in co-operating with Iraq and supporting us technically. They will have knowledge of the parameters of the fields and then they can ... make us an offer which is better than others," he said.
The service and extraction contracts are also seen as a stop-gap until a crucial oil law is passed, and will not provide the long-term involvement big oil companies crave.
But the draft law remains stalled in parliament.
Yesterday, Addax Petroleum Corp. of Calgary said it had signed a deal with the Kurdistan regional government in Iraq that amends a production-sharing contract with Genel Enerji to bring the Taq Taq project into line with the region's oil and gas law, including royalties, cost recovery and profit sharing.
Shahristani said he believed a major obstacle to Iraq's oil law passing would be the signing of oil deals between the government in the largely autonomous Kurdistan region and smaller foreign energy firms. Those firms, he said, would be prohibited from competing in central government deals.
(www.thestar.com)
Iraq Needs Strides in Economy and Governance to Cut Attacks, a Top General Says
The former No. 2 American commander in Iraq says that, without economic and political progress, it will not be possible to reduce substantially the current level of violence there.
(www.noozz.com)
Thanks for your thoughts, Laura. I, too, hope that "there are still some good people in Iraq that want to do the right deeds" and that we are not being naive in our hopes for the Iraqi people.
To summarize your words, "I am still convinced that someone (Iraq Government, Banking Institutions, IAF, and USA government) is controlling the rate of the re-value of the dinar currency and there has to be some reasoning behind the process of revaluing of the dinar currency. I think it is related to reconstruction.. I believe there is a plan to rebuild Iraq and that Iraq's government and banking institutions are working with the USA government to hold the dinar low. I think this is true due so that all wages, building materials etc are going to be paid in Iraqi dinars. The higher the dinar value, the more expensive the rebuilding process will be. This is the reality despite widespread corruption."
What this says to me is that, by keeping the Dinar low, they can get cheap domestic labor. As you said, the wages can be bought for a lot less than on the open market this way. If you only have to pay a few million Dinar to an impoverished Iraqi, why pay more (what the job is worth) on the open market? This is systematic corruption in my way of thinking because it oppresses the Iraqi people and gives them next to nothing for their legitimate labor. They deserve a decent wage at a competitive rate and the Iraqi government CAN afford to pay it to them. The government will be/are making a lot of money in these deals - they can pay a decent wage to those they hire. "Keeping the costs down" at the expense of the Iraqi people is hardly an improvement for the country and the standard of living which is destined to become the Iraqis lot in life.
As for building materials being cheaper, I don't think so. If they buy those materials on the open international market (where ELSE can they get them, the Iraqis do not manufacture them), then they will pay international prices. So they cannot cut back on that cost by not Revaluing. Therefore, the only ones suffering by a low valuation of the Dinar are the poor Iraqis who are going to be deprived of a decent living wage and given third world wages for their labor while their politicians live high on the hog.
No, them NOT RVing the Dinar is not a wise and prudent use of money. It is the cause of unrest (keeping the wages so low makes poor people desperate and some turn to terrorism to make ends meet) and discontent. It impoverishes the Iraqi people as the politicians "cut back" on their costs on the back of the poor people of Iraq. It is political abuse, not freedom. The government then remains in their monopoly kingdom, giving tiny bits to the poor Iraqis and keeping the majority of the gravy for themselves. Then, they blame the Western powers for charging for their diligent labor at normal prices (the laborer is worthy of his hire - Luke 10:7) and say that the West taking a normal profit is the reason that the Iraqis are paid so little and do not get ahead. No..the real reason for the oppression of the Iraqi people and a lack of prosperity is Iraqi government corruption and an unwillingness to share the profits they are raking in with the Iraqi people whose labors are helping to bring in money from their (the Iraqi people's and the country of Iraq's) natural resources.
So no, I do not see that the Iraqi government is being fiscally conservative but abusive, cheating the Iraqi people of rightful wages for their labor - like the Chinese who pay their people low wages and expose them to health hazards without regard for their safety or well being just to turn a profit. The only ones I see profiting from a low Dinar are the Iraqi politicians who can purchase cheap labor (cheaper than importing it from abroad) and so keep the Iraqi people poor.. riding the backs of the poor while they continue on in their "glass houses" of oil wealth. Perhaps they plan something better than what I am seeing.. we can always hope. But the ONLY excuse for not RVing I can see is what you said here, to CUT BACK on paying rightful wages. What else could not RVing be for?
So, to summarize, in my opinion your view that not RVing is to cut costs is only smoke and mirrors to keep the flow of oil money in the hands of the politicians instead of having the money go into the pockets of the people of Iraq by paying them rightful wages and creating decent paying jobs. The Iraqi government cannot defray the costs of building materials because they must buy them at a normal price from the international marketplace. Therefore the only reason NOT to RV is to keep their labor costs low.. and that means keeping the people of Iraq poor.
Your comments on my view is welcome.. what do you think? Is my thinking on why they are not RVing true? If not, where is the error in my thinking?
It appears the Global Warming debate is poised to begin to heat up (no pun intended)by moving from public opinion to the courts.
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Weather Channel Founder Blasts Network; Claims It Is 'Telling Us What to Think'
TWC founder and global warming skeptic advocates suing Al Gore to expose 'the fraud of global warming.'
“[i] have a feeling this is the opening,” Coleman said. “If the lawyers will take the case – sue the people who sell carbon credits. That includes Al Gore. That lawsuit would get so much publicity, so much media attention. And as the experts went to the media stand to testify, I feel like that could become the vehicle to finally put some light on the fraud of global warming.”
Earlier at the conference Lord Christopher Monckton, a policy adviser to former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, told an audience that the science will eventually prevail and the “scare” of global warming will go away. He also said the courts were a good avenue to show the science.
(http://www.businessandmedia.org/arti...303175301.aspx)
I agree with you about the need in Iraq for a limited free float of the Dinar which would bring about the "real rate" of the Dinar. As you said, we all agree the managed rate is not good for Iraq or its people, so how would a managed revaluation end up being any better?
As you posted today in "Iraq Needs Strides in Economy and Governance to Cut Attacks, a Top General Says" QUOTE, "The former No. 2 American commander in Iraq says that, without economic and political progress, it will not be possible to reduce substantially the current level of violence there."
Without the Revaluation of the Dinar with the attendant economic progress of a real value for the currency of Iraq and real wages and prosperity for their jobs, the progress will not be sustained and violence will not be reduced. Poor desperate people will continue to breed more violence, distrust and instability.
Rob N - Global warming is indeed a money grab by the people who sell carbon credits. I pray that what Lord Christopher Monckton said is true, namely, that "the science will eventually prevail and the “scare” of global warming will go away." It took flat earthers and those who believed the earth was the center of the universe a long time to be finally silenced. Because they held power, they were even allowed to persecute those who held to the truth, and they even forced Galileo renounce the truth.. "Under the threat of torture, Galileo renounced his findings. Despite his recantation, Galileo was placed under house arrest for the rest of his life." http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/nj/nj107.html
I hope this is not true today and that true science will prevail not only in the end but in the near term through this lawsuit. There can be a lot of opposition from the entrenched interests - and these ones are MONETARY interests with a lot of cash behind them because they stand to make such a huge amount of money if people believe their lies instead of the truth. The carbon credits they are selling are worth BILLIONS, so it is a money grab of great economic proportions.
If Lord Monckton is correct and the truth prevails in the near term, maybe then they can then replace the prize they gave Al Gore of a Nobel Peace Prize for a Pulitzer Prize for fiction - for the best accepted modern fictional work which was able to pull the wool over the eyes of public opinion?
Sara.
Quotes of Note:
"what's climate change about if not profit? The global market for carbon reduction credits is worth more than $20 billion and booming." http://newsbusters.org/node/13171
Will Media Report Global Warming 'Carbon Credit' Fraud?
It’s conceivable that years from now, America’s media will be reporting one of the biggest frauds in history: the idea that a wealthy person, for instance, soon-to-be-Dr. Al Gore, can purchase “carbon credits” to offset his lavish lifestyle making him quote “carbon neutral.” http://newsbusters.org/node/12314
Media Ignore Al Gore’s Financial Ties to Global Warming
As NewsBusters reported here, here, and here, there are huge dollars to be made from global warming alarmism. However, conceivably no one is better positioned to financially benefit from this scam than Dr. Global Warming himself, former Vice President Al Gore, a fact that the media will surely not share with Americans any time soon.
Yet, if America’s press would take some time out of their busy schedules they might find a deliciously inconvenient truth about the soon-to-be-Dr. Gore.. as reported by Dan Riehl (emphasis mine throughout):
Former Vice President Al Gore has built a Green money-making machine capable of eventually generating billions of dollars for investors, including himself, but he set it up so that the average Joe can't afford to play on Gore's terms. And the US portion is headed up by a former Gore staffer and fund raiser who previously ran afoul of both the FEC and the DOJ, before Janet Reno jumped in and shut down an investigation during the Clinton years. (end quote)
Think Katie, Charlie, or Brian will be all over this tonight? Regardless, that was just the tip of the questionably melting iceberg as reported by Bill Hobbs in Nashville, Tennessee who wrote:
[H]ow Gore buys his "carbon offsets," as revealed by The Tennessean raises serious questions. According to the newspaper's report, Gore buys his carbon offsets through Generation Investment Management, QUOTE:
"Gore helped found Generation Investment Management, through which he and others pay for offsets. The firm invests the money in solar, wind and other projects that reduce energy consumption around the globe..."
Gore is chairman of the firm and, presumably, draws an income or will make money as its investments prosper. In other words, he "buys" his "carbon offsets" from himself, through a transaction designed to boost his own investments and return a profit to himself. To be blunt, Gore doesn't buy "carbon offsets" through Generation Investment Management - he buys stocks. (end quote)
Fascinating. So, as Dr. Global Warming travels the world in his private jet while spending 20 times the average American on energy for his home, all the time telling us its okay because he’s buying carbon offsets, he’s actually purchasing these investments from himself.
Furthermore, and maybe more important, Gore stands to benefit financially in a potentially huge way if more and more people buy into this junk science.
With crude oil at $100 a barrel, there is going to be a massive transfer of global financial wealth from oil consuming countries to oil exporters. Some of these windfalls will be absorbed by the economies of the oil producers, but a far larger amount will be invested outside them. Indeed, a petrodollar tsunami is coming, with significant consequences for global financial markets.
How big are petrodollars? They are big and getting bigger with the rise of oil prices. We can look at this in terms of the financial worth of the stocks of proven oil reserves underground, or in terms of flows – ie the value of the annual oil exports. At $100 a barrel, the total proven reserves of the oil exporting countries is about $104,000bn – equivalent to the combined total value of publicly-traded equities and bonds in the world. About $48,000bn of this belongs to the Gulf Co-operation Council member countries – which include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The rest of Opec owns another $44,000bn, while non-Opec countries (Canada, Norway, Mexico and Russia) own some $12,000bn worth of oil reserves.
The flows are massive too. At the current pace of production and exports, and at $100 a barrel, collectively, oil exporters are projected to earn a total of $2,100bn in oil export receipts annually.
Such large windfall receipts/profits could in theory be invested in domestic physical infrastructure. However, the size of the GDP of most of these oil exporters is relatively modest. What would be considered ‘significant’ investment, equivalent to 5-10 per cent of GDP, would amount to only about 5-10 per cent of their annual oil revenues. Thus, the bulk of the petrodollar windfalls for most oil-exporting countries will still not be spent, but will be saved and deployed in the global financial markets.
There are two key implications. First, the deployment of petrodollars is likely to favour equities over bonds. Second, they should favour emerging market currencies at the expense of both the dollar and the euro (Go Dinar and VND !! ). These two themes are identical to the financial market implications of the emergence of Sovereign Wealth Funds, because about half of the petrodollar receipts may be invested through SWFs, and close to three-quarters of all assets under management by SWFs are derived from petrodollars.
Over the past 20 years, spot crude oil has significantly under-performed global equities, by a factor of one to three in cumulative returns, and by a factor of two to one in terms of volatility. In other words, crude oil has had a much lower return and much higher volatility compared with global equities. Calculations using data from the past 100 years yield a similar result.
Thus, from the perspective of maximising the risk-adjusted long-term return on the combined underground wealth (crude oil) and above-ground wealth (financial assets), an exporter should be expected to embark on a multi-generational transformation from crude oil to equities.
Since most oil exporting countries have a much higher propensity to invest in equities than do Asian reserve holders, because petrodollars are deployed in the financial markets, there will be a bias in favour of global equities.
At the same time, if we assume that SWF/petrodollar portfolios have benchmarks of 25:45:30 on bonds, equities, and alternative investments, the currency composition of these portfolios will look significantly different from that of the official reserves. In fact, some 95 per cent of the world’s official reserves are held in only three currencies: the dollar, the euro and the pound.
While many observers focus on the shift in reserves between dollars and euros, the deployment of petrodollar investments will in fact likely tilt the balance in favour of emerging market currencies, at the expense of both the dollar and the euro. Specifically, we calculate that the theoretical share of emerging market assets in total petrodollar portfolios could be as high as 25 per cent, compared with the current exposure of official reserves to emerging market currencies of zero.
Stephen Jen is Chief Currency Economist at Morgan Stanley
(http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c56c0aa8-e...0779fd2ac.html)
Most of the materials that the Iraqi's are going to need have already been purchased by the American's on the backs of the american taxpayer. Panhandler states that tons and tons of materials arrive everyday to help Iraq rebuild their country. Also, news stories have shown the tons and tons of items the military has been collecting on their various bases. We (americans) have spent about two trillon dollars on the war and rebuilding the Iraq country.
Items like cement, Iraq government makes contracts with other countries like Iran (and yes, this will cost Iraq some monies, be it dinars or dollars) whatever, Iran takes as payment. Also, Iran is also suppose to build two power plants for Iraq and this should be interesting.
As to the American's being all about paying descent wages to the Iraqi's or other foreigners, I only need to point out the reality of who we (the americans) hired to build the USA embassy. Remember the stories of how we hired people from Asia and paid them little in return for their labor on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. So no, Sara, I do not believe that the Iraqi's and Americans would find such a strategy to be beneath them.
However, as Roger points out, the people of Iraq (the general population) do not know about free markets (like the americans and it's benefits of higher wages and better living standards). They do not understand what the americans mean when we talk about a democracy either. Many of them are asking "What do the americans mean by democracy?"...at least these were the stories coming out of the Sunni strongholds in nothern Iraq. I am speaking of people who have barely survived under Saddam Hussein.
Corruption and survival is all the Iraqi's (general population)have known. Nothing in the former regime was built on skills but party affiliation, tribal relations (families), socialized welfare from Saddam and survival skills by stealing what one needs from day to day.
Remember the stories of how many of the common people were climbing poles to divert electricity in the streets; phones; oil pipelines were being diverted and gasoline trucks highjacked etc. Whatever it takes-- in the politics of the day---like joining the insurgency is what survival from day to day in Iraq is like. Stealing is not out of bounds. So, no Sara, here again, the common people are corrupt like the people they are electing. Everything in Iraqi society was based on bribes of government officials and paying off somebody to get favorable results to an ordinary Iraqi citizen.
It is a sad reality the above mention stories; and that a large number of the Iraqi people are under the age of 20 years old too boot! I read that somewhere (can't remember where on the youngness of the Iraqi people)?? So yes, you are right that many of the Iraqi's uneducated would not understand the shell game of 20 million dinars to 20 million dollars.
Morever, there are some very educated Iraqi's that do understand the difference!!! (But are the educated, ethical?) I am hoping that with education and a different ethical training from these more educated ethical Iraqi's...that Iraq will find what it means to be a democracy. But, I will admit that this may only happen in a turn over (deaths) of a generation or two.
While I agree that politicians, rich folks and high government officials are in more favorable situations to steal greater sums of money, corruption is still corruption. Iraq did not get this way over night. Iraq's people since 2003 have had to learn about Americans (face to face)and about America's democracy. We have not been a perfect people, as we too, have had our ethical lapses (see above examples).
However, America does bear a strong responsibility for how much we americans have allowed the Iraqi's to steal from us through our lack of accountability; and we knew better! We, american's saw what the Iraqi's were capable of doing in Kuwait (when Saddam took over their territory and USA took it back for Kuwait).
The Iraqi's stole everything in sight that wasn't nailed down. Learning ethics was an issue then and continues to be so...even to the point that the U.S. military had to offer ethics training to young Iraqi's.
What I hope is that Iraqi's learn personal honesty and not to allow greed to take over their lives. But I fear that not all Iraqi's will adhere to this ethical standard. Oil/gasoline thief is still up. Gangs and militia's are also taking over by sheer force oil plants in southern Basra.
Only God knows how Iraq will be cemented together in his plans and that of America. Sara, I remember once you saying that you were inquiring of God when the Iraqi's were going to RV?. From my recollection, you stated, you received your answer as, "When everyone has given up hope, and people least expect it, then, there will be an RV." That sounds like a long time.
The reality is that CBI and international banking (over sight)-can't remember thier initials?? are the ones calling the shots on the value of the dinar. It would appear that they have decided for now to limit the value of the dinar and inflation to the economy.
I believe, (my guess) is that CBI believes that once the economy gets going in the reconstruction process that normal Iraqi's will benefit in wages through a great deal of hours in their work to improve their living conditions. There will be a lot of work to get accomplished.
In the meantime, Iraqi Government will benefit by oil income in USA dollars to help in the reconstruction process (at least, that is the American view). From my observations, it would appear that Iraqi's expect America to put all or most of the costs in reconstruction (to me, this is greed, and it has to stop). As the Iraqi's are said to place income in oil in special accounts and the income just sits in these accounts without dispersing income on reconstruction.
What materials the US Government has not purchased, Iraq is purchasing from its neighbors probably in dinars.
Whatever, we might think about a limited free floating currency Rob N., those in the know are not letting this happen. In Dubai, just a little down the strait from Iraq, the arabs there also used cheap labor to build their empire. I think we will just have to wait and see what happens... as I said, I am only speculating on what I have been observing.
Huckabee Drops Bid for Republican Presidential Nomination
by Associated Press
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
IRVING, Texas — Mike Huckabee bowed to reality Tuesday and out of the Republican presidential race.
“We kept the faith,” he told his end-of-the-road rally Tuesday after John McCain clinched the nomination. “I’d rather lose an election than lose the principles that got me into politics in the first place.”
Huckabee rarely raised a negative word during the campaign about McCain, a man he clearly likes, and he called him Tuesday night to congratulate him.
Huckabee said he extended “my commitment to him and to the party to do everything possible to unite our party, but more importantly to unite our country.”
Huckabee vowed: “We aren’t going away completely. We want to be a part of helping to keep the issues alive that have kept us in this race.”
For a time, conservatives dissatisfied with McCain were drawn to Huckabee, but the party began to unite behind the likely — and now certain — nominee.
No doubt corruption exists in Iraq. Where there are large amounts of money (whether US dollars or Iraqi Dinar)there is greed.
Concerning Iraqs reconstruction, the US sat the precedent after World War II by baring the brunt of reconstruction costs for Japan. It is in Iraq's best interest for to have the west pay these costs. It is also in Iraq's best interest for crude oil to be over a $100 a barrel.Though we experience a sliding dollar and $4.00 plus a gallon gasoline the economics here at home are the sacrifical lambs for a peacful and properous Iraq.
Those of us who have invested in Iraq whether by holding physical dinars, Al-Warka Bank Accounts, or ISX shares stand to prosper very well. If a managed revaluation is how the CBI wishes to address their undervalued currency it is the tip of the iceburg.
A managed rate whether it is 1210/1 or 1000/1 cannot achieve the "real rate". This "real rate" can only be realized in a limited free float. This limit is set by Iraq's currency reserves, gold, and petro dinars. These items will completely de-dollarize that economy.
If a managed revaluation occurs do not cash out instead, continue hang on to your investment. Eventually, a limited free float will be used to further strengthen the Iraqi currency rate.
From what I have read, it looks as though parliment will again address the Hydro Carbon Law at the end of March. 115 oil companies have submitted requests for TSAs (technical service agreements). It is a matter of time before the CBI has to address the value of the New Iraqi Dinar. It is my feeling that time is closer than it ever has been.
I am very bullish on the Dinar. I think it wise to purchase more Dinars in whatever form you choose. All of these events including the release of Iraq from United Nations Article VII and a long term US presence will ensure a peaceful and prosperous Iraq.
Iraqi cabinet gives green light to oil ministry to sign oil deals
The Associated PressPublished: March 5, 2008
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BAGHDAD: Iraq's cabinet has given the green light to the Oil Ministry to sign agreements with international oil companies to help increase the nation's crude output, a ministry official said Wednesday.
The two-year deals, known as technical support agreements, or TSAs, are designed to develop five producing fields to add 500,000 barrels per day to the country's current 2.4 million barrels per day output.
Last December, Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB), BP PLC (BP), ExxonMobil Corp. (XOM) and Chevron Corp. (CVX) submitted technical and financial proposals for the five oil fields and received counterproposals from the Iraqi side.
In January, representatives from the companies and from Iraq met again in Amman, Jordan, and they will hold the third round of discussions later this month, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to release information.
In Vienna, Iraq's Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani said that Iraq intends to compensate these companies with crude oil rather than in cash, the Dow Jones Newswires reported on Wednesday.
Today in Africa & Middle East
Abbas balks at returning to peace talks with Israel
European powers drop bid to push resolution against Iran
For Qatar, relations with West are a balancing act
Speaking to reporters as he arrived for a meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, al-Shahristani said the Oil Ministry was still working on the compensation details with the Development Fund of Iraq, controlled by the U.S. and the U.N.
According to the Oil Ministry official, BP will submit a proposal for the Rumaila oil field, Chevron for West Qurna stage 1, Exxon for Zubair, and Shell for Missan and Kirkuk.
Iraq's average production was 2.4 million barrels per day in January while exports stood at an average of 1.92 million barrels per day. December's exports averaged 1.81 million barrels per day.
