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

Thanks Lunar- This is one of the most encouraging reports in a while.

It looks as if the IMF has extended the stand-by agreement to December 28th.

It states the CBI is doing a good job and hopes that they will continue to de-dollarize the economy (good for us!).

It also makes very clear that the economic turnaround hinges on the security issues currently strapping the country down.

Bottom line is- Fix the security problems and the economy will rebound. Until then look for a steady pace to continue indefinitely.

This is my opinion based on the above article.

Thank you.

Diwaniya placed under curfew as prepares for governor selection

Local authorities in Diwaniya city imposed an indefinite curfew on the Shiite city from Thursday evening as the provincial council is expected to select a new governor for the province on Friday.

"It is decided that a curfew be imposed on Diwaniya city as of Thursday 7:00 pm till further notice in preparations for the selection of a new governor for the province on Friday," acting governor Dhia Shubbar said in a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

Diwaniya Provincial Council accepted nominations for the post of the governor after the former governor Khalil Jalil Hamza was killed in a blast on Saturday.

A source from the Provincial Council told VOI "seven persons were nominated for the post and the 41-member-council is expected to name the new governor by voting on Friday." Diwaniya is 180 km south of Baghdad.

Diwaniya placed under curfew as prepares for governor selection | Iraq Updates

Oil official was abducted in 'sophisticated' raid

Iraq's oil minister yesterday said that his deputy was kidnapped along with four senior officials in a "sophisticated" operation on Tuesday.

"Two days ago a large armed group with an estimated 100 gunmen ... forcibly broke into the oil marketing company and kidnapped deputy minister Abdul Jabbar Al Wagga and four other ministry employees," Hussain Al Shahristani said.

Al Wagga, a Shiite, was snatched with four senior employees when the gunmen, wearing Iraqi security forces uniforms, stormed into the state oil marketing organisation's building on Tuesday.

Al Shahristani said the men were carrying "sophisticated" weapons. They drove government vehicles and spoke in English as they convinced guards to let them enter in what he described as a serious breach of security committed by "enemies of Iraq."

He said security forces had some indication of where the kidnapped men might be held.

"The rescue operations are continuing day and night," Al Shahristani said.

Oil official was abducted in 'sophisticated' raid | Iraq Updates

Participation in "moderates' front" hinges on its platform, says Fadhila Party

A leading member of the Iraqi Shiite Fadhila Party said the party's participation in the four-way alliance announced on Thursday would depend on the "platform to be offered by the new alliance."

"The formation of this front alone is not enough, regardless of whether this alliance is comprised of only these four parties or of all parties," Sabah al-Saadi, a MP from the Fadhila (Virtue) Party, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) by telephone.

Saadi pointed out that "what really counts is the service of the people's interest, not the parties'."

An agreement among four parties was announced on Thursday in Baghdad with the aim of pushing forward the political process in Iraq.

The four groups were the two main Kurdish parties – Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Iraqi Kurdistan region President Massoud Barazani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) – and the two main Shiite parties: the Islamic Dawa Party and Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim's Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC).

The Dawa, or call, Party was represented by its secretary general Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the SIIC by its deputy leader Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi.

Following the announcement of the four-way alliance on Thursday, Talabani said parties to this alliance have a parliamentary majority.

"We have majority and the other parties that will join us have a sufficient number of members of parliament," said the Iraqi president, adding "we would never close the door to anyone. We hope an agreement will be reached with the brothers in the (Sunni) Iraqi Accordance Front."

The Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party had said in a statement on Thursday that the party "believes that the way out of the current crisis (in Iraq) will not be solved by new alliances or political entities, but rather by reaching national consensus over critical issues that Iraqis are still acutely split over."

Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashimi, the party's secretary general, issued a statement in which he blessed the signing of the four-way alliance, expressing hope that the party's reluctance to join the alliance would not be "misunderstood."

Participation in "moderates' front" hinges on its platform, says Fadhila Party | Iraq Updates

Key member of Sadr's Mahdi Army arrested in eastern Najaf

U.S. and Iraqi forces arrested a leading member of Jaysh al-Mahdi (Mahdi Army) of Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr on Tuesday, the U.S. army said in a statement on Friday.

"Soldiers from the 8th Iraqi Army, with U.S. Special Forces as advisers, conducted a raid in eastern Najaf Aug. 14 and detained a former battalion commander of the rogue Jaysh al-Mahdi militia who is currently suspected of leading an independent Shi’a extremist group," read the U.S. army statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).

"The former commander’s Jaysh al-Mahdi cell is suspected of conducting aggressive insurgent attacks using explosively formed penetrators throughout southern Iraq during late 2005 and early 2006. After leaving Jaysh al-Mahdi, he allegedly formed an independent cell of more than 150 Shi’a extremists that is believed to have conducted attacks on Iraqi and Coalition Forces," the statement noted.

