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

Tea exporters mourn Saddam's execution
PK KRISHNAKUMAR

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ FRIDAY, JANUARY 05, 2007 03:31:16 AM]

KOCHI: Saddam’s execution and the civil strife in Iraq have thrown a spanner in the works of the Indian tea industry. With Iraq emerging as the largest buyer of Indian tea in 2006 as per the figures till September, the tea industry was banking on the troubled country for a revival in the fortunes of tea exports.

Exporters say that Iraq, which is buying Indian tea under the food-for-oil programme, has not floated a fresh tender since Saddam’s execution. They feel that given the present circumstances, it may take some time for Iraq to keep up last year’s momentum.

Indian exporters did not participate in the last tender, which came some days before the execution, as they had experienced some problems in the previous purchases. “Iraqi buyers had deducted some percentage from shippers citing reasons of quality difference. They had even delayed payment. Consequently few participated in the last tender,’’ says a leading exporter Krishnakumar J Shah.

The Tea Board chairman was expected to go to Iraq to sort out the problem. But it now looks like his visit would be postponed.

Iraq’s purchase of Indian tea, mostly the Orthodox variety, touched 30.1 million kg for the January-September period of 2006. In the same period of the previous year, Iraq had bought 19 million kg. Of the increased offtake in 2006, 18.4 million kg has been from South India.

It has broken the hegemony of Russia and CIS as the largest buyer of Indian tea in the process. Till end September 2006, the combined purchase of these countries totaled 27.2 million kg.

Since Iraq has kept up its purchase till December, it is likely to be the top buyer of tea from India for the whole of 2006. With Pakistan and Egypt also active in the scene, Indian tea exports hopes to touch the magical figure of 200 million kg in 2006, something which it has not done for the last few years.

POL-KOREA-IRAQ
Iraq opens embassy in Seoul 13 years after closure

TOKYO, Jan 4 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi government has reopened its embassy in Seoul 13 years after its closure, South Korean Yonhap News Agency reported Thursday.

A group of three Iraqi diplomats entered the country late last year and "filed a request on November 30 for the establishment of a diplomatic mission, " an official at the Foreign Ministry told the news agency. The Iraqi diplomats, who are counselors, worked from a hotel until they recently moved into their new office in southeastern Seoul, the report said. South Korea established diplomatic ties with Iraq in 1989, but the country withdrew its mission to Baghdad in 1991 following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait a year earlier. Iraq closed down its diplomatic mission in Seoul in 1994, according to the ministry.

South Korea currently maintains the third-largest contingent of foreign troops in Iraq after the US and Britain.(end) mk.

rk

KUNA 040900 Jan 07NNNN

Entering Iraq market calls for basic strategies - Commerce Min Ahvaz, Khuzestan Prov, Jan 5, IRNA
Iran-Iraq-Commerce
Iran's Commerce Minister Masoud Mirkazemi said here Friday in order to pave the path for Iranian merchants and public sector to enter Iraq market we need to adopt basic strategies.

Mirkazemi said in an interview with IRNA economic reporter, "Among those strategies, it is important to offer bonuses and support merchants that intend to do business with Iraqi counterparts and government."
He said, "We need to boost trade ties with Iraq to a level much higher than the past."
The Commerce Minister also informed about the drafting of basic plans in the field, aimed at scientific study of Iraq market, adding, "The country's Trade Promotion Organization has begun taking appropriate steps in that respect."


Mirkazemi concluded his remarks on doing trade with Iraq saying, "Relying on cooperation of the two countries' Chambers of Commerce, appropriate cooperation among merchants, and exporters, the two countries' trade ties would soon be boosted to a satisfactory level." 2329/1420

Baghdad initiative to go door to door

By STEVEN R. HURST and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writers 1 hour, 18 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi forces backed by U.S. troops will begin a neighborhood-by-neighborhood assault on militants in the capital this weekend as a first step in the new White House strategy to contain Sunni insurgents and Shiite death squads, key advisers to the prime minister said Friday.
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The first details of the plan — a fresh bid to pacify the capital — emerged a day after
President Bush and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki spoke for nearly two hours by video conference. Both leaders were expected to detail their vision of a new strategy in the coming days.

The al-Maliki aides would not address the scope of the planned assaults nor where specifically they were planned.

The Iraqis did, however, signal continuing disagreement on key issues, including al-Maliki's unease over the introduction of more U.S. troops.

Another point of contention has been the Iraqi leader's repeated refusal of U.S. demands to crush the militia of anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, one of the prime minister's most powerful backers.

Any serious drive to curb the extreme chaos and violence in the capital would put not only American forces but al-Maliki's Iraqi army in direct confrontation with al-Sadr's Mahdi Army.

The militants are gaining more and more ground as they kill Sunni residents of the city and drive others from their neighborhoods. The explosion of vengeance began after the Feb. 22 bombing by al-Qaida in
Iraq militants of an important Shiite shrine, the Golden Dome mosque in Samarra north of the capital.

