Thread: Archive Latest News - Think Tank - 16/08/07 - 03/11/07

Originally Posted by Seaview

I don't think Islam will take over the World in 13 years time. The Arabs are too emotional and don't know how to form a queue. Mayhem doesn't rule.

Very true. Mayhem does not rule, but radical elements are known to be in most European countries, the UK and within the borders of the US.

What would happen if they set off a small Nuke in LA, Seattle, NY, and Miami? Forget Miami, lets say Houston (its more important!)!

What if they set off a Nuke in London? or a few around Europe in major cities?

The majority of Arabs would not want this but for radicals, it is no different that the 9 1 1 incident.

I would hope these things can be avoided and Iraq can pull themselves together and rejoin the International Economic world. Besides, we could see that RV we are all waiting for and many could retire rather than continue to struggle.

So, I do appreciate the media everyone places here. I just take it for what it is worth based on what I have seen in my life time when it comes to news.

With after all I have read here, I just had to make some points today; no matter how minor they may be or how superficial they may seem. Why? Because all I see are news reports of "He said, She Said" and it all centers around negativity with a taste of potential hope for progress; sometimes!

What I hate about the News Media today:

It seems to me that those who report the news, be they reporters or Government officials who meet with heads of state and other leaders would make the news rather than report the news, or just be part of the news, there could be a change in the direction of world affairs.

In other words, if these people who are in the news and reporting the news every day would engage in direct conferences every day with these leaders and heads of state, asking direct questions of national and international concern, then there would be no question as to what developments could be expected. It is called, "Getting in their Faces!"

Don't leave the world open to chance. Drive the leaders into making decisions that are good for all. Don't let them get away with setting their own pace for their own agendas.

Can they do this diplomatically and get away with it? Yes! To a point, and they can affect decisions somewhat with faces in the International news every day.

So where are the real reporters and the hard questions? Where are the answers people want and need if there is to be progress?

I just don't like, "He Said, She Said, News Reports!" They give me nothing but gas and I can get that from bad beens.

Well all reports, apart from those that are 'laws passed' etc are based on one journalists opinion and that depends on their personal opinions and political leanings. There is no control over that wherever you read the news in the World.

There are an awful lot of contradicting reports coming out of Iraq at the moment. But it's better to have something to go on and form an opinion than nothing.

I don't think 'getting in their faces' would work. No one likes that wherever they live.

There is alot of corruptness there as there is anywhere in the World.

Iraq is a delicate situation. All the different religious factions and factions within those factions - it's complicated. I personally have no idea how they will ever reach an agreement on anything that they are all happy with and there will be debates between all these people for years to come, I believe. Frankly it's a mess.

Really it would be great if they could split into 3 states - but I have no idea how they could achieve that and to be honest I don't think they do either.

PS - I don't know anything about bombs - but are there not detectors that can send 'Nukes' off track - or something like that? I'm not going to loose sleep worrying about being 'nuked' by the Middle East. I don't mean to be facetious - but I don't see that as a reality.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 07:34 GMT

Oil Ministry announced that it will distribute quantities of oil to families in Baghdad and in the provinces in order to get prepared for winter.

The Ministry affirmed that the distribution will take place before the winter and according to the ratio card. Moreover, it stressed that each family will get 220 liters with a price of 33 000 Iraqi Dinar and that the distribution will enclose all Iraq Provinces without any exception.
Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | Oil Ministry will distribute Oil to Iraqi families

Central Bank bids to keep on giving monetary loans

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 07:08 GMT

Central Bank bids to keep on giving monetary loans for the private and governmental banks in order to activate the economy of the country. Central Bank’s Counsel Mazhar Saleh affirmed that Finance Ministry adopted a new mechanism to give loans to people.
Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network | Economics News | Central Bank bids to keep on giving monetary loans

Inflation Measure Decrease of Past July

Inflation measure decreased for last July as were recorded in last June as the general standard number reflected for the consumer prices in 3,2%.

A source at planning ministry said that, the static's central body and information technology carried out the report of the inflation for July which accounted on the basic of collecting the statements fields about the price of the goods and the formed services for the consumers basket of the retail in a collecting markets in Baghdad and the provinces which showed inflation measure decrease last month resulted in the standard number for the foodstuffs, fabrics, clothes, shoes, furniture, fuels, lighting, and transporting, pointing that the agreement on these collections formed 83,0 % from the family consumer spending.

