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

Iraqi Shiites have fought to control the regions

News were added on 10-27-2006 14:29

... Iraqi Shiites have fought to control the regions BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Down with dozens of Iraqis killed every day. The mutilated corpses of torture received in the streets. There is a climate of terror. However, the worst may be yet to come. Analysts say sources within the Shiite political groups that different plans supported by the United States for the establishment of autonomous and unevenly benefit from oil wealth threatens to ignite a larger conflict between rival factions within the Shiite majority could transform the anarchic violence that already exists to a dirtiest the wars at all. The Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki size of the threat and said on Thursday that he is to resign from the "federal" in full if the effects of such violence. There was fighting in the city of Amarah, which have a Shiite majority in the south of the country last week, which resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people, only the most recent sign of the escalation of the differences within the bloc, the United Iraqi Alliance, which dominated the slightly less than half the seats in Parliament. The divisions are inherent conflicts between the families in the Shiite clerics who dominate the politics in Iraq. He said al-Maliki told Reuters in an interview that the conflict in the Territories will be between Shiites and between the Shiites and years and years. He added that if there were federal people and fought each other in the Territories, the government will not proceed with the project federalism. He said a number of officials that plans for the conduct of local elections next year before the possible restructuring of the regions in the new federal 2008 d = pays such conflicts over power to the forefront. Most fears are concentrated so far on the rejection of the plan by the Sunni minority, which fears that the Shiites will be federal and Iran vast oil fields in southern Iraq and Kurds will be oil reserves north. The Iraqi parliament approved last month a law allowing the formation of regions, starting from 2008, despite the opposition of the year. Although some Shiite factions, particularly those belonging to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr repeated the same year, but fears that sources inside the major groups said they want the emergence of new territories, and all factions were preparing for the conflict to control it. He said Hazim al-Naimi, professor of political science at the University of Mustansiriya in Baghdad described by federal law to the fighting and more fighting. He added that the law will cause internal fighting between the Shiites and that each faction would want to control the territory. Among other major groups the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq led by Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, who suggested that nine out of ten eight governorates of Iraq to form an enlarged territory includes the Shiite south. The wise such as al-Sadr family of clerics in the holy city of Najaf to Shiites, where competition between the small number of religious leaders to gain influence. Al-Naimi said that the religious leadership, not only political groups Stassara also to get a share of the Authority, which highlights the conflict for control of the oil fields in Basra and religious institutions in Najaf. "The professor of political science that al-Sadr, who enjoys wide support includes thousands of members of the Mahdi Army militia may have the upper hand on the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq and its armed wing, the Badr Organization if the shift of the power battles to the streets along the lines of the battles in Najaf about usage m. In Basra, Najaf and other areas are part of the Shiite militia security forces of the government, which further complicates the picture. The official said the United Iraqi Coalition, "I can not say that there will be no fighting. In some areas it had become shocking. " He added, "the leaders of both factions will try to avoid a battle. But something is not possible to calculate with any degree of accuracy in Iraq and that some rogue elements in any party had initiated. "We are talking about the control and the rule of the Shiites in Iraq ... This is not something just to fight for it. Is not that so? . " It contributed the most prominent Shiite clerics in Najaf, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the collection of Shiite factions together under the banner of the United Iraqi Alliance in the elections that took place last year. However, the old age and his health could mean the possibility of a conflict during the succession is not a stranger. There is a precedent for the acts of violence linked to such disputes. The killing of a prominent cleric in Najaf immediately after his return from exile a few days after the invasion, led by the United States. Al-Sadr, accused of killing a man of religion. The deeply rooted animosity between al-Sadr group and the family of Hakim and mostly because of the era of ousted president Saddam Hussein when Hakim family resorted to Iran while the father stayed late-Sadr in Najaf, stressing on the demands led to the doctrine of the Shiite Arabs. The political source said the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq reservation, "There is no doubt that the Mahdi Army believes the Badr organization as a rival and some of its members considered that the pro-Hakim are not friends." He added : "After the fall of the differences started to surface. Tried to control it, and still trying. " Copyright © copies
Iraqi Shiites have fought to control the regions News were added on 10-27-2006 14:29 ... Iraqi Shiites have fought to control the regions BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Down with dozens of Iraqis killed every day. The mutilated corpses of torture received in the streets. There is a climate of terror. However, the worst may be yet to come. Analysts say sources within the Shiite political groups that different plans supported by the United States for the establishment of autonomous and unevenly benefit from oil wealth threatens to ignite a larger conflict between rival factions within the Shiite majority could transform the anarchic violence that already exists to a dirtiest the wars at all. The Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki size of the threat and said on Thursday that he is to resign from the "federal" in full if the effects of such violence. There was fighting in the city of Amarah, which have a Shiite majority in the south of the country last week, which resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people, only the most recent sign of the escalation of the differences within the bloc, the United Iraqi Alliance, which dominated the slightly less than half the seats in Parliament. The divisions are inherent conflicts between the families in the Shiite clerics who dominate the politics in Iraq. He said al-Maliki told Reuters in an interview that the conflict in the Territories will be between Shiites and between the Shiites and years and years. He added that if there were federal people and fought each other in the Territories, the government will not proceed with the project federalism. He said a number of officials that plans for the conduct of local elections next year before the possible restructuring of the regions in the new federal 2008 d = pays such conflicts over power to the forefront. Most fears are concentrated so far on the rejection of the plan by the Sunni minority, which fears that the Shiites will be federal and Iran vast oil fields in southern Iraq and Kurds will be oil reserves north. The Iraqi parliament approved last month a law allowing the formation of regions, starting from 2008, despite the opposition of the year. Although some Shiite factions, particularly those belonging to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr repeated the same year, but fears that sources inside the major groups said they want the emergence of new territories, and all factions were preparing for the conflict to control it. He said Hazim al-Naimi, professor of political science at the University of Mustansiriya in Baghdad described by federal law to the fighting and more fighting. He added that the law will cause internal fighting between the Shiites and that each faction would want to control the territory. Among