Thread: Iraq/Dinar News. 09/05 to 01/14/07

BAQUBA, IRAQ, 16 October 2006 (Kuwait Times)


Lt Col Tom Fisher tried to create a detente between rival factions in Iraq's Diyala Province. Aside from maintaining open communication with the Iraqi Army and Police, he also established relationships with influential political leaders suspected of condoning criminal activities. The plan seemed to create relative harmony in the Diyala Province. For two months the number of roadside bombs-the preferred weapon of insurgents-dropped considerably. Despite several incidents, Fisher's strategy seemed to work. During the first week of Ramadan though the plan crumbled. Prominent members of the Iraqi Army invited a controversial shaikh to iftar. At the end of the meal, the Iraqi Army arrested the shaikh and transported him to a jail in another region of Iraq. The Iraqi Army had acted completely independently, without the knowledge of the Americans. Those in support of the shaikh called off the unofficial truce and the following day over ten roadside bombs detonated in Diyala. The bombs targeted Iraqi Army vehicles and several civilians. Even American soldiers who believed the sheikh was corrupt acknowledged that arresting him with a fake iftar invitation was the wrong way to handle the situation.

Angry that the Iraqi Army and the sheikh's supporters had undone a year's worth of his work, Fisher ordered his troops to stand down and focus on going home rather than running missions. The soldiers who serve under Fisher now wonder if his decision is indicative a major American policy shift in Iraq.

Sgt Jesse Trumpore sees Iraq becoming a Bosnia-like peacekeeping for American troops. Finishing his second tour in Iraq, he says that the Iraqi Army has improved substantially, which he believes will force Americans even further to the sidelines. Outside extremely volatile areas like Ramadi, the Iraqi Army has already taken control of considerable segments of Iraq. On many joint American-Iraqi missions, the Iraqi Army leads the mission and American troops act as backup and support troops. In Diyala, the Iraqi Army plans and conducts unilateral missions-usually less controversial than arresting sheikhs during iftar gatherings. Captain John Hintz, commander of Stalker platoon, imagines that Iraq will be completely different when he returns for another tour of duty. It will most likely be at least another three years before Hintz re-deploys to Iraq. As a newly appointed captain, when he returns to the States in a month he'll attend a five-month Army captain leadership course. Almost immediately after that, he'll relocate to Hawaii where he'll spend 18 months working on his master's degree via a special Army program. By the time he's completed all his schooling, he too imagines America will have become more of an observer in Iraq than an active participant.

Within a month, a new unit will replace Lt Col Fisher and his battalion. Whether or not US soldiers in the Diyala Province continue to remain on the sidelines will depend largely on the new commander. Like most things in Iraq, no one's quite certain what to expect.


Cheers!
DayDream

News of the meeting between Talabani and the leaders of the Kurdistan Workers

(Voice of Iraq) - 10-16-2006 | This issue was sent to a friend

News of the meeting between Talabani and the leaders of the Kurdistan Workers



Irbil (October 16) and the agency (Lucky) Italian news-media sources reported that Kurdish Iraqi President Jalal Talabani met yesterday PKK leaders in the city Qlandze border near Mount Qandil taken by the party headquarters of the leadership. The sources said that the "Talabani met with Murad Krahilan Committee official leadership of the Party and discussed with him about the recent truce announced by the party from one side and look for opportunities to find peaceful solutions to the Kurdish problem in Turkey." In a phone call (Lucky) with a member of the leadership of the National Union in Sulaymaniyah noon today denied knowledge of the meeting said the leadership, He said, "I have no knowledge of a visit by Talabani to Qlandze or its workers despite the fact that the leadership of the National Union supports any efforts are in the interest of resolving the Kurdish issue in Turkey constructive political dialogue." In the meantime, issued statements of Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari today, in which it "that the Iraqi forces are unable to extend its military forces from the center and south of Iraq to the Qandil mountains to fight the elements of the Kurdistan Workers at the present time because it is facing major challenges from several quarters, and the Turkish government to understand this fact. " The Zebari, in an interview with the newspaper (Cordstani Noi) issued by the party Talabani in the city of Sulaymaniyah, the "question of the Kurdistan Workers will not be resolved at this stage military ways." He stressed "the necessity of a solution through peaceful means and through negotiations." Zebari and the new emphasis on "The Iraqi government will not allow any party to threaten Turkish interests from Iraqi territory, Therefore, the political leadership in Iraq and the Kurdistan region of pressuring the PKK to stop fighting against Turkey. " Regarding the visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to Turkey days after Zebari said, "The Iraqi government will focus on discussions with the Turkish side to resolve the issue of the presence of a number of elements of the PKK in Kurdistan, in addition to the security file, which will be on the agenda talks with the Iraqi delegation of the Turkish side. " The head of the Iraqi diplomatic talks also will touch on the economic and commercial relations between the two countries. Apart from the question of division of the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates between the two countries, especially that Turkey has built many dams on the Tigris River, which led to reduced Iraq's share of the river water, according to the source.

Political Council for National Security to discuss the process of accelerating the building and the training and rehabilitation of the national armed forces

October 16, 2006


Political Council held a national security meeting Sunday night, 10 - 15-2006, to discuss the security situation and ways to achieve stability. And members of the Council discussed issues relating to accelerate the process of building and training, arming and equipping of the armed forces and national qualification for the performance of its duties fully and as soon as possible. There was also an exchange of views on issues of local, regional and international relevant file security.
And full meeting yesterday at the earlier decision to be taken by the Council in permanent session to follow up on the most important issues from the country and develop appropriate solutions.