The statement added that the cell is "also believed to have taken part in the August 2006 battle in Diwaniyah, fighting against Coalition Forces."
No Iraqi or Coalition members were harmed during operation, according to the statement which did not name the arrested Mahdi Army member.

The U.S. army has been launching a campaign targeting Mahdi members and leaders allegedly involved in acts of violence in several areas in Iraq.

Mahdi Army is the military wing of the Sadrists, or Iraqis loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr who opposes U.S. presence in Iraq.

Key member of Sadr's Mahdi Army arrested in eastern Najaf | Iraq Updates

Iraq adopts multi-year Customs Modernization Plan

Iraqi Minister of Finance approved adopting a multi-year Customs Modernization Plan for Iraq, building on extensive support from the U.S. Agency for International Development, Portal of Iraq reported.

The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) stand-by arrangement with the Government of Iraq (GOI) calls for extensive customs reforms.

The Economic Governance II Project, assisting the Iraqi government in the economic reconstruction and policy reform in Iraq, has been working with the Ministry of Finance and General Commission for Customs (GCC) to help build institutional capacity and develop modern systems.

This multi-year plan provides important steps in assisting the GCC to improve, simplify and streamline customs services to importers and travelers, while reducing opportunities for corruption.

Iraq adopts multi-year Customs Modernization Plan | Iraq Updates

Calls for leaving Iraq to help economy

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Aug. 17 Campaigning in Iowa for the Democratic presidential nomination, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson promised to restore fiscal responsibility if elected.

A statement released by Richardson's campaign organization Friday said the governor "believes fiscal responsibility begins with getting all of our troops out of Iraq and leaving no residual forces behind."

Richardson said he would repeal the Bush administration tax cuts, which Democrats have claimed help only the wealthiest Americans, and slash both congressional earmarks and corporate welfare.

"We can balance the federal budget and avoid passing on debt to our children," Richardson said.

He said he would use the money saved to eliminate the alternative minimum tax, establish a rural jobs tax credit for employers in less populous areas, provide a tax credit to companies that pay workers more than the prevailing wage and promote jobs in renewable energy.

Richardson also suggested indexing the minimum wage to inflation.

Calls for leaving Iraq to help economy : US World

Iran-Iraq 2006 trade volume exceeded $2b

TEHRAN – Iran’s trade transactions with Iraq in 2006 surpassed two billion dollars, with Iran’s exports accounting for 97 percent of the figure, said Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad on Wednesday.

Talking to MNA, Hassan Kazemi-Qomi added the aim behind Iran’s policy on reinforcement of bilateral ties is to ameliorate Iraq’s economic situation.

Referring to the sides’ potentials, he said the sides need to boost bilateral cooperation.

He added the two neighboring states have signed 65 documents on cooperation only in the rail industry.

tehran times : Iran-Iraq 2006 trade volume exceeded $2b

Interpol Releases Arresting Order of Saddames Daughter Raghd

PUKmedia 2007-08-17 17:19:32

According to a request by the Iraqi government the international police (interlope) released on its website on Friday the arresting order of Raghd, elder daughter of the ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.

She is born in 1968; accused of several crimes related to terror, crimes against humanity by the Iraqi government, quoted the statement of arresting Raghd.

The web site asked every body who has any kind of information on place of her living, to inform the city’s police.

PUKmedia :: English - Interpol Releases Arresting Order of Saddames Daughter Raghd

US Military Envoy Appreciates President Talabani’s Role in Resolving Iraq’s Problems

His Excellency Mr. Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi president on Friday, August the 17th received a US military envoy headed by the retired Gen. John Jones head of the independent committee formed by the US Congress for surveying the Iraqi security and army forces’ capability, and their needs.

During a banquet attended by Dr. Latief Rashid, the Iraqi minister of water recourses and Ahmed Bamaarni, Iraqi ambassador to Sweden, talked about the positive results and the most important achievements of librating Iraq from dictatorship, indicating to the main role of the US and Multy- national forces in rescuing millions of Iraqis .

His Excellency reaffirmed his thanks for the US army and people, appreciating President Bush’s courage in librating Iraq and helping the Iraqis to be free from terror and establishing stability to Iraq.

His Excellency pointed out the progress achieved in all the aspects in Kurdistan region and all over the other stable cities, saying that if Iraqis could overcome terror and achieve national unity they can achieve more progress, particularly that Iraq is a rich country in natural and human recourses and is able to change the balance in the Middle East and to participate in deepening the democratic process in the whole area.

On their part the delegation thanked His Excellency for his warm reception and invitation and appreciated His Excellency’s role in resolving Iraq’s problems and to get it to the safe heaven.

PUKmedia :: English - US Military Envoy Appreciates President Talabani’s Role in Resolving Iraq’s Problems