other major groups the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq led by Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, who suggested that nine out of ten eight governorates of Iraq to form an enlarged territory includes the Shiite south. The wise such as al-Sadr family of clerics in the holy city of Najaf to Shiites, where competition between the small number of religious leaders to gain influence. Al-Naimi said that the religious leadership, not only political groups Stassara also to get a share of the Authority, which highlights the conflict for control of the oil fields in Basra and religious institutions in Najaf. "The professor of political science that al-Sadr, who enjoys wide support includes thousands of members of the Mahdi Army militia may have the upper hand on the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq and its armed wing, the Badr Organization if the shift of the power battles to the streets along the lines of the battles in Najaf about usage m. In Basra, Najaf and other areas are part of the Shiite militia security forces of the government, which further complicates the picture. The official said the United Iraqi Coalition, "I can not say that there will be no fighting. In some areas it had become shocking. " He added, "the leaders of both factions will try to avoid a battle. But something is not possible to calculate with any degree of accuracy in Iraq and that some rogue elements in any party had initiated. "We are talking about the control and the rule of the Shiites in Iraq ... This is not something just to fight for it. Is not that so? . " It contributed the most prominent Shiite clerics in Najaf, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the collection of Shiite factions together under the banner of the United Iraqi Alliance in the elections that took place last year. However, the old age and his health could mean the possibility of a conflict during the succession is not a stranger. There is a precedent for the acts of violence linked to such disputes. The killing of a prominent cleric in Najaf immediately after his return from exile a few days after the invasion, led by the United States. Al-Sadr, accused of killing a man of religion. The deeply rooted animosity between al-Sadr group and the family of Hakim and mostly because of the era of ousted president Saddam Hussein when Hakim family resorted to Iran while the father stayed late-Sadr in Najaf, stressing on the demands led to the doctrine of the Shiite Arabs. The political source said the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq reservation, "There is no doubt that the Mahdi Army believes the Badr organization as a rival and some of its members considered that the pro-Hakim are not friends." He added : "After the fall of the differences started to surface. Tried to control it, and still trying. " Copyright © copies
Iraqi Shiites have fought to control the regions News were added on 10-27-2006 14:29 ... Iraqi Shiites have fought to control the regions BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Down with dozens of Iraqis killed every day. The mutilated corpses of torture received in the streets. There is a climate of terror. However, the worst may be yet to come. Analysts say sources within the Shiite political groups that different plans supported by the United States for the establishment of autonomous and unevenly benefit from oil wealth threatens to ignite a larger conflict between rival factions within the Shiite majority could transform the anarchic violence that already exists to a dirtiest the wars at all. The Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki size of the threat and said on Thursday that he is to resign from the "federal" in full if the effects of such violence. There was fighting in the city of Amarah, which have a Shiite majority in the south of the country last week, which resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people, only the most recent sign of the escalation of the differences within the bloc, the United Iraqi Alliance, which dominated the slightly less than half the seats in Parliament. The divisions are inherent conflicts between the families in the Shiite clerics who dominate the politics in Iraq. He said al-Maliki told Reuters in an interview that the conflict in the Territories will be between Shiites and between the Shiites and years and years. He added that if there were federal people and fought each other in the Territories, the government will not proceed with the project federalism. He said a number of officials that plans for the conduct of local elections next year before the possible restructuring of the regions in the new federal 2008 d = pays such conflicts over power to the forefront. Most fears are concentrated so far on the rejection of the plan by the Sunni minority, which fears that the Shiites will be federal and Iran vast oil fields in southern Iraq and Kurds will be oil reserves north. The Iraqi parliament approved last month a law allowing the formation of regions, starting from 2008, despite the opposition of the year. Although some Shiite factions, particularly those belonging to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr repeated the same year, but fears that sources inside the major groups said they want the emergence of new territories, and all factions were preparing for the conflict to control it. He said Hazim al-Naimi, professor of political science at the University of Mustansiriya in Baghdad described by federal law to the fighting and more fighting. He added that the law will cause internal fighting between the Shiites and that each faction would want to control the territory. Among other major groups the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq led by Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, who suggested that nine out of ten eight governorates of Iraq to form an enlarged territory includes the Shiite south. The wise such as al-Sadr family of clerics in the holy city of Najaf to Shiites, where competition between the small number of religious leaders to gain influence. Al-Naimi said that the religious leadership, not only political groups Stassara also to get a share of the Authority, which highlights the conflict for control of the oil fields in Basra and religious institutions in Najaf. "The professor of political science that al-Sadr, who enjoys wide support includes thousands of members of the Mahdi Army militia may have the upper hand on the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq and its armed wing, the Badr Organization if the shift of the power battles to the streets along the lines of the battles in Najaf about usage m. In Basra, Najaf and other areas are part of the Shiite militia security forces of the government, which further complicates the picture. The official said the United Iraqi Coalition, "I can not say that there will be no fighting. In some areas it had become shocking. " He added, "the leaders of both factions will try to avoid a battle. But something is not possible to calculate with any degree of accuracy in Iraq and that some rogue elements in any party had initiated. "We are talking about the control and the rule of the Shiites in Iraq ... This is not something just to fight for it. Is not that so? . " It contributed the most prominent Shiite clerics in Najaf, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the collection of Shiite factions together under the banner of the United Iraqi Alliance in the elections that took place last year. However, the old age and his health could mean the possibility of a conflict during the succession is not a stranger. There is a precedent for the acts of violence linked to such disputes. The killing of a prominent cleric in Najaf immediately after his return from exile a few days after the invasion, led by the United States. Al-Sadr, accused of killing a man of religion. The deeply rooted animosity between al-Sadr group and the family of Hakim and mostly because of the era of ousted president Saddam Hussein when Hakim family resorted to Iran while the father stayed late-Sadr in Najaf, stressing on the demands led to the doctrine of the Shiite Arabs. The political source said the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq reservation, "There is no doubt that the Mahdi Army believes the Badr organization as a rival and some of its members considered that the pro-Hakim are not friends." He added : "After the fall of the differences started to surface. Tried to control it, and still trying. "