Sami al-Askari, an al-Maliki political adviser, told The Associated Press on Friday that al-Maliki had not acquiesced to the reported White House plan to send as many as 9,000 more U.S. troops to Baghdad alone.

"President Bush told the prime minister he was ready to send additional troops, but al-Maliki said he would have to talk that over with his senior military officers to see if they were needed," al-Askari said.

Bush reportedly wants to increase troop strength as part of his developing plan to shake-up the U.S. military effort in Iraq, now in its fourth year.

Without a substantial U.S. troop increase there were questions about the success of any new drive to curb violence.

Last summer the U.S. military and Iraqi army flooded the capital with 12,000 additional troops for the same purpose. By October, the U.S. military spokesman said the operation had not met expectations and the situation was disheartening. The last half of 2006 was one of the most violent periods in the center and west of the country since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion to topple
Saddam Hussein.

In his discussions with Bush, al-Maliki continued to press for a rapid U.S. withdrawal from the capital to bases "on the outskirts of Baghdad," al-Askari said. The prime minister has claimed his forces will be ready to assume control of security for the whole country by summer. The Americans, perhaps optimistically, hope that can happen by year's end.

Al-Askari and Hassan al-Suneid, another top al-Maliki aide and lawmaker from his Dawa Party, said the fresh security push would be open-ended once initiated this weekend.

"The Iraqi Interior, Defense and National Security ministries will take part using information we have gathered from a new intelligence network," al-Suneid said. "There will be no time limit, and there will be many stages to the operation."

Al-Suneid said American forces would take part in a supporting role.

As forces apparently began to get ready, the powerful Association of Muslim Scholars voiced Sunni agitation and claimed the coming drive was really a joint operation by Interior Ministry commandos, the Iraqi army and the Mahdi Army to further cleanse mixed neighborhoods. Iraq's security forces are dominated by Shiites.

Sheik Mohammed Bashar al-Fayadh, a spokesman for the organization, claimed residents had seen 150 vehicles massing Friday in the Shula region in northwest Baghdad in advance of the assault.

"We fear a huge attack," al-Fayadh said on Al-Jazeera satellite television.

Throughout Iraq on Friday, at least 31 people died violently or were found dead, including two beheaded victims of the sectarian slaughter found floating in the Tigris river.

The body of an Associated Press employee was found shot in the back of the head Friday, six days after he was last seen by his family leaving for work. Ahmed Hadi Naji, 28, was the fourth AP staffer to die violently in the Iraq war and the second AP employee killed in less than a month. He had been a messenger and occasional cameraman for the AP for 2 1/2 years.

"All of us at AP share the pain and grief being felt by Ahmed's family and friends," said AP President and CEO Tom Curley.

The circumstances of Naji's death were unclear. Dozens of Iraqis are found slain almost every day in Baghdad, many believed to be victims of sectarian death squads.

An American contractor was abducted Friday along with his driver and translator, and the two Iraqis were later found dead near a stadium in the southern city of Basra, police said. The fate of the American was unknown.

"The two victims were the translator and a driver," said a Basra police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.

Basra's police chief, Gen. Mohammed Humadi, confirmed that a U.S. citizen had been kidnapped and said he was an American of Iraqi origin. The contractor's name and the company for which he worked were not disclosed.

French
President Jacques Chirac, meanwhile, said the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq destabilized the entire Middle East and caused terrorism to spread, adding that the problems in Iraq justified France's strong opposition to the war.

"As France foresaw and feared, the war in Iraq caused upheavals whose effects have not yet finished unraveling," Chirac said in a speech to French ambassadors.

___
I found this earlier, then I lost it, now I found it again.
I thought it was some interesting read.

Victory is still an option in Iraq. America, a country of 300 million people with a GDP of $12 trillion and more than 1 million soldiers and Marines, has the resources to stabilize Iraq, a state the size of California with a population of 25 million and a GDP under $100 billion. America must use its resources skillfully and decisively to help build a successful democratically elected, sovereign government in Iraq.


link

AEI - Short Publications

I was going to move MrsCK's post about Prescott Bush. But after I thought about it, you have to relise that this war is about OIL. I am sorry but it is. Maybe not Only, but mainly. So by her investigation of where all the Players have had ties, it shows that the Oil will flow. So I am leaving it. With that said there were no post deleted as of Today. Awsome Gang, I think everyone now understands the point of posting in the right Threads. Thanks, it is very appreciated by not only me but for everyones viewing.

Originally Posted by Mike5200

Kuwaiti in talks to buy Saddam's 'noose'


Businessman ready to pay any amount of money

KUWAIT CITY: A well-known Kuwaiti businessman is negotiating hard to own the noose which hung ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to death.

Reliable sources say the businessman's representatives have asked the Iraqi Ministry of Interior Affairs to sell the rope to them.

