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

Originally Posted by Adster

Sure they're not too quick about it, they still got the location of the latest meeting blank on their site.

LOL,

You're right Adam. Saw that, but didn't think to translate it to the posting of the minutes. Looked for a date of posting for the minutes of the July meeting, but none there.

Since the resolution expires at the end of December, any thoughts on what happens as of Jan1 if they have not signed Article VIII?

Randy

Voices of Iraq :-$ (economy)
كتب: dhrgham في يوم الأربعاء, 01 نوفمبر, 2006 - 12:19 PM BTBooks : dhrgham on Wednesday, November 01, 2006-12:19 PM BT

تراجع الطلب على شراء الدولار فى مزاد البنك المركزى العراقىWhile demand for the dollar in the auction the Central Bank of Iraq
من ضرغام محمد عليDargham of Muhammad Ali
بغداد-(أصوات العراق)Baghdad - (Voices of Iraq)
تراجع الطلب على شراء الدولار في مزاد البنك المركزي العراقي اليوم الاربعاء بمقدار 9 ملايين دولار مسجلا حجم طلب بلغ 71 مليونا و320 الف دولار مقابل 80 مليونا أمس.While demand for the dollar in the auction the Central Bank of Iraq today, Wednesday, by nine million dollars, recording the volume reached 71 million and 320 thousand dollars against 80 million yesterday. وتوزعت طلبات الشراء بواقع 36مليونا و420 الف دولار نقدا، و34 مليونا و900 الف دولار على شكل حوالات للخارج قام البنك بتغطيتها بالكامل بسعر صرف مساو ليوم امس وهو1470 دينارا.Such purchase orders by 36 million and 420 thousand dollars in cash, and 34 million and 900 thousand dollars in the form of remittances outside the bank full coverage equal to the exchange rate yesterday, which is 1470 dinars.
ولم تتقدم اي من المصارف الـ18 المشاركة في المزاد بعروض لبيع الدولار للبنك.Did not make any of the 18 banks participating in the auction, offers to sell the dollar to the bank.
وقد شهدت مشاركة المصارف ارتفاعا مضطردا في المزاد خلال جلسات الاسبوع الحالي، ففي الوقت الذي شاركت فيه 9 مصارف فقط في جلسة الاسبوع الاولى يوم الاحد الماضى ارتفع العدد الى 13 مصرفا يوم الاثنين فيما شارك في جلسة الثلاثاء 14 مصرفا مقابل 18 مصرفا في جلسة اليوم.It saw the participation of banks steady rise in the auction during the meetings this week, At the time, in which only nine banks in the first week last Sunday, the number rose to 13 on Monday with banks participated in the meeting Tuesday, 14 banks, compared with 18 banks at today's meeting.
ح مH M

For those that see the security as the main problem should read the below. Reval and kick start the economy and as Mike, I and a few others have said for so long the security will sort itself out. Give their people money, jobs, something to work towards, provide for their families, pay bombers to NOT blow themselves up. Soon see a drop in insurgency/militia attacks.


Economic Development Can Help Curb Violence in Iraq, Expert Says In a series on U.S. strategy in Iraq, Eric Davis, a professor of Middle East politics who served as an adviser to the Bush administration, discusses how investing in economic development projects can help curb the violence in the war-torn country.
JIM LEHRER: Now, another of our conversations about what the U.S. can or should do next in Iraq. We've heard already about ending the occupation, decentralizing Iraq, and training Iraqi security forces. Tonight, it's an economic idea. And Ray Suarez is in charge.

RAY SUAREZ: And for that, we're joined by Eric Davis, professor of Middle East politics at Rutgers University and author of "Memories of State: Politics, History and Collective Identity in Modern Iraq." This summer, he was part of a group of academics who advised President Bush at the White House about Iraq.

And, Professor Davis, when you spoke to the president, did you give him your view that what's often portrayed as a security challenge, as a military challenge, is really an economic one?

ERIC DAVIS, Professor, Rutgers University: Absolutely. I made the argument that, without turning the Iraqi economy around, we can't expect the decline in political violence nor can we expect to move towards political stability in Iraq.

RAY SUAREZ: And hasn't that jobs-economy approach long been part of the stated policy of the Bush administration in prosecuting the Iraq war, that American troops were to clear areas, hold them, and use that time to rebuild them?

ERIC DAVIS: Well, unfortunately, it may have been the stated policy of the Bush administration, but little has been done on the ground. And the key problem is unemployment.

We have an unemployment in Iraq estimated between 40 percent and possibly 60 percent. If you also realize that 61 percent of the Iraqi population is under 25 and there's been almost no new job creation since 2003, it doesn't take very much arithmetic to realize who are the most susceptible to recruitment to insurgent groups and sectarian death squads.