Translated version of http://www.iraq4allnews.dk/index.php?sec=home

Khaleej Times Online - Eerie calm in Baghdad as Al Qaeda vows victory

Eerie calm in Baghdad as Al Qaeda vows victory
(AFP)

27 October 2006



BAGHDAD - An eerie calm descended on Baghdad during Friday’s weekly day of prayers after a Ramadan of unprecedented bloodshed in Iraq, while US troops conducted an intensive hunt for a missing soldier.


Reports of violence in the war torn capital have dropped since the end of the Islamic holy month, in part because thousands of US troops have deployed to search for a comrade who was kidnapped in the city by masked gunmen.

The troops were Friday still manning cordons around the Karrada district, where the soldier was kidnapped on Monday, and on the approaches to Sadr City, the Shia militia bastion where they fear he is being held.

Meanwhile, with US casualties for the month so far running at their highest level in a year and the Iraqi police reporting 12 of their men killed in an insurgent ambush, the Al Qaeda militant group issued a triumphant statement.

‘We call on all mujahideen... to support the young Islamic state in Iraq. Weakness has gripped the infidel nations. The first signs of victory can be seen on the horizon,’ the group said in an Internet statement.

The message, which could not be independently authenticated, was issued in the name of the self-proclaimed Islamic Emirate of Iraq, which was declared on October 15 by Qaeda-led coalition of Sunni insurgent groups.

It coincided with fierce fighting between Al Qaeda and US forces in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi, the heartland of the Sunni rebellion, where at least five American sailors and marines were killed on Wednesday.

The declaration of the emirate was marked by a brief show of force by insurgents, who were filmed by televisions crews driving cars full of armed militants through central Ramadi bearing Al Qaeda banners.

The US-led coalition has denied losing control of the situation, but on Thursday military spokesman General William Caldwell said the marines based in Ramadi were engaged in a tough operation to ‘take back’ the city.

‘They’re continuing to have progress. They, in coordination with Iraqi security forces, are on a daily conflict with the insurgent elements out there, but they are in fact moving forward,’ he said.

‘They’re doing it very aggressively out there... And it’s an aggressive offensive approach to taking back the city of Ramadi, to return it back to Iraqi security force control,’ he said.

The ferocity of the fighting in Ramadi and the continuing battle to quell a mounting tide of sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia factions in Baghdad has exacted a terrible toll on US forces.

Casualties for the month of October have hit 96 dead, already the highest level since the same month last year, and the bloodshed has increased the pressure on both the White House and Iraq’s beleaguered coalition government.

US President George W. Bush and Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki came out fighting this week, both vowing victory and promising to press forward with a joint political and military strategy to end the violence.

But cracks have also appeared in the alliance, with the embattled prime minister refusing to accept any US-imposed timetable for disarming Shia militias and bitterly criticising a US-led raid into Sadr City.

Maliki had given the go-ahead to US and Iraqi forces to raid the suburb to take out death squad leaders sheltering under the protection of the Mahdi Army militia, but was angered when an air strike Wednesday led to civilian deaths.

There is every prospect of more raids, however, as US soldiers continue to hunt for their missing colleague, an American of Iraqi descent who slipped away from his base without permission and went to see relatives.

His family report that he was seized from their home by gunmen, and the USmilitary has said that Wednesday’s raid was in part following up on a tip that his kidnappers were based in a Sadr City mosque.