President of the Republic received the credentials of the new French Ambassador to Iraq

October 16, 2006


The President of the Republic, Jalal Talabani, the need to develop relations with the French Republic, and strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation to serve the interests of the two countries. This came during his Excellency received the credentials of the new Ambassador of the Republic of France accredited to Iraq, Jean-François Giroux, today, Monday, 10-16-2006.
He also welcomed the French Ambassador, the upcoming visit to be made by the President of the Republic to France soon, the invitation of French President Jacques Chirac.

The Presidency will discuss the security situation, in the framework of the political timetable

October 16, 2006



The Presidency held a meeting at the residence of President Jalal Talabani, on Monday 10-16-2006 , the Council members discussed the security situation and the latest political developments. and actions taken to complete the Baghdad security plan and assess its previous phases. The Presidency also reviewed the steps of reconciliation, and the need to support the efforts to achieve national unity and harmony between the components of the Iraqi people.
Members of the Presidential Council also discussed all the proposals and ideas that would contain the sectarian and political tensions in the country. pointing to the importance of the understandings reached in the framework of the political council of national security.
, Noted that the political council had approved a timetable has been politically implementation of a number of items, and the following content :

- Agreeing on a timetable for the political (completed) - Formation of a committee to amend the Constitution (completed) - Ratification of the Law of the executive procedures for the formation of regions (completed) - Ratification of the Law of Investment (completed)
- Ratification of the Law Office of the Independent Electoral Commission.
- Ratification of the Law of the provincial elections and to set the date.
- Ratification of the Law of oil.
- Approved a law abolishing the Baath Party.
- Ratification of the Law of the authorities of the provincial councils.
- Ratification of the Law of the flag and emblem and the national anthem.
- Ratification of the 91 was issued by the Coalition Provisional Authority on the armed forces and the militias in Iraq.
- Discussion of a general amnesty, militias and other armed formations.

2007
- The amendment of the constitution to complete its work.

February
- Formation of independent bodies according to the Constitution.

March
- A referendum on constitutional amendments (if that is required).

Originally Posted by day dreamer

The Presidency will discuss the security situation, in the framework of the political timetable

October 16, 2006



The Presidency held a meeting at the residence of President Jalal Talabani, on Monday 10-16-2006 , the Council members discussed the security situation and the latest political developments. and actions taken to complete the Baghdad security plan and assess its previous phases. The Presidency also reviewed the steps of reconciliation, and the need to support the efforts to achieve national unity and harmony between the components of the Iraqi people.
Members of the Presidential Council also discussed all the proposals and ideas that would contain the sectarian and political tensions in the country. pointing to the importance of the understandings reached in the framework of the political council of national security.
, Noted that the political council had approved a timetable has been politically implementation of a number of items, and the following content :

- Agreeing on a timetable for the political (completed) - Formation of a committee to amend the Constitution (completed) - Ratification of the Law of the executive procedures for the formation of regions (completed) - Ratification of the Law of Investment (completed)
- Ratification of the Law Office of the Independent Electoral Commission.
- Ratification of the Law of the provincial elections and to set the date.
- Ratification of the Law of oil.
- Approved a law abolishing the Baath Party.
- Ratification of the Law of the authorities of the provincial councils.
- Ratification of the Law of the flag and emblem and the national anthem.
- Ratification of the 91 was issued by the Coalition Provisional Authority on the armed forces and the militias in Iraq.
- Discussion of a general amnesty, militias and other armed formations.

2007
- The amendment of the constitution to complete its work.

February
- Formation of independent bodies according to the Constitution.

March
- A referendum on constitutional amendments (if that is required).

They must have sneaked the oil law in on us. The article says their waiting on ratification which means it's passed. Those sneaky little parliament members.

hey day dreamer do you have the link for the last article you posted?

Does anyone know if this was the Kurdish council that passed the articles or was it the iraqi parliament.

Originally Posted by doublescorpio

This si going to happen..when is the big question. Let's get this back on topic...does anybody know for sure when and how they are disbursing the 10000 dinar. I have read the articles and it seems a little murky to me. If they are not handing it our until the 24th then we have no reason to be upset!!

Thought today was the day for the 10,000 dinar handout?

Anyone found out why it hasn't happened?

Originally Posted by cigarman

They must have sneaked the oil law in on us. The article says their waiting on ratification which means it's passed. Those sneaky little parliament members.

THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!!!!

We already read that the HCL was at the parliament. Adster also read an article about the end of this week.

I think they will do this ratification quickly and then come out with a nice announcement that the HCL is ready and will be implemented at the same time as the FIL.

This is soon and that opens the doors completely for foreign investment, FINALLY!!

FIL will be enacted within 3 weeks (a month last week).

The Minister goes to Asia and comes back with a few fat signed oil agreements that is going to boost the oil production. He now knows the HCL is passed so he can sign agreements.

Then the great post from Adster about the 2.8 MBD and the comparison of the Kuwait Dinar makes me think that they want to hit the world hard and high.

Hang in there you all, we are going to finish with full speed soon!!!