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

SEEMINGLY everything went wrong in this dirty, crumbling and traumatized city in 2006. Thousands of citizens died violently. Daily electrical outages left neighborhoods in the dark. Sewers overflowed. But there is a seldom-discussed indicator of something that went remarkably right in Baghdad and throughout Iraq in 2006: $27.99 billion.

That was the government’s operating budget, dominated by salaries, subsidies for food and fuel and pensions. What went right is that through violence, political turmoil and governmental turnover, nearly all of that money was actually paid to Iraqi citizens.

The same could not be said of the portion of the budget devoted to capital expenditures, known more intuitively as the reconstruction budget. Some Iraqi ministries were able to spend no more than 15 percent of their capital budgets in the face of attacks on employees and work sites and a brain drain of personnel trained to handle contracts and large construction projects.

Somehow money for the salaries made it to the banks and then found its way to millions of employees in a government-dominated economy. If it hadn’t, a state teetering on the edge would certainly have collapsed.

So this is the determinative question for 2007: will Iraq keep paying its salaries? If so, there is at least a wan indication that a few basic ganglia of the national organism are still twitching.

Sinan al-Shabibi, director of the Central Bank of Iraq, says Iraq is likely to stay financially healthy in 2007 because of oil revenues, a large cash reserve and a powerful bank to guard against failures. Only a big run on the local currency or destabilizing flows of cash could cause major problems.

Still, banks are increasingly the targets of heists, and bank executives are being killed and kidnapped. The salaries they pay may be the last canary in the coal mine: the last approximation of stability in an enterprise gone toxic. As salaries go, so goes the last hopes for the new government of Iraq.



http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/we...ew&oref=slogin

Originally Posted by jsfletcher

SEEMINGLY everything went wrong in this dirty, crumbling and traumatized city in 2006. Thousands of citizens died violently. Daily electrical outages left neighborhoods in the dark. Sewers overflowed. But there is a seldom-discussed indicator of something that went remarkably right in Baghdad and throughout Iraq in 2006: $27.99 billion.

That was the government’s operating budget, dominated by salaries, subsidies for food and fuel and pensions. What went right is that through violence, political turmoil and governmental turnover, nearly all of that money was actually paid to Iraqi citizens.

The same could not be said of the portion of the budget devoted to capital expenditures, known more intuitively as the reconstruction budget. Some Iraqi ministries were able to spend no more than 15 percent of their capital budgets in the face of attacks on employees and work sites and a brain drain of personnel trained to handle contracts and large construction projects.

Somehow money for the salaries made it to the banks and then found its way to millions of employees in a government-dominated economy. If it hadn’t, a state teetering on the edge would certainly have collapsed.

So this is the determinative question for 2007: will Iraq keep paying its salaries? If so, there is at least a wan indication that a few basic ganglia of the national organism are still twitching.

Sinan al-Shabibi, director of the Central Bank of Iraq, says Iraq is likely to stay financially healthy in 2007 because of oil revenues, a large cash reserve and a powerful bank to guard against failures. Only a big run on the local currency or destabilizing flows of cash could cause major problems.

Still, banks are increasingly the targets of heists, and bank executives are being killed and kidnapped. The salaries they pay may be the last canary in the coal mine: the last approximation of stability in an enterprise gone toxic. As salaries go, so goes the last hopes for the new government of Iraq.



http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/we...ew&oref=slogin

Let's not forget that awhile back they made a plea for the government officials to be paid in dinar rather than dollars.

Sterilizing Capital Inflows


Economic Issues 7--Sterilizing Capital Inflows

Wider Exchange Rate Bands


"In response to large and persistent capital inflows, Chile (1992) and Colombia (1993) have widened the exchange rate band for their currencies. The most obvious benefit of doing this is that, by allowing some exchange rate appreciation, import prices tend to fall. With import prices dropping, there is downward pressure on inflation, so reducing the need to sterilize all capital inflows. A wider band may also reduce inflows that are stimulated by perceptions that the currency is undervalued--and expose such speculators to greater risk of short-term fluctuations. If the appreciation is rapid, this should also reduce the incentives for domestic speculators. Above all, a wider band allows the central bank more flexibility for intervention in the foreign exchange market, which can be important if there is a sudden reversal of sentiment."