Originally Posted by shotgunsusie

Khaleej Times Online - Eerie calm in Baghdad as Al Qaeda vows victory

I cannot understand how a soldier goes to see his relatives in Iraq and then mysteriously gunmen visit his home and kidnap him. How the hell did they know he was gonna be there, unless hes gone AWOL of course. Only two contacts knew he was going, himself of course and his family.

27 October 2006 (Fars news agency)

A local official in Iran's Eastern Azarbaijan province said that Iraq has been the destination of 22% of his province's non-oil exports in the last 6 months.

Speaking to FNA in the northwestern provincial capital city of Tabriz on Wednesday, director of the Trade Organization of Eastern Azarbaijan province Sadeq Najafi also stated that his province has exported $750 million worth of goods and products during the same period.
Najafi also mentioned that of the said figure over $160 million in goods and products was exported to Iraq.

The official pointed out that non-oil exports of his province in the said period experienced 24% of growth in value and 33% of increase in weight.

He further stated that confectionary, chocolate, metals, shoe and household equipment constituted a major part of Eastern Azarbijan's non-oil exports to Iraq.


Iraq Destination of 22% of Eastern Azarbaijan Exports | Iraq Updates

His complaints about a U.S. raid renew questions about whether Maliki remains too politically beholden to militia leaders
By Aparism Ghosh
BAGHDAD, 27 October 2006 (TIME Magazine)

Does Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki have the political spine to deal with Iraq's No. 1 problem - the Shi'ite militias? There's a growing suspicion in Baghdad that he does not. Having promised, for the umpteenth time, to crack down on the sectarian death squads wreaking havoc on the Iraqi capital, the prime minister promptly turned around and castigated U.S. forces for doing precisely that. The Iraqi leader claimed that a predawn raid Wednesday on a militia stronghold by U.S. and Iraqi soldiers had been conducted without his approval, and said such attacks would not be repeated.

A U.S. military statement said the raid was directed at a "top illegal armed group commander directing widespread death squad activity throughout eastern Baghdad." At least 4 people were killed and 20 injured in the raid, which included air strikes from U.S. aircraft. It is unclear whether the targeted militia leader was captured. Although the U.S. said Iraqi special forces played the lead role in the raid, al-Maliki claimed the Iraqi government had not been consulted.

For the beleaguered residents of Baghdad, this has become a familiar Green Zone farce. Beholden to the very militias he has vowed to crush, the increasingly hamstrung prime minister has forced U.S. troops guarding the city to don kid gloves when dealing with the Mahdi Army, the militia loyal to the radical Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr, which has been blamed for much of the sectarian violence that kills an average of 100 Iraqis a day. And there is palpable frustration among U.S. soldiers patrolling the streets of Baghdad that every time they strike against the Mahdi Army, they are publicly scolded by the Iraqi prime minister. "Every time he does one of these about-turns, he makes the Madhi Army stronger and the government weaker," says a Western diplomat in Baghdad. "And of course, it drives the [Americans] up the wall."

Moqtada al-Sadr commands enough seats in the Iraqi parliament to topple the prime minister, which is what makes his Mahdi Army untouchable. Still, few in Baghdad doubt that the Mahdi Army is conducting a campaign of organized violence against Iraq's Sunnis. TIME has uncovered evidence of a Mahdi Army program of ethnic cleansing designed to drive Sunnis out of mixed neighborhoods. As a member of a Shi'ite Islamist party himself, al-Maliki dares not incur the wrath of his own community. The last Iraqi leader who tried to face down al-Sadr, former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, paid a heavy political price — in two general elections following his authorization of U.S. forces to smash the Mahdi Army in the summer of 2004, Allawi has been soundly defeated. That cautionary tale is not lost on al-Maliki.

So, rather than directly confront the Shi'ite militias, the prime minister tends to deflect the blame for the sectarian violence toward Sunni terrorist organizations. He did it again Wednesday, saying: "The root of the bloody cycle that we are undergoing is the presence of terror organizations that have arrived in the country."

Nor was the prime minister in any mood to placate his critics. In addition to criticizing the U.S. military, al-Maliki on Wednesday also publicly slapped down U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad. He dismissed suggestions — made a day earlier by Khalilzad — that Iraqi political parties had agreed to timetables for dealing with the violence. "No one has the right to impose a timetable" on the Iraqi government, he said.

He suggested Khalilzad's statement was motivated by political considerations that had more to do with the American midterm elections due next month than any real deal. " We are not much concerned with it, " he said. The defiance plays well with al-Maliki's political allies: al-Sadr and other Shi'ite Islamists. But it leaves other groups, including Sunnis, Kurds and secular Iraqis — and not a few observers in Washington — wondering whether the prime minister can stop his country from descending into a total sectarian war.

Doubts Grow Over Iraq’s Prime Minister | Iraq Updates

27 October 2006 (AP Worldstream)

The United Nations panel overseeing compensation for victims of Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait has paid out a US$417.8 million (A332.11 million) installment from Iraqi oil funds to cover claims for losses and damages, the world body said Thursday.