The businessman is apparently ready to pay any amount of money for the noose. According to sources, it is with Shiite leader Muqtada Al-Sadr and the businessman's representatives are negotiating with him.

The businessman had earlier purchased the vandalized statue of Saddam Hussein which stood at Al-Firdous Square in Baghdad. Sources say he obtained the statue through American representatives and exhibits the head of the statue in his diwaniya (sitting room).

Back

Interesting,

I was sure it would end up on eBay. (g) Amazing times we live in where the craziest things are worth a fortune to some.

Good luck to all, Mike

American policy in the new Iraq? Fit Attar?

(Voice of Iraq) - 06-01-2007
This issue was sent to a friend

Radio Netherlands
Report : Rinot the Fajtndonk
Translation : Muhammad Al-Ayyoubi

President Bush announced in the next week, the new policy in Iraq. , Said in a press conference after his talks at the White House with German Adviser Angela Merkel. It is likely that President Bush's replacement of the American ambassador in Iraq, a group of senior generals.

The Adviser German Merkel, President of the European Union for the next six months. The handling such dinner last night with President Bush in Washington. The two leaders spoke about a range of global problems, including the issue of trade exchange between Europe and the United States. But in Ndothm press Iraq was strongly present, especially the Bush plan in the new Iraq. President said that it was about to be completed. Will the American citizens in a speech next week, direct TV, peak time.

According to the news from the White House, will do so Wednesday or Thursday. According to the same sources, the American president will soon issue a decision intensification of the military presence by increasing the number of American forces in Baghdad, would send additional troops at 10.000 in one batch, it will be the task of putting an end to the bloody sectarian conflict in Iraq. It is a duty that this will lead to greater stability in Iraq. Return expected to be the American withdrawal from Iraq through the stages. The American President also changes in the ranks of his staff. The greatest generals in Iraq, General Abi Zaid, and General Phen Siavian of their mission prematurely. President Bush on the verge of changing the American ambassador in Iraq, Zalmai Khalilzad, who is on the list of candidates for the post of ambassador to the United Nations. It is likely that compensates Ambassador Ryan Crocker representative of the American government for Bush in Pakistan, which witness nomads to Baghdad.

Democrats will be changes in government policy that the American President Bush announced in cash. The opposition party now have a majority in Congress, has the authority to grant strong. However, Iraq is now a quagmire difficult to get out of it, and the Democrats do not want to get involved in it. Chairman of the Working Democratic in the Senate, Senator Harry Reid said yesterday that Bush clearly as supreme commander will be responsible first and last of policy in Iraq.

There is no honor to be gained from this war. Whatever the American President to be announced next week, there will not be a magic wand to get Iraq out of the location.

Iraq poses a tender for the sale of Kirkuk crude soon

(Voice of Iraq) - 06-01-2007
This issue was sent to a friend

A source from the Iraqi oil ministry is likely to put Iraq later on Friday tender for the sale of Kirkuk oil will be the first since last September after stockpiles in Turkey exceeded four million barrels.

The source said, "We are in the process of bidding today. , Will be charging the oil before the end of the month. "

A source navigation to the Turkish port of Ceyhan pipeline, which runs from Kirkuk, Iraq did not witness any pumping quantities of oil last night.

The shipping industry source said on Thursday that stocks of Kirkuk crude at Ceyhan, Turkey rose to 4.4 million barrels after the resumption of pumping through the pipeline from Iraq in January before the first stop on the third of January.

Exports of Kirkuk crude intermittently disrupted as subversive attacks and the problems of a technical line most of the time since the invasion of Iraq that was led by the United States in March 2003.

The Federation of the Egyptian Radio and Television

A railway line between Umm Qasr waste of the month

(Voice of Iraq) - 06-01-2007
This issue was sent to a friend

Tehran time : the Minister of Roads and Transport Iranian President Mohammad my mercy yesterday draft the new railway links between the Iranian city of Khorramshahr and the Iraqi province of Basra.

Mohamed and my mercy that this project is a bridge linking the East and West and that Iran can play a crucial role in the region and the world. He added that Iran is linked to the world through five corridors, including three in the north of the country and Siberia, Russia and Turkey, two of them in the south and east of the country so that through the corridor south of Khorramshahr any contact in Basra explaining that the North and South in fact linked in this way.

My mercy and said that Iran and by the Railway Khorramshahr Shlmjeh related to the North Bridge, followed by Iraq, Syria, and thus the Mediterranean.

He added that there could be another passageway through Kermanshah and Qasr-e-Shirin and then Baghdad, Iraq, and contact these corridors could contribute significantly to the revitalization of the carriage.

The Iranian minister did not touch the existence of any agreement with Baghdad on the D Line Road. According to Iraqi sources, that Tehran is trying to exploit the weakness of the Iraqi government to strengthen its economic and political and security situation, especially in southern Iraq near its borders and oil-rich. Washington accuses Tehran and London support the militias of the parties involved in the Iraqi government.