this is an article that came out a few days ago and the translation was hideous so i had someone who has an iraqi translator work on it for us. here is the pm:

hey susie, hope you and your family are doing ok.
Ali stopped by today, asked if their was anything for him to translate, we got talkin about the economy and negative news media, he is really upset with what he see's on the news. He said all he see's is blood spots on the streets, he is finally starting to see some good things though. he said just set tight and the truth will come out soon!

http://translate.google.com/translat...006-04,SUNA:en

Quote:
The new security plan in Baghdad announced the beginning of 2007


بغداد/ العدالة: اتهم وزير الداخلية العراقي جواد البولاني طرفا إقليميا بالتورط في عمليات الخطف الجماعي التي وقعت في بغداد مؤخرا مؤكداً ان الخطة الامنية الجديدة ستعلن في بداية 2007.Baghdad / Justice : accused Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad who is a regional party of involvement in mass kidnappings that took place in Baghdad recently said that the new security plan will be announced at the beginning of 2007.

وقال البولاني في لقاء مع ممثلي الصحافة الدولية إن عمليات الخطف كانت كلها رسائل سياسية موجهة الى العملية السياسية والحكومة، مؤكدا ان هذه العمليات متورط فيها جانب اقليمي مهم، من دون المزيد من التفاصيل. واضاف البولاني: نحن بصدد تحقيقات على أعلى مستوى وتوصلنا الى معلومات عمن قاموا بهذه العمليات. موضحا: عما قريب ستكون المجاميع المتورطة في عمليات الخطف الجماعي بين ايدي السلطات وستحال الى القضاء. وقال: نحن بصدد تحقيقات مهمة وسنتوصل الى نتائج ونطلع الرأي العام عليها قريبا. واكد البولاني ان اجهزة الامن العراقية التابعة لوزارة الداخلية فقدت 12 ألف شهيد منذ سقوط الطاغية صدام في نيسان 2003. وقال: قدمنا 12 ألف شهيد منذ سقوط النظام الديكتاتوري. واضاف البولاني: هذه الارقام مهمة. علينا ان نتعامل معها بكل حرص لاظهار قدرة العراقيين على بناء النظام السياسي الجديد والشهداء قدموا صورة حقيقية عن كفاح العراقيين لتحقيق اهدافهم. وتابع ان منتسبي الجيش العراقي يقومون باعمال عظيمة تصل الى حد التضحية بحياتهم لحماية المدينين، مؤكدا: نحن نؤمن ان طريق التضحيات الذي نسلكه سيحقق النجاحات آجلا ام عاجلا. واكد البولاني ان الخطة الامنية الجديدة لبغداد سيتم اعلانها في بداية 2007. وقال: سنشهد خلال الايام المقبلة من خلال تطبيق الخطة الامنية الجديدة (في بغداد) ان الطرف العراقي ستكون له مساحة اكبر للحركة بشكل مستقل عن القوات الاميركية لكنه لم يعط مزيدا من التفاصيل. وشدد البولاني على ان وزارته اولت اهتماما كبيرا لعملية محاسبة المتهمين بمخالفة القانون من عناصر الاجهزة الامنية. واكد ان لجانا شكلت لتنظيف وتطهير المؤسسة الامنية وابعاد السيئين منها، موضحا ان 277 ضابطا احيلوا الى التقاعد او عزلوا من مناصبهم حتى الان في هذا السياق. واضاف ان وزارة الداخلية تلاحق الميليشيات والعناصر الارهابية وعصابات القتل الطائفي والجريمة المنظمة. وأوضح ان وزارة الداخلية تمكنت من بناء علاقة مع المواطنين في مختلف مناطق العراق وهناك بؤر وطنية من المواطنين الذين يرسلون للاجهزة الامنية معلومات كثيرة عن الارهابيين والميليشيات وعصابات القتل الطائفي. وقال وزير الداخلية ان التحدي المهم الذي تصدينا له هو دمج قوة حماية المنشآت في وزارة الداخلية، موضحا ان "هذه القوات اندمجت وأصبح علينا ترشيدها وتحديد العدد الملائم لها بما يتوازى مع طبيعة مهمتها". واضاف ان وزارة الداخلية تصدت خلال الاشهر الاخيرة لمهمة تصفية ملفات 1500 معتقل. وقد تم اخلاء سبيل 500 منهم واحيل 600 الى القضاء فيما لا تزال اجهزة الوزارة تتحقق من ملفات 400 آخرين.

ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ
Susie, sorry it took so long to get back with you on this translation.
again, he reads the article and tells me what it means so its not word for word.
jawad bolandi, is talking to the world media about the kidnappings and terrorism going on in bagdad. he is encouraging the people of iraq thru the media to stop the killings.
He appriciates the iraqi military for what they have accomplished and what they do every day.
He is implimenting a new security plan for 2007, and wants hard punishment for people who break the law.
law 277 states if your even suspected of not doing your job(police officers or military) you will be automatically suspended. he used the word retired.
they want to persuade the people of iraq to get involved with security.
Jawad talks of 1500 arrests, out of those, 500 were released, 600 to be put thru the court system, and 400 are still under investigation.
thru the article, he talks of how it was in 2003 to now and how it will be in 2007.
thats about it, hope it helps you. dont forget to PM me on new info!!! on anything!!

So much for TRANSPARENCY - in lieu of the news papers, I figured I would try to find out information regarding the budget previous and pending. The International Advisory and Monitoring Board. reverts you back to the CPA-THE DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR IRAQ but you can not retrieve any financial reports from either one. HUM!!!!! Like I said - "so much for transparency" guess we will just have to wait and see like we have been doing all along. Remaining positive that all will work out for the citizens of Iraq. they were happy to see justice in Saddam's execution. Perhaps this new year will be what they have waited for for soo long. $$ for electricity, MORE sanitary conditions, $$ for education, $$ to the families of the Martyrs, Better food, better clothing, when they will prosper- NOT JUST THEIR CORRUPT GOVERMENT- we will prosper!!!!

Originally Posted by crave681

do those rags normally close down for holidays as well? or is this something new? (and therefore prone to our brand of speculation on its reasons... :D )

the only time in at least 3.5 years that ive noticed they closed down was last year in november when they were having elections for several days.

Monday, December 04, 2006
The Iraqi "National Salvation Front"
I translated this piece by Mr. Jihad Al-Rantisi published on AlArab AlYawm, one of Jordan's three major daily newspapers.

A number of Iraqi political groups are planning to announce a broad national front in the next few days aiming to correct the falling political process.

Mr. Saleh Al-Mutlaq, the head of the national dialogue front, told “Al-arab Al-Yaum” that the national salvation front that will be announced soon will include the national dialogue front, the national Iraqi list led by allawi, the reconciliation and liberation front led by meshaan aljuburi, and the Sadr movement.

Mr. Almutlaq added that the new front will include a number of groups that are not participating in the current Iraqi government including Baathists, pan-arabists, the Founding Conference that includes 46 political movements, the old Iraqi army leadership, and tribal leaders from the middle and south of Iraq. In addition, the front will include representatives from Turcoman, Yazidi, and Kurdish patriotic leaders who are against the occupation and for Iraq’s unity, and other Christian movements that believe in Iraq’s unity.

Mr. Al-Mutlaq added that the national salvation government will be supported by 7 religious leaders who hold the Ayatollah title, including Al-Baghdadi, Al-Yaqoubi, Al-Muayad, Al-Maleki, Al-Sarkhi, and Al-Khalisi.
The Iraqi Muslim Scholars association will have representatives in the front as well, according to mr. almutlaq.

Concerning the goals on the new front, Mr. Al-mutlaq said that the front will work to set a timetable (or time limit) for the U.S. presence in Iraq, which is an important condition that will convince the Iraqi resistance to stop fighting and start participating in the Iraqi government.

Mr. Al-Mutlaq said that the NSF will take over the current Iraqi government either by pulling out from the current parliament and creating a new government, or through holding an international conference that may be based on points 30, 31 and 32 of the UN Security Council resolution No. 1546 that calls for a conference every three months that includes the Iraqi government, the multi-national forces, and the UN secretary general to discuss the developments in Iraq.