The latest transfer _ which consisted of payments to governments, international organizations and corporations ranging from US$10 million to more than US$300 million _ brings the total amount paid in compensation to more than US$21.4 billion, said the United Nations Compensation Commission.

Previous installments included payments to individuals, but UNCC head Mojtaba Kazazi said all claims by individuals had now been processed.

The UNCC is made up of the 15 U.N. Security Council member countries. Money to pay the claims comes from Iraqi oil sales. The commission has approved US$52.5 billion in total compensation.

Payments are running well behind schedule, and it is expected to take years to complete.

The funds in the latest payout went to corporations, international organizations or governments in Bosnia-Herzegovina, India, Kuwait, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United States.

The largest amount _ US$335.5 million (A266.7 million) _ went to Kuwait to pay for 38 claims.

Until the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003, the commission received 25 percent of the proceeds from the U.N. oil-for-food program, which allowed the former Iraqi regime to sell oil and buy food, medicine and other humanitarian goods despite international sanctions.


U.N. pays US$417.8 million from Iraqi oil fund to victims of 1990 Kuwait invasion | Iraq Updates

27 October 2006 (BBC Monitoring)

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad has said as far as he was aware there was no official US deadline for pulling out of Iraq. He criticized a "lack of coordination" between multinational and Iraqi forces over the raid in Al-Sadr City, Baghdad on 25 October. Al-Maliki was speaking live at a 33-minute news conference broadcast by Al-Iraqiyah TV on 25 October. He said that all armed groups and militias were damaging to the security of the state and said that their displays of arms should end as the national security forces were solely responsible for state security. The premier also expressed optimism about moves towards reconciliation and began his comments by emphasizing strengths and accomplishments of Iraq.

"Strength"

The news conference was broadcast in progress. Al-Maliki said: "Talk about the Iraqi state and its strength and effectiveness has been lost in the midst of talk about terrorism and scenes of blood and death. Today we have a government and an Iraqi state that is established on constitutional and democratic bases and on principles of freedom, justice and democracy. This state is based on these pillars, which give it strength and legitimacy because it truly expresses the Iraqi people's will and options, represented by their active participation in the elections and political process.

"I am talking about this state, which has achieved wide and great accomplishments on a long road. This government, which inherited much from the previous governments, is determined to take several tracks.

Economy, rights, education

The first track is that of improving the Iraqi economy, easing the brunt of poverty inherited from the former regime, and providing public services after the destruction of the infrastructure. Praised be God, there is large improvement in the economy and per capita income and in the level of services that are rendered daily in the various governorates. Also there is improvement in the fields of investment and economy and a rise in the level of income. Hundreds of thousands of jobless people have been employed. This is something which must be taken into consideration. I confidently say, based on accurate figures, that hundreds of thousands of people were absorbed in state institutions in the various domains. These include the educational and industrial sectors. Tens of thousands of people who were dismissed for political reasons during the former regime have been reinstated.

"It also pleases me to talk about the strength of the state in entrenching principles of human rights and developing the educational sectors and higher education. It improved performance in these areas after having inherited ruined schools and universities. Praised be God, our universities have now started to recover and our schools have started to regain their status. Determination is still strong. The state will allocate a large explosive budget next year for all sectors. The budget will for the first time come close to 40bn dollars from 19bn dollars in the first year.

"In order to develop the economic and investment sectors, the government has succeeded in enacting an investment law, which was approved by the Council of Representatives. The Iraqi scene is now open for all national and foreign capital to invest and participate in improving the economic life, creating work opportunities and improving economic performance. There is room for investment in all industrial, agricultural, oil, housing and trade sectors. This gives the Iraqi economy strength and bases it on stronger foundations. It also gives us a chance to move forward towards investment in major projects that will be accomplished this year like the great port of Iraq, airports and large housing complexes. The government has made up its mind to do this and we have instructed the official quarters in the state to allocate a piece of land to every citizen who loses his land and needs to build a house. The real estate banks have also been instructed to provide the citizens with the necessary loans to build houses. The government will pay part of these loans in the form of grants and gifts. The government is also planning to build residential complexes in all governorates and districts to ease the crisis from which the inhabitants are suffering due to the dense population.

Terrorism

"I will also talk about the agenda according to which the government is moving. In fact, we have a clear and multi-track agenda. No track dominates another track in this agenda. All move in accordance with a set plan and a scientific study based on an accurate understanding of the Iraqi situation. We move from the principle of reconciliation and national dialogue to the principle of building the armed forces, the principle of reconstruction and public services, and the principle of using force to stand up to the challenges and to confront the terrorism which seeks to spread and encroach on Iraq's political and democratic march. All these are well-calculated tracks. We do not give precedence to one track over another except as required by the national interests and the exceptional situation we inherited. Therefore, talk about dialogue, reconstruction and national reconciliation does not mean that we ignore the need to build our forces or to use force against the organizations of terrorism and violence which want to sow corruption in the country and kill the citizens. Using force does not mean that security can be attained only through force. This is one of the methods. What we are working on and what we are giving precedence to is reconciliation as well as dialogue, understanding, sense of responsibility, and enlightened awareness that the continuation of violence and killing does not lead to results and there will be no winner. The first loser will be the country and the unity of this dear country and the unity of these people, who have never known in their history other than brotherhood and amity.