In dire need of expertise from international oil companies to achieve the Oil Ministry's target of 3 million barrels per day by the end of 2008, Iraq has been relying on a Saddam Hussein-era natural resources law until Parliament approves a new oil law to regulate the international oil companies' work and share Iraq's oil resources among the country's Shiites, Sunni Arabs and Kurds.
More than 70 international firms met the ministry's deadline of Feb. 18 to compete for tenders to help develop Iraq's oil reserves, seen as vital to providing the funds to rebuild the shattered country.
Iraq has not said what fields it will tender, or on what terms, but the service and extraction contracts on offer are seen as a stopgap until the oil law is passed, and will not provide the long-term involvement big oil companies want.
(http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/05/africa/ME-FIN-Iraq-Oil-Deals.php)
8th cooperation agreement signed between Iran and Iraq - Irna
Iran's commerce attache in Iraq Mehdi Nejatnia told IRNA that the agreement was in direction of expansion of trade and commerce between the two countries.
(www.noozz.com)
Dayni calls for total implementation of resolution 1770 05/03/2008 14:46:00
Baghdad (NINA)- MP Muhammad Al-Dayni has called for the total implementation of UN resolution 1770 of 2007, which characterizes the United Nations as an associate and a supervisor in the Iraqi issue. Al-Dayni told the National Iraqi News Agency
(www.ninanews.com)
Thank you for the articles you submitted. Did everyone catch how Iraq is intending to pay oil companies for their technical support?. Oil companies will be paid in oil and not in cash!!! Interesting!. The oil companies will of course be able to sell this oil on the international markets. This deal is very smart on the Iraqi side.
I wonder what Iraq is offering the Iranians and their other neighbors?. Their neighbor's like Iran is reported to have oil.
Also, Rob N. your comments about the limited free floating of the dinar is noted. Although, I note your comments about the Iraqi interests to have the USA pay for everything, I still contend that USA (point of view) is to have the Iraqi's at least pick up part of the tab with their petro-dollars.
However, you are probably right that USA will be picking up the tab on this one. In Japan, Japan was not sitting on this much oil. Their country could not have supported the destruction that our military placed on places of their country.
In may last write up, I hope everyone realizes that I am not saying that all Iraqi's are corrupt. What I was pointing out is that culturally, the country has survived on corruption. Which is one of the reasons, we (americans or other foreign nationals) cannot mail by Fed-Ex/mail to Al-Warka or (any other bank in Iraq) Iraqi dinars for deposit (as bloggers have previously written about their deposits were stolen in the Fed/Ex envelopes). I hope, this issue clears up for the Iraqi's. I said this as a reminder to you Rob N. on your latest endeavor in contacting Al-Warka. Keep it in mind.
The limited free floating will not completely de-dollarized the Iraqi economy. Petro-economy is paid in dollars at the present time. I think you meant that the dinars would not be tied to the dollar for valuations but to their gold and silver. Iran for some time has talked about changing the petro dollars (USA dollars to the euro) and at this time, this has not happened. Time will only tell about this issue.
I do not plan on sending any of my dinars to Al-Warka via Fedex. I will fund a brand new account at Al-Warka through wire transfer. The Dinars I have will be kept by me here in the U.S..
De-Dollarization is necessary for the Dinar to reach its full potential. The limited free float within the limits I described along with petro dinars as an effect will de-dollarize the iraqi economy. The ultimate goal is for a free exchange rate rather than a rate managed by the CBI.
Hi All, A few days ago a new "date" came up again, part of that message mentioned the Rafidain Bank in London...well, look at this - it may or may not be of interest ???...Mattuk
Notice is hereby given that, on 18 December 2007 the High Court of Justice in England and Wales (the “Court”) issued a Court Order instructing the Provisional Liquidators to convene a meeting of Scheme Creditors (the “Scheme Meeting”) to enable Scheme Creditors of Rafidain Bank (in Provisional Liquidation) to vote on and, if thought fit, approve (with or without modification) the Scheme of Arrangement, subject to the sanction of the Court.
The Scheme Meeting will take place on 20 March 2008 at 11:00 am (London time) at the offices of Norton Rose LLP at 3 More London Riverside, London SE1 2AQ, United Kingdom. Registration will commence at 10:30 am (London time). Documents relating to the Court Order and the Scheme of Arrangement are available to review and/or download from the sections listed on the left hand menu of this website.
By accessing and continuing to use this site you are deemed to have read and understood the Legal Disclaimer.
LATEST NEWS: On 2 January 2008 the Provisional Liquidators distributed a voting pack to all known Scheme Creditors. The voting pack consisted of the Scheme documentation (containing an Explanatory Statement explaining the effect of the Scheme of Arrangement, the Scheme of Arrangement itself and a formal notice convening the Scheme Meeting), a voting form, a form of proxy for Scheme Creditors who will not be attending the Scheme Meeting in person to indicate their instructions to vote for or against the Scheme of Arrangement, notes to assist Scheme Creditors in completing their form of proxy and a map giving directions to the venue of the Scheme Meeting.
Completed voting forms and forms of proxy (where appropriate) should be returned as soon as possible, and in any event so that they are received by 11:00 am (London time) on 18 March 2008 by the Provisional Liquidators at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP at Plumtree Court, London EC4A 4HT, United Kingdom, marked for the attention of Michael Gercke or David Chubb. Alternatively, Scheme Creditors may send their voting forms by facsimile to +44 (0) 207 212 6800 or by email to rafidain.bank@uk.pwc.com by the same time on the same date provided that the original voting forms are received by the chairman of the Scheme Meeting prior to the commencement of the Scheme Meeting. Please note that if the originals of faxed or emailed forms are not received within the time prescribed, they may be excluded.
You've been a hard tooth to pull like an old wisdom tooth, but out it came. I hope your experience will pay out. My strategy is more of ISX, but any way is a good way.
Mattuk,
Yes that article was the basis for another possible RV date, interesting. They however are discussing a date where the bank will adjust some credits, and exchange rates from the time of the original credit is mentioned. I've sen that document, some put into it, that it might be a "slip" on an inside info that the RV is about to happen.
An RV might or might not happen, but not on the basis on a banks adjustment with creditors, and the exchange rate mentioned, have a completely different relevance in this document.
But hey, I am always for a new date to look forward to.
Why is the Dinar held down?
About the same reason the chicken crossed the road, and the different interpretations why it crossed.
Kennedy: -"Don't ask what the Chicken can do for you, ask what you can do for the Chicken."
Stalin: -"The working class Chicken have to march as one unit over the road, all others will be shot"
Hitler: -"Chickens play such an important role in the German life that I have appointed Himmler, an old Chicken farmer as chief of Gestapo."
Churchill: -"Never in the history of Chicken kind, have so many Chickens so much to thanks so few Chickens for so much".
Kerry: -"I was against Chickens before I voted for Chickens, and then decided against Chickens".
I don't know if there is a common insanity vector in humans that have been properly defined.
We have the culture, the wrongly schooled, the rightly schooled, the greed, the corruption, the incompetence, and the list goes on and on.
The players, CBI, USA, IMF, VB, Sunnis, Shite, Kurds, Iraqi Government, US Diplomatic corps in Baghdad, The international oil companies, the UN, Iran, Syria, Turkey. Bank interests in and out of Iraq, investors, Iraqi industry, and with those mentioned, I think I have left out quite a bit of other groups, persons or institutions.
The common pull from all this groups constitute insanity.
The common pull from all this groups, persons and institutions is a set of vectors that constitute a geometric definition of a ball.
The direction of that ball is the result of the total authority from all forces, exerted on that ball.
The more different forces are allowed to exert pressure on that ball, the more the ball will stall.
The more sane authority is exerted on that ball, the less of a ball it will be, and the more of an arrow with ONE vector, it will be.
Everyone and his bother are there and wants to help Iraq, and there are advise for this, for that, for anything. Iraq is put on programs, on schedules, on plans, and they are implementing forecasts, how to foresee the future, projected economical, financial and fiscal deadlines, criteria, and bla, bla.
Iraq is like a home of a misfortune'd person, when a Social Security Worker are in his home, digging in the closet checking for clothes and in the fridge checking for milk to the kids, setting up schedules, and teaching do's and dont's.
Each one of those forces in play are in themselves well meant, well planned and well intended, but an over all alignment have never taken root, as the Iraqis themselves are not fully aligned just yet, and the forces in play have all their own agenda.
All this confusion will eventually be cleared, eventually be transferred to the Iraqis themselves, and eventually they will have a rolling ball.
There are so much good news from Iraq in this time, that this in itself is a reason to believe that the progress of getting a self governing life is closing faster and faster.
It's a matter of lining up all the fores pulling in different directions, an impossible job, no country have ever been able to do that except in Dictatorships, but who wants those.
You want institutions to work, police, military, to hold their own, government to handle the state, and all the ministries to perform to a satisfactory level, school the kids, and make sure the hospitals work.
I would say, don't worry too much about it, the bones have aaaalmost grown together, there is not really a cohesive skeleton yet, but it is getting there.
The Iraqi state will, as any other state continue to develop, and that sequence is not something that will ever stop, but getting the basics to work is the important step here, once that is in, they're on their own, and will get their own ball rolling much better than when the social worker is telling him what to do.
They figure out all the things anyone else have figured out, the value of the industry, the value of good wages, and the value of what is worth investing into, what is good and what is junk.
The particulars, how to fill in the forms, what cabinet they should keep the files into, how to work a computer, and all that......that is just the rest of the story.
The Dinar will move in one way or the other, no question about that, how it will do it and when is a good question.
The ISX is a daily showstopper nowadays, and the value is rising steady. I am not sure they have figured out the good part of putting their industry as a whole, on the stock market yet, but it will come.
The laws that are necessary for the oil profit to be shared, it will come.
The investment into the oilfields, and the pumping, selling and the flow of oil money, it will come.
The phase that we're going through right now, have to play out, and we are leaving the old phase with pretty good speed.
The more it is rolling, the more of a line up in forces you will see, the more chaos is left behind, the more alignment in the society, the more alignment the better flow of particles, and eventually it will be as well oiled machinery as the culture will allow it to be.
Right now the Iraqi man is not seeing any fruits of the oil, but are on his same old , same old, routine.
Once the money starts flowing, the paychecks start to come in, he will have demands, and they will be in the form of
TV,s, boom boxes, cars, and stylish clothes, and at that time, his wallet will do the talking.
The Dinar will not stay, can not stay, and must not stay.
At least for the short future, as long as they have it strictly pegged to the Dollar, they have to continue to readjust for the falling Dollar, and the Dinar have been very inert for quite some time now.
Time to move on, perhaps they will do the big move.
Anything is possible, but they can for sure not continue to suppress the Iraqi man for long.
For you that are into the ISX, I have some observations.
From earlier experiences in similar situations, the construction companies or any company that has to do with construction in one form or the other, will typically be the big winners on the stock market.
I would say, continue to hoard those stocks, and as the construction companies come on board, on the stock market, go get'em.
However right now, the only big industry that are represented in volume is the banking system, and they seem to move along in a very good fashion.
In the future, the construction companies, build those up as your backbone, but for now, keep an eye on the bank stocks.
After requesting the dollar/dinar account, how long did it take for Al-Warka to respond to you with that information? Also, afer you transfered money to your Al-Warka account via Germany, how long did it take to receive confirmation that those funds are in your dollar/dinar account?
The following article should be of great interest to you especially since we discussed the brunt of Iraqi construction cost being paid for by the west. Senator Levin's position certainly is valid.
____________________________________________________________
US senator wants Iraq oil funds used for rebuilding
3/5/2008
US senator wants Iraq oil funds used for rebuilding
By Richard Cowan
WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee said on Tuesday he may try to require Iraq to spend more of its oil revenue on reconstruction instead of investing the money in foreign banks.
"What kind of an absurdity is it that we are paying for the reconstruction of Iraq with American taxpayers dollars if Iraqi oil sales, to a significant degree, are going into foreign banks and not being used for their own reconstruction," said Sen. Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat.
Before the U.S. invasion of Iraq in early 2003, top Bush administration officials suggested some war costs could be financed through Iraqi oil revenues. That never occurred and U.S. taxpayers have instead seen about a half-trillion dollars of their money spent on the war so far.
In the meantime, there are estimates that Iraq has up to $30 billion in assets invested in U.S. financial institutions.
Levin said he would ask Congress' investigative arm, the General Accountability Office, or others in the U.S. government to look into Iraq's use of oil revenues.
He said he would decide after such an investigation whether to use this year's appropriations process to force Baghdad to change its financial practices.
Levin said Congress could condition future war funds on Iraq using its own revenues for reconstruction, reducing the burden on U.S. taxpayers.
According to government estimates, Congress has given the Bush administration $16 billion for reconstruction and relief efforts in Iraq.
"They (Iraq) are selling about $50 billion a year in oil. What are they doing with all the money?", Levin asked.
In December, President George W. Bush announced his intention to veto a defense bill after Baghdad complained about a provision that could freeze Iraqi assets in the United States if Americans sued for actions taken by former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
At the time, Iraq also discussed the possibility of pulling its assets, estimated at $20 billion to $30 billion, out of U.S. banks if that defense measure became law.
Levin said that legislative dust-up prompted his look into Iraq's use of oil revenues.
During an Armed Services oversight hearing on Tuesday on U.S. military forces in Iraq, Levin asked William Fallon, the the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, about Iraq paying reconstruction costs.
Fallon said there were some concerns over Iraq's ability to effectively distribute oil revenues.
Levin responded, "I can't accept the answer that they're not capable of administering their own revenues." (Editing by Todd Eastham)
(www.safedinar.com)
OPEC does not need to adjust output: Iraq
3/5/2008
OPEC does not need to adjust output: Iraq
VIENNA (Reuters) - OPEC does not need to change its oil output when it meets later on Wednesday, Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani told reporters.
"There does not seem to be a need to revise the current production levels, so I think we'll keep the same level," Shahristani said.
Iraq's output is not bound by the group's production targets.
He said Iraq was exporting 2 million barrels per day of crude from production of 2.5 million bpd.
The country is close to finishing negotiations with oil majors for technical support contracts to help tap its oilfields.
Sharistani reiterated comments made last week that he hoped they would be completed this month, but said there was one small point still being negotiated.
(www.safedinar.com)
Top US military officer opposes Iraq withdrawal timetable
Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff says precipitous withdrawal would sacrifice ‘gains made in Iraq’.
Washington, 06 March 2008 (Middle East Online)
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The top US military officer said Wednesday he opposed a timetable for withdrawing US troops from Iraq but would carry out whatever decision a future president may make.
The Bush administration has consistently tied withdrawal of troops from Iraq to conditions on the ground, but that guideline may change abruptly if a Democrat is elected president.
Senator Barack Obama, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, has said he will begin withdrawing US troops from Iraq immediately and will pull out all US combat brigades within 16 months.
Senator Hillary Clinton has said she would require the Joint Chiefs to draw up a plan for the immediate start for a withdrawal of US troops from Iraq within 60 days of her taking office.
"I am against a timetable. Yes, I am," said Admiral Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who would remain in office for at least the first year of next administration.
Mullen said he worried that a precipitous withdrawal would sacrifice the gains made in Iraq, and lead to the situation once again spiralling out of control.
"My recommendations will be made based on conditions on the ground," he told reporters.
"Should we get a direction -- actually any direction with a new administration -- I will assess that and make my recommendation, and then the president... whoever that might be, he or she, will make that decision and we'll move accordingly," he said.
(www.iraqudates.com)
06 March 2008 (The Sydney Morning Herald)
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Iraq's grain board has issued a new tender to buy 50,000 tonnes of hard wheat from any origin, its fourth tender this year, the Iraqi Trade Ministry says.
The bidding deadline is March 15 and must stay valid until March 20. No shipment times were specified.
Iraq regularly buys more wheat and rice than originally sought in tenders.
Political wrangling over budget allocations for further commodities purchases had halted grain tenders since over one million tonnes of mostly North American wheat was bought in September and October.
Iraq lawmakers passed the nation's $US48 billion ($A52 billion) budget for 2008 last month after weeks of delays.
(www.iraqupdates.com)
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Iraq "blemishes" US-led policies
Front page / World / Asia
05.03.2008 Source: Pravda.Ru
The media did not pay much attention to the event that was really important for modern-day international relations. For the first time in a decade Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Iraq. A reason for this negligence is obvious: Ahmadinejad’s visit to Baghdad is only one of the most important stages of the forthcoming Iranian-Iraqi cooperation, which does not testify to successful foreign policies of the US administration.
The leaders of the Western states, including the USA, visit Baghdad secretly. Iran’s president, whose visit to Baghdad was no secret at all, said that US officials should realize the real state of affairs in the region and added that the Iraqis did not like the USA.
It is hard to say to which extent the Iraqis like Ahmadinejad, but they greeted the president of Iran with honors. Negotiations were conducted in a friendly atmosphere. A person ignorant of the development of the bilateral negotiations may wonder how the USA feels about these negotiations, for the USA is the stronghold of the present Iraqi state.
German reporter noted that it was impossible not to hear Washington grinding its teeth. But what can the USA do? Its operations in Iraq were so “successful” that even US diplomats were ordered to negotiate with their Iranian counterparts.
Baghdad has more reasons for friendly relations with Teheran than for hostility. Of course, American accusations of Iran supporting resistance in Iraq look quite convincing. But Iraq virtually remains the state of civil war. What may seem to be the support of terrorists may in fact turn out to be the armament of groups in their struggle against "invaders".
From the political point of view, it may seem that all members of the ruling Iraqi political elite sympathize with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The sympathy appeared when Teheran supported Iranian opposition to Saddam Hussein. Both Shiites and Kurds supported Iran during the lengthy Iran-Iraq war, while the USA helped Sunni Saddam. To terror of the USA, even Kurdistan is on good terms with Iran.
The economic point of the present cooperation is also of great importance: the neighboring states are ready to help Baghdad. For example, during the present visit an agreement on lending one billion dollars was signed. Experts say that Iran was very helpful in solving Iraq’s problems by supplying essential commodities and helping to restore the nation’s oil industry.
It will be interesting to see how Ahmadinejad’s visit to Iraq will affect home policies of the two states. Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki enjoys a stable position (even the USA can do nothing since all the other candidates for his post are much worse), although not all groups of the Iraqi society approve the cooperation with Iran. Sunnis and Shiites who were not influenced by Teheran are especially discontented; there are quite a lot of people in Iran who remember Hussein’s barbarous wars.
(http://english.pravda.ru/world/asia/05-03-2008/104370-Mahmoud_Ahmadinejad-0)
I agree with the one which quotes Sen Levin's remark of, "I can't accept the answer that they're not capable of administering their own revenues."
I think the Iraqis definitely ARE capable, they aren't stupid.
Where is the money going? Into foreign banks.. quote, "The chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee said on Tuesday he may try to require Iraq to spend more of its oil revenue on reconstruction instead of investing the money in foreign banks."
Hmmm.. something wrong with this picture? I think so.
Astute remark, "What kind of an absurdity is it that we are paying for the reconstruction of Iraq with American taxpayers dollars if Iraqi oil sales, to a significant degree, are going into foreign banks and not being used for their own reconstruction," said Sen. Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat.
It makes you wonder if it is .. one Dinar/dollar for the bank.. one for the corrupt Iraqi officials in a siphoned off acount.. one for the bank, one for the official.. one for the bank, one for the official.. etc. Certainly, the prospering of Iraq and her people does not seem to be top priority in their minds.. reconstruction is a necessity, why not deal with the immediate needs and get increased money revenues from the extra oil revenue they would get from developing the supporting infrastructure?
I am glad for your post, Rob N, of "Top US military officer opposes Iraq withdrawal timetable - Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff says precipitous withdrawal would sacrifice ‘gains made in Iraq’."
I believe the US citizenry should act to elect someone with a sane policy who would not overthrow all the gains made in Iraq. In other words, the best candidate of the three is McCain.
As for Ahmadinejad’s visit and inflammatory rhetoric, I think he is just poking the tiger in the eye with a stick... trying to provoke a response. He sure likes infaming the situation instead of paving the way for peace. I agree with Lt. Gen Odierno who said the reason for demanding the US to leave is to weaken Iraq for the benefit of Iran. He said, quote, "I think this is about keeping in my opinion a weak government in Iraq, and I think Iran benefits from that."
Article below:
==
Odierno: Iran Supporting Iraq Militias
By ROBERT BURNS / AP
March 4, 2008
WASHINGTON -- Iran is still training, funding and arming insurgents in Iraq, the former No. 2 U.S. military commander in Iraq said Tuesday.
Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno told reporters at a Pentagon news conference that Iran must be more helpful to its neighbor and stop supporting surrogate militias that are attempting to destabilize the central government.
And, he said it's not surprising that there were fewer attacks during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent two-day visit to Baghdad, since it is mainly Iranian-backed Shiite military members who have been conducting rocket and other attacks in the capital.
"We have no doubt they are still supporting insurgents," Odierno said. Asked if that was the greatest threat to stability in Iraq, he said, "If you ask me what I worry about most, I do worry about that as a long-term threat. And I think we have to, you know, constantly watch it."
More broadly, Odierno said he is encouraged at prospects for further progress toward stabilizing Iraq even as the United States reduces its troop levels over the next several months. He said the al-Qaida in Iraq network _ which he said in mainly led by foreign fighters _ is on the run but still a threat.
Odierno, who finished a 15-month tour as day-to-day commander in Iraq in mid-February, said the U.S. military needs to "keep constant pressure on these surrogate networks" that Iran is backing in Iraq and keep talking about them so that people don't forget what Iran is doing.
"They have a huge role to play in Iraq as helpful partners in the Middle East and to the Iraqi government," said Odierno. "What they have to stop doing is training surrogates, funding surrogates and supplying weapons to them _ which they are still doing today."
He added that he has no hard evidence to back the reports that Iran is funding al-Qaida in Iraq.
Odierno's comments came as Ahmadinejad wrapped up his visit to Iraq, saying that U.S. power is crippling the region, and emphasizing Iran's growing role as a partner to Iraq. But military officials are more suspicious of Iran's intentions.