Finally, and concerning the time that the national salvation front will be announced, Mr. Al-Mutlaq said that the front is coordinating with other regional powers to reach the right timing for this announcement to achieve the front’s goals and minimize any sacrifices.

Posted By Raed Jarrar at 12:09 AM
# Comments and Forum Section: CLOSED!

Originally Posted by shotgunsusie

the only time in at least 3.5 years that ive noticed they closed down was last year in november when they were having elections for several days.

So do you think they will do any auctions this week?

Originally Posted by Par77

Monday, December 04, 2006
The Iraqi "National Salvation Front"
I translated this piece by Mr. Jihad Al-Rantisi published on AlArab AlYawm, one of Jordan's three major daily newspapers.

A number of Iraqi political groups are planning to announce a broad national front in the next few days aiming to correct the falling political process.

Mr. Saleh Al-Mutlaq, the head of the national dialogue front, told “Al-arab Al-Yaum” that the national salvation front that will be announced soon will include the national dialogue front, the national Iraqi list led by allawi, the reconciliation and liberation front led by meshaan aljuburi, and the Sadr movement.

Mr. Almutlaq added that the new front will include a number of groups that are not participating in the current Iraqi government including Baathists, pan-arabists, the Founding Conference that includes 46 political movements, the old Iraqi army leadership, and tribal leaders from the middle and south of Iraq. In addition, the front will include representatives from Turcoman, Yazidi, and Kurdish patriotic leaders who are against the occupation and for Iraq’s unity, and other Christian movements that believe in Iraq’s unity.
Mr. Al-Mutlaq added that the national salvation government will be supported by 7 religious leaders who hold the Ayatollah title, including Al-Baghdadi, Al-Yaqoubi, Al-Muayad, Al-Maleki, Al-Sarkhi, and Al-Khalisi.
The Iraqi Muslim Scholars association will have representatives in the front as well, according to mr. almutlaq.

Concerning the goals on the new front, Mr. Al-mutlaq said that the front will work to set a timetable (or time limit) for the U.S. presence in Iraq, which is an important condition that will convince the Iraqi resistance to stop fighting and start participating in the Iraqi government.

Mr. Al-Mutlaq said that the NSF will take over the current Iraqi government either by pulling out from the current parliament and creating a new government, or through holding an international conference that may be based on points 30, 31 and 32 of the UN Security Council resolution No. 1546 that calls for a conference every three months that includes the Iraqi government, the multi-national forces, and the UN secretary general to discuss the developments in Iraq.

Finally, and concerning the time that the national salvation front will be announced, Mr. Al-Mutlaq said that the front is coordinating with other regional powers to reach the right timing for this announcement to achieve the front’s goals and minimize any sacrifices.

Posted By Raed Jarrar at 12:09 AM
# Comments and Forum Section: CLOSED!

Wow, imagine a similar article:

The American Salvation Front will be announced soon. It will include a variety of groups not participating in the current American government such as officers of the Confederacy, the KKK, the Mafia, Union representatives, felons, the Tongs, the Crips, Hollywood celebrities (except the Governator, who is participating,) the Bloods, the Nazis, illegal aliens, surviving leaders of Enron, and all our guests at Guantanamo Bay. Ignoring the process of democracy that has existed for centuries and defended by the blood of heroes from every generation, we are simply going to set up shop and use our vast amounts of money from our oil revenues to get better lawyers and spokesmen than our opposition, and to shamelessly bribe the corrupt UN to use the very same words that they had previously used against this type of non-representative government to help rid us of the annoying, whining, tiresome current so-called legitimate government.

So tell me what jacka-- translated "Thank you for smoking" to Arabic as a spin training film?!?!? These guys JUST ANNOUNCED THEIR PLAN FOR A COUP. What kind of BS is this???? to all of them and hang them for traitors. Which would solve a LOT of the violence, totally coincidentally I'm sure.

Originally Posted by NIACSF

I don't see anything that tells me it will reach 1:1 "for sure".
Please explain where you see this.

Post IP Addresses
SeaRayaWaitin' 69.152.229.198

Registration IP Addresses
NIACSF 69.152.229.198