No one will ever benefit from this atmosphere, which is fed by the will and interests of countries and local organizations and leaderships, some of which are political. They want Iraq to return to the atmosphere which prevailed during the dictatorial regime. They want to sow the seeds of sectarianism in this country, whose people have never known sectarianism. They loved each other and were reconciled and partners in public life.

"Move towards reconciliation"

"The agenda we are working on seeks first to end the current deterioration and find a decisive limit to one of the stations which we believe we have passed. I would like to emphasize that this agenda and the policy we adopted have largely succeeded because the general atmosphere in the country is prompting the zealous and faithful sons of Iraq to move towards reconciliation and rejection of violence and bloody killings. This is a positive phenomenon which has started to expand. Anyone watching the Iraqi scene has started to witness progress in the effective, strong and positive stands towards encircling violence and rejecting bloody methods. We have succeeded in this and this success gives us a strong background to work on the other issues. One of these issues is that in accordance with the law we will strongly react and use force against those who rebel against the national will of the Iraqi people. If we had employed this logic in the past, it might have been rejected. But all have now come to realize that bloodshed only breeds bloodshed. The mentality which sidelines or cancels others does not provide any with stability. All are in a predicament now. Based on this predicament, we began to think of a way out. This is the beginning of victory. The issue must be decisively resolved by taking other stands.

Terrorist organizations

"Here, too, I would like to indicate that the battle we are waging in Iraq and the bloody process taking place are due to the presence of terrorist organizations. These entered the country for different reasons. Some of them belong to [former President] Saddam's Ba'th Party and others belong to corrupt ideology and takfiri [those who hold that others are infidels] organizations. These are the ones who triggered sectarian feelings in the country on political grounds. The detonation of the two Al-Askari imams' shrine was the first serious station in the escalation of sectarian violence. This was followed by other stations. Consequently, terrorism and the terrorist and Saddamist organizations are primarily responsible for all that is taking place in this country and the reactions to it. Therefore, we must first absorb the reactions and direct all efforts towards confronting the terrorist organizations and their programmes and policies.

"We will continue the policy we announced. We believe that the side which should embrace all the Iraqis is the state or government in which all participate. All sectors of the Iraqi people are represented in it. From the legal, legitimate and practical point of view, the state is responsible for security and for the country. None outside the circle of government has the right to talk about responsibility except through the official channels which can absorb all popular efforts and civil society institutions. Only the state has the right to carry arms and punish those who break the law. Therefore, we clearly announced that we will hit strongly and call to account anyone who breaks the law or carries arms and encroaches on the state. All should know - and I understand this well and I am optimistic - that the policy of having armed forces and militias by the side of the government harms the stability and unity of the country. Therefore, we will continue to confront the terrorism launched against us. We must put an end to it by absorbing all reactions. All displays of arms should end in favour of the sole armed presence, as represented by the state.

"Foreign interference"

"I regret that I speak bitterly here, and almost at the final stage of this talk, about the phenomenon of foreign interference in Iraqi affairs and the bloody scenes we see daily. When we examine them we find that they are linked to this or that country. We have spoken to friendly and neighbouring countries and said: What you want to happen in Iraq will not be at the expense of the Iraqi people alone. It effects will be destructive even to those who extended fire at Iraqi society. Perhaps time has started to run out and we can no longer accept this interference. I hope we will not reach the point at which we will be forced to announce things and take stands towards those who kill our people every day and those who export death to us every day. I wish they would reconsider their calculations and adopt responsible stands and excuse us if we take clear and franks stands.

"Iraq under the new government - the government of national unity - has repeatedly announced its foreign policy, which extends a hand of cooperation, peace and friendship on the basis of good positive relations and non-interference in others' affairs. This is a general policy we will implement towards all countries, particularly the neighbouring countries with which we have strong historical ties. But this should not be interpreted as weakness on the part of Iraq and thus be exploited to meddle in its affairs and trigger sedition for political reasons that have nothing to do with the Iraqi people's interests. We hope they will help us pursue the policy of good neighbourliness, non-interference and the resolution of problems through dialogue. I also hope that all the political forces which participated in this government will shoulder their responsibility. It is neither reasonable nor acceptable for any political entity participating in this government or Council of Representatives to avoid making the difficult decision of standing by the side of the government and supporting its policy. Otherwise, it will be considered a partner that does not shoulder its responsibility. This will conflict with the logic of responsibility which must prevail in anything we do.

"The statement I issued to our armed and security forces said that in the wake of all these accomplishments by the government in the field of reconciliation and the field of containing crises, these forces should be alert and ready to take deterrent measures against anyone who breaks the law, attacks citizens or is involved in murder, abduction, explosions or attacks. Thank you." The prime minister then opened the floor for questions.

Ali al-Yasiri from Al-Hurrah television began the question-answer session by asking the prime minister whether the government's "weak performance" was due to the adoption of the principle of accord in the government formation. He also asked whether it was true the Americans set a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq within 18 months. Responding, Al-Maliki said: "It is regrettable that we understand accord to mean quota system. Accord is not a quota system." He added that accord means providing all political forces and entities with the best chance to participate in the government.