"I think this is about keeping in my opinion a weak government in Iraq, and I think Iran benefits from that," Odierno told a Pentagon press conference.
Odierno has been nominated for promotion to four-star rank and assignment as vice chief of staff of the Army. He is currently commander of the Army's 3rd Corps, based at Fort Hood, Texas.
Odierno spoke hopefully of an apparent change of direction by radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army, which has posed some of the biggest challenges to U.S. efforts to stabilize the country.
"I think he's trying to move them away from a militia-based organization to one that is more _ as it started out to be _ helping the poor Shiite community have a role and a vote in what goes on in the government of Iraq," Odierno said. "I think I see him trying to move toward that."
He said this is encouraging in the sense that the majority of the Mahdi Army is "becoming more reconcilable" with the central government and its efforts to develop a Sunni-Shiite power sharing arrangement.
Rogue elements of the Mahdi Army are being supported by Iran and are now splitting off from al-Sadr's main movement, the general said. "That's actually helpful for us because we now understand who's doing what."
Despite the Hype, Ahmadinejad’s Iraq Visit a Failure
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
By Alireza Jafarzadeh
Behind the orchestrated pomp and pageantry during the visit to Baghdad last weekend by the Iranian ayatollahs’ president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, it was hard to miss the revulsion of Iraqis of all stripes. Adjectives like “historic” could not disguise the frustrating reality for Ahmadinejad and the ayatollahs: outside of Iraqi political spheres dominated by Tehran surrogates, they are seen as enemies of a secure, non-sectarian and democratic Iraq.
The greeting parties, in the Baghdad airport and later in various government buildings, were who's who of Tehran’s proxies in Iraq’s government. They “listened to Ahmadinejad,” according to McClatchy News Service, “without need of translation into Arabic, clearly comfortable hearing his Farsi.” Not surprising; for more than two decades, they were employed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the Qods Force, and the Ministry of Intelligence. Learning Farsi was a job requirement.
Outside of the very limited segment of Baghdad where Ahmadinejad visited, there was outrage. A young Baghdad resident told the New York Times, “I think Ahmadinejad is the most criminal and bloody person in the world. This visit degrades Iraq’s dignity.” Up north in Kirkuk, where Arab tribes and political parties rallied against Ahmadinejad’s visit, a tribal leader told the Times, “How can we tolerate this? Today we live under the regime of the clerics. The Iranian revolution has been exported to Iraq.” An Iraqi businessman added, “His visit is intended to reassure his followers here,” but is “provoking and enraging” the rest of Iraq.
In the streets of Baghdad and other cities, the slogans on the walls and banners at protest rallies were as telling. Graffiti in Al Habibia neighborhood near Sadr city called Ahmadinejad “a champion of Islamic nuclear bomb who will defeat Israel,” but in other neighborhoods, like Al Saydia, Al Adel and Al Ghzalia, writing on the walls denounced Ahmadinejad as “a godfather of sectarian violence that divides Iraq.”
“Your mortars preceded your visit," one placard read. Another read, “We condemn visit of terrorist and butcher Ahmadinejad to Iraq," according to the Associated Press. “We have seen today a visit by [a president] of a state with hands tarnished by the blood of innocent people in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine,” the leader of the Iraqi Kirkuk Front declared during a protest rally.
The outrage was widespread among independent Iraqi political figures of various backgrounds. Abdul-Karim al-Samaraie, a lawmaker with the Iraqi Accordance Front, told Al-Jazeera TV that "We wish that there would be a commitment from the Iranian president personally to cease all kind of interventions in Iraq's security and political affairs." Muhammad al-Daini, a member of the Iraqi National Assembly denounced Ahmadinejad’s visit in an interview with the Al-Hurra TV channel, and called for the shutdown of the Iranian regime’s diplomatic offices in Iraq.
Significantly, in a joint statement, over 130 Iraqi tribal leaders from the Shiite-dominated provinces of southern Iraq also denounced Ahmadinejad’s visit. “Since five years ago Iraq has turned into the scene of the Iranian regime’s meddling and aggression. Everyday hundreds of Iraqis are victims of the Iranian exported terrorism. In southern Iraq we are witnessing the murder of our children and ransack of our oil and other national wealth by the criminal elements of the Iranian regime,” the statement said. In late 2007, more than 300,000 Shiite Iraqis, including hundreds of tribal leaders from the southern provinces, signed a petition condemning the Iranian regime’s meddling in Iraq and supporting the presence of the main Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), in Iraq.
Ahmadinejad’s trip was a dismal failure on other levels, as well. Lost in the headlines was the news that he was shunned by the leader he most sought after. The meeting Ahmadinejad desperately coveted was not with Iraqi President Jalal Talebani or Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki. They are regular visitors to Tehran. Ahmadinejad and his team, for a variety of domestic and foreign policy considerations, sought a photo-op with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s most influential Shiite cleric. Ayatollah Sistani, citing “scheduling conflicts,” snubbed Ahmadinejad, who had to cancel his trip to Najaf and cut short his Iraq visit by one day, according to the Iraqi TV channel, al-Sharquiyah.
Back in Washington, lawmakers on both sides of the isle were briefed by top U.S. military commanders about Tehran’s rising efforts to train, arm, and support militant sectarian forces in Iraq. The US legislators deplored Ahmadinejad’s talk about security and stability as the height of hypocrisy.
Lieutenant General Raymond Odierno, the former number two U.S. commander in Iraq, told reporters that "What they [Tehran] ought to stop doing is training surrogates, funding surrogates and supplying weapons to them, which they are still doing today.”
Mocking Ahmadinejad’s boast that he could visit Iraq openly, unlike other foreign leaders who made unannounced visits, Gen. Odierno said “I'm not surprised. Because over the last 12 months whenever a visitor would come from the United States, we needed to foil a rocket attack. Guess what? That is because it was being done by an Iranian surrogate."
"I think it's offensive," said Sen. Carl Levin, (D-Mich.), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, of Ahmadinejad's trip. Sen. John Warner, the committee's Ranking Republican from Virginia, said, "I would hope that others in the administration would express their indignation about this visit and the comments made by that president because they go to the very heart of the enormity of the sacrifices of life and limb that we have suffered in trying to provide Iraq the ability to become a strong and sovereign nation."
With the hype of Ahmadinejad’s trip behind us, it is back to reality. The tyrant ayatollahs continue to step up their support for their terrorist network in Iraq. Meanwhile, they will try to showcase their surrogates in Iraq’s government to hide their growing isolation in the streets of Iran and Iraq.
The funds have to be shipped twice, US to Germany to Iraq, so from the time it is shipped, give it a couple of days, you will get confirmation, within days of the completed transaction.
For me it took longer, but I had to deal with some computer problems on my end. I have only shipped ONCE, when I sent my whole investment over there, but Steve, that is on this blog on occasion, have done it more often, and by now he is getting it done in a day or so.
That is a bit of a difference though, because he have his account set up already.
Once you get your account , and have it funded, you will be sent a temporary code, plus you need to download the e-bank book. The manual in how to deal with your account over the Internet. You can do that now, in the meanwhile as you are doing all this.
Change the code to something only you know.
Once you have all the codes, you really don't need a confirmation, you can go in on your own account, and see for yourself if the funds have arrived or not, but as I say, that statement holds true only AFTER you have set up your account.
Another piece of info that you have to take into consideration.
Very few Iraq's are Computer literate, very few are schooled in economics, and finances. Banks are having a hard time getting qualified persons for simple things as teller duty.
On occasion the electricity goes down, on occasion the computer system goes down, on occasion they have another holiday, and nothing gets done.
The work hours are very long, and they are trying very very hard to be in world class, but you will see that occasionally it is not so, you must have patience with them. Some of them have continuous murder threats hanging over them, and when they commute back and forth from home and work, it is not a time to relax.
You must understand, that sometimes an e-mail may just get lost, (when the computers goes blank at one of their power outages) , mine have in a few occasions, also e-mail from them to you might also get lost.
I was once waiting for a reply on one transaction, and had to remind them to get to it, it showed up that they had in fact sent me a response pretty quick (I got the copy) but it was lost en route to me.
So see this as something that on occasion will take some time, it is not a bank system that have all the western stability in it just yet.
They're working on it, but I just wanted to give you this, so you don't go overboard if things doesn't always go like clockwork.
The last article was a very interesting one, it gives me hope that it is not what the Iranians want us to believe it is.
The Grand Ayatolla al.Sistani didn't want to mingle with the Iranian President.
130 Tribal leaders (Shiite) also denounced his visit.
It's going to be ok at the end.
When the Iran/US/Israel conflict will spark off, the Iraqis will not line up behind Iran.
As much as I hate to say it, I think it is better to have that war now than later. We have debated the rationale back and forth here, and this is one of the situations where an early conflict is better than a later one. The later the more devastating.
Well, Roger, I think you may get your wish.
As I said, I believe the US will be FORCED to war against its will.. and it may be soon.
I was reading about an assessment of the MI6 concerning the NIE, and they say
QUOTE:
"MI6 chief John Scarlett and Mossad leader Meir Dagan believe the U.S. report not only has undermined efforts to impose tough new sanctions on Iran but, ironically, makes a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities more likely.
I believe this Intelligence service has it right.
===
UK says Iran hoodwinked U.S. But asserts intel report makes American attack more likely
January 16, 2008
The head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, has expressed "grave doubts" that Iran has mothballed its nuclear weapons program as reported last month in the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate, reports Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.
The U.S. report was blasted again last week by a furious President Bush on his visit to Israel. His anger was reinforced by an MI6 report supported by Israel's Mossad intelligence service.
MI6 chief John Scarlett and Mossad leader Meir Dagan believe the U.S. report not only has undermined efforts to impose tough new sanctions on Iran but, ironically, makes a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities more likely. The prospect of that attack came closer when Israel's new ambassador in London, Ron Prosor, said that Iran "will have enough uranium to make an atomic bomb by 2009." Proser is one of Israel's leading experts on Iran's nuclear program.
Mossad and MI6 agents working under deep cover in Iran concluded days before Bush began his historic Middle East trip that Iran's 10 nuclear facilities were still fully operational, producing enriched uranium and bomb casings at Natanz and the other eight nuclear facilities.
Meanwhile, Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin also reports that Countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council also apparently do not accept the findings of the most recent National Intelligence Estimate.
The growing military threat from Iran is prompting Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates quietly to make significant increases in arms purchases.
Iran's Arab neighbors remain concerned that Tehran would attack in response to a U.S. strike against its nuclear facilities.
The Gulf nations already have given notice that the U.S. cannot use their bases to launch attacks against Iran.
This somewhat older report (January), coupled with the alarming report of Iran having the new IR-2s (confirmation of Iran having those new nuclear centrifuges, operating them, and getting fissile material from them is below).. well, let's just say the US's hand appears ready to be forced in my estimation. Whether under President Bush or McCain, war will have to be waged and soon.. likely before 2009. It just isn't wise to leave it until they are nuclear capable (which the intelligence services say is 2009). So this will be an interesting period of time for the region.
Iran Confirms New Nuclear Centrifuges
Feb 24, 2008
By NASSER KARIMI/AP
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran said Sunday that it has started using new centrifuges that can churn out enriched uranium at more than double the rate of the machines that now form the backbone of the Islamic nation's nuclear program.
The announcement was the first official confirmation by Tehran after diplomats with the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog reported earlier this month that Iran was using 10 of the new IR-2 centrifuges.
"We are (now) running a new generation of centrifuges," the official IRNA news agency quoted Javad Vaidi, deputy of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as saying. No futher details were provided.
Iran is already under two sets of U.N. Security Council sanctions for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment. The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany have agreed on a draft resolution for a third set of sanctions.
The IAEA highlighted the "new-generation centrifuges" in its latest report on Iran released Friday, but did not provide details on their operation.
Earlier this month, diplomats accredited to the IAEA told The Associated Press that 10 IR-2 centrifuges had started processing small quantities of uranium hexafluoride gas in a process that can produce fuel for a nuclear reactor or fissile material for a weapon.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Saturday the report vindicated Iran and called on the U.S. and its allies to apologize for accusing Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons. He also warned that Tehran would take unspecified "decisive reciprocal measures" against any country that imposed additional sanctions against Iran.
Most of the material shown to Iran by the IAEA in its investigation of the nation's alleged attempts to make nuclear arms came from Washington, though some was provided by U.S. allies, diplomats told The Associated Press. The agency shared it with Tehran only after the nations gave their permission.
But Soltanieh dismissed much of the material as false. In any case, he said, it came too late—three years after U.S. intelligence claimed it had material on a laptop computer smuggled out of Iran indicating that Tehran had been working on details of nuclear weapons. The data supposedly included missile trajectories and ideal altitudes for exploding warheads.
"They should have given it to us three years ago," Soltanieh said, suggesting Tehran would then have had a more substantive response.
"Iran did not need to wait for information to answer" the accusations coming from many sides that it was trying to make nuclear arms, said Gregory L. Schulte, the top U.S. delegate to the IAEA.
The most likely and reasonable scenerio to my mind is that Israel, fearing for its own safety and well aware that Iran will go nuclear capable in 2009 - will feel forced to act in 2008. The US may be preoccupied with the elections and it may be the very last thing the US wants to do - but I believe the US will be forced into the conflict because if Israel acts, the US cannot stand idly by.
Iraq is about to award a $1 billion contract to build a high-tech perimeter around its border to prevent Al Qaeda terrorists entering the country.
(www.noozz.com)
07 March 2008 (AFX News Limited)
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Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Sharistani said Iraq intends to almost double its oil production over the next two years, to 4.5 mln barrels per day.
In an interview with Monte Carlo Dualiya, the Arabic unit of RFI, Sharistani said: "Iraq will increase its oil production by 2 mln bpd to 4.5 mln bpd within two years".
He said the goal will be reached thanks to tenders for contracts for
technical support, and said he is optimistic about the results of the first government tender. He said over 100 oil companies have responded to the first stage of the technical support plan, and the results of the first phase of the tender will be known during this month.
The Iraqi government is relying on its own funds to finance the technical support projects, but the companies chosen will be allowed to explore and operate new oilfields. The ministry said the oil extracted will not be shared.
The government then wants to increase production to 6 mln bpd for the coming 5-10 years, the ministry said.
(www.iraqupdates.com)
07 March 2008 (Dow Jones)
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Iraq and China are close to wrapping up negotiations on a $1.2-billion oil contract that was originally agreed to in 1997 under Saddam Hussein's government, an Oil Ministry official said Thursday.
State-owned China National Petroleum Corp. signed the deal to develop the billion-barrel al-Ahdab oil field in the midst of U.N. sanctions that barred direct dealings with Iraq's oil industry.
Beijing was waiting for sanctions to end when the U.S. invasion in 2003 overthrew Saddam's government. The two countries restarted talks in October, 2006.
"We are expecting that the next round of discussions, due to be held in April, will finish the negotiations," the official told The Associated Press.
The official said the Iraqi government presented proposals to amend the original production-sharing contract, with the country's new oil and gas law has bogged down in parliament.
"If they (CNPC) are ready to work, then they will sign the contract," added the official who declined to discuss his ministry's proposals.
The official added that the presence of Wasit province governor, where al-Ahdab oil field is located, in last week discussion that held in Amman, Jordan, "was very important as he assured them about the protection Iraqi security forces can offer in case they want to start working."
Wasit, about 160 kilometers southeast of Baghdad, has been the scene of sporadic attacks since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
(www.iraqupdates.com)
Twin Baghdad Blasts Kill 68
Associated Press | March 07, 2008
A pair of attacks in central Baghdad's commercial district yesterday killed at least 68 people, a security source said, making it the second deadliest assault in Iraq this year.
The assault -- a roadside bomb followed by a suicide attack -- ripped through Al-Atar Street in the Karada neighbourhood.
In addition to the dead, 154 others were wounded, a security source from the interior ministry said on Friday, adding that among the casualties were several women and children who had gone out shopping.
Today, relatives carried the bodies of loved ones killed in the attack to be buried in Najaf, an AFP photographer said.
A number of roadside stalls had been destroyed, and windows of nearby shops and homes were broken.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered security forces to "chase and arrest the criminals" who committed the attack, a statement from his office said.
"He blamed the terrorists and condemned the latest barbaric crime against the civilians," the statement added.
An interior ministry official said the attack was coordinated to inflict maximum casualties and appeared to be the work of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
"First a roadside bomb went off and as people and police gathered to rescue the victims, a suicide bomber blew himself up amid the crowd," he said.
The worst attack this year was on Feb. 1, when bombings in the capital's bird market killed 100 people.
The bombings came after the U.S. military announced a reduction in troops on the back of what it claims to be a drop in violence across the country.
Yesterday, the military said some 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, deployed in last year's surge, would not be replaced once they leave the country, likely within the next few weeks.
Once the brigade re-deploys, "the number of U.S. combat brigades in Iraq will drop from 19 to 18, with three additional brigades scheduled to redeploy by July. The unit will not be replaced," a statement said.
The redeployment "represents the increased capability and progress being made in Iraq by the Iraqi security forces to provide their own security," said said Colonel Billy Buckner, a spokesman for U.S.-led forces in Iraq.
The U.S. military currently has 158,000 troops in Iraq.
Figures collected by AFP on March 1 from the interior, defence and health ministries show that violence in Iraq surged in February after drop in each of the the six months to January.
Iraq saw 721 people killed in February, a 33 percent rise over January, when 541 people were killed. That was down from 1,856 last August.
The drop over six months was attributed to a "surge" of an extra 30,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, the formation by Sunni leaders of anti-Qaeda fronts and a ceasesfire by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia.
Today, in another attack, a suicide bomber blew himself up near a police station in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Four policemen were killed and 17 people wounded, including 15 policemen, police officials said.
The bomber attacked the Al-Waqhas police station in the Ras al-Jadha neighbourhood at around 7:00 a.m.
"We have received bodies of four policemen killed," doctor Ghanim Ahmed at the Mosul general hospital told AFP.
A police officer said the targeted neighbourhood housed several government offices, including one belonging to the interior ministry.
The U.S. military claims Mosul to be the last urban bastion of the Iraqi branch of al-Qaeda and is involved in a massive operation there.
It says U.S. and Iraqi forces have managed to dent the Islamist group's networks elsewhere in the country, especially in the west and the centre following which the group has focused on Mosul, the third largest city of Iraq.
On Jan. 25, Maliki said a "decisive battle" against al-Qaeda would be launched in Mosul.
Residents of Mosul, 230 miles from Baghdad, have been stocking up with supplies in anticipation of the battle, traders say.
(www.military.com)
I believe the U.S. will covertly encourage Israel to strike Iran militarily. It is my hope, the U.S. is involved in covert actions inside the country to destablize the government.
Laura:
While high gas prices contributes to our lagging economy $3.00 + is good for Iraq.
Roger:
I will attempt to be long suffering and patient when dealing with the Iraqi banking system. I am taking your advice and will attempt to wire between $500 to a $1000 at a time.
I want my account at Al-Warka to match the amount of Dinars I hold in hard currency. The benefit going directly through the bank I will get a better exchange rate.
By the way, are we still planning a party once the Dinar either revalues or is introduced to a limited free float?
Iraq is about to award a $1 billion contract to build a high-tech perimeter around its border to prevent Al Qaeda terrorists entering the country.
In an exclusive interview with Noozz, former Iraqi Minister of Communications and current Iraqi MP Mohammed Allawi revealed that Iraq is about to award a contract to foreign contractors to create a high-tech surveillance system along the country's borders to prevent intruders entering illegally.
"The first phase will involve securing the border with Syria. Ninety per cent of terrorist attacks in Iraq are by non-Iraqis and many of the terrorists come through the borders between Iraq and Syria," said Allawi.
"Technologies will include wimax [wide area wireless networks], sensors, cameras and other equipment capable of differentiating between animals, human beings and vehicles."
According to Allawi, another security contract will also be awarded for the city of Baghdad for surveillance equipment such as closed circuit TVs. The value of the Baghdad contract is estimated at between $100 million and $300 million.
IRAQ NEGOTIATES $1.2 BILLION OIL CONTRACT WITH CHINA
The Iraqi government is in talks to conclude a $1.2 billion oil contract with China, international media reported on March 6. China's state-owned National Petroleum Corporation signed an agreement with Saddam Hussein in 1997 to develop the Al-Ahdab field in Wasit Governorate. The original deal was valued at $700 million over 23 years, with planned production at 90,000 barrels per day. The oil field has proven reserves of 1.4 billion barrels, Wasit Governor Latif al-Turfa has said. "The Wasit Governorate has given the Chinese side assurances and guarantees to provide the necessary security and removing any hurdles on the path of Chinese operations in the governorate," al-Turfa, who is a member of the Iraqi negotiating team, told "Al-Zaman." He added that tribal leaders have said they will guarantee the protection of the Chinese firms and their equipment. "Al-Zaman" reported that the new agreement calls for the production of more than 100,000 barrels per day over a period of at least 22 years. China will receive a share of that output under the agreement. An Iraqi Oil Ministry official told AP on March 6 that the final round of talks with China for the development of the field will be held in April. KR
IRAQI GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS CABINET RESHUFFLE
The Political Council for National Security convened in Baghdad on March 6 to consider the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle, Iraqi media reported. The meeting, chaired by Jalal Talabani, focused on the need to engage a broad spectrum of leaders in order to build a technocratic and politically diverse cabinet, Al-Iraqiyah television reported. According to Al-Sharqiyah television, the discussion centered on whether to make minor changes to the cabinet or totally reshuffle it. Several ministers have been deemed ineffective because they were allegedly appointed on the basis of sectarian interests rather than their skills. The council also reportedly discussed the negotiations with the United States over a long-term security agreement. KR
S.C. congressman reports on progress in Iraq, Afghanistan
By RICHARD WHITING/Executive news editor
Friday, March 7, 2008
He’s happy to be back home in South Carolina, but after a nearly weeklong tour of Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett is even more strongly convinced that the U.S. military presence in those countries is essential to their well-being -- and to the security of the United States.
