Thread: Archive Latest News - Think Tank - 01/01/08 - 14/04/08

President Bush Makes Phone Calls to the Iraqi Leaders

American President George W. Bush made a phone call to Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani yesterday. They discussed several issues dealing with the situation in Iraq.

President Bush praised the role of President Barzani in the political process in Iraq. He also expressed his support to the political process in Iraq, and called for solving all problems in 2008.

President Barzani emphasized the need to continue his role in solving the problems in Iraq in general, which serves the interests of all parties.

President Bush also made phone calls to Iraqi vices-president Dr. Tariq al-Hashimi and Dr. Adil Abdul Mahdi. They discussed the present situation in Iraq and President Bush’s statement on Thursday which deals with the union situation and its relation with Iraq.

On the other hand, an official source from the Iraqi Council of Ministers, on condition of anonymity, said “President Bush made a phone call to Iraqi PM Dr. Nouri al-Maliki, where he expressed his support to PM al-Maliki’s efforts in implementing law and fighting criminal gangs.”

It’s worth mentioning that President Bush made a phone call to the Iraqi President Jalal Talabani earlier yesterday.

PUKmedia :: English - President Bush Makes Phone Calls to the Iraqi Leaders

President Bush Ready to Back General David Petraeus Plan to End Troop Cuts

President Bush effectively hands the Iraq war to his successor today during a speech in which he is expected to sign off on his top commander's plan for an indefinite halt of American troop withdrawals.

Responding to two days of testimony on Capitol Hill by General David Petraeus, Mr. Bush will largely embrace his advice that the security situation in Iraq is still so precarious that a massive US troop presence is required for the foreseeable future.

General Petraeus, who called security gains “fragile and reversible”, called for a halt to withdrawals in July after troop levels had been reduced to about 140,000 - the same number deployed in Iraq before last year's “surge” of 30,000 extra personnel.

It takes at least two months to remove a combat brigade once the order has been given. General Petraeus's plan means that no significant troop reductions will occur before the election in November, with the likelihood of at least 130,000 troops in Iraq when the next president takes office in January.

Previewing Mr. Bush's speech, Dana Perino, his spokeswoman, left little doubt that Mr. Bush will back his battlefield commander and is very unlikely to be swayed by a meeting with congressional leaders before he speaks.

In view of “the President's practice of listening to his commanders on the ground, it would not be to type if he did not listen to them”, Ms Perino said.

She added: “I think he's pretty far down the path of what he's going to say tomorrow. What the President is looking to do is to make sure that he makes tough decisions now that can help make for a smooth transition when the next president takes over.”

On his second day of testimony - the fifth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad- General Petraeus was asked again about the botched assault by Iraqi government forces on Shia militia in the southern city of Basra two weeks ago.

PUKmedia :: English - President Bush Ready to Back General David Petraeus Plan to End Troop Cuts

Talabani Met with al-Hashimi

Today the Iraqi President, Jalal Talabani, met with his vice President, Tariq al-Hashimi, in Baghdad and discussed the outcomes of their meetings and the promising developments of the Iraqi political process forward.

Both Talabani and al-Hashimi pointed out the ongoing political process, the Iraqi national reconciliation and the near return of the withdrawn forces to the national unity government, stressing the need for putting the controversies aside, dealing with all the issues and reinforcing the Iraqi national integrity.

PUKmedia :: English - Talabani Met with al-Hashimi

ISX index down, closes at 36.980

Iraq's Stock Exchange (ISX) index decreased by 0.078 % to settle at 36.980 points at Thursday’s session.

Shares of 35 companies were traded during today's session, where 437 million shares were transacted at a value of over 720 billion dinars (1$ equals 1221 dinars) achieved through the implementation of 188 contracts.

The banking sector achieved the highest circulation in terms of the number of shares traded and in terms of trading volume as well.

The services index increased by 0.2%, while the insurance and industry index remained unchanged from the previous session, and the investment, agriculture and hotels sectors dropped.

Non-Iraqi investors participated in today's session through the implementation of 8 contracts in the investment, industry and hotels sectors. The traded shares reached more than 8 million, valued at over 14 million dinars.

According to the daily analysis of the capital market, the banking sector's index, in which 14 companies traded, closed at 37.620 points, while the industrial sector, in which 12 companies traded, ended at 11.405 points.