18-month pullout deadline

He then responded to the second question on the 18-month deadline by saying: "The US government has the right to reconsider its policy as deemed fit for its interests although I am confident that what is said is not said by the official state quarters. Yesterday you all heard the State Department spokesman or the US president's statement in which he denied such logic, the logic of a deadline or a period of time. I also stress that all know that this government is based on the people's national will. None has the right to set timetables for it. But the others have the right to make decisions that are in harmony with their interests." He then said: "I am confident that this logic is not the official logic of the US government but one of the results of the current electoral competition and this does not concern us much. Second, I am confident that this issue is subject to the will of the government and the people who elected it."

Al-Sadr City raid

Ahmad Abd-al-Husayn from Al-Iraqiyah Television then asked: "You said a short while ago that there is deterioration in security and that there will be a firm response. Is this an announcement that there will be new security measures by the government? This is the first question. The second question is: Al-Sadr City is currently encircled by the US forces. What is you comment on this issue?" Responding, the prime minister said: "The security measures I talked about provide the necessary ground for the adoption of the method of confronting rebellion and encroachment on state prestige by force. Therefore, I clearly said we instructed our security and military services to act against any illegal or illegitimate display of arms.

What is happening in Al-Sadr City and other areas is mainly due to a lack of coordination between our security services and those of the multinational forces. This is one of the issues under continuous discussion between us in order to attain the best possible coordination so that things will be under control."

At this point in the news conference, Al-Iraqiyah Television interrupts its live relay of the news conference for seven minutes to relay the noon prayers.

Qasim al-Sa'di from the Associated Press asked the prime minister whether the Iraqi government had "a new plan to extend" the mandate of the multinational forces in Iraq for another year. He also asked whether the Iraqi government was informed in advance of the multinational forces' activities in Al-Sadr City. Responding, Al-Maliki said UN Security Council Resolution 1637 on the multinational forces' mandate in Iraq should be reconsidered by the end of the year to either extend or modify these forces' mandate. He added: "The government sent a plan to the Political Council for National Security, including the modification of paragraphs in the resolution on the basis of what was accomplished in building the Iraqi forces and the progress made in these forces' ability to maintain security. A number of ideas were submitted to the Political Council for National Security for discussion. These ideas will also be discussed by the government. Later they will be sent to parliament, which will have the final say about extending the mandate and deciding the basis on which this will take place."

Responding to the second question, Al-Maliki says: "One of the issues which should be reconsidered is the issue of powers and coordination between the multinational forces and the Iraqi forces. If the Iraqi forces and the government are wanted to take over responsibility for security from the multinational forces, there should be clarity in powers, limits of ability and clear powers to build the forces so that coordination with these forces can take place on a clear basis. This will be a transitional issue in the process of assuming responsibility for security in the governorates or the process of control and command for the divisions. This is the progress made in taking over governorates. Half of the Iraqi governorates will be turned over by the end of the year. Control and command over a number of military divisions require a revision of the resolution and a new agreement that grants the government the power to move these forces and draw up security plans to maintain security in the governorates, including Baghdad, Al-Sadr City, and other regions suffering from tension should be reached."

Federalism

Ahmad Abd-al-Qadir from Biladi television station asked about the way the government will deal with the regional governments if a federal system is implemented in Iraq. Responding, the prime minister said the federal law was approved by parliament but "federalism should not expose the unity of Iraq or the strength of the Iraqi state to danger". He added: "This means the Iraqi state must remain strong and united." He then said "federalism should be established in an atmosphere of awareness of the interests that can be served by the formation of regions under the unity and strength of the Iraqi state". He concluded by saying the federal system should not lead to "a state of sectarianism and competition or internal strife within the federal region".

Layth Ahmad from Radio Free Iraq asked whether the anti-terror law will be activated. Responding, the prime minister said the law was currently valid but "I tend to postpone activating and implementing it pending the exhaustion of all opportunities and political avenues. We do not want to resort to force and violence before exhausting all efforts to find a solution through national dialogue and agreement."

After a 45-second break in audio transmission, the prime minister was heard saying, in progress "one of the things I count on when talking about the phenomenon of cohesion among the political forces forming the government is the stance adopted by His Eminence Al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr in support of the government and against those who act in the name of Al-Sadr's movement and attack others. These are good stands. As for what happened in Al-Sadr City, we will ask for a clarification of what happened. We will review this issue with the multinational forces so that it will not be repeated." He added: "The government should be aware of and part of any military operation. Coordination is a demand on which the joint political process between us and the multinational forces should be based."

Fatimah al-Hasani from Al-Furat Television asked what should be done to avoid human losses in Iraq if "coordination between the US and Iraqi forces is bad". Responding, the prime minister said: "We have coordination. To some extent there is coordination between us and the coalition forces. We have almost daily contacts on security issues. But as I said, there is weakness in the coordination process and this has to be fixed." He added that confronting the acts of violence taking place in Iraq requires a mechanism and "we believe that the government should have the right to move its forces to help the citizens in areas like Sab al-Bur [a Baghdad neighbourhood]".