The congressman, whose Third District includes Greenwood County, made his second trip to Iraq and first tour of parts of Afghanistan since taking office. He and five other congressmen visited the countries, arriving last Thursday and returning to the U.S. on Tuesday. He was joined by South Carolina’s U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson.
“Just flying in, I saw a marked difference,” Barrett said of Iraq, in reference to his last trip two years ago. “Streets were clear, a lot of destruction had been cleared up.”
Despite the war’s progress Barrett says he’s seen, the congressman is emphatic in his declaration that the U.S. must remain in Iraq, for the good of the Iraqis and U.S. citizens.
“Are we winning? I can tell you this, without equivocation, we are winning,” Barrett said of the war.
Barrett said he encountered Iraqis who are concerned about the upcoming presidential election in the U.S. “They know about as much about this presidential race as I do. There is a lot of angst,” he said.
He said Iraqis he talked with think the rug will be pulled out from under them if either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama wins in November. Iraqis have a “feeling of urgency” in moving forward in a more rapid pace, he said, because they fear they can and will lose support under either candidate’s presidency.
The congressman wouldn’t even venture a guess about how long the U.S. should stay; however, he thinks the U.S. presence in the region can and will help ensure the United States is not at war on its own soil.
Iraq, Barrett said, is sitting on anywhere from 1.3 to 3 trillion barrels of oil. If “religious radicals” are in charge of that, he said, the U.S. is in trouble because power -- and with it the ability to buy weaponry -- falls into the wrong hands.
“They hire the thugs, the murderers to run the country,” Barrett said. “The bad guys believe we are infidels. They gain power, strength (hundreds of billions of dollars), and there’s nothing they can’t do, nothing they can’t buy. These zealots want nothing but death and destruction for the U.S. We can’t just quit now.”
It will take two things to turn Iraq around, Barrett said. They are the passage of a hydrocarbon law, which gives foreign entities contract protection and rule-of-law protection, and a free market. The hydrocarbon law, Barrett said, will allow Shell and other oil companies to come in, and with them comes an improved electrical power system for the country, as well as improved ports.
“Private enterprise and a free market will turn Iraq around,” he said.
If the U.S. were to quit its efforts in Iraq now, Barrett said, “Iraq goes back to the way it was and the world is a much different place, especially the threat to the U.S. We’re taking the fight to them and I’d rather do it over there than over here.”
The US military announced on the 6th March that 2,000 soldiers are to be pulled out of Iraq, within a wider reduction of the US armed forces presence there.
The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division formed part of the President Bush-ordered troop surge that arrived in Iraq last year.
Speaking to news agency Reuters, Lieutenant Colonel Steve Stover confirmed their departure.
"I can state that (they) are leaving”, he said, adding: “...there is no replacement brigade combat team coming in."
60% Reduction in Iraqi Violence Since US Troop Surge
In the time since the troop surge – totalling 30,000 soldiers – reached full deployment in Iraq, violence there has become 60 per cent less frequent. Such a marked drop led to General Patraeus’ announcement that five brigades would be withdrawn by July this year.
November 2007 saw the departure of the initial brigade to be pulled out of Iraq under Patraeus’ directive.
BAGHDAD, March 6 (UPI) -- Iraq will take over security duties in Baghdad at the end of 2008, Brig. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf, the interior operations chief, confirmed Thursday.
Gen. Kevin Bergner, a coalition spokesman, said the multi-national forces would assume a backup role in the Iraqi capital at that time.
Thanks, Rob N and Laura, for your comments on Iran and Iraq. We will have to see. I found it interesting the Congressman's statement that the Iraqis are fearful of Obama or Clinton becoming President. Obviously they realize that it would be a losing situation for Iraqis if the Democrat ticket were to get in. I just hope Americans are able to discern the same way.. but compassion for the Democrats appears to mean only removing themselves from harm's way, not helping others who are in harm's way. In another part of that interview it says,
QUOTE:
In a more humorous moment, Barrett shared another story as further proof that the U.S. is on the right course in Iraq. He might well have been in camel country, but the non-smoker congressman willingly lit up a Marlboro Light offered to him by an Iraqi sheik.
“Talk about a life moment. I’m standing in the street talking to Iraqis, talking to a sheik who had his full regalia on,” he said. “He spent 13 years in a prison camp in Iran.” The only reason the sheik survived is “he ate what they feed the sheep.”
The sheik offered a Marlboro cigarette to Barrett, which he took and smoked with the sheik.
“Here’s a guy that was befriending me, a U.S. congressman, befriending the Iraqi policemen, U.S. Marines. If we leave these people in the lurch, I’ll guarantee you al-Qaida will come back and cut his head off and kill his family,” Barrett said. “He has everything to lose.”
(end quote)
Facing certain death, the Iraqis are fighting for their lives and homes.. I hope America will give them a chance to win the ability to live. Kudos again to the military for the fight which protects the Iraqis and their home. They are the truly compassionate and caring ones, not the MSM and their vaunted peaceniks who would leave the Iraqi people and their homeland in the lurch.
I have mixed feelings about how the Iraqi's feel about Americans. I can't imagine that the Sunni's have great favorable feelings for us. After all, our military did destroy Iraqi military men and these men are part of many families. I see the Sunni tribes needing us to help them with terrorists and technology--but I do not see them openly welcoming americans.
The Kurds seem to like americans. However, the too may not like american's for long due to what looks like the american military support of Turkey against the PKK. I believe there is a connection with the president of the Kurds and the PKK due to Kirkuk issue. The PKK was known to be evicting everyone who is not a Kurd to get power over the oil in that region. This still continues to be an issue for them.
To the south, Shiiti's may or may not be friendly to americans. It is a mixed bag of how american's are seen. We are dealing with militia's, criminal gangs, Iranians taking over oil-- that is on Iraqi land, and Shiiti religion concerns. I see an Iraq nation in a great deal of pain due to this war and I hope we american's and anyone else helping the military (contractors) use wisdom in dealing with the Iraqi's. A lot of healing needs to be done to their people. It's not going to be easy.
I saw an interview with an Iranian college student recently. I thought it interesting. The quote was "We (meaning Iranians) do not know how to talk to americans. We want to, but we do not know what to say." There was a sort of hope in this college student to open a dialogue but a sense of not knowing how. I say all of this--to acknowledge how difficult it is going to be to have influence in that region with both of these countries due to war.
An off topic post.. about the Supernatural which has been in the news lately.. asking and giving a beginning answer to the question..
How do you tell when someone is really hearing from God (IE Moses) or is just psycho?
I was watching a "supposedly" kids movie called "Millions", rated PG. It is a psycho movie and not for kids (should be rated R). The main character keeps on seeing and talking to dead Roman Catholic saints - hallucinations where a nun smokes and says you can do whatever you wish in heaven (including smoke - sin?) - and another shakes the boy's hand and leaves blood on his hand "Oops, sorry, I was martyred, decapitated, you know" he says and points to his sew marks on his neck. It even bashes Jesus with a "Peter" appearing and explaining that one of the miracles Jesus did was just a farce and not a real miracle. At the end he sees his dead mother and gives her a hug (how touching?). It is more like a light "horror" (not played for laughs like "The Munsters", but serious psychosis) rather than being a fun family type movie or spiritual. I don't recommend it. Definitely psycho, and anti-Biblical (smoking nun, denial of Jesus' miracle), the boy sees dead people, but never any Jesus. It is, therefore, not really a movie about God, and if some Catholics really believe this kind of thing (I hear some pray to these dead people/saints, but I don't really know, not being one - none of the Catholics I have met have been all that religious) it does not bode well for solid mental processes.
Recently, a "scientist" in Israel who says he cannot accept that people ever talked to God stated that he thinks Moses and the Israelites were high on psychedelic drugs - this is his explanation for the "Burning Bush" Moses saw. The key in that was his "a priori" rejection of the possibility that Moses ever COULD talk to God. (An "a priori" assumption is a judgement a person makes, "not based on prior study or examination; nonanalytic: an a priori judgment" from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/a%20priori ) In this case, this "researcher" started with the assumption of atheism, which immediately excludes the supernatural explanation of a very real God. The author of the study said, "As far as Moses on Mount Sinai is concerned, it was either a supernatural cosmic event, which I don't believe, or a legend, which I don't believe either, or finally, and this is very probable, an event that joined Moses and the people of Israel under the effects of narcotics." (From http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4392361&page=1 - "Moses Was High on Drugs, Israeli Researcher Says")
This is hardly an objective or scientific viewpoint if he cannot even allow the possibility of belief but excludes it from the start. His viewpoint therefore is, "not based on prior study or examination; nonanalytic: an a priori judgment". In science, you start with a hypothesis (What if there is a God, and He did communicate to mankind?) then try to objectively see if there is evidence to support the theory, rejecting those possibilities which have no evidence for them. In his case, he began with "I don't believe that" and then went from there, EXCLUDING the supernatural as a possibility before he began any "investigation". The fact he ends up looking around for drugs which they could have taken and (without empirical evidence) concludes that this must be what they ate.. is highly suspicious as "science". (He says, "two naturally existing plants in the Sinai Peninsula have psychoactive components" and concludes that this must be what they ate. I bet you have some "psychoactive component plants" available near you in your area, too.. maybe even drug dealers nearby.. the availability of it near you then proves you smoke or eat drugs, too.. right?) Proving availability of cocaine, LSD or other drugs is not the same as proving people are taking them. Though it would appear to be one "rational" conclusion to someone who has rejected the supernatural as a cause as a first assumption, without empirical evidence.
The difference between people who are high on drugs or truly psychotic and a person who hears from the true spiritual realm (God or the bad guys) is this.. whether what they see and hear is real or not. It should be proven empirically before you accept it as real. And even if it is proven empirically, that does not mean you think it is a good thing and accept it as "Truth". For instance, I read recently an article about a haunted house. (Oh sure, I thought.. same as you.) But the officers say they don't have another explanation, and I was hard pressed to make another diagnosis, myself. What would you say if you were one of these officers?
QUOTE:
===
Police blame ghosts for damage
Romanian cops have closed a vandalism investigation that left local houses in ruins by concluding ghosts were to blame.Families living in Lilieci reported windows broken, bicycles flying through the air, objects moving on tables and candles blown out when there is no wind. When they complained they were being hounded by evil spirits to police they were laughed at.
But after officers saw the evidence with their own eyes they filed a report saying that ghosts were to blame.
Mircea Hadimbu, 68, who says his house has now been completely wrecked, said: "The windows started to break one by one. I saw two bicycles moving through the air on their own." His sister Melentina Bocancea, 78, who lives nearby, added: "There were cups flying around the house and candles I lit were blown out as soon as I put a match to them even though there was not a breath of wind in the house."
A police spokesman said: "There were bottles and things flying around. I did not know what to dodge first. We can find nothing to suggest it was anything other than what the people claim."
OK, these officers thought this was nuts and laughed at it, but when they got there and there were things flying around, they concluded by the evidence that maybe they were indeed dealing with something more than a couple of lunatics. From the hard evidence they concluded, "We can find nothing to suggest it was anything other than what the people claim." So where does this leave you? With saying a supernatural event has happened which at this point defies another explanation. To exclude the supernatural as a possibility (maybe say the officers and people were all high on drugs because they are available downtown and that MUST be the explanation) just because you don't WANT the supernatural to be the explanation is hardly indicative of a truly scientific and objective inquiry based on the empirical evidence.
So... what if there are real supernatural phenomena which defy naturalistic explanation? Is it right to reject them as ever being from the supernatural realm and thereby call people such as these officers and all the people involved "nuts"? Again I ask you.. if 80 percent of the people on planet earth believe God exists.. can someone exclude the possibility of it being true just because they don't like it - because, as this "researcher" said, they just "don't believe" it could be so? Is it ok to call 80 percent of the human population "nuts" when there is empirical data to support their assertions as proof? Is it fine for this "researcher" to call those MILLIONS of people who believe the words of Moses to be supernaturally from God.. people who are following those who spoke from a state of drug-induced stupor?
If some say they heard from the supernatural or God, then you examine it as these police did and see if it seems supernatural.. and if it is (like the above) that does not mean you have to de facto accept it. In that case, you have to decide if it is wise to embrace the phenomena just because it empirically true. If these folks can have things fly around their home by not natural means (flying objects is not a blessing, I think you will agree), you can bet your bottom dollar there are other supernatural events which are equally not "good" in origin or affect. There is good and bad in the spirit realm, and you would then need to use your discernment as to whether you should embrace the event under scrutiny as good or not. This applies to the persons claiming to speak from contact with that realm. Of course, in the case of the supernatural words which came from the pen of Moses, those were supernatural events which one can discern should be embraced as good and truth. (The wisdom of such commands as "You shall not steal, murder or covet" is self-evident.) Other revelational events and words (such as someone saying they heard "kill all the infidels" given to them from the spiritual realm) may not pass the bar of your discernment and scrutiny concerning which spiritual events to embrace - even if you agree that the person speaking the words was hearing something from the spirit-realm, or was a "nail".
So if you can accept the empirical data and not reject it by "a priori" assumption.. if you can see the event as real (though supernatural in origin)... discernment about which supernatural events to embrace and which to reject as supernaturally real but not worth pursuing or getting involved with (likely from the bad side) is necessary. But if people reject ALL supernatural phenomena, they are hardly going to be honing such discernment skills about which events to embrace and which to reject, now, are they? Those who reject it out of hand definitely have no discernment at all about it.. and it does stand to logic that those people without any spiritual discernment are the ones most easily deceived and led by the bad side (if there is one), right? Surely it stands to reason that if you are not looking for supernatural deception (because you are sure the supernatural does not even exist - it is all drug induced hallucinations and you don't take drugs so you won't be deceived), you can fall for supernatural deceptions much easier than those who are discerning and looking for them. As an illustration.. during the Vietnam War.. if a person were walking in a jungle in Vietnam and believed there were traps and Vietcong around, and another person thought that was a figment of imagination due to drugs.. which is more likely to be discerning about possible traps? Which looks paranoid? Which one is most likely to discern the traps which are there? And.. which is the most likely to survive through traps, attacks, etc? All I am saying is, spiritual discernment might be a worthwhile survival life-skill to develop, rather than denying the empirical evidence having any validity and seeking other naturalistic explanations.
Sadr takes break from politics, cites failures
By Liz Sly | TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT
March 8, 2008
BAGHDAD - Iraq's elusive Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr has decided to drop out of politics for the time being because his disillusionment with the political scene in Iraq has left him sick and anxious, he said in an unusually personal letter to his followers released Friday.
In a written response to a query from a group of followers asking why he hadn't been seen in public for so long, Sadr said he had decided to devote himself to a period of study, reflection and prayer after failing in his core mission to rid Iraq of the U.S. occupation or to turn it into an Islamic society.
He also cited the betrayal of some followers, whom he accused of falling prey to "materialistic" politics.
"So far I did not succeed either to liberate Iraq or make it an Islamic society -- whether because of my own inability or the inability of society, only God knows," Sadr wrote.
"The continued presence of the occupiers, on the one hand, and the disobedience of many on the other, pushed me to isolate myself in protest. I gave society a big proportion of my life. Even my body became weaker, I got more sicknesses."
Speculation has been intensifying as to the whereabouts of the maverick cleric, whose Mahdi Army militia twice fought U.S. troops in 2004 and then was accused of many of the sectarian killings of Sunnis that pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war.
His last public statement came two weeks ago, when he renewed the six-month cease-fire that has been credited with helping bring down the levels of violence in Iraq.
But he has not been seen in public since May. Sadrist officials said in January that he was studying to become an ayatollah in the holy city of Najaf, a position that would give the 30-something leader greater religious authority over the movement he inherited from his slain father. The U.S. military and some Iraqi officials say he is living in the Iranian city of Qom.
I recieved my email from Mr. I today regarding my Dollar/Dinar account. Do you know whether since I do not currently have a scanner is it possible to fax a copy of ID and signature to Mr. I? Thanks for your help.
A scanner is between 60 and 80 bucks, if you go for a cheapy,(and they hold up for almost a whole full month) and you should invest in one.
I have actually never faxed them anything, but they have fax numbers so by all means, it's just another way of communicating.
If you are not going stocks you may get away with a fax on occasion, but if you are into stocks it is pretty much a back and forth thing.
You send them a pick list, with your signature on,(must write it, print it, sign it, scan it, attach it to an e-mail and send it) they buy the stocks, and send you what you got, (print it, and put it in your folder)
About your idea to send 500 bucks at a time, naaa, that will cost you as you go, better send the whole amount at once, then it is one cost only. Money that is wired is protected. That is the whole idea over FedEx.
Once the money is sent, your funds will only exist electronically. (Isn't that a bummer, once you had these beautiful pieces of documents, all this Dinar Bills, and now you're only getting electrons.), So I see no advantage by sending over and over again a smaller sum. They charge you the same every time, and if you have electrons floating around once why should you have them floating around twice?
Just because our forefathers couldn't control electricity or earlier, fire, that didn't mean that they didn't come in contact with it.
A thunder and a flash, and it ignited a tree.
They got so scared of the now burning forest that they took shelter in a river, and got zapped by an electric eel.
Many native Americans fled when they heard and saw that hissing and puffing beast go across the prairie on rails.
The first balloon trip made by Montgolfier in France ended up with their balloon being completely destroyed by panic stricken people that had to rip this devilish thing apart so it couldn't come and attack them.
Things that fit in in a persons universe is understood.
Much of the early colonies was won because it didn't fit in in the universe that a man could kill another man by pointing a stick on him, and let the stick thunder.
Spiritual things have scared man, because we have been geared to understand how a screw and a bolt goes together, rather than understand how man works. Man thinks he is a meatball, that is 100% effect of genes and upbringing.
So dear friends on this blog, I really don't have to talk to all of you, because I am not really talking to you, I am talking to your genes, and your recorded experience.
Rubbish, you are all a unit of awareness, and that is spirit.
You can't measure it with material means, meters, time, gallons, or Ampere. So mankind have not find a way to put a meter on you, so it will stay unknown.
So a guy that maybe had a funeral he didn't like, or his will was not full filled got mad, and started to toss things around. Well he better get over it, and move on, and the people that didn't do his funeral the way he had it planned should make up, and follow his last will. He seems to hang around and keeping an eye on things. He's not ready to go anywhere and this guy that was trashing the Romanian place.
That's a reality that I am describing, for another person this may be hogwash.
It is true if it is true to you.
Psychotic person, that is another ballgame.
Usually a psychotic person have had a very deep trauma, in where another person have completely overwhelmed his own personality, and decided that it is better to be that person than being himself.
Somewhere along the line he decided that my person, the way I am and the way I think is a loser, but the aunt that is whipping his ass everyday for the smallest infraction he is doing, is a winner, -"If I can be like her, I would not have to be what I am". -"Being what I am makes me soar everywhere, and I cant do anything right anyway (according to my aunt) so my goal in life is to be what my aunt is". -"That will take me out of this, and I want so much to get out of this, I must get out of this."
So now this person goes around and acts, like the aunt that was abusing him in his past, in fact, his whole personality now IS the aunt.
That is psychotic.
That has nothing to do with a reality that does not conform with someone else reality( well except perhaps that this person now have no reality of his own, it is seen all through his aunts eyes, that he is now wearing)
Any experience is something that is perceived, and as we had a debate some time back.....did I tell you that I actually saw a duck sitting in a tree.
I did, I actually saw it sitting on that tree limb.
You don't believe me, .....well, I don't give a rats ass.
Sara, if you talk with God, and I say I don't believe you, you answer would accordingly be : -".............."
Stay true to your own observation, stay true to your reality. It may not be in agreement with everyone, but then again, rats have asses.
Atta girl....
AlSadr,
A dweeb, complete wacko, with a staff around him that is holding his hand for every step he is doing, a man that is used by any and all, and this poor boy doesn't have a clue what or who is using him.
The public appearances he has made have been embarrassing exposure of him. He doesn't get anything right, and have trouble getting a conceptual understanding of the simplest challenges. It's almost to the point where up and down is a problem for him.
So to me it is pretty obvious, that this guy is getting worse, and have come to such a stage that he no longer can be used in any capacity at all.
His retreat to reflection, prayer and meditation, might actually do him good, if he is let alone in a safe and stable environment, where he is fed nutritious meals and have plenty of sleep.
Supernatural stuff.. Roger.. you are right about "primitive" man not understanding things and being afraid of the unknown. But modern man has gone to the other extreme and now thinks he knows everything and need not be afraid of anyone or anything, including God. But because God is real and has mankind truly in His hands in the fact that God has the power over human life and death.. mankind still SHOULD fear God. By that I mean as ultimate lawgiver and enforcer of the laws He has made... because God still judges mankind.
When I look at the story of the life of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, I see a man who was allowed to do a lot of very wicked things for quite a long time.. yet, not forever. And his end was a judgement from God, no matter who God used to cause it to happen. God had His will done concerning Saddam in the end. God is just much more patient and does not judge such wicked persons right away. I am sure Saddam also thought he had gotten away with the things he did.. as wicked men think so today. But there is a time of reckoning, and it is often manifest in this life, and not just in the next on Judgement Day. I note the "Lord of War" (the arms dealer) was just apprehended by the authorities.. that will be interesting to follow, too.. as his "business" has been the cause of a lot of needless death and I wonder how God will judge his case through the authorities whose care he is now under, as well as ultimately.
Sadr's goals for Iraq.. to turn it into an Islamic state.. are obviously not working. I see this disappointment for him as God saying to him and his goals "NO", because it isn't His will. Maybe some meditation and prayer will help him see that, and understand that God wishes mankind to have free exercise of their wills concerning which religious beliefs they want to hold, rather than forcing Islam on them from the state level. Separation of church and state on that governmental level.. is a God-given right He will work to uphold. Mankind should be free to choose their religious beliefs and God will uphold all people who seek to bring that freedom to the world because He does not force Himself upon anyone, yet desires mankind to freely choose His way when they can. And they do. Did you know that in 1900 there were only ONE million Christians in Africa.. and now there are Three Hundred and Thirty million (330 MILLION) Christians in Africa... ?? They are coming to Christianity (out of Islam) at the rate of SIX million people per year. When given the freedom to choose, people do choose which God they want to serve... and often that means a God who is not coercive in His methods of gaining and keeping converts. If Islam really is all that great and true a religion, they should not have anything to fear by a secular state which allows free exercise of choice in religion.