RAY SUAREZ: Well, are you willing to elide those two points, to say here that that, those dire numbers that you just stated, drive the security problem?

ERIC DAVIS: Well, I think that, unfortunately, much of what is described in the media as sectarian violence is really a cover for criminal activity and for promoting the political interests of what I call sectarian entrepreneurs. These are people who are pushing a political agenda, trying to obtain more power, but who also have deep economic interests in the current struggle that's under way in Iraq. The real issue is finding the funds, because we know that the United States is spending an enormous amount of money just on the military occupation of Iraq every day.

RAY SUAREZ: OK. So here we are, it's fall 2006. How would you change from here forward what's been done up until now?

ERIC DAVIS: Well, I think, when we go back to the 1930s, we remember that we had similar problems during the Great Depression. President Roosevelt wisely chose to develop the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps.

We also know that, after World War II, Secretary George Marshall implemented the Marshall Plan. And it took 10 years, but it worked to bring Germany back to democratic stability.

So I don't think that this concept is particularly difficult to understand; I think the real issue is finding the funds, because we know that the United States is spending an enormous amount of money just on the military occupation of Iraq every day.

RAY SUAREZ: Except in Iraq, wouldn't you, Professor, be starting from a very different square one, starting in a terribly degraded environment with just a recent past of widespread death, terrible violence, a bitterness at American forces inside the country?

ERIC DAVIS: Well, some of my ideas were stimulated by some of my conversation with military officers who have served in Iraq. There is a program called the Commander's Emergency Response Program, or CERP, which was based upon funds seized from the former Baathist regime.
And oftentimes, these military officers -- usually middle-range military officers -- would take funds to areas characterized by political violence and put people to work. And, lo and behold, the level of violence would drop precipitously. People would get involved in cleaning up garbage, sewage, paving roads, building clinics, painting schools, and also often showed a lot of gratitude towards the American troops who were giving them daily work.

Needless to say, at the end of the day when they were exhausted, they were not in any shape to go out and fight American forces. It's not enough to go into a neighborhood and just pay somebody to do some work for a while and then withdraw.
Stability
RAY SUAREZ: Well, what stopped that from being a self-sustaining virtuous cycle? You describe the desirable outcome there, that people who might otherwise be part of the insurgency were instead building schools and painting homes and so on. What happened?

ERIC DAVIS: Well, first of all, this is a very sporadic program. It was used in an area, and then it ceased. The Marshall Plan, if we think about that program or even the New Deal policies, these were long-sustained, thought-out efforts.
It's not enough to go into a neighborhood and just pay somebody to do some work for a while and then withdraw. As a matter of fact, if you look at the interviews with Iraqis in the recent effort of American and Iraqi troops to suppress sectarian violence in Iraq, all the Iraqis would say, "Yes, we have peace now, but unless we're able to turn the economy around, once the American and Iraqi troops leave, the sectarian violence is going to return all over again." And, lo and behold, that's exactly what happened.And the argument to...
RAY SUAREZ: To a large degree -- oh, sorry, go ahead. Finish your point.

ERIC DAVIS: No, the argument that I'm trying to make is that our neighbors -- or allies, rather, the neighbors of Iraq in particular -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the other Arab gulf oil-producing states, are awash in oil revenues because of the recent rise in oil prices. They don't want to see a failed state in Iraq; they don't want to see an extension of Iranian influence into southern Iraq; they don't want to see violence in Iraq spill over across their borders.

So when we talk about the funding for this economic reconstruction program that I'm suggesting, I think one thing we could do would be to put pressure on our allies in their own self-interest and also on our recent new friend in the Middle East, the Arab oil-producer Libya, and perhaps even some other Muslim states such as Turkey, Malaysia, and Indonesia, to contribute to this fund, which would then come with an international face and could begin to provide, first, jobs for Iraqis, temporary jobs.

And once you create stability in certain areas, then attempt to develop labor-intensive, longer-term self-sustaining economic employment, such as food processing plants, bakeries. And we could think of a whole variety of projects. The overwhelming majority of those recruited to death squads in urban areas, for example, are rural to urban migrants...they get some salary, they get a rifle, they get a uniform, they get the idea of belonging, protection from a group. Luring away from militias
RAY SUAREZ: Well, if we accept your point that widespread unemployment and economic insecurities fueled the insurgency, let's talk about those young fellows who are riding on the back of open-bed trucks with automatic weapons in their hands. There are people who have had terrifying and exciting times in Iraq for a 19- or 18-year-old.

Would a job in a bakery, would a job fixing potholes or painting schools be enough to lure them off the back of that truck and, in some cases, money that they get from these shady forces inside their own country?