The statement concluded that 35 companies were traded in Thursday's session out of 94 companies registered in Iraq's stock exchange, of which 9 indexes went up, 13 dropped, and 13 maintained their previous price.

Aswat Aliraq

Government’s spokesman describes Crocker, Petraeus report as ‘good’

The official spokesman for the Iraqi government on Thursday described the report presented last Tuesday by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, to a the Senate Armed Service Committee as good and professional.

“The evaluation of the report from the Iraqi point of view was good and professional from a military commander who is acquainted with the security condition in the country,” Ali al-Dabagh told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

Petraeus and Crocker presented their report to the committee last Tuesday, in which they described the security condition in Iraq and asserted that the country still has security challenges and is still in need of the U.S. troops’ presence.

“The Iraqi government told the U.S. administration yesterday there is no need to change the troops withdrawal program because of the developed capabilities of the Iraqi security forces,” the spokesman said.

“We encourage the withdrawal of U.S. forces according to the agreed timetable,” he added.

“We believe that improving the political situation would boost the security condition,” al-Dabagh noted.

“There is a significant development in this report than the previous one but this does not mean playing down the dangerous of armed groups; al-Qaeda and other armed gangs spread in the country,” he added.

On Petraeus' remarks on Iranian support to gunmen in Iraq, al-Dabagh said “there is a negative effect of the neighboring countries and during the all negotiations with the Iranians we kept asserting on the need to have best relations with them, but under one condition of not interfering in Iraq’s internal affairs.”

“The Iraqi government is legitimate and elected by the Iraqi people and Iran and the all countries have to act on this base,” he concluded.

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker said on Tuesday that the United States has to make its commitment to Iraq unlimited, describing the Iraqi Parliament as having successfully working with the complicated issues.

He also pointed to progress made by the government of President Nouri al-Maliki, adding that continued U.S. support was vital.

"This does not mean that U.S. support should be open-ended," he said.
Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, told the Senate panel that Iraq is still a country of violence, describing what he is called the Iranian effect in Iraq as “clear.”

He said that American and Iraqi forces had made great strides toward the goal of bringing security to the country, but called for an open-ended suspension of troop withdrawals that he said could jeopardize progress.

Petraeus recommended a 45-day "period of consolidation and evaluation" once the extra combat forces that President Bush ordered to Iraq last year have completed their withdrawal in July.

Aswat Aliraq

Coalition vet clinic helps Iraqi brick factory thrive

An industrial complex in Iraq has quadrupled its employment and productivity over the last three months, and a team from Multinational Division Center is helping the companies keep their labor force healthy.

Army Capt. Rory Carolan, a veterinarian from Maryland, and soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, treated more than 250 donkeys recently that will be used in the absence of motorized vehicles at the Narhwan Brick Factory Complex.

Healthy donkeys were needed for the increase in hauling and to support production.

Army Lt. Col. Bruce Baker, an economist with the civil affairs team, G9, 3rd Infantry Division, who led the initiative, realized that healthy donkeys were needed after heavy fuel oil became available to fire the kilns and bring the brick factory complex to full operating capacity.

After coalition forces engaged the Iraqi Energy Ministry on behalf of business owners at the complex to deliver heavy fuel oil, employment rose from 3,500 to 15,000. The donkeys became essential to haul straw and mud, as well as the newly-formed bricks. The challenge for Baker was to get the mostly malnourished donkeys able to keep up with the work the newly available oil was going to make.

Carolan, senior veterinarian and agriculture adviser with the civil affairs team, G9, 3rd Infantry Division, specializes in treating equine species - horses, ponies and donkeys. After a briefing from Baker, Carolan traveled to Narhwan to hold the clinic.

"This Narhwan clinic was unique, given the number of donkeys to be examined and treated," he said. "Many of the donkeys were malnourished and obviously mistreated. Some suffered from pressure sores, hematomas and neglect. Some collapsed of exhaustion and died before our eyes.

"Others were well-cared-for, well-fed and well-groomed by owners who respected their worth," he said.

Carolan, with the help of soldiers from 1-10th FA, examined, wormed, measured and weighed the donkeys. More donkeys by the hundreds are waiting to be treated in follow-on clinics.