Inflation Measure Decrease of Past July | Iraq Updates

Deputy PM discusses build free zone in Anbar

Deputy PM Dr. Barham Saleh discussed with the Anbar province's officials possibility of building the free zone in the province and its requirements, statement of his office said.

The statement added that the meeting discussed also economic and service situation in the province and reconstruction projects there to improve life levels and infrastructure.

The meeting was attended too by under secretaries of Planning, Interior, Industry, Communications, Trade besides Defense Ministry operations' director and some of military officers in the province.

Deputy PM discusses build free zone in Anbar | Iraq Updates

Demand for dollar up, exchange rate down in central bank's auction

Demand for the dollar was higher in the Iraqi Central Bank’s auction on Monday, reaching $66.605 million compared with $57.355 million on Sunday.

In its daily statement the bank said it had covered all bids, including $10.325 million in cash and $56.280 in foreign transfers, at an exchange rate of 1,239 dinars per dollar, one tick lower than yesterday.

The 17 banks that participated in Monday's session offered to sell $15 million, which the bank bought at an exchange rate of 1,237 dinars per dollar.

Ali al-Yasseri, a trader, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) that the one-tick decrease in the exchange rate prompted dealers to send remittances.

The Iraqi Central Bank runs a daily auction from Sunday to Thursday.

Demand for dollar up, exchange rate down in central bank's auction | Iraq Updates

Sorry if already posted.

Saudi wipes Iraq's debt

Iraq's Finance Minister Bayan Jabor has revealed Saudi Arabia has agreed to wipe off most of the $15.5bn the war-ravaged country owes the kingdom, reported the Dow Jones newswires.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal said earlier this year that the kingdom had not, as yet, made any pledge to forgive Iraq's debt but talks were ongoing.

Russia has also stated that it will write off around $13bn.

Saudi wipes Iraq's debt | Iraq Updates

Operational assessments for microfinance institutions in Iraq

As part of the overall technical assistance to indigenous and international microfinance institutions active in Iraq, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Izdihar project recently completed operational and financial assessments for the Ninewah Business Center and Relief International.

The assessments consisted of a thorough review of policies and procedures, of the loan tracking and accounting system, of their financial statements and loan portfolios.

The assessments were complemented by recommendations that will be part of the milestones the microfinance institutions need to achieve in order to get additional funding.

Operational assessments for microfinance institutions in Iraq | Iraq Updates

Baghdad urges boosting U.N. role, Paris supports holding conference

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Monday called for boosting the United Nations role in Iraq, at a time when France has proposed holding an inclusive international conference on settling the Iraqi political and security crisis.

At a joint press conference with visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Talabani said that "we called for bolstering the role played by the U.N. in Iraq, and we are working with the international organization to enlarge that role."

The president described boosting the U.N. role as "useful for Iraqis."
Talabani defended the presence of foreign troops in his country.

"These troops are deployed in Iraq by virtue of a U.N. resolution. They are undertaking their job by approval of the Iraqi government and cooperation with the U.N.," he further added.

For his part, Kouchner, who arrived in Baghdad on Sunday, noted that part of maintaining democracy and peace in Iraq should be fulfilled through the U.N.

"France is supporting a U.N. resolution, passed a few days ago, on enlarging the international organization's role in Iraq," he also said.

The United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a resolution ten days ago extending the U.N. mission in Iraq for one year.

The 15-nation council also approved expanding the role of U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and the U.N. special representative to Iraq at the request of the Iraqi government.

The minister highlighted that the aim of his visit is to meet representatives of different Iraqi factions and political blocs and listen to them, so as to help his country determine the role could be played in the war-torn country.

He spoke on the possibility of holding an international conference on settling the Iraqi political and security crisis.

"France is interested in protecting Iraq's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity," the French diplomat also said. Kouchner described ties with Iraq as "historic".

"It is very important for the future of Iraq to reach an agreement between the three main groups in Iraq Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds," Kouchner added.

He met also with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zibari.

Kouchner's visit to Iraq is the first of its kind since the invasion in 2003.

Baghdad urges boosting U.N. role, Paris supports holding conference | Iraq Updates