Thread: Iraq/Dinar News until 5PM CST May 10,2007

Originally Posted by DinarDarling

Let's look at this seriously. Where was the outrage when they went on vacation last year, or the year before that, or the year before that.
Looks like some contradiction here.

good point...and its not like anyone here (most everyone) cared when Dubya finished his vacation, strumming the guitar and eating cake (5 weeks per year) while New Orleans went under....(Katrina)....

Originally Posted by gluphus

this is the classic Mexican standoff...

The GOI has many times expressed disapproval (in different ways) of the US presence. Now they take a vacation and tell us "its not our concern"

But, it seems they win this one. After all, we ain't leaving, so now they now know that no matter what they do (bribe, graft, murder, laziness) we will keep sending them money, American blood and someone to blame when their tribal members complain of lack of jobs. All the while, they continue to get debt relief with nothing (its nothing until its proven otherwise) in exchange from the world. IMHO, because of our good nature, we have been royally punked.

I suppose there are 3 alternatives to resolve this:
1. bomb then slash and burn iraq like Huns. (not likely)
2. contine to be the usefult ***** of GOI.
3. leave.

Its just sad the way the US Govt is willing to bleed the taxpayers dry while enriching these corrupt people.

I wonder when we look back on this in 2011 if our noble savage attitude will have make our children proud or angry?

"This is a great Mexican stand off " What are you talking about ! Or do you have a link to your reason ? YOU are way off my friend !

Originally Posted by DinarDarling

Let's look at this seriously. Where was the outrage when they went on vacation last year, or the year before that, or the year before that.
Looks like some contradiction here.

I hear what you're saying DD but the tide has turned in the USA and there is alot more pressure on Congress and the Pres now to get some results that is tangible to the average person, since most people know far less about what's going on than our ROL club. Without going into all the politics involved (though they certainly play a big part) the sentiment of the American taxpayer is basically "enough is enough" and more importantly, the lives being lost. Most of my neighbors, family and friends (and even those who were supportive of our involvement in Iraq) feel that we need to act on an exit strategy. I also think the media has publicised the vacation, and most Americans don't get 2 weeks off a year much less 2 months.

Originally Posted by whatever

I hear what you're saying DD but the tide has turned in the USA and there is alot more pressure on Congress and the Pres now to get some results that is tangible to the average person, since most people know far less about what's going on than our ROL club. Without going into all the politics involved (though they certainly play a big part) the sentiment of the American taxpayer is basically "enough is enough" and more importantly, the lives being lost. Most of my neighbors, family and friends (and even those who were supportive of our involvement in Iraq) feel that we need to act on an exit strategy. I also think the media has publicised the vacation, and most Americans don't get 2 weeks off a year much less 2 months.

Look at it from their point of view - you didn't show concern in previous years - here we go again!!!

Originally Posted by nikki

good point...and its not like anyone here (most everyone) cared when Dubya finished his vacation, strumming the guitar and eating cake (5 weeks per year) while New Orleans went under....(Katrina)....

3 little letters........


H. C. L.

Originally Posted by Corvette

THEIR 2 MONTH VACATION SHOULD BE OF NO CONCERN TO U.S. POLITICIANS/LAWMAKERS - GIVE ME A BREAK!! We are losing our sons/daughters/neighbors, etc. for their freedom!! They just don't get it!
It SHOULD BE of most concern to them, for they are losing their people it this war, too!! Sorry for this to be our first post - hope I did it right, BUT I LOVE THE U.S., and ALL of our soldiers, and despite what the media (here of there) makes of it - the Americans are NOT bad people! Thanks for letting me LOOSE - sorry! I am TRULY NOT THIS APPAULED at most of the posts!

I totally agree with you.

Originally Posted by Lunar

Sorry...it is an old article about the current IQD. There are currently 9 denomination in circulation....7 banknotes and 2 coins...yet 14 denominations were printed....leaving 5 yet to be released.

You hit the nail on the head my friend. Leaving 5 to be released

Oh! Parden me, I thought this was the news thread.

I was re-reading The federal budget bill for fiscal year 2007 and something in Article 5 has me stumped, can someone tell me what this is saying?