Source: Al-Iraqiyah TV, Baghdad

Iraqi PM says no deadline for US pullout, rejects militias at news conference | Iraq Updates

(snip)

Economy, rights, education

The first track is that of improving the Iraqi economy, easing the brunt of poverty inherited from the former regime, and providing public services after the destruction of the infrastructure. Praised be God, there is large improvement in the economy and per capita income and in the level of services that are rendered daily in the various governorates.Also there is improvement in the fields of investment and economy and a rise in the level of income. Hundreds of thousands of jobless people have been employed. This is something which must be taken into consideration. I confidently say, based on accurate figures, that hundreds of thousands of people were absorbed in state institutions in the various domains. These include the educational and industrial sectors. Tens of thousands of people who were dismissed for political reasons during the former regime have been reinstated.

"It also pleases me to talk about the strength of the state in entrenching principles of human rights and developing the educational sectors and higher education. It improved performance in these areas after having inherited ruined schools and universities. Praised be God, our universities have now started to recover and our schools have started to regain their status. Determination is still strong. The state will allocate a large explosive budget next year for all sectors. The budget will for the first time come close to 40bn dollars from 19bn dollars in the first year.

"In order to develop the economic and investment sectors, the government has succeeded in enacting an investment law, which was approved by the Council of Representatives. The Iraqi scene is now open for all national and foreign capital to invest and participate in improving the economic life, creating work opportunities and improving economic performance. There is room for investment in all industrial, agricultural, oil, housing and trade sectors. This gives the Iraqi economy strength and bases it on stronger foundations. It also gives us a chance to move forward towards investment in major projects that will be accomplished this year like the great port of Iraq, airports and large housing complexes. The government has made up its mind to do this and we have instructed the official quarters in the state to allocate a piece of land to every citizen who loses his land and needs to build a house. The real estate banks have also been instructed to provide the citizens with the necessary loans to build houses. The government will pay part of these loans in the form of grants and gifts. The government is also planning to build residential complexes in all governorates and districts to ease the crisis from which the inhabitants are suffering due to the dense population.



More good stuff!!

Originally Posted by One Oar

(snip)

Economy, rights, education

The first track is that of improving the Iraqi economy, easing the brunt of poverty inherited from the former regime, and providing public services after the destruction of the infrastructure. Praised be God, there is large improvement in the economy and per capita income and in the level of services that are rendered daily in the various governorates.Also there is improvement in the fields of investment and economy and a rise in the level of income. Hundreds of thousands of jobless people have been employed. This is something which must be taken into consideration. I confidently say, based on accurate figures, that hundreds of thousands of people were absorbed in state institutions in the various domains. These include the educational and industrial sectors. Tens of thousands of people who were dismissed for political reasons during the former regime have been reinstated.

"It also pleases me to talk about the strength of the state in entrenching principles of human rights and developing the educational sectors and higher education. It improved performance in these areas after having inherited ruined schools and universities. Praised be God, our universities have now started to recover and our schools have started to regain their status. Determination is still strong. The state will allocate a large explosive budget next year for all sectors. The budget will for the first time come close to 40bn dollars from 19bn dollars in the first year.

"In order to develop the economic and investment sectors, the government has succeeded in enacting an investment law, which was approved by the Council of Representatives. The Iraqi scene is now open for all national and foreign capital to invest and participate in improving the economic life, creating work opportunities and improving economic performance. There is room for investment in all industrial, agricultural, oil, housing and trade sectors. This gives the Iraqi economy strength and bases it on stronger foundations. It also gives us a chance to move forward towards investment in major projects that will be accomplished this year like the great port of Iraq, airports and large housing complexes. The government has made up its mind to do this and we have instructed the official quarters in the state to allocate a piece of land to every citizen who loses his land and needs to build a house. The real estate banks have also been instructed to provide the citizens with the necessary loans to build houses. The government will pay part of these loans in the form of grants and gifts. The government is also planning to build residential complexes in all governorates and districts to ease the crisis from which the inhabitants are suffering due to the dense population.



More good stuff!!

This is great news guys!

More income per person, improving economy and tackling the poverty.

The FIL = Enacted the doors are open NOW!!

There is room for investment in OIL. Does this mean that the HCL is also approved and enacted? Anybody knows this?

Reading this I would say a RV must has taken place. Maybe we should watch the Forex real carefully this time!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Originally Posted by CharmedPiper

Didn't Warka say they would re-open on the 30th (I could be mistaken) anyway...just wondering what the possibility that we should be watching the opening of the FOREX over the weekend for the reval. I know CBI is not posting until around 11/1 but does that mean that a reval is unlikely. I just can't get past the 10/30 and 10/31 conference Shabibi is keynote speaker for. Sounds like he would want to announce that the reval has been launched as of the opening of the FOREX and all is smooth. Just a thought.

He could still make an announcement that says the door to investment is open next week. This gives the investors time to gather up more money then they would invest if it was an on the spot notice.
I am personally looking at what happens with the IAMB on the 30th and 31st.
International Advisory and Monitoring Board for Iraq (IAMB) -- An audit oversight body for the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) -- Meeting Schedule and if nothing specific comes out of there I will be looking at the close of ISX business on 11/1 as the results will be a sure sign of what could come on the 2nd.