I agree with you that we are far more than our accumulated genes and experiences.. we are spirits and we each are as unique as snowflakes or fingerprints.. unique creations of God.
As for the poltergeist or ghost or whatever those officers encountered.. puzzling. People communicating with the dead is forbidden in the Bible, and I believe this is for our safety and protection. I think the "dead scene" is a "bad rap" and we ought to stay away from dead folks. As someone once said to me, these dead people weren't all that smart in life, why seek out dead people to help you now they are dead? And those who cannot control their tempers in life are not all that wise a set of people.. it appears to me that if it is dead people/ghosts then they are certainly those with anger issues, and so not wise to be around or seek out. The phenomena does appear to be legitimate empirically.. that is, the incidents appear to have real scientific validity. So, I suppose the only two possibilities are that such events are really dead people with intense need of anger management.. or it is demons. I don't like either possibility and what their tantrums may mean, so I steer clear of pursuing this direction of inquiry as it just does not seem a wise use of time to me.
As for your interesting diagnosis of psychosis being wanting to be someone else in order to be "acceptable".. I had not heard of that before. It seems to me that people want little carbon copies of themselves who submit to their own views - polite people who make no waves rather than those who wish to speak differing viewpoints which they truly believe. This creates a peer pressure to conform to the prevailing view and these psychotic people are seeking to be another person to fit into what they view as the prevailing wisdom. Uniqueness of view and personality are definitely not rewarded within the family of man.. mankind truly is into conformity and submission. Martin Luther King had a dream.. but he was unique and not a carbon copy of the rest of the population. Martin Luther himself was a man with a dream as well.. and he was persecuted and they attempted to kill him for it. I find it interesting that you said that trying to be someone else to be acceptable.. following the crowd and not being unique, are signs of psychosis.. in your illustration wanting to be an aunt or something.. wanting to be like someone else so that a person feels acceptable.. that seems to me to be the ultimate act of conformity. The world does indeed reward conformists. The MSM fawns over them. In the recent newsbusters comedy segment, they poked fun at the intolerance of the MSM, saying:
"ABC news recently used hidden cameras to stage incidents of Islamophobia as an attempt to portray Americans as bigoted. Hey.. ABC.. you want to film some real intolerance and hatred? Send someone wearing an "I love President Bush" T-shirt into your newsroom."
Staying true to what you believe used to be called having moral fibre or backbone. Compromise and conformity, however, wins you points from the MSM.. and daily we all see the intense grovelling before that idol of media coverage - worshipping its power to "influence the ratings concerning your popularity among the American people." You have to hand it to Huckabee.. he stood by what he believed to the end while they ridiculed him for it. Such is the performance of honorable men with true conviction.
No, Roger, I wouldn't cave in to another opinion in order to gain that person's esteem. Though it isn't quite "I don't give a rat's ass", as you put it.. which is dismissive of the person whose opinion I would wish to be according to reality and truth. I believe that we must walk by the light we have been given, and within that illumination.. we cannot turn back into darkness when we have been shown the right thing to do or believe, not even to win the good opinion of others. In this area, President Bush has excelled as he has been an incredible example of a man under fire for what he believes from so many sources, yet sticks to his guns when he knows he is right. His case reminds me of Einstein's:
Shortly after Albert Einstein fled from Germany (in 1932), one hundred Nazi professors published a book (One Hundred Authors Against Einstein) condemning his theory of relativity. "If I were wrong," Einstein said in his defense, "one professor would have been enough."
"Methinks thou dost protest too much" is the saying which often comes to mind when I see so many attacks against the good works President Bush is doing. The recent attempts to open the Homeland to attack by terrorists which he has sought to fend off.. with trying to make a permanent Protect America Act (with protections for those who have helped keep America safe up until now) and then his recent veto of tying the hands of the CIA in the case of needing to get information which will allow the US to protect the homeland.. are admirable stands. It is worth noting what President Bush said, below:
Bush Explains Veto of Waterboarding Bill
DEB RIECHMANN AP
Mar 8, 2008
The bill would have limited the CIA to 19 interrogation techniques that are used by the military and spelled out in the Army Field Manual. Bush said he vetoed the measure because it is important for the CIA to have a separate and classified interrogation program for suspected terrorists who possess critical information about possible plots against the United States.
Bush, who used his weekly radio address to announce the veto, said the program had helped stop plots against a Marine camp in Djibouti and the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, and plans to fly passenger planes into a Los Angeles tower or London's Heathrow Airport and city buildings.
"Were it not for this program, our intelligence community believes that al-Qaida and its allies would have succeeded in launching another attack against the American homeland," the president said.
Once President Bush leaves office, however, and the more "reasonable" and left-leaning McCain gets in.. measures such as these and the Patriot Act which President Bush has fought for and managed to keep in place will be revisited. And those who say that such techniques are unacceptable will likely outlaw them with McCain's help.. only to learn what it means to allow terrorism to have its way on US soil.
As for not believing such things as someone hearing from God directly concerning things.. trust me, I am not one to deny the Lord or what I know to be the truth even if it isn't all that acceptable to those who don't believe it.. I'm not like the Who in Whoville in the upcoming "Horton Hears a Who" where he says:
"Hey, hun.. did you ever get the feeling that you were being watched and that maybe that thing watching you is... ahhhh.. a giant elephant?"
(Check out the trailer to understand what I am saying.)
Without any disrespect intended toward the Lord in comparing my hearing Him to this Who hearing Horton.. I just don't deny what I believe is true, even if others don't accept, understand or see what the heck I am on about. Come to think of it.. it was pretty wise that the Who in Whoville kept on listening to Horton, too.. as far as his little world was concerned, wasn't it?
I didn't think (going into Iraq) that the US expected itself to foot the bill for liberating Iraq from the tyranny of the Butcher of Baghdad and then all its subsequent reconstruction.. why should they when Iraq could do it.. if they would only revalue the Dinar.
===
Senators: Where is Iraq's oil money going? - NEW: Senators question why Iraq isn't tapping oil billions to improve quality of life - NEW: Iraqi officials haven't responded to claims they aren't doing "nearly enough" - NEW: Pentagon official said in 2003 that Iraq could easily pay for its rebuilding
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Two senators are asking congressional investigators to look at Iraq's oil revenues and see if the war-ravaged nation can pay for its own reconstruction, an effort that has been bankrolled to this point mostly by U.S. taxpayers.
Carl Levin, D-Michigan, and John Warner, R-Virginia, said in their Friday letter to the Government Accountability Office that Iraq has "tremendous resources" in banks worldwide but is doing little to improve security and reconstruction efforts.
Iraqi officials did not immediately respond to the senators' allegations.
"We believe that it has been overwhelmingly U.S. taxpayer money that has funded Iraq reconstruction over the last five years, despite Iraq earning billions of dollars in oil revenue over that time period that have ended up in non-Iraqi banks," wrote the senators, who are their party's top members on the Armed Services Committee.
The senators cited testimony of then-Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz who told a House subcommittee in March 2003 that the U.S. would not foot the entire bill for rebuilding Iraq. Wolfowitz predicted then that Iraq's oil revenues could reach between $50 billion and $100 billion in the next two or three years.
"We are dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction and relatively soon," Wolfowitz said in 2003.
Senators want answers
The senators want investigators to find out:
• Iraqi oil revenues for 2003-2007
• What the U.S. and Iraq spent in that time on security, reconstruction, governance and economic development
• Iraq's projected oil revenue for 2008
• How much money the Iraqi government has earned from oil but not spent
• How much the Iraqi government has deposited in banks, and in which countries
• Why Iraq hasn't spent more on services for its people
Using numbers from the U.S. State Department and Iraqi Oil Ministry, the senators said Iraq hopes to produce 2.2 million barrels of oil a day this year. Weekly averages suggest that the number has climbed as high as 2.51 million barrels a day.
That kind of oil production could earn Iraq a projected $56.4 billion this year, an estimate the senators say is low given the rising cost of crude.
"In essence, we believe that Iraq will accrue at least $100.0 billion in oil revenues in 2007 and 2008," the letter said.
It added, "Our conversations with both Iraqis and Americans during our frequent visits to Iraq, as well as official government and unofficial media reports, have convinced us that the Iraqi government is not doing nearly enough to provide essential services and improve the quality of life of its citizens."
Iraq's ability to spend its $10.1 billion capital projects budget in 2007 was one of the 18 benchmarks used to assess U.S. progress in stabilizing and rebuilding Iraq, according to the GAO.
The United States has spent more than $47 billion on Iraqi reconstruction efforts since 2003, according to the 2008 quarterly audit by the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.
I hav nice room. Nice doktor visit me. Pretty pikturs on wall. Amerika still evil Devil munny lover. Medikation help me sleep. Dream of 70 virgins and Britnay Speer. Nice wite jaket with long sleaves help me stay kalm. Must studie sine in room, explane wich way up. Maybee ask brothur Mo or Curly.
Katjoff, katjoff, katjoff, they're coming to take me away ha haaa, to the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time....
Well another investigation of the Iraq affair.
They seem endless.
Why have Iraq not spend more on their public.
Iraq is doing money, they're doing good money, and we all know that they are in pretty decent financial shape, so why have they not spend money on their own country they ask.
Iraq don't have much, they don't have the infrastructure that most other countries have, cars maybe, cellphones maybe, but the vast majority of Iraqis are still pretty low on the food chain.
After the Invasion, the whole country was looted, and whatever was left was unbolted, so we have a skeleton with infrastructure, we still have bridges, they were unable to unbolt those, we have streets, they didn't dig up those, and we see houses, trees, and a bit more, but the power lines have no use, the water is not coming and the sour is plugged.
Ok, here we are, with a skeleton left, and now starts an insurgency.
Bombs goes off, helicopters are flying, you hear explosions and rattle of machine guns day and night, and finally they quit doing that, and have come to their senses.
So here is the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, trying to get something going, the money is there, but if you look out the window, you have cars, donkeys, and mules, people that earn less than a buck a day, and nothing established.
Now you are suppose to grab a bundle of money, grab hold of Muhammed ali Baba, and give him a huge stash of money, and point to the road, and say, we need a freeway from here to Basra, and then to be connected with Kuwait, we need bridges, we need maintenance of the freeway, we need law enforcement patrolling the freeway, and we need to get it now.
Muhammed Ali Baba, can't do that.
Iraq don't have a money problem, they don't have a liquidity problem, they have a spending problem.
There's nothing there to spend it on. You need an engineering corps, a fleet of landsurveyers, a well organized set of contractors, that have the exact resources for the job, graders, planers, asphalt trucks, cement trucks, and their supply line up and running.
So Iraq have money and are getting money, but short of tossing the money out the window, they have to carefully build up their infrastructure, get international contractors to set things up, get outside resources to come in and build it up, carefully invest with good planning their own existing industry.
Iraq will not just go to a runned down place and toss money on the table in front of the manager, and say, "here , take this, be up and ready by 7 AM tomorrow.", because that is an impossibility.
In the meanwhile what does Iraq do with their money, well they have a very big reserve by now, and as any other bank, they will probably place it where it will be cared for, and even grow in the meanwhile, so it is not uncommon to have foreign countries to transfer their money to other foreign institutions.
There is a Gold vault in the basement in one of the New York finance institutions, that will make Fort Knox a joke.
Behind bars, are different countries Gold accounts, and on occasion they are shuffled around depending on a buy or sell action.
There is almost all the world countries represented.
So here are the endless investigations with the key questions that seems to very sublime insinuate that there is corruption going on, and with no understanding of the Iraqi situation.
"We want to know how much of the money Iraq have profited from oil, is in foreign accounts"
"We want to know why Iraq have so completely failed to invest in it's own country"
"We want to know who have got kick backs in this scam"
"We want to know why is the Iraqi affair costing us"
This is a very very clever way of posing another anti war issue. It is not a direct confrontation, but in a form of investigation, with questions that seems very very legitime for a person that doesn't have a clue, but that will endlessly highlight an aspect that is a sideline, on order to give weight to a possible disaster, corruption, or other wrong doings, and then connect it with Iraq.
The end line will be....we don't want it, together with the word Iraq.
Clever guys, but not too transparent as they might wish.
Iraq Wants to Double Oil Production Within 2 Years
AFX News Limited Thursday, March 06, 2008
Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Sharistani said Iraq intends to almost double its oil production over the next two years, to 4.5 mln barrels per day.
In an interview with Monte Carlo Dualiya, the Arabic unit of RFI, Sharistani said: "Iraq will increase its oil production by 2 mln bpd to 4.5 mln bpd within two years".
He said the goal will be reached thanks to tenders for contracts for technical support, and said he is optimistic about the results of the first government tender. He said over 100 oil companies have responded to the first stage of the technical support plan, and the results of the first phase of the tender will be known during this month.
The Iraqi government is relying on its own funds to finance the technical support projects, but the companies chosen will be allowed to explore and operate new oilfields. The ministry said the oil extracted will not be shared.
The government then wants to increase production to 6 mln bpd for the coming 5-10 years, the ministry said.
(www.ringzone.com)
10 March 2008 (Azzaman)
Print article Send to friend
The provincial authorities in the southern city of Basra are applying new emergency measures in the wake of an upsurge in violence and lawlessness.
More than 5,000 police officers are taking part in the campaign “to pursue outlaws, armed men, smugglers, some tribal groups and illegal militias,” according to the city’s police chief, Lt. Gen. Abduljaleel Khalaf.
The restive city has recently seen a surge in murder incidence and kidnapping.
Khalaf said more reinforcements were on their way to Basra to join the latest campaign to wrest its streets from illegal gunmen.
The campaign targets what Khalaf describes as “criminals and terrorists who have carried out murder, kidnapping and smuggling and have destabilized the city.”
He said his forces would “raid, storm and barge” into residential areas in a bid “to tighten the noose on the criminals and some tribes” which he refused to name.
(www.iraqupdates.com)
The PC police don't like Obama's middle name mentioned.. WHY?
Isn't it his name? What is wrong with that?
Well.. says congressman King..
it is because "it associates itself with the religion and with the heritage and with the struggle and with some of the violence that's over there as well" due to the fact "His middle name is the name of the grandson of Muhammad." And so it isn't just one person who was a dictator in Iraq.
So that is why the PC police don't want people to mention his middle name.
After all.. why encourage our enemies?
But wait a second..
If it encourages the enemy.. and his stand on pulling the troops does too..
why are Americans thinking of electing him?
Is it a capitulation (caving in) to terrorism by those who want America to fail in the war on terror?
Is it the politics of defeat for America which Hussein Obama champions on American soil?
After all.. the pledge of allegiance says to defend from all enemies.. foreign and domestic...
are we not to discern if anyone is giving aid and comfort and encouragement to the enemy..
because it is UN-PC to do?
Sara.
===
Lawmaker affirms terrorists want Obama White House Won't back down after Dem front-runner's campaign presses McCain to denounce congressman's remarks
March 10, 2008
An Iowa Republican congressman refuses to back down from his assertion terrorists will celebrate if Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama is elected president.
Rep. Steve King, speaking from Washington this morning, told Radio Iowa his comments were "factually accurate" and a "reasonable" assessment of how Obama is perceived in the Middle East.
"What is discouraging to me is to hear all the allegations that came out and all the name-calling that came my way because I pointed out something that has to do with the culture of the Middle East and how it will be viewed and how a declaration for defeat as a presidential candidate will be viewed by our enemies," King said.
"They'll see it as victory and that's really the central point."
The congressman told Radio Iowa the media missed his main contention: It's Obama's promise to pull American troops out of Iraq that will be celebrated by the terrorists as an American defeat.
"They will be dancing in the streets, and they'll be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on September 11th," King said. "They will declare victory and they will use it to recruit more al-Qaida."
Radio Iowa noted King's mention of Obama's middle name, Hussein, sparked the most criticism over the weekend.
The congressman insisted he never used the name "Hussein" in Friday's interview with the Daily Reporter in Spencer, Iowa.
But King did refer to Obama's "middle name" as having different meaning for Muslims overseas, and in his radio interview this morning, he expanded on that.
"His middle name is the name of the grandson of Muhammad. It's used many, many times throughout the Muslim world and it associates itself with the religion and with the heritage and with the struggle and with some of the violence that's over there as well," King said. "And so it isn't just one person who was a dictator in Iraq, it's a thread that goes through the entire Muslim world."
Maybe this kind of "speak no evil" about Obama is the reason that Americans don't trust the media.
It says here, ‘nearly two-thirds of Americans have no faith in campaign coverage by the news media’.
===
Shocker: Americans Don’t Trust The Media
From Iran’s Press TV:
Poll: Americans lose faith in media
Mon, 10 Mar 2008
A new opinion poll suggests that over 54 percent of Americans do not trust mainstream media and consider news websites more reliable.
Some 41 percent said they trust the ‘Internet news and information websites’ more than the press.
The new Harris Interactive survey reflects the findings of a Harvard University study conducted last year, which found ‘nearly two-thirds of Americans have no faith in campaign coverage by the news media’.
The poll indicates that only 30 percent ‘tend to trust the press’, while 44 percent say Radio is the most trusted media in the United States.
The poll suggests that the selective media coverage of the ongoing Iraq war has caused Americans to lose faith in mainstream media.
===end quote==
Funny how little attention this poll has gotten from our own watchdog media. So little that we have to go to their fellow journalists in Iran to get the news.
Isn’t irony ironic?
(And yes, the photo of the three monkeys is from Press TV.)
This article was posted by Steve Gilbert on Monday, March 10th, 2008.
A different political perspective on it for you to consider:
Obama-Baiting
By James Atticus Bowden
MichNews.com
Mar 6, 2008
Speaking Obama’s whole name, Barack Hussein Obama, is attacking Obama. According to Liberals. It’s a racist, anti-Muslim baiting of Obama. Because the name Barack Obama points to Africa. The name Hussein points to Islam. His name “plays on the fears of voters.” It doesn’t matter that his name is his name. Speaking the truth about Obama, even in saying Obama’s name, provides racist, anti-Muslim clues to voters. When Obama becomes the Democrat candidate, simply opposing Obama will be racist and anti-Muslim bigotry. Liberals will Obama-bait.
Get ready for the new narrative. “People oppose Obama only because he is black. Only racists oppose a black candidate. Everyone who opposes Obama is a racist.”
The first variation on the theme of Obama-baiting will be, “People use his middle name, Hussein, to associate Obama with Muslims. Only anti-Muslim bigots oppose a Muslim candidate. Everyone who opposes Obama is a religious bigot.”
Note: The MSM and Democrats will Obama-bait regardless of what anyone does or says. Once Liberals silence any criticism of Obama, starting with using his real name, they will move on the more forceful narrative – voting against Obama is racist and hateful bigotry.
The Liberal Human Secularists are the masters of speech codes, hate speech, and thought crime. They adapted Political Correctness from the Communist Human Secularists and refined it. Go to any University and many K-12 public schools and see.
Barack Hussein Obama has a lot of questions to answer. Don’t be afraid to ask them. Don’t be intimidated into not asking him - and using his full name – hard questions.
About those "hard questions"...
concerning what Hussein Obama stands for
and what he would do for the American people:
===
Obama lobbies 'gays' for edge over Hillary Letter to 'LGBT community' affirms he'd dump Defense of Marriage Act
Posted: March 07, 2008
It's not easy to find on his campaign website, but Sen. Barack Obama has issued an open letter to the "LGBT community" assuring them he believes in "full equality" for homosexuals and stating that, unlike Sen. Hillary Clinton, he advocates the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.
In the letter, published on a campaign blog, Obama says he's "running for president to build an America that lives up to our founding promise of equality for all – a promise that extends to our gay brothers and sisters."
Pointing out that throughout his career he's "fought to eliminate discrimination against LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) Americans," Obama lists some of his specific accomplishments.
In the Illinois legislature, he "co-sponsored a fully inclusive bill that prohibited discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity, extending protection to the workplace, housing and places of public accommodation."
In the U.S. Senate, he has co-sponsored bills "that would equalize tax treatment for same-sex couples and provide benefits to domestic partners of federal employees."
As president, he says, "I will place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity."
In the run-up to the recent Texas and Ohio primaries, Obama bought full-page ads in homosexual-oriented newspapers in Columbus, Cleveland, Dallas and Houston.
The ads were the brainchild of Stampp Corbin, co-chairman of Obama's National LGBT Leadership Council, the Advocate newspaper reported. Stern told the 'gay' publication the coordinated buy was "the icing on the cake" in terms of the campaign's outreach to the homosexual community in the two states.
"It's a direct appeal to LGBT voters, asking for their support," Corbin said.
The Advocate said the Obama campaign "has actively been trying to cut into the long-standing ties between gays and lesbians and Sen. Hillary Clinton."
In his letter, Obama says he will also use the presidency's bully pulpit to "urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws."
The candidate for the White House says he would not prevent legalization of same-sex marriage.
Obama says he has opposed the Defense of Marriage Act since arriving in the Senate three years ago, and, unlike Sen. Clinton and those who say it should be partially repealed, "I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether."
A little history lesson for you because as Barton here says: Barton said his comments are not a condemnation or endorsement of any party or candidate, but rather a warning that voters even today should be aware of what their parties and candidates stand for.
===
KKK's 1st targets were Republicans Dems credited with starting group that attacked both blacks, whites
The original targets of the Ku Klux Klan were Republicans, both black and white, according to a new television program and book, which describe how the Democrats started the KKK and for decades harassed the GOP with lynchings and threats.
An estimated 3,446 blacks and 1,297 whites died at the end of KKK ropes from 1882 to 1964.
The documentation has been assembled by David Barton of Wallbuilders and published in his book "Setting the Record Straight: American History in Black & White," which reveals that not only did the Democrats work hand-in-glove with the Ku Klux Klan for generations, they started the KKK and endorsed its mayhem.