ERIC DAVIS: Well, my own interviews with Iraqi colleagues indicate that the overwhelming majority of those recruited to death squads in urban areas, for example, are rural to urban migrants. Yes, as you mentioned, they get some salary, they get a rifle, they get a uniform, they get the idea of belonging, protection from a group.

But, for example, let's take the Mahdi Army of Muqtada al-Sadr. People in that organization only get sporadic incomes. It's also very dangerous. You might be fighting another militia, such as the Badr organization, or worse the American army or the Iraqi army. So the idea that this type of employment, as it were, in militias is something that can be self-sustaining over a long period of time is not something that really, I think, most militia members realize is going to be the be-all of their entire future. Smaller economic projects


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Originally Posted by bluezzguy

LOL,

You're right Adam. Saw that, but didn't think to translate it to the posting of the minutes. Looked for a date of posting for the minutes of the July meeting, but none there.

Since the resolution expires at the end of December, any thoughts on what happens as of Jan1 if they have not signed Article VIII?

Randy

I believe they'd have to apply for an extension as it literally runs out on 1 January. Kinda like someone being made bankrupt and the insolvency office keep an eye on that persons accounts for a period of years until their bankruptcy is 'discharged'.

It's not in Iraq's interests to prolongue this longer than they need too.

It's all kicking off in parliament!!!


Iraq parliament speaker, lawmaker feud
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer 52 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Frustration over poor turnout in Iraq's parliament flared Wednesday, with house speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani having to be physically restrained from attacking a fellow Sunni lawmaker.

ADVERTISEMENT





Al-Mashhadani had been holding a nationally televised news conference when he lashed out at Abdel-Karim al-Samarie for alleged corruption and failure to attend sessions, calling him a "dog" — a deep insult in Iraq and other Arab societies.

"You are dishonest and a dog!" screamed al-Mashhadani.

Al-Samarie, a member of the main Sunni parliamentary bloc, the Iraqi Accordance Front, responded by calling al-Mashhadani a false patriot. The speaker, who belongs to a rival Sunni group — The National Dialogue Council — lunged at al-Samarie, but was held back by bodyguards.

Al-Mashhadani moved on to the parliament's main chamber, where he accosted other Sunni Accordance Front lawmakers, calling them "villains" and "dogs," and accusing them of colluding with the former Baath Party of toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

Al-Mashhadani had been angered by low attendance among Iraqi Accordance Front lawmakers, which that prevented the 275-seat body from reaching the quorum of 138 of the 275 lawmakers.

In his earlier remarks to reporters, al-Mashhadani complained that lawmakers who failed to show up were delaying the ratification of a series of edicts reached by Shiite and Sunni religious figures in the Muslim holy city of Mecca last month that aims to stop sectarian bloodshed between Shiites and Sunnis.

"We should implement what we have signed and agreed on. This agreement is like a contract," al-Mashhadani said.

Previous attempts to reconcile Iraq's rival sects have failed to stanch the bloodshed, and it wasn't clear whether the edicts, or fatwas, would resonate among the country's Sunni and Shiite militants, whose attacks have fueled a deadly cycle of worsening violence.

The Shiite-dominated parliament also has been roiled by a bitter dispute over a new law on federalism that passed last month despite a boycott by Sunni politicians.

Sunni lawmakers accused their Shiite colleagues of using dirty tricks to push through the bill that will transform Iraq by allowing Shiites to form a self-ruled mini-state in the south. Sunnis deeply opposed the measure, fearing it will tear the country to pieces and generate further sectarian violence.

Originally Posted by clintstella

It's all kicking off in parliament!!!


Iraq parliament speaker, lawmaker feud
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer 52 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Frustration over poor turnout in Iraq's parliament flared Wednesday, with house speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani having to be physically restrained from attacking a fellow Sunni lawmaker.

ADVERTISEMENT







Al-Mashhadani had been holding a nationally televised news conference when he lashed out at Abdel-Karim al-Samarie for alleged corruption and failure to attend sessions, calling him a "dog" — a deep insult in Iraq and other Arab societies.

"You are dishonest and a dog!" screamed al-Mashhadani.

Al-Samarie, a member of the main Sunni parliamentary bloc, the Iraqi Accordance Front, responded by calling al-Mashhadani a false patriot. The speaker, who belongs to a rival Sunni group — The National Dialogue Council — lunged at al-Samarie, but was held back by bodyguards.

Al-Mashhadani moved on to the parliament's main chamber, where he accosted other Sunni Accordance Front lawmakers, calling them "villains" and "dogs," and accusing them of colluding with the former Baath Party of toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

Al-Mashhadani had been angered by low attendance among Iraqi Accordance Front lawmakers, which that prevented the 275-seat body from reaching the quorum of 138 of the 275 lawmakers.