"The vet clinic was the right thing to do before an increased volume of brick orders kicked in," Carolan said. "In our clinic, we were able to examine and treat donkeys in need of care. We were able to encourage owners giving excellent care to their donkeys. We were able to teach the best way of care and feeding donkeys.

"That is where we can have the most impact, teaching the owners how to properly feed and care for the animals," he continued. "Higher production at the factories will be achieved with the improved standards of care employed."

Iraq Development Program - Coalition vet clinic helps Iraqi brick factory thrive

Talabani pledges Iraq Political Prosperity

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani pledged a prosperous political future in Baghdad. However, this pledge is bound to the willingness of political blocs and parties part of the political process.

Marking the fifth anniversary of the former regime, President Talabani held a press conference to discuss security and political developments on the local scene. In comment to Basra incidents, Talabani called to restrict arms within national armed forces stressing the necessity of enhancing governmental mechanisms.

Iraqi President praised the final statement of the national security political council which stressed on the participation of different parties in the political process and on engaging all components of the national society in elections. He noted that a meeting will be held between Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki and Vice President Tarek Al Hashemi to discuss the return of Accordance Front to Cabinet revealing that contacts have been made with the Iraqi List about its return to the government.

As for the topple of the former regime and US military interference in Iraq, Talabani criticized the double standard policy of certain Arab countries regarding Iraqi issue.

On the economic level, President Talabani called to use financial resources in the most optimal way in order to achieve economic and social sustained development.

Talabani pledges Iraq political prosperity | Iraq News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network

Oil Ministry tries to contain exploitation operations in oil stations

Oil Ministry called all the citizens to adopt official oil price in Governmental and civil oil stations and not to pay more than the fixed price for Benzene derives, Kerosene and white oil and that in order to try to contain exploitation operations taking place on the stations.

Oil Ministry tries to contain exploitation operations in oil stations | Economics News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network

FMI inflation Constitutes the biggest threat

International Monetary Fund said in its semestral report that the inflation constitutes the biggest danger for Middle Eastern economies that were slightly affected by the international stock exchange crisis. In the same time he expected that the region would witness a great development during the current year because some of the region’s countries are benefiting from high oil prices which allow to the governments to finance huge social projects regarding infra-structure.

FMI inflation constitutes the biggest threat | Economics News | Alsumaria Iraqi Satellite TV Network

Total says near Iraq oil service contract Deal

Total is in the final stages of talks with Iraq for an oil service contract and the French group is also hoping investors from the Gulf region will buy into the company, Total's chief executive said on Thursday.

Iraq could pay up to $500 million for each of the five service contracts it is negotiating with oil majors, an Iraqi government advisor said last month. Iraq wants oil majors to boost its output by nearly a quarter through the contracts.

"I know discussions are being finalised, but I don't have a date for an announcement," Total Chief Executive Christophe de Margerie said on the sidelines of an oil conference in Paris. "This is up to the Iraqi authorities."

BP, Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil are also negotiating for the two-year technical support contracts. BP said earlier this week it expected to ink the deal around mid-year.

The contracts do not provide the long-term involvement the oil majors crave in Iraq's oil sector, but will give them a head start in bids for future oil deals.

"These are contract services," de Margerie said. "This is necessarily a transitory stage, not a proper way to work over the long term."

Total was negotiating for the development of the West Qurna field along with U.S. group Chevron, he said.

Iraq has the world's third-largest oil reserves and needs billions to revamp its oil sector after decades of war and sanctions.

The service contracts are part of stop-gap measures to boost output in the absence of new legislation for foreign investment. Political feuding has stalled a vital oil law in Iraq for more than a year.

Total's chief executive said he was pleased a state-owned Chinese investment fund had bought shares in the company. The move to take a stake was not linked to projects in China, he said.

He said he hoped funds from other countries where Total is active, in particular Gulf countries, would invest in the French group.

"We have a strategy to diversify our shareholder base. We would like funds to come from countries where we have long-term relationships. This is why, besides China, we would like to have equivalent partnerships coming from certain Gulf countries."

Total's shareholders already include state-owned investment funds from Norway, Singapore and the Middle East, a Total spokeswoman said last week.

Total says near Iraq oil service contract deal - Forbes.com