"Of all forms of violent intimidation, lynchings were by far the most effective," Barton said in his book.
"Republicans often led the efforts to pass federal anti-lynching laws and their platforms consistently called for a ban on lynching. Democrats successfully blocked those bills and their platforms never did condemn lynchings."
Further, the first grand wizard of the KKK was honored at the 1868 Democratic National Convention, no Democrats voted for the 14th Amendment to grant citizenship to former slaves and, to this day, the party website ignores those decades of racism, he said.
"Although it is relatively unreported today, historical documents are unequivocal that the Klan was established by Democrats and that the Klan played a prominent role in the Democratic Party," Barton writes in his book. "In fact, a 13-volume set of congressional investigations from 1872 conclusively and irrefutably documents that fact.
"Contributing to the evidences was the 1871 appearance before Congress of leading South Carolina Democrat E.W. Seibels who testified that 'they [the Ku Klux Klan] belong to the reform part [that is, to] our party, the Democratic Party,'" Barton writes.
"The Klan terrorized black Americans through murders and public floggings; relief was granted only if individuals promised not to vote for Republican tickets, and violation of this oath was punishable by death," he said. "Since the Klan targeted Republicans in general, it did not limit its violence simply to black Republicans; white Republicans were also included."
Barton also has covered the subject in one episode of his American Heritage Series of television programs, which is being broadcast now on Trinity Broadcasting Network and Cornerstone Television.
Barton said his comments are not a condemnation or endorsement of any party or candidate, but rather a warning that voters even today should be aware of what their parties and candidates stand for.
Rep. Steve King: Vilified for Telling the Truth
By Sher Zieve
MichNews.com
Mar 10, 2008
In 2005, I wrote the article ‘Will Humans “PC” Themselves out of Existence?’ Tragically—but predictably—today the answer appears to be an unambiguous and resounding “Yes!” The purveyors and proponents of “political correctness” have now reached the apex of their inherent goal: that of—once and for all—shutting down the truth. Note: Marx and Lenin achieved this goal faster but, it’s doubtful that they could have accomplished it any better. In fact, step by step the 1963 Communist Goals for the USA have been and are continuing to be implemented daily—in the name of political correctness. The latest leftist attacks relate to telling the truth about candidates for the presidency of the United States—and one candidate in particular.
I am, of course, referring to the firestorm created by the media over a statement made by Rep. Steve King (R-IA). Rep. King said of candidate Barack Obama: “I will tell you that, if he is elected president, then the radical Islamists, the al Qaeda, the radical Islamists and their supporters, will be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on Sept. 11, because they will declare victory in this war on terror.” That was and is a truthful statement. King went on to say: “Additionally, his middle name does matter. (Author’s Note: Obama’s middle name is Hussein). It matters because they read a meaning into that in the rest of the world. That has a special meaning to them. They will be dancing in the streets because of his middle name. They will be dancing in the streets because of who his father was and because of his posture that says ‘Pull out of the Middle East and pull out of this conflict’.” This is also a truthful statement.
Obama has repeatedly said that if he is elected President of the United States, he will immediately begin removing troops from Iraq. And from a Barack Obama campaign page: “Obama will immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month, and have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months.” This would amount to Obama handing over the country of Iraq to terrorist Iran. Therefore, Obama will have fulfilled the Communist Goals for the US as well as goals set by Islamist terrorists. Suffice it to say, the Islamists will be thrilled to the point of ‘dancing in the streets’ if not beheading a few folks in the name of celebration.
Obama is being supported by anti-American Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Obama’s church “Trinity United Church of Christ” has given Farrakhan an award for “lifetime achievement” and service to the African-American community. Note: Obama’s church is a black-separatist organization. We are known by the company we keep.
Yes. I believe it is safe to say that should Barack Obama be elected POTUS, the Islamist dancing in the streets will be unbridled and epidemic throughout the world.
For over 15 years, Obama has been firmly and irrevocably tied to Syrian born Real Estate developer Tony Rezko who is currently on trial for federal corruption charges. Rezco has contributed heavily to Obama’s campaigns and has been both a fundraiser and friend to the Senator and now presidential candidate. Rezko and Obama are also tied to Iraqi billionaire and alleged Baathist member Nadhmi Auchi. Auchi is expected to play a part in Rezko’s current trial. Barack Obama—who apparently still refuses to say the American Pledge of Allegiance—is tied to Auchi. Obama also claims friendship with former terrorist leader of the Weather Underground William Ayers. Whew! Obama seems to have his fingers in many illicit and anti-American cookie jars—doesn’t he?
I suggest that the leftist and/or terrorist reaction to Rep. King’s telling the truth about a terrorist response to the potential election of Barack Hussein Obama as president of the US is the least of our concerns.
Candidate Obama’s actual record and associations should sound alarms for all of us and be our primary worry.
This shows that the bantering about of an aide saying Hillary is a monster..
only shows that both Democrats are in lockstep company..
===
Barack Hussein Obama Refused: "I Did Not Want To Concede"
By Marie Jon'
MichNews.com
Mar 10, 2008
How does one who claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ help to legislate killing the unborn? It is a complete contradiction to the teachings of the Bible "You shall not murder" [Exodus 20:13].
As an Illinois state senator, Barack Hussein Obama refused to support legislation to protect babies that survived late-term abortions, claiming "I did not want to concede."
To what was Obama referring? His statement was in reference to babies that were fully outside their mothers' wombs. Thus, Obama did not want to concede the fact that babies who survived a late term abortion were in fact "persons." He was the only senator of the Democrat Party to speak against baby protection legislation. He was the only legislator from either side of the political isle that took his position.
In 2002, the Illinois State Legislature passed the Infant Liability Act to outlaw the inhumane practice of infanticide. There was never a thought that this bill would be opposed. However, Obama opposed it on two different occasions — first by trying to limit discussion and then trying to block a vote on it in the committee he chaired.
Obama dispassionately listened to the testimony of a nurse, Jill Stanek, who described hearing a baby's cry that could be heard down the hall during a late term abortion in a hospital in Illinois. Another nurse placed the dying child in a soiled utility room to die. "I couldn't bear the thought of this suffering child lying alone in a soiled utility room, so I cradled and rocked him for the 45 minutes that he lived."
"Barack Obama is the most pro-abortion presidential candidate ever.
"He is so pro-abortion he refused as an Illinois state senator to support legislation to protect babies who survived late-term abortions because he did not want to concede — as he explained in a cold-blooded speech on the Illinois Senate floor — that these babies, fully outside their mothers' wombs, with their hearts beating and lungs heaving, were in fact 'persons.'
" 'Persons,' of course, are guaranteed equal protection of the law under the 14th Amendment.
"In 2004, U.S. Senate-candidate Obama mischaracterized his opposition to this legislation. Now, as a presidential frontrunner, he should be held accountable for what he actually said and did about the Born Alive Infants Bill.
And to think that this man wants to become America's president. According to National Journal, Barack Hussein Obama is the most liberal presidential candidate within the Democrat Party and he prides himself on being the most pro-abortion candidate ever.
It may be inconvenient to admit that the US is at war..
or to act like it.
But America needs to wake up and live in reality with responsibility..
because the consequences in the war on terror are far worse than veteran JFK faced.
===
SNL Highlights Obama's Fatal Flaw
By Michael J. Gaynor
MichNews.com
Mar 10, 2008
Reality: Rookie United States Senator Barack Obama is far more likely to be perceived by America's enemies around the world as someone they can challenge than Republican John McCain, or Democrat rival Hillary Clinton, or the late JFK..
Hillary should send flowers to the folks at Saturday Night Live for focusing on that important reason NOT to vote for Barack.
The Saturday Night Live skit showing a President Barack in bed calling a Senator Hillary in bed for advice after learning from the CIA that Iran has developed a nuclear device, with the help of Russia, North Korea and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, because he had been inaugurated as the President of the United States, is just what Hillary needed the voters to see.
The skit shows Hillary in face cream trying to get a breaking down Barack to "man up" after she receives what seems like a 3 AM phone call from him.
Barack's fatal flaw is the likelihood that America's enemies would perceive him as weak and act accordingly.
Ironically, America suffered that kind of problem after JFK became President: a belief that the President of the United States was afraid to fight and therefore could be bullied.
A result of the Bay of Pigs fiasco and the Vienna summit was that Khrushchev concluded (wrongly) that he could get away with installing offensive nuclear missiles in Cuba, because JFK was weak.
It wasn't something Khrushchev would have tried with Ike or Nixon in the White House.
JFK insisted that those missiles be removed after they were discovered and, in the words of JFK's Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, the United States and the Soviet Union went "eyeball to eyeball."
Fortunately, notwithstanding JFK's 1960 campaign rhetoric about a missile gap, the balance of power was in favor of the United States, so a deal was cut whereby the missiles were removed, Castro was left in control of Cuba and, after a short interval, the United States declared its Jupiter missiles in Turkey (which bordered the Soviet Union) "obsolete" and removed them.
JFK was a World War II veteran, had served in the House of Representatives and was a veteran senator when he was elected President in 1960.
Barack chose not to serve in the military, lost his race for the House of Representatives and started his run for President about a year after he became a rookie United States Senator.
Presumptuousness is not a substitute for preparation for the Presidency of the United States.
Are we really so foolish as to believe that the enemy will lay down their weapons if a dove like Obama were to take the Whitehouse and pull out of Iraq? Are we really willing to gamble with American lives our having again another 9/11? Is there really no danger we now face? Is it really all "fear-mongering"?
Or is the reality, like President Bush said when marking the fifth anniversary of the creation of the Homeland Security Department, "it was hard to imagine that we would reach this milestone without another attack on our homeland."
I believe it has been the unimaginable Grace of Almighty God which has kept the American Homeland clear of terrorist threats. The Lord has indeed kept the nation.
Would He be able to do so under an inexperienced dove like Obama? If JFK barely managed the crisis to the Homeland due to his weak leadership (and he was a veteran).. how would the country fare under an inexperienced person who has never been in the military nor seen combat? For we are in a truly critical time of war and threat to the Homeland, as there is indeed a very real threat to the Homeland.. one we are not free to ignore:
==
Commander Claims Al Qaeda Working Harder to Attack U.S.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Washington — Al Qaeda terrorists may be plotting more urgently to attack the United States to maintain their credibility and ability to recruit followers, the U.S. military commander in charge of domestic defense said Thursday.
Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, chief of the U.S. Northern Command, also told reporters he has not seen any direct threats tied to the U.S. presidential elections. But he said it would be rash to think that such threats are not there.
"We need only to look at Spain and see that they're certainly willing to try to do something that is significant that could affect an election process," Renuart said. "I think it would be imprudent of us to let down our guard believing that if there's no credible threat that you know of today, there won't be something tomorrow."
While he said that U.S. authorities have thwarted attacks on a number of occasions, he said terrorist cells may be working harder than ever to plot high-impact events. He did not point to any specific intelligence that authorities have received but said the "chatter" they are hearing "gives me no reason to believe they're going to slow down" in their efforts to target the U.S.
"If an organization like that is to maintain credibility and continue to grow more of its extremists, it has to show tangible results," Renuart said. "So I think there may be a certain sense of urgency among that organization to have an effect. So it would tell me that they're trying harder."
The chatter, which included public audio and video tapes released on the Internet by Al Qaeda leaders, suggests that they are looking for a way to have a big impact again, he said.
He did repeat his assertion — which he first made last July — that he believes there are al Qaeda cells or sympathizers within the United States.
President Bush, in a speech, also said the United States remained under threat from terrorists. Marking the fifth anniversary of the creation of the Homeland Security Department, Bush said that in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks "it was hard to imagine that we would reach this milestone without another attack on our homeland."
Yet he said, "On this anniversary, we must also remember that the danger to our country has not passed. Since the attacks of 9/11, the terrorists have tried to strike our homeland again and again. We've disrupted numerous planned attacks — including a plot to fly an airplane into the tallest building on the West Coast and another to blow up passenger jets headed for America across the Atlantic Ocean."
Bush said the lesson is clear: "The enemy remains active, deadly in its intent — and in the face of this danger, the United States must never let down its guard."
Last July, U.S. intelligence analysts, in a threat assessment, concluded that al Qaeda has rebuilt its operating capability to a level not seen since just before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The report said the terror network has regrouped along the Afghan-Pakistan border..
Attestation to the Providential Care over the US Homeland by Almighty God and the need for continued vigilant care for the Homeland by qualified personnel.. right up to and including the Commander-in-chief:
===
The Terror Nobody Knows: Thwarted Attacks on the U.S.
Friday, March 07, 2008
By Joseph Abrams
In July 2005, the Los Angeles Police Department caught a group of men who had been robbing gas stations in the area. While investigating, police uncovered something far worse: The gas station hits were bankrolling a terrorist plot to attack National Guard facilities, synagogues, the Israeli consulate and Los Angeles International Airport.
Deputy Chief of Police Michael Downing says the group was "closer to going operational at the time than anyone since 9/11."
Thomas P. O'Brien, the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, says, "An untold number of lives may have been saved when this terrorist cell was dismantled."
This story is hardly unique: Since Sept. 11, authorities have disrupted more than 20 publicly known plots against domestic U.S. targets, involving dozens of arrests at home and abroad.
Some of these plots are well-known, such as Richard Reid's failed "shoe bombing" in December 2001 and the liquid explosives plot of 2006, when British investigators uncovered a plan to carry bombs on airliners bound for the U.S. Each of those incidents permanently changed airport security protocols.
Then there was the plot to kill U.S. soldiers using assault rifles and grenades at Fort Dix in New Jersey, and the so-called "Lackawanna Six," who pleaded guilty to providing support to Al Qaeda.
But others have passed by with little notice from the general public, as well as critics of government efforts to protect the U.S. from homegrown terror attacks.
Take, for example, Iyman Faris, of Columbus, Ohio, who plotted to destroy the Brooklyn Bridge and was convicted of conspiracy and providing material support for Al Qaeda in 2003.
Later that year 11 men with connections to Al Qaeda were discovered training for jihad in Virginia, using paintball games to simulate battlefield situations. In 2004, James Elshafay and Shahawar Matin Siraj were convicted of planning to bomb New York's Penn Station during the Republican National Convention.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a household name for his role as mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, also is known to have prepared little-known strikes against America's tallest building, the Sears Tower in Chicago, as well as the Empire State Building in New York and the U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles.
In contrast, Dhiren Barot may not be a familiar name, although some security experts say he should be. An Indian convert to Islam, the Pakistan-based Barot planned a series of ruinous attacks on the U.S. and U.K, including the New York Stock Exchange and the IMF building in Washington, D.C. Barot was caught by British authorities in 2004 and sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiracy to commit murder.
Successful prosecutions are key to tackling terrorism, but they are not an easy process. Investigators prefer to wait for overwhelming evidence of a terrorist plot, and the timing is difficult. Plots often are disrupted early and as a result, he says, "you don't often have well-developed cases."
But there have been successes, and the courts have been very active since Sept. 11. According to Sean Boyd, a spokesman for the Justice Department, 527 defendants have been charged in terrorism or terrorism-related cases arising from investigations primarily conducted after Sept. 11.
Those cases have resulted in 319 convictions, with an additional 176 cases pending in court.
It's not a perfect record for the Justice Department, but it still is a good one, says McCarthy, who prosecuted and convicted "blind sheikh" Omar Abdel Rahman, ringleader of the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center.
"The batting average is not as high as it was prior to Sept. 11," when most investigations focused on crimes already committed, "but that again is something that we are going to have to accept," McCarthy says.
Allison Barrie, a security and terrorism consultant and a FOXNews.com contributor, agrees on the difficulties. "The evidence [in these trials] is always at its best at the 11th hour," she says. Waiting until the last moment is dangerous, but "you've got to weigh that against actually getting that prosecution."
So far, that strategy has been decisive in preventing another attack on the scale of Sept. 11. "We've just been plain lucky," Barrie says.
And intelligence work hasn't prevented smaller attacks from being carried out.
On July 4, 2002, Hesham Mohamed Hadayet, a 41-year-old Egyptian national, opened fire at the El Al ticket counter at LAX, killing two people before a security guard killed him.
That same ticket counter later would be targeted by those L.A. gas station robbers, a homegrown terrorist group with roots in a California prison.
Homegrown groups often are difficult to detect, and the California cell was not found through careful intelligence work; the LAPD stumbled on them by accident. They might never have been discovered.
"The cliché is true," Barrie says. "Terrorists only have to be lucky once, but the good guys have to be lucky every time."
These words, "We've just been plain lucky," and "the LAPD stumbled on them by accident" are words of people who cannot see the Providential hand of God working to bring to light these plots. There is no such thing as "luck".
If it is all only "scare-mongering" and there is no threat.. what are these?
===
List of Thwarted Terror Attacks Since Sept. 11
Thursday, March 06, 2008
By Joseph Abrams
The following is a list of known terror plots thwarted by the U.S. government since Sept. 11, 2001.
• December 2001, Richard Reid: British citizen attempted to ignite shoe bomb on flight from Paris to Miami.
• May 2002, Jose Padilla: American citizen accused of seeking "dirty bomb," convicted of conspiracy.
• September 2002, Lackawanna Six: American citizens of Yemeni origin convicted of supporting Al Qaeda. Five of six were from Lackawanna, N.Y.
• May 2003, Iyman Faris: American citizen charged with trying to topple the Brooklyn Bridge.
• June 2003, Virginia Jihad Network: Eleven men from Alexandria, Va., trained for jihad against American soldiers, convicted of violating the Neutrality Act, conspiracy.
• August 2004, Dhiren Barot: Indian-born leader of terror cell plotted bombings on financial centers (see additional images, Click here to view pictures of terrorists and their targets: http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,3480,00.html )
• August 2004, James Elshafay and Shahawar Matin Siraj: Sought to plant bomb at New York's Penn Station during the Republican National Convention.
• August 2004, Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain: Plotted to assassinate a Pakistani diplomat on American soil.
• June 2005, Father and son Umer Hayat and Hamid Hayat: Son convicted of attending terrorist training camp in Pakistan; father convicted of customs violation.
• August 2005, Kevin James, Levar Haley Washington, Gregory Vernon Patterson and Hammad Riaz Samana: Los Angeles homegrown terrorists who plotted to attack National Guard, LAX, two synagogues and Israeli consulate.
• December 2005, Michael Reynolds: Plotted to blow up refinery in Wyoming, convicted of providing material support to terrorists.
• February 2006, Mohammad Zaki Amawi, Marwan Othman El-Hindi and Zand Wassim Mazloum: Accused of providing material support to terrorists, making bombs for use in Iraq.
• April 2006, Syed Haris Ahmed and Ehsanul Islam Sadequee: Cased and videotaped the Capitol and World Bank for a terrorist organization.
• June 2006, Narseal Batiste, Patrick Abraham, Stanley Grant Phanor, Naudimar Herrera, Burson Augustin, Lyglenson Lemorin, and Rotschild Augstine: Accused of plotting to blow up the Sears Tower.
• July 2006, Assem Hammoud: Accused of plotting to hit New York City train tunnels.
• August 2006, Liquid Explosives Plot: Thwarted plot to explode ten airliners over the United States.
• May 2007, Fort Dix Plot: Six men accused of plotting to attack Fort Dix Army base in New Jersey.
• June 2007, JFK Plot: Four men accused of plotting to blow up fuel arteries underneath JFK Airport in New York.
• March 2007, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: Mastermind of Sept. 11 and author of numerous plots confessed in court in March 2007 to planning to destroy skyscrapers in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
As for saying it was all a plot to go into Iraq and take their oil..
and people just created false reports to justify going into Iraq..
here we have a studied Congressional finding which says, QUOTE:
"the report also acknowledges that many claims were consistent with intelligence assessments of Iraq that existed at the time." "...the claims that were later proven wrong were largely in line with US intelligence assessments at the time, the report said."
No conspiracy.. we were just trying to deal with these people who continue to plot against the Homeland such as I have just documented. And Iraq was a threat to the United States worth taking out. That is what will be the judgement of history. Learn to deal with that reality.
===
US Senate committee to release mixed verdict on Iraq: report
Mon Mar 10, 2008
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A new congressional report on the Iraq war criticizes White House officials for making assertions that failed to reflect disagreements or uncertainties in intelligence findings, The Los Angeles Times reported Monday.
But citing unnamed congressional officials, the newspaper said the report also acknowledges that many claims were consistent with intelligence assessments of Iraq that existed at the time.
The report by the Senate Intelligence Committee examines dozens of pre-war claims by President George W. Bush and other administration officials about Iraq's alleged stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction that proved to be wildly inaccurate.
But the final findings of the document are mixed, the paper said.
According to the Times, the report is divided into categories that focus on pre-war claims about Iraq's alleged chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs, as well as its supposed ties to Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.
Each section includes as many as 20 pre-war claims, as well as a summary conclusion on whether the assertions were generally warranted.
In many cases, the claims that were later proven wrong were largely in line with US intelligence assessments at the time, the report said.
"The left is not going to be happy," the paper quotes an unnamed congressional official as saying. "The right is not going to be happy. Nobody is going to be happy."
Makes you wonder if the surge is what has reduced Al-Qeada in Iraq, or if they have taken a new strategy that includes supporting , and awaiting the election of Barak Hussein Obama as president of the United States of America.
There is something to fear when the unlearned, uneducated, and unaware masses are all insired to vote.
Have cruised the usual sites, and nothing, well the Dinar finally moved, a trickle but it did.
It's pressed to move on, it must, and have no other alternative but.
The Dinar have been stuck on 1210 for quite some time now, and yanked off ( finally) to 1209, and while it is not something that I would do a pot roast set up in the Keys for, I'll take it.
Like the old air carrier from the 2WW that they tried to get out of the harbor in NY, it got stuck in the muck, but finally it moved.
Well, that's better.
I may as well give some news on what's going on on my side of the universe. I am in a waiting pool to get over to Iraq, but as the world turns, they have put a temporary stop on personnel that is sent over in this moment of time.