In his earlier remarks to reporters, al-Mashhadani complained that lawmakers who failed to show up were delaying the ratification of a series of edicts reached by Shiite and Sunni religious figures in the Muslim holy city of Mecca last month that aims to stop sectarian bloodshed between Shiites and Sunnis.

"We should implement what we have signed and agreed on. This agreement is like a contract," al-Mashhadani said.

Previous attempts to reconcile Iraq's rival sects have failed to stanch the bloodshed, and it wasn't clear whether the edicts, or fatwas, would resonate among the country's Sunni and Shiite militants, whose attacks have fueled a deadly cycle of worsening violence.

The Shiite-dominated parliament also has been roiled by a bitter dispute over a new law on federalism that passed last month despite a boycott by Sunni politicians.

Sunni lawmakers accused their Shiite colleagues of using dirty tricks to push through the bill that will transform Iraq by allowing Shiites to form a self-ruled mini-state in the south. Sunnis deeply opposed the measure, fearing it will tear the country to pieces and generate further sectarian violence.

Wankers, just get on and work things out you tosspots.

Originally Posted by clintstella

It's all kicking off in parliament!!!


Iraq parliament speaker, lawmaker feud
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer 52 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Frustration over poor turnout in Iraq's parliament flared Wednesday, with house speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani having to be physically restrained from attacking a fellow Sunni lawmaker.

ADVERTISEMENT





Al-Mashhadani had been holding a nationally televised news conference when he lashed out at Abdel-Karim al-Samarie for alleged corruption and failure to attend sessions, calling him a "dog" — a deep insult in Iraq and other Arab societies.

"You are dishonest and a dog!" screamed al-Mashhadani.

Al-Samarie, a member of the main Sunni parliamentary bloc, the Iraqi Accordance Front, responded by calling al-Mashhadani a false patriot. The speaker, who belongs to a rival Sunni group — The National Dialogue Council — lunged at al-Samarie, but was held back by bodyguards.

Al-Mashhadani moved on to the parliament's main chamber, where he accosted other Sunni Accordance Front lawmakers, calling them "villains" and "dogs," and accusing them of colluding with the former Baath Party of toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

Al-Mashhadani had been angered by low attendance among Iraqi Accordance Front lawmakers, which that prevented the 275-seat body from reaching the quorum of 138 of the 275 lawmakers.

In his earlier remarks to reporters, al-Mashhadani complained that lawmakers who failed to show up were delaying the ratification of a series of edicts reached by Shiite and Sunni religious figures in the Muslim holy city of Mecca last month that aims to stop sectarian bloodshed between Shiites and Sunnis.

"We should implement what we have signed and agreed on. This agreement is like a contract," al-Mashhadani said.

Previous attempts to reconcile Iraq's rival sects have failed to stanch the bloodshed, and it wasn't clear whether the edicts, or fatwas, would resonate among the country's Sunni and Shiite militants, whose attacks have fueled a deadly cycle of worsening violence.

The Shiite-dominated parliament also has been roiled by a bitter dispute over a new law on federalism that passed last month despite a boycott by Sunni politicians.

Sunni lawmakers accused their Shiite colleagues of using dirty tricks to push through the bill that will transform Iraq by allowing Shiites to form a self-ruled mini-state in the south. Sunnis deeply opposed the measure, fearing it will tear the country to pieces and generate further sectarian violence.

Seems we see this repeatedly, poor attendance, sessions cancelled. Have to wonder how they can move forward and get things done when not even half of them will show up for a session of Parliament.

Security is always, the key and fundamental issue to secure satisfaction and stability in any 3rd world generation like Iraq is.

Removing the virus from violence with safe and secured salaries from being involved with nation building projects, will only prevail once there is no need or desire for supporting the insurgency movement and further to that, the role of policing by those militias becomes meaningless too...

RV serves all fronts facing Iraq and the International Community supporting this yesterday should have been the RV day....


If this was Jordan, it would have taken place last year because they have brains NOT to look for blood, but to preserve life with prosperity irrespective of the divide and with little military aid needed from outside either... but with Iraq... its a bag filled with thieves and bag loads of sectarian excuses among the devils praising Allah with their evil agendas to settle old wounds and scores....

We just have to sit back and watch them eliminate themselves like donkey's meat...


YB. - A sick scenario indeed!!! but cheeers anyway... just keep their religion there and we will be alright outside...

In a few of the pictures from the meeting yesterday you can see where they were signining papers (like a formal signing) anybody know what they would have been signining. There seemed to be a booklet of papers. Just wondering.

Don't know CP.

You know it's disgraceful that even after Rice's recent visit some of their parliament can't be bothered to turn up for work. Shows how much they care for their people eh.....