Article 5: Minister of Finance Ministers and heads of delegation of the Ministry Giralmurtabtaha validity of the transfers between budget allocations for the Federal Republic of Iraq ratified by the unit to another exchange rate of up to (10%) of ten cent of the appropriations approved in the annual budget or supplementary to other exchange unit, which will be reduced with the credits Subject to the provisions of item (8) of section (9) of the Financial Administration Act No. 95 of 2004 that are not transfers from the capital projects expenditure allocations to operating expenses and are not assets of non-financial allocations to rule salaries within operating expenses

Translated version of http://www.nahrain.com/d/law/

Thoughts?
Cheers!
DayDream

No immediate debt relief for Iraq
By EDITH M. LEDERER
SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt, 04 May 2007 (Associated Press)



Saudi Arabia said it is still negotiating with Iraq over writing off billions of dollars owed it by the war-torn country, and major creditors Kuwait and Russia failed to offer immediate debt relief — a key goal of an ambitious blueprint launched Thursday to stabilize Iraq.

The absence of major commitments to reduce Iraq's burdensome debt was a disappointment at a major regional conference in the Egyptian resort aimed at showing support for Iraq — and a sign that some, particularly Sunni Arab nations, are still keeping their distance from Iraq's Shiite-led government.
Still, the Iraqi government, the United Nations, and many of the more than 60 countries and international organizations gathered here hailed the launch of the blueprint as a milestone.

The International Compact with Iraq sets ambitious benchmarks to achieve a stable, united, democratic Iraq within five years. It defines international help for Iraq — including debt relief — but also sets tough commitments on the Baghdad government, particularly carrying out reforms aimed at giving Iraq's Sunni Arabs a greater role in the political process.

It was an initiative of Iraq's first elected government, launched soon after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki took office in June 2006 and strongly backed by the United Nations.

The United States has stressed the Iraqi role in organizing the conference, but U.S. diplomats and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's advisers have crisscrossed the globe and worked heavily to drum up support, particularly among Arab nations.

After delegates backed the compact late Thursday by acclamation with a round of applause, a smiling Rice approached U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, saying, "You did a great job. This is a wonderful day for all of us."
But the debt issue loomed large over the meeting's unfinished business.
The Paris Club of affluent lender nations has already written off $100 billion of Iraq's debt — most from former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's war against Iran in the 1990s.

But the government still owes a huge amount. Iraq's finance minister put the total remaining at roughly $50 billion, but the numbers vary and in some cases are still not resolved — with some estimates as high as $62 billion.
Iraq's al-Maliki opened the conference urging "all our friends ... to forgive our debts and allow us to launch our reconstruction and development."
But the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia — a major lender — made no immediate public pledge. Saud al-Faisal said only that his country was in talks with Iraq "to have an appropriate solution to debts in line with rules of the Paris Club," which calls for forgiving at least 80 percent of Iraq's debts.
Before the conference, al-Faisal had confirmed that the kingdom would forgive 80 percent of Iraq's debt, raising expectations of an official announcement Thursday.

U.N. officials said the problem is that Saudi Arabia and Iraq never kept records and haven't agreed on the size of the debt. Iraq's finance minister puts the debt at $17 billion while the Saudis have estimated it at between $15 billion and $18 billion.

Kuwait is owed $15 billion, but its democratically elected parliament is refusing to consider any debt relief to Iraq — and the country's deputy prime minister didn't mention the issue. There was also no mention of writing off the $13 billion Russia is owed.

China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, whose country is owed $8 billion, said Beijing "is ready to substantially reduce and forgive the debts owed by Iraq" and will forgive all government debts. He gave no figures.
Bulgaria, owed $4 billion, said it was finalizing "technical talks" with Iraq and then would consider a "realistic solution."

New grants and soft loans also came in.
British Prime Minister Margaret Beckett promised some $400 million. Other pledges from South Korea, Australia, Denmark and Spain totaled about $280 million.

In New York, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said the international community has been slow to live up to aid pledges in the past.
Zalmay Khalilzad, who until recently was the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, said most countries have not come through on $13.5 billion in pledges made at a 2003 donor's conference in Madrid. "The record of delivering on the commitments by the international community ... has not been as good as we would like," he told reporters at U.N. headquarters.

Throughout Thursday's session, Arab diplomats underlined their demands that al-Maliki do more to bring in Sunni Arabs, including changing the constitution and ending a purge of former members of Saddam's ousted Baath party.
Al-Maliki promised Baghdad would fulfill its side of the bargain, acknowledging "the international compact cannot take its natural path" unless the Iraqis do their part to achieve national reconciliation. Still, some of the reforms face stiff opposition from al-Maliki's allies in his Shiite-led coalition.
Nonetheless, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh called it "a historic day for Iraq."

"We go back to Baghdad with a message of hope, reinvigorated and feeling much more confident about the future," he said.
___
Associated Press Writer Alexandra Olson contributed to this report from the United Nations.

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