This is due to anticipated drawbacks of military presence, and as the contractor I am to serve with, are experiencing a slow down in their business, so do their need for personnel. If this continues for a couple of more weeks, I will probably say that, it was nice, but I have to move on, and start to be of some good use somewhere else.
We will see, the money is good, and I really want to go, but then again, I can't amuse myself with building hydrogen cells forever while I am waiting for my turn.
Have placed a pick list on ISX to be executed today, will get answer usually within a day or so after the ISX auction.
Sometimes you get what you want, sometimes you don't. It's not a WalMart purchase, where the shelf's are filled the whole time, you get what is offered, and if the shelf is empty, you don't get it.
Also for you out there that might have had some thoughts about how to get money FROM Iraq (once you are filthy rich of course) , I just went trough that, I had a couple of thousands Dollars sent back, and it was all done very quick.
From Iraq there is a difference, it goes straight from YOUR Iraqi account, to YOUR US account.
I just did the operation, and in no time, it showed up in my account as available funds. Faster than quick.
Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Tuesday , 11 /03 /2008 Time 2:26:22
Baghdad, Mar 10, (VOI) - Demand for the dollar slightly dropped in the Iraqi Central Bank's auction on Monday, registering at $106.930 million compared to $114.250 million on Sunday.
"The demand hit $19.870 million in cash and $87.060 million in money transfers outside the country, all covered by the bank at a rate of 1,209 Iraqi dinars per dollar, a tick lower than yesterday," according to the central bank's daily bulletin and received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).
The 13 banks that participated in the auction offered to sell $10.400 million, which the bank bought at an exchange rate of 1,207 Iraqi dinars per dollar.
Speaking to VOI, Ali al-Yasseri, a trader, said that foreign transfers still high in today's session sending the overall size of demand up, but he expected a drop in the demand over the forthcoming sessions this week.
The Iraqi Central Bank runs a daily auction from Sunday to Thursday.
(www.aswataliraq.info)
Economic activity between Turkey and Iraq received a much welcomed boost following a visit by Iraq’s oil minister Dr. Hussain al-Shahristani to Ankara, during which discussion were held regarding Turkish investment in Iraq’s energy sector.
(www.noozz.com)
Here is a mention of Article VII. In my opinion, the restoration of Iraqi sovereignty is an important step toward a peaceful and prosperous Iraq.
____________________________________________________________
Iraq to enjoy full sovereignty this year, says De Mistura 11/03/2008 14:16:00
Najaf (NINA)- UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Iraq Staffan De Mistura said Iraq will be out of mandate of the UN Charter's article 7 this year, adding "This will be the year of sovereignty for Iraq."
(www.ninanews.com)
Iraqi president addresses opening session of the Arab parliament union in
POL-ARAB-PARLIAMENT
Iraqi president addresses opening session of the Arab parliament union in
Irbil IRBIL, Iraq, March 11 (KUNA) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talbani on Tuesday wished success for the Arab parliament union which embarked on a historic session here earlier in the day, noting that Iraq is adhered to its Arab commitments.
Addressing the opening meeting of the union's 13h session, Talabani said Iraqi parties were exerting efforts to construct the country and place Iraq on the path of full recovery.
President of the Iraqi Kurdistan region Masoud Barazani, President of the Iraqi Parliament Mahmoud Mishhadani, Head of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region parliament Anan Mufti attended the opening ceremony.
Head of the Arab parliament Union Nouruldin Bushakouh in an opening address welcomed the participants, while speaker of the Iraqi parliament wished success for the conferees. (end) ihm.bz.
(www.kuna.net.kw)
LONDON, March 11 (KUNA) -- Support for tough international action against Iran over its nuclear programme has fallen in the past 18 months, a poll carried out for the BBC suggested Tuesday.
Fewer people now say Iran should face sanctions or military strikes over its refusal to abide by UN resolutions.
The United States and Western allies believe Iran may be developing nuclear weapons, but Iran vehemently denies this.
Of more than 30,000 people asked, most said Iran should be allowed to produce nuclear fuel if subject to UN checks.
"It appears that people in many countries are interested in ramping down the confrontation with Iran, while still using UN inspectors to ensure that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons," said Steven Kull, director of the "Pipa" group which carried out the poll in partnership with "Globescan" on behalf of the BBC World Service.
The latest survey was carried out in 31 countries and draws on a similar poll conducted in June 2006.
Overall, only seven percent of those questioned in the Pipa-Globescan poll backed the idea of military strikes.
On average, more than 40 percent of people questioned in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas supported diplomacy as the route forward.
But the BBC said that Iran may find it worrying that China, one of its most important trading partners and a permanent UN Security Council member with a veto vote, was not far behind, with 40 percent of people backing punitive measures.
Most of the recent interviews were conducted after the release of the US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) last December, which surprised many by saying Iran had halted its nuclear weapons programme back in 2003.(end)
(www.kuna.net.kw)
General: al-Qaida Could Press Attacks
Deutsche Presse-Agentur | March 11, 2008
Washington - The commander of coalition forces in western Iraq on March 10 said al-Qaeda may be changing its tactics and planning a large scale attack in Iraq.
But "stunning" progress in training Iraqi security forces and garnering local support in Anbar Province and elsewhere meant the U.S. and Iraqi military would be ready for them, said Marine Maj. Gen. John Kelly in a satellite briefing to reporters in Washington.
Kelly also said that the U.S. military was "very close" to handing over Anbar Province to local Iraqi control.
And he noted that the draw-down of the U.S. presence had already begun, as reflected consideration being given to closing some of the larger coalition bases in western Iraq.
Security in Anbar Province is currently held by 45,000 Iraqi army and police officers supported by 30,000 coalition troops, Kelly said. Al-Qaeda had been knocked "down but not knocked out," and faced increasing vigilance by "local folks" willing to give tips to security forces.
Kelly conceded that al-Qaeda could reemerge in other provinces in the north, and there were "indications" that they may be changing their tactics to plan a "large media-type event." One indication, he said, was the increasing use of suicide vests.
Large bomb events have plagued Baghdad in recent days, and on Monday, five U.S. Soldiers on foot patrol were killed by a suicide bomber in central Baghdad - one of the worst attacks on US military since January, U.S. military officials said.
"The good news is we don't believe they're at liberty to build some of these large bomb-type devices inside (Anbar) province," Kelly said.
He said he did not believe the upcoming fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion, on March 20, would be a target date for al-Qaeda. "They operate on their own time schedule," Kelly said.
The commander said that the U.S. military could consider closing some of the larger bases because "we've really decentralized out into very small, company-sized bases, to maintain the contact with the population and with the civil leaders."
As for handing Anbar Province over to Iraqi control, Kelly said he and the Iraqi governor were going through various checklists, and would make separate recommendations up the respective chains of coalition command and Iraqi governance.
"We are very, very close, here in the province, as we sort out just a couple of things, equipment-type, in the province," and the relationship between the province and the national government, Kelly said.
One of the equipment issues, he said, was that provincial police needed a forensic laboratory to conduct their own investigations.
Kelly said violence had fallen to a "stunning" low level, compared to three years ago, when coalition forces could not go into the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi without a "gun fight going in, gun fight coming out."
He said al-Qaeda was no longer going after coalition and American forces, but rather after the sheiks, effective police officials and civilian leaders such as mayors.
That was where the "biggest threat" was right now, Kelly said.
(www.military.com)
This is interesting.. your post says of that poll concerning IRAN, "Of more than 30,000 people asked, most said Iran should be allowed to produce nuclear fuel if subject to UN checks. The latest survey was carried out in 31 countries and draws on a similar poll conducted in June 2006."
Soooo.. we are now dealing with 31 countries for our polling data and I am not even sure Israel or America is in the data, so the opinion (or weight of opinion) is not from the ones which are under direct threat from Iran. And, may I ask you.. how many of those are Communist or radical Islamic in government? It may be that these people they polled think it is ok and they are the uninformed masses.. or perhaps they are prejudiced against us because they are from partial countries, such as those in Europe.. as explained by a former director of the CIA,
QUOTE:
"James Woolsey, former director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency, explained. “Europe is accommodating Sharia (Islamic law) and becoming increasingly affected by the Muslim demographics in their countries.”
Woolsey said he sees no distinction between the Islamic onslaught in Israel, Iraq or elsewhere. He compared the war against Islamism with that against Nazism and Communism.
As a former director of the world’s largest intelligence agency, Woolsey dismissed claims by Iran and its apologists that the Islamic Republic seeks nuclear capability for peaceful means.
“With its huge oil and natural gas reserves, Iran is not the least bit interested in nuclear power,” he said. “And negotiation with a movement that defines itself by its goal of the destruction of Israel and the United States is like trying to persuade Hitler to give up anti-Semitism.”
Woolsey displayed in-depth knowledge of the various theological movements and streams vying for the soul of the Islamic world. “The Ujutiya – end of time – movement represents a major part of Iranian politics today,” he warned. “If we look at it like a chess game, the nuclear bomb is the queen.”
Woolsey said that those warning against Islam’s push to establish Islamic law across the globe are accused of being Islamophobic. “We are not Islamaphobes,” he said, “but we are theocraphobic."
“We, Jews, Christian and others are inheritors of the rule of law,” he said. “Democracy without the rule of law is a mob and capitalism without democracy is theft. Jefferson said, and it is printed on his memorial: ‘I have sworn on the altar of Almighty G-d eternal hostility toward every form of tyranny over the mind of man.’ ”
Soo.. as for this poll saying that the Iranians should be allowed nuclear weapons under the guise of nuclear fuel (as Mr. Woolsey says, “With its huge oil and natural gas reserves, Iran is not the least bit interested in nuclear power,”) I don't think those polled have a clue what the real stakes are or what is going on.
Again, Mr. Woolsey says this movement defines itself by its goal of the destruction of Israel and the United States - so are we supposed to agree that these polled persons are allowed to sit safely in their countries which are not under threat and say "don't defend yourself" until we get blown to pieces by Iranian nuclear armed suicide bombers - either infiltrated or homegrown cels?? Remember, it is the US and Israel they have sworn to destroy as previously documented in these stories:
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: "We Will Soon Experience A World Without The United States And Zionism."
Iran Threatens US “Harm And Pain” Over Nukes
Iranian group signing up potential martyrs - Some 200 Iranians have volunteered in the past few days to carry out "martyrdom missions" against U.S. and British interests around the world..
“Commander of Lovers of Martyrdom Garrison: Let America and Israel know, each of our suicide volunteers equals a nuclear bomb”
OR, if these polled persons are aware they are advocating against the security of Israel and the US, they are rooting for Iran to overthrow the West and establish an Islamic caliphate with Sharia (Islamic law) - hence, the countries polled are likely caving in to the rule of Islamic law and those radical interests as they are doing in Europe. I note they did not mention WHICH 31 countries they polled for this data or their affiliations/viewpoints toward radical Islamic rule. Statistics such as polling data can be manipulated.. as this polling data from WHICH 31 countries illustrates clearly.
BAGHDAD — Iraq's government has been quietly bringing back into service Saddam-era intelligence agents who have experience spying on Iranians.
The effort is aimed at improving Iraq's ability to gather intelligence about Iranian-supported networks operating in Iraq, said Dan Maguire, the top U.S. adviser on intelligence.
Most Saddam-era intelligence agents fled after the U.S.-led invasion. Saddam Hussein's notorious security services were the dictator's primary means of repressing the population.
The practice of hiring former intelligence agents seems to conflict with a new law designed to come to terms with people who worked in Saddam's ruling Baath Party. The "Accountability and Justice" law, passed this year, bans members of Saddam-era security services from government work because of their brutal reputation.
FEATURE-Iraqis still ask if U.S. invasion was worth it
Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:04pm GMT
By Dean Yates
BAGHDAD, March 11 (Reuters) - Five years after U.S. and British forces swept into Iraq and toppled Saddam Hussein, many Iraqis are asking if the violence and upheaval that turned their lives upside down was worth it.
The human cost is staggering -- anywhere between 90,000 and 1 million Iraqi civilians killed, according to various estimates; nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers dead; while 4 million Iraqis are displaced.
On the bright side, Iraqis are rid of one of the 20th century's most ruthless dictators. They held free elections and have a new constitution.
For Iraqis, deciding if the invasion was worth the sacrifice depends partly on their sect and ethnicity and where they live.
Saddam, a Sunni Arab, persecuted the country's majority Shi'ites and Kurds. Shi'ites now hold the reins of power while once-dominant Sunni Arabs have become marginalised.
In Baghdad, epicentre of a sectarian war in 2006 and 2007 that nearly tore Iraq apart, people long for the safe streets of Saddam's era. In the Shi'ite south, they no longer fear Saddam's henchmen, but rival Shi'ite factions competing for influence.
In the north, the economy of largely autonomous Kurdistan is flourishing in a region that Kurds call "the other Iraq".
Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, a Kurd, said Iraq was moving in the right direction. Those who felt the invasion was a mistake should remember Saddam's atrocities, he said.
Zebari said proof that a majority of Iraqis supported the overthrow of Saddam was their participation in 2005 elections.
"The brutality of Saddam's regime deformed society in many ways so we have to be patient," he told Reuters in an interview.
"Compared to the experience of other nations I think we have done very well. But yes, it has been very, very costly."
Um Khalid, a 40-year old Baghdad hairdresser, said violence was so random that no one knew if they would be its next victim.
"No, no, no. What happened was not worth it. Those who say things are better are lying," she said.
KILLED OVER THEIR NAME
Many Iraqis vividly recall the chaotic months after the invasion on March 20, 2003, symbolised by the toppling of a big statue of Saddam in central Baghdad.
Their euphoria at new freedoms and hopes the United States would transform Iraq into another rich Gulf Arab state were dashed as Sunni Arabs rose up against their new rulers and car bombs turned markets and mosques into killing fields.
In February 2006, suspected al Qaeda militants blew up a revered Shi'ite mosque in the town of Samarra, unleashing a wave of sectarian violence that meant being a Shi'ite or a Sunni in the wrong neighbourhood could be a death sentence.
"Before 2003, we lived under a tough regime, no one can deny that," said Abu Wasan, 55, a former army brigadier-general and a senior member of Saddam's disbanded Baath party.
"But at least we never heard of bodies getting dumped on garbage just because people had a Sunni or a Shi'ite name."
The worst of the sectarian carnage is over, at least for now. A year ago, police would find up to 50 bodies in the streets of Baghdad each day. That number has dropped to single digits thanks to the deployment of additional U.S. troops and ceasefires by many Shi'ite and Sunni Arabs militants. Also in many Baghdad areas ethnic cleansing has already been completed.
GRIM NUMBERS
The latest tolls from the widely cited human rights group Iraq Body Count show up to 89,000 civilians have been killed since 2003. Research conducted by one of Britain's leading polling groups, however, puts the death toll at 1 million.
The U.S. military death toll stands at 3,975.
Other statistics make for grim reading.
The United Nations estimates 4 million Iraqis are struggling to feed themselves while 40 percent of the country's 27 million people have no safe water. The Iraqi doctors' syndicate says up to 70 percent of specialist doctors have fled abroad.
Iraq's national power grid, devastated by years of war and sanctions, leaves millions in the dark. The country has the world's third largest reserves of oil, but motorists sometimes queue at petrol stations for hours.
"I have been in this queue since dawn waiting to fill my car," said Abdullah Ahmed, 53, a taxi driver in the northern city of Kirkuk, which sits atop huge reserves of oil.
"What democracy? What prosperity? When the statue fell, we thought we would live like the Gulf, but that was just words."
People with such views are overlooking the joy of speaking freely, said Ahmed Sebti, 39, owner of a kebab restaurant in the southern Shi'ite city of Najaf.
In the past, making fun of Saddam could have deadly consequences. The current president, Jalal Talabani, has a keen sense of humour and loves satire.
"Before, civil servants couldn't eat kebabs. Now my income depends on them. Living standards are better," said Sebti.
Some Iraqis fear the invasion has set into motion political forces that could lead to the partition of Iraq into Shi'ite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish regions -- a prospect that would inevitably be bloody and may drag in neighbouring countries.
But Iraq is no longer a threat to its neighbours.
It is also one of the few countries in the region to hold free elections, something unheard of in neighbouring Gulf Arab countries. Provincial elections that could redraw Iraq's political map are expected later this year.
Sheikh Fatwa al-Jerboa, a Sunni Arab tribal leader in the northern city of Mosul, said there was plenty to be happy about.
"I feel grateful to the British and Americans for ousting this dreadful dictator. Now we enjoy freedom of speech and the freedom to choose our own leaders," he said.
Yousif Kamil, 25, in the northern city of Baiji, disagreed.
"It was a big mistake by America. We will remember it as they remember Vietnam," he said.
(Additional reporting by Ahmed Rasheed, Wisam Mohammed and Aseel Kami in Baghdad, and reporters in Basra, Najaf, Ramadi, Kirkuk, Baiji and Mosul; Editing by Samia Nakhoul)
Interview with American Ambassador Charles Ries, who is responsible for economic development in Iraq. From thedonovan.com archives. Part 1:
March 7, 2008
On Iraq's Economic Development: An Interview with Ambassador Ries
Corrections: several errors have been pointed out by the Ambassador and corrected below: 1) 1.5 and 2 million barrels a day refers exports, not total production. Total production is 2.5 million/day. 2) The new government agency in charge of investment is the National Investment Commission, not an Investment Ministry (though the "commissioner" will hold a rank equal to Minister). 3) Oil revenue-sharing is happening today; the issue at hand now is adding foreign investment into the mix.
On February 21st when I interviewed Brigadier General Cardon, he shared his opinion that “The real story over the next several months is going to be political and economic.” He discussed the potential for foreign investors who would bring industry and jobs to Iraqis and said now is the time for business to come and take a look. “This is a country of personal engagement…. Getting here early is a good thing if you want to have a long-term business arrangement.”
This statement inspired interest among readers in learning more about economic development and investment in Iraq. The request to 3ID's public affairs office for someone who could speak more authoritatively on the subject ultimately landed at the State Department, and what follows is the result.
This past Wednesday evening I spoke for nearly an hour with America's senior man in Iraq for economic development: Ambassador Charles Ries, Coordinator for Economic Transition in Iraq and Economics Minister. The focus of the interview was Iraq's readiness to receive foreign investment, but in a very forthcoming manner he covered topics ranging from banking and other infrastructure to labor, agriculture, and the challenges facing attempts to create a modern Iraqi economy.
The most striking message of the interview was how much security and economic development go hand in hand, reinforcing each other. They are completely inter-dependent; each without the other will not result in sustainable peace or success. Over-arching all of this is the legislative factor: full implementation of many plans and activities awaits action by Iraqi governmental leadership.
And so, in listening to Ambassador Ries, one is left with the impression of Iraq as an immensely complicated economic jigsaw puzzle, each part dependent on the other and full of bottled-up potential. The biggest challenge is the bottleneck through which it seems each piece must pass. Not surprisingly, it all comes back to oil. It is oil revenue that will fund Iraq's government, and thus fund almost every project that descends from the government. The problem right now is that because oil revenue-sharing is still not completely resolved, many of the needed improvements to oil production capabilities (which will result in increased production/revenue) can't yet be made. The success of almost all the plans and processes covered in my discussion with Ambassador Ries ultimately hinges on the Iraqis' ability to successfully resolve the revenue-sharing issues.
Despite the bottle-neck over oil revenue, a great deal of economic development is occurring in Iraq, and there is much to be excited about. "Iraq is seeing the economic indications of the successful security surge," says Ambassador Ries. "Since the middle of last year we have seen the revival of markets, more economic activity [and the] very early starts of permanent investment and banking activity. We are quite pleased."
The International Monetary fund predicts 7% growth in Iraq's economy, though predictions have repeatedly fallen flat in the past. However, Ambassador Ries is very optimistic, pointing to several factors that he says will increase growth beyond last year's sluggish rate. According to the ambassador, the lack of security in the first half of 2007 created a strong drag on the economy. "Things that couldn't happen due to the security situation were like a tax on the economy," holding it down. But with the success of the “surge” and its accompanying counter-insurgency tactics, security has improved and removed that “tax.” As an example, Ambassador Ries pointed to oil production and exports. In July (shortly after the "surge" reached full strength and just before it began to show results), Iraq was exporting about 1.5 million barrels of oil a day. Today, Iraq is "nudging up against 2 million barrels a day" (total production went from 2 to 2.5 million barrels during that time).
Ambassador Ries predicts this increase in oil production and exports will have a "trickle-down" effect that will fuel the entire economy in the coming year as oil revenue is immediately rolled over into government development projects such as construction sites. Money is already flowing into the provinces and governmental ministries for things like fixing streets, building schools, and dealing with infrastructure problems stemming from war and neglect. This results in greater employment, since people are needed to implement these projects, and the newly-employed workers in turn create demand for products they want to purchase with their earnings... Which creates money-making opportunities for other citizens, etc.
Though specific governmental ministries have been soliciting bids for very narrow projects, it is in many ways a little bit too soon to speak of general foreign investment in Iraq. As of yet, there is no way for a prospective investor to call up a single person in the Iraqi government and say, "I'd like to build a glass factory in your country." However, a highly-regarded Iraqi has been nominated to head the newly-developed National Investment Commission at rank of Minister, and his approval is expected when the legislature returns from its break. Meanwhile, the groundwork is being laid, and like so much in Iraq, is on the edge of bearing fruit.
That groundwork for investment includes not only the creation of a National Investment Commission, but rehabilitation of the energy infrastructure, development of the banking system, and most-importantly, capacity-building--the formation of functional governmental systems to enable development, research, and delivery of services to its citizens, as well as attract and process foreign investment. Over and over again in the interview, Ambassador Ries pointed to coalition efforts to teach basic governmental skills/mechanisms--everything from project management to industrial maintenance to funds distribution. Much is being done in these areas, and in many ways Iraq's economy is on the edge of a boom... a half-finished quilt in which solid and intricate squares await the national government to sew them into a larger and more functional entity.
In the meantime, the Provincial Reconstruction teams are not only reconstructing local infrastructure and business/agriculture, but teaching basic governmental skills and facilitating government functionality at the Province level. Early in the "surge," there were problems with staffing and distribution of the PRTs, but Ambassador Ries now points with obvious pride to the 25 PRTs operating throughout Iraq, "We tried to recast the way we work on civilian side to match/reinforce the strategy of the new way forward [counter-insurgency]." Five of the teams are based with provincial government, teaching and facilitating government function. The rest are called Embedded PRTs (ePRTs), and work hand-in-glove with coalition military forces. All teams are mixed civilian-military, comprised of State Department and USAID personnel, agriculture advisors, engineers, etc.
The province-based PRTs offer "lots of assistance" for local governments to help them effectively use the money they get from the federal government. Under Saddam Hussein, Iraq was a centrally-planned economy, and Ambassador Ries reports that before 2004 no money was allocated to provincial governments. Thus part of the PRTs' effort is focused on teaching project planning, acceptance of contact bids, etc.
Ambassador Ries describes the biggest role of the province-based PRTs as "de-bottlenecking problems." One example he gave was their "instrumental" role in in dealing with a cash-flow problem at the end of last year. Iraq is still a cash economy, and with the economic growth at the end of last year, Diyala Province developed a sudden and severe physical cash-flow problem. Iraqi Dinars are printed in London and must be carried by truck into Diyala. The Diyala PRT was able to use the State Department's connections and expertise to accelerate the printing and delivery of the Dinars. Ambassador Ries said that the PRT members were in constant contact with the treasury personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and "American expertise and connections made a noticeable difference in Diyala."
The cash-flow issue is indicative of what Ambassador Ries describes as "moving out of the bricks and mortar phase and towards capacity-building... trying to help the Iraqi government operate as a government." Efforts to provides services such as power, attract investment, develop banking, etc., is happening from the top-down in Baghdad while the ePRTs are operating with the military from the ground-up (typical counter-insurgency strategy).
The top-down and ground-up efforts meet at the still-jagged edge of foreign investment--of both money and expertise. So far, the economic rehabilitation is being driven by what Ambasssador Ries called "small-scale revival," retail development fueled by micro-grants/loans and the efforts of the ePRTs. Foreign investment and support of the banking sector are "needed to get to the next stage for lasting growth." This includes helping Iraqis tackle the big energy problems: attracting investments and developing more expertise in oil, and catching up with the demand for electricity. "Both are very large, difficult problems," says Ambassador Ries, which will "make a huge difference" once they are solved.
In part two, I’ll report on the groundwork and attempts to solve the "difficult problems" in detail, including energy infrastructure, the banking system, the labor force, sectors that are expected to drive Iraq’s economic growth, and the impressive man who will be the “go-to guy” for foreign investment in Iraq.
On Iraq's Economic Development: Part II
Continuing my interview with Ambassador Charles Ries, the senior American heading up economic transition and development in Iraq...
[Note: as pointed out by the Ambassador, there were some errors in Part I (apparently this is what happens when one attempts to interview and write with a flu-addled brain--a lesson in humility for those of us who like to smack around the mainstream media). 1) 1.5 and 2 million barrels a day refers to exports, not total production. Total production is 2.5 million/day. 2) The new government agency in charge of investment is the National Investment Commission, not an Investment Ministry (though the "commissioner" will hold a rank equal to Minister). 3) Oil revenue-sharing is happening today; the issue at hand now is adding foreign investment into the mix.]
Iraq was a centrally-planned economy under Saddam, with a government-owned industrial base. Ambassador Ries reports Iraqis have a desire to open up to the private sector as they rebuild, but he is concerned that foreign investment could aggravate unemployment (presumably by bringing in foreign employees), which becomes a political factor. He says, "Iraq will always be a country that depends upon its world-class petroleum resources, but the trick is to get better production of those resources.” Getting that better production is only going to come through foreign investment, because a great influx of money is needed to "fix up the country after four decades of devastation."
But this is where it gets complicated...
In the Middle East, oil production is usually state-owned, as it was under Saddam. That means that the various regions (which tend to divide along sectarian lines) need to find a way to share oil revenue from foreign investment now that Saddam is no longer using it to build palaces, etc. This has long been a contentious issue, and it must be resolved for there to be a truly healthy economy in Iraq. It's a complicated mess, but the important point is that until it is resolved, work on Iraq's biggest oil-producing fields is managed by state-owned firms who do not have the resources to take full advantage of them... ultimately resulting in less income for Iraq and slowing down the country's rebuilding efforts.
The Kurdish areas in Northern Iraq have grown tired of waiting for the revenue-sharing issues to be resolved, and regional governments have signed exploration and production agreements with smaller foreign oil companies. The national government has retaliated by blocking Kurdish access to the national oil pipelines, so their oil has to be brought to the borders of Iraq by tankers, which is much slower and more expensive than pipelines. Meanwhile, major international companies stand by, waiting for a chance to to get at the major fields in the South in exchange for a percentage of the profits, as the politicians keep fighting. According to Ambassador Ries, with the proper resources for exploration and production, oil will power Iraq's economy... but not until the legislature finally resolves the profit-sharing problem.
The oil issues are certainly complicated, but they pale comparison to the electricity challenge. The good news is that production and reliability are up strongly. Ambassador Ries reports, "We are making progress on production. [We] set records last fall and continue to be well about 2007 rates now." The bad news is that demand is rising at nearly an equal rate, and the sanction-battered infrastructure can't keep up. As the ambassador points out, this results in a massive shortage for the average Iraqi, who then expresses a great deal of dissatisfaction with the national government.
"Progress is slow and painful," says Ambassador Ries, as it is estimated the national electrical system of Iraq is producing enough electricity to meet only about 55% of the demand. The challenges include a lack of well-trained professionals to run things, and provincial/regional bitterness that sometimes prevents cooperation. In some places in Baghdad, citizens receive only two to three hours of electricity from the national grid each day.
Ironically, it's the growth in the economy itself that causes much of this. As the economy has improved, people have purchased more electronic devices--from cell phones to air conditioners. Ambassador Ries reports that people will buy a new air conditioner as soon as they can afford it, then run it constantly whenever the national electrical grid is producing for their region... because electricity off the grid is free.
And then the regional conflicts come into play, fueled by Saddam's history of using access to energy as a reward or punishment. With every air conditioner running full blast on a warm day, or all the lights in the city turned on, national production can't keep up. So, Baghdad calls Basra (for example) and says, "You've gotta go offline or the entire system is going to crash. Basra says (figuratively), "Hell, no!" and the results are predictable. Relatedly, Ambassador Ries says there has not been a history of planning ahead or conducting proper maintenance to avoid unplanned blackouts--which is partially a legacy of the challenges of operating under the UN sanctions during Saddam's reign. Thus he reports a lot of effort has been spent on teaching electrical employees to recognize signs of problems and act to prevent them, and to plan for regular maintenance/repairs, all of which have contributed to higher production.
The bright spot in all this is that entrepreneurial Iraqis have begun stepping up to fill the void. People often pay to hook into a neighborhood generator that can supply their homes with the power they need for times when the national system fails, and sometimes business buy a generator and offer power to locals when the business is closed. These systems are starting to effect a change in peoples' attitudes. Ambassador Ries explains, The ultimate solution to the electrical supply problems "is to manage the system in a reasonable way in which people pay for energy that they obtain--to create an incentive structure" so that they don't over use it (since they have to pay for it) and no longer view it as an entitlement they fight each other over. Oil-rich countries tend to not have a tradition of paying market prices for energy because it's subsidized by the government, "but it [paying for energy] is starting to happen."
One area of the Iraq economy that has been quietly making steady progress is the banking sector. When Paul Bremer led the Coalition Provisional Authority in 2003, he set up The Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) to finance trade imports and exports through letters of credit. It is state-owned and still the biggest bank in a nation that only has 29 banks, and in which two of the nine state-owned banks hold 90% of the money. However, diversification is beginning to have an impact. Local/private banks are now developing relationships with major international banks such as Citibank so that they can offer letters of credit, too. In fact, TBI now refers all letter of credit requests under $2 million to private-sector banks, who work mostly with banks in London and Amman. Of course, this is just the beginning of a nationwide, modern banking system. "We still need more investment in private banks, says Ambasssador Ries, "It's a gradual process" that will grow along with increased foreign investment in other sectors of the economy.
One aspect of the banking system that is growing by leaps and bounds is the electronic infrastructure. Until the last few months, all banking transactions in Iraq were done by paper. Now electronic funds connections exist between the six largest banks, including the central bank, and claims are settled daily against the central bank by electronic funds transfer. According to the Ambassador, the creation of a nationwide electronic banking infrastructure is in-progress and a very high priority.
On the transportation front, Ambassador Ries says things are progressing and there is a lot of activity. But as in other areas, there is still much to be done. The direct train from Basra to Baghdad has been recently re-opened, as have other routes, most of which include both passenger and freight lines. Air travel and airfreight are also coming online: the Mosul airport was open for the Haj last year, and other regional airports are currently being rehabilitated. Transportation will continue to strengthen as violence is reduced.
So, the oil sector awaits the opportunity to accept outside investment, the electrical grid is beginning to sort itself out, transportation is active and growing, and the banking sector is continuing to develop. It sounds like Iraq should be a good investment opportunity for those who aren't averse to a little risk for a big payoff, but where are the foreign investors? Not surprisingly, part of the answer goes back to the legislature.
In the third and final post on this interview, we'll finally get to the meat of things: where the opportunities are (including those being put forward by the Ministry of Industry), where the professional work force is, and who will be leading the way.
On Iraq's Economic Development: Part III
Final installment of my interview with Ambassador Charles Ries, the senior American heading up economic transition and development in Iraq (click for Part I and Part II)...
According to Ambassador Ries, a healthy Iraqi economy will be built upon two major sectors (petro-chemical and agricultural), as well as the smaller sectors of tourism and light manufacturing. Growth and development of these areas will fuel Iraq's economic reconstruction and recovery.
The petrochemical sector awaits only the Hydrocarbon Law to open up opportunities to the large "outside" firms that will be able to explore, develop and produce in greater volume than currently. Though the details are still being worked out, this will involve companies getting a percentage of return on investment with the rest of the profits going to the Iraqi government. What the government does with those profits will in turn drive the rest of the country's economy.
However, agriculture is a strong second to oil. As the ambassador says, "Iraqi agriculture had been an economic powerhouse for millenia," built especially on irrigation canals from the valley between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. But like other sectors, it "suffered under the state planning mindset for many years," and is currently under-capitalized in terms of machinery and structures such as silos. However, nearly one-fourth of the Iraqi labor force still works in agriculture, and with the right governmental or private investment, Ambassador Ries says Iraq's river valley would rival the Imperial Valley of California.
In fact, the agricultural industry has been a priority during rebuilding, with currently $100 million set aside from USAID alone for developing what Ambassador Ries calls the "supporting ligaments" of the agricultural economy throughout Iraq--slaughterhouses to process animals, feed grain operations to support cattle farms, packing/canning plants for vegetables so that farmers can get a higher return by growing more and spreading it beyond their locale, etc. There are also "active programs of technical assistance to help the Agricultural Ministry develop extension offices" that will conduct research and education on most effective agricultural methods. And right now the military is assisting agri-businesses with the time-sensitive work of spraying date trees by rehabilitating the helicopters required to conduct the spraying.
Tourism is another money-maker for Iraq, as was demonstrated in the recent Shia religious pilgrimages, but Iraq is full of historically-significant sites and "holy places" sacred to both Muslims and Christians. Building the housing and related services to attract and accommodate tourists from around the world as security improves will both help to kick-start the Iraqi economy and contribute to a lasting foundation.
Iraq's non-petrochemical manufacturing sector is another smaller but important piece of the puzzle. There is room for factories that will produce products that are heavy (and thus costly to ship) or are particularly suited to Iraq's natural resources. For example, that ultra-fine sand that fouls weapons, irritates sensitive body parts and destroys computers is high-quality silica perfect for glass, production of which also happens to require the high volume of energy Iraq has available.
But much of this is in the future; so far, Iraq's economic growth outside of the oil sector has been driven largely by what Ambassador Ries calls "small-scale revivals," things like retail and other small businesses. To get to the next stage--lasting growth--foreign investment is required to fuel the large projects on which the future will be built.
So, where is the foreign investment?
Ambassador Ries explains, "There is very little foreign investment right now" because there is not yet a distinct person or location to which one can apply. The investment law in 2006 set the framework for foreign investment, envisioning a National Investment Commission, which "has been stood up, and a commissioner with the rank of minister has been nominated." Unfortunately, the legislature left town before approving him, as they are expected to do when they return.
However, Ambassader Ries is very enthusiastic about the nominee, Ahmed Ridha. Mr. Ridha is an Iraqi native with a PhD from UC Davis, who has been living in Dubai for a number of years. He also has a great deal of familiarity and contacts in the entire region. Says Ambassador Ries, "[He's a] very impressive guy. Every American who has met with him says ‘wow!’” Though not yet employed by the government, Mr. Ridha has been drawing up the regulations and procedures for processing and approval of investor applications an bids, etc. "He expects to hit the ground running after he is approved by the legislature... As soon as he is nominated, he will be going around the world and meeting with people to develop and encourage [foreign] investment."
In the meantime, the Ministry of Industry is trying to attract investment in state-owned enterprises. With US help, the ministry signed production sharing agreements last week with foreign investors for three state-owned cement factories. Due to infrastructure, management and supply problems, these factories have been operating at only 20%, despite the huge demand for cement for rebuilding efforts. Under the agreements, a foreign company will take over the factory, investing in improvements while supplying management and expertise. For 15 years, they will take on all costs of running the plant: materials, employees, etc. During that time, the government will receive 30-35% of the output to use in government projects or sell for a profit. Ambassador Ries describes it as similar to an equity partnership, but not quite; it's a new concept designed specifically to work under existing Iraqi law. The cement factories are a test case, and starting in April, six factory investment opportunities in the areas of electricity and petro-chemicals will be advertised.
One lingering concern for outside observers is what has been called the "brain drain." During the worst of the fighting from mid-2005 to mid 2007, there was what Ambassador Ries described as "a very significant exodus of refugees" to Jordan and Syria. Estimates range from 400,000 people in Jordan alone to up to 2,000,000 altogether. "Clearly... the technocrats were a lot of that group," especially in Jordan. "This has been a big problem in government performance." But now that security is improving, the Iraqi government is reaching out to attract these people back. In one case, they have doubled the salaries of doctors (of which it is estimated 50% were lost to the exodus), and substantially increased salaries for other health workers.
In general, while Ambassador Ries acknowledges the severity of the problem, he also seems very optimistic about its resolution. "As the security situation gets better, they [the educated elite] will come back and serve as an accelerant for economic growth." He acknowledges that "right now, the return is only a trickle and the country suffers from the absence of professionals," but he reports "Iraqis are quite nationalistic and do maintain links; the refugees are in touch with things that are happening here." For example, a number of the private businesses in Iraq are owned by those who haven't yet returned permanently. In the meantime they frequently come back to monitor their businesses. As things get better they spend more and more time in Iraq, and Ambassador Ries fully expects them to eventually return for good.
When I introduced this interview I pointed out that economy, security and politics are all inter-connected. Though not moving as fast as most participants would like, the government is making progress in creating the laws, entities, guidelines and procedures that will support economic development and investment. The improved security in wide swathes of the country enables people to turn their minds from bare survival to economic activity. And the economic development/growth builds communities that increase citizen satisfaction with their government and discourage disruptive activities or violence. A self-reinforcing cycle, it makes Iraq's economy an entity full of tremendous potential for citizens and outsiders alike. As the military leaders I've been interviewing are quick to note, things can still go wrong. But the trend is definitely upward, and there are many reasons for optimism about the future.
Coalition Forces in Iraq Kill, Capture Terrorists Over Several Days' Operations
By American Forces Press Service
MichNews.com
Mar 11, 2008
WASHINGTON - Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained nine suspects today during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq.
Coalition forces near Ad Dawr targeted the leader of a terror cell for the southern Karkh al Qaeda in Iraq network. Intelligence led coalition forces to a location where the wanted individual was believed to be operating. The ground force detained one suspect, who then provided information on the whereabouts of another alleged terrorist.
The ground force then conducted an operation in Baghdad where they targeted the alleged terrorist responsible for numerous attacks in the region for the Rusafa and Karkh al Qaeda networks. The ground force detained one suspect, who is believed to be a brother of the targeted individual. This suspect then led coalition forces to his brother's location. As the ground force arrived at the target building, they received small-arms fire and observed enemy personnel flee the area. The ground force located and detained one of the men, an alleged leader for the southern Karkh network responsible for numerous car-bomb attacks in the area.
The ground force engaged and killed two terrorists in a nearby alley. Coalition forces destroyed two vehicles on site they assessed were being equipped for car-bomb attacks. Also during the operation, an Iraqi child was wounded, treated on site and transported to a local medical facility for further care.
Northwest of Samarra, coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists while targeting an alleged al Qaeda leader involved in propaganda and media operations in Anbar province.
In Mosul, coalition forces captured an alleged al Qaeda cell leader. Nearby, two suspected terrorists were detained during operations targeting a close associate of a senior leader for the Mosul terrorist network.
"We will continue to dismantle terrorist networks that threaten the security of Iraq by deliberately placing innocent women and children in danger by their actions and presence," said Navy Lt. Michael Street, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. "We regret when civilians are hurt while coalition forces search to rid Iraq of these terrorists."
In yesterday's operations:
-- Northeast of Balad, coalition forces detained three suspected terrorists while targeting an alleged explosives facilitator connected to the Baghdad al Qaeda network. Coalition forces also discovered 30 bags of urea, a component for homemade explosives, in one of the target buildings.
-- Near Taji, coalition forces detained another 10 suspects during an operation targeting an alleged associate of the senior leader for the northern-belt al Qaeda network. "Al Qaeda's indiscriminate violence has no place in Iraq's future," said Navy Capt. Vic Beck, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. "While a tough fight remains ahead of us, Iraqi and coalition forces will continue take the fight to al Qaeda, keeping the terrorists on the defensive and diminishing their ability to attack innocent civilians."
-- Northwest of Samarra, coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an alleged al Qaeda in Iraq leader involved in propaganda operations for the network in Anbar province. As coalition forces arrived in the area, they received enemy fire from four individuals departing the target building and moving into a nearby field. The ground force killed the four armed terrorists and found various equipment and weapons, including four military-style assault vests, machine guns, ammunition and magazines, bomb-making materials, and medical supplies. The forces found and destroyed two other weapons caches in the area, and a suicide bomber detonated his vest, killing himself but not wounding any coalition forces.
-- Also in Mosul, another three suspects were detained during a separate operation targeting a senior leader for the city's al Qaeda network.
-- Northeast of Balad, coalition forces targeted an alleged al Qaeda associate involved in facilitating foreign terrorists and smuggling weapons and bomb-making materials. Intelligence reports led coalition forces to a location where an al Qaeda meeting was believed to occur, and four suspected terrorists were detained. Coalition forces killed four terrorists and detained two others attempting to flee the area.
-- During another operation nearby, coalition forces targeted an alleged foreign-terrorist facilitator and associate of the wanted individual from the previous operation. Four terrorists were captured and one was killed in the operation. The building and two vehicles were destroyed to prevent their further use by terrorists.
-- In Mosul, coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists, including an alleged al Qaeda associate operating in the southeastern region of the city.
--Northeast of Samarra near the Hamrin Mountains, coalition forces conducted two multi-day operations that ended yesterday that targeted an alleged safe haven for an al Qaeda kidnapping cell. During the operations, the ground force detained nine suspects and discovered various terrorist propaganda materials and three weapons caches, including several machine guns, rifles, ammunition magazines and military-style assault vests, which were destroyed on site.
"Our untiring efforts to remove al Qaeda from Iraq reach into every corner of the country," said Army Lt. Col. Maura Gillen, a Multinational Force Iraq spokeswoman. "We will continue to target and attack their networks, degrading their ability to attack the Iraqi people and the security forces that protect them."
In March 8 operations:
-- Northeast of Balad, coalition forces detained four suspects during an operation targeting an alleged al Qaeda associate involved in facilitating foreign terrorists and smuggling weapons and IED materials.
-- East of Baghdad, coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists including an alleged associate of the northern al Qaeda in Iraq network. Coalition forces called for the occupants of the building to come out, but one terrorist occupant did not comply with directions or heed warnings. The coalition force engaged the terrorist, killing him.
-- Near Taji, coalition forces captured an alleged associate of an al Qaeda advisor for the southern-belt network. The suspect reportedly is connected to numerous members of the network, including the senior leader. The southern-belt network is operating in a degraded state after suffering a significant loss of key leaders as a result of coalition operations, U.S. military officials said. Another suspected terrorist was also detained.
-- In Beiji and southwestern Mosul, coalition forces detained four suspected terrorists while targeting financial and foreign-terrorist facilitators for al Qaeda. "These operations are further examples of Iraqi and coalition force success against al Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders and their networks," said Army Col. Don Bacon, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. "We're continuously pressuring the terrorists, finding the places they hide, disrupting their operations, and improving overall security for the Iraqi people."
-- U.S. soldiers detained three suspected insurgents during early-morning operations in Baghdad's Rashid district. One of the detainees is linked to numerous indirect-fire and improvised-explosive-device attacks in the area.
-- U.S. soldiers confiscated a weapons cache during operations near Joint Security Station Tarmiyah, north of Baghdad. The munitions seized included SK5 rockets, PG7 rockets, type-69 rockets, 160 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars, rocket-propelled-grenade launchers, projectiles, Iraqi hand grenades, and various other munitions and weapons. An explosive ordnance disposal team blew up the munitions and weapons.
Earlier, Iraqi residents of Sikek, a village southwest of Mosul, turned over a weapons cache to Iraqi and U.S. police March 7. A joint patrol of Iraqi and U.S. military police discovered a number of 90 mm mortars. "Finding and confiscating these weapons caches continue to reduce the availability and capability of the insurgent's supplies," said Army Maj. Mike Indovina, an 18th Military Police Brigade spokesman.
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
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