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Provincial law faces hindrances along way
Saturday, April 19, 2008 07:57 GMT
Head of Higher Elections Commission Faraj Al Haydari warned of problems facing provincial elections clarifying that the interference of neighboring provincial districts and the issue of displaced inside and outside Iraq as well as stalled approval of provincial law are all non-motivating factors to hold elections scheduled in October. Al Haydari called on government, Parliament and political blocs to work hard on overcoming these problems. He urged Parliament to ratify the law as soon as possible as the commission has set timetables to accelerate the issuance of the law.
For his part, coalition senior leader MP Abbas Al Bayati told Al Hayat Newspaper that the Parliament will start next week to discuss provincial law adding that Parliament has set mid next month as a final deadline to ratify the law. Al Bayati noted that the constitutional amendment committee held major meetings with UN experts to agree on the final version of the draft bill.
However, member of the regions committee in Parliament MP Taysir Al Mashhadani added that the Parliament will start discussing the law next week expecting the debate to be long on account of rows between political blocs. According to Al Mashhadani, disputes are centered over three points, the first is about the electoral system mainly regarding open or closed lists, second is about the share allocated to women in provincial councils while the third point is centered on the percentage of representation of sects and small components such as Turkmen, Assyrians and Christians.
Provincial law is a key law which would determine the nature of the electoral system in the country as implementing the law would result of forming three regions in preparation to implement federalism next year.
I need to know why I'm here..really don't know...
Surge sucess will fade unless we get the politics right in Iraq
Larry Diamond
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
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Five years after the launch of a war in Iraq that never found weapons of mass destruction and has not yet established democracy either, there are reasons to believe that a corner has been turned. The military "surge," which added about 30,000 U.S. troops, has had a significant, positive impact.
Although it has been creeping back up again recently, violence has declined sharply. Since the surge took hold in mid-2007, the average daily death toll of Iraqis has dropped from over 100 per day to less than 20. Almost 500 Iraqis dying violently per month is still horrific, but the improvement is palpable, and evident in many other statistics.
Iraqi police and military deaths are also way down, from a peak of 300 in April 2007 to 110 last month. Multiple fatality bombings have fallen by more than two-thirds since their peak of 69 at the end of 2006. American troop fatalities have also dropped sharply, from more than 100 per month in late 2006 and early 2007 to under 40 per month in the last few months.
The improved security situation in Iraq owes to many factors. In addition to the surge in U.S. forces, there has been a large increase in Iraqi forces: 100,000 more army and police, and about 80,000 "concerned local citizens" - local community militias that have been armed and paid by the United States to turn against al Qaeda and other violent forces.
No less important, American military strategy changed. After years of denial and failure, the U.S. military finally turned to classic counterinsurgency tactics of taking and holding control of towns and neighborhoods while working earnestly to win "hearts and minds" on the ground.
All of this came at a propitious moment. Sunni Arab communities were fed up with the brutal, thuggish domination of al Qaeda in Iraq; with the provision of arms, money and assurances, they turned again al Qaeda and expelled it from most Sunni communities where it had taken root. While still incomplete, this has been the single biggest achievement of the surge, with positive huge implications for Iraqi and U.S. security. In the Shiite communities, the militant cleric Muqtada al-Sadr pulled back from military conflict and authorized his "Mahdi Army" to cease fire.
The new conventional wisdom is that Iraq is finally stabilizing and "victory" is now foreseeable. But just as the pessimists were wrong a year ago to think that the situation was hopeless, so the optimists now overlook a number of tenacious obstacles to stabilizing Iraq that will blow up in our faces again if they are not urgently addressed.
As the American commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, has repeatedly acknowledged, military progress has not been matched by political progress in Baghdad. We are now nearly two years past the date when the Iraqi constitution was supposed to have been amended to resolve such key divisive issues as control and distribution of the oil revenue, the federal structure of the country, and the structure of executive power at the center. Iraq's warring groups have yet to agree on the type of government, and how wealth and power will be shared. Until such an agreement is forged, political stability cannot be more than temporary and superficial.
Iraq's different factions are in a political holding pattern. The established Shiite parties do not want to give up their control of the central government, and of the provincial governments in the south. The two Kurdish parties are determined to see their Kurdistan region absorb the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, and insist that a referendum to authorize this move forward soon.
The Sunnis feel deeply aggrieved over the existing constitution. A weak central government is unable to accomplish much, other than facilitating the looting of the country's huge surge in oil revenue by the parties in control. Many provincial governments are controlled by deeply corrupt and oppressive leaders, and some of them in the south have welcomed an increase in Iranian influence. Most of these governments have not delivered. People want change, through provincial elections that were supposed to have come by the end of last year but keep being postponed. Now, when American forces are at their peak and violence has declined, is the time to hold them.
This situation may seem promising, but it is unsustainable. Neither party has a viable answer. President Bush and his prospective successor, John McCain, seem prepared to stay indefinitely, demanding nothing specific of the corrupt, feckless parties that now control Iraq. Yet Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama also offer no incentive for the Iraqi parties to negotiate, as they promise to implement a rapid and more or less fixed timetable for withdrawal of American forces.
A more flexible and tough-minded approach is needed. The only way Iraq's parties will make the necessary political compromises is with a "diplomatic surge" of intense pressure and incentives. They must know that the United States will not stay indefinitely, and that failure to negotiate and compromise in good faith would lead to an expedited American withdrawal and unspecified punishment of particularly recalcitrant parties. But they must also know that diplomatic progress could stretch out the timetable for American drawdown, buying time they need to build stability on the ground.
Negotiating a new constitutional bargain requires the active partnership of the United Nations and probably the European Union as well. They would have the standing and leverage to bring in aggrieved actors and the regional partners, including Iran.
We are finally getting many things right in Iraq. But unless we get the politics right, this more hopeful context will start unraveling by the time the next president assumes office, leaving him or her with a new crisis and nothing but dreadful choices.
ISRAEL BEGINS maneuvers (reply to the enemy) in preparation for an escalation against Syria and Iran
عمان ــ الزمان Oman time
تخطط اسرائيل لاجراء أكبر مناورات طوارئ في تاريخها الشهر المقبل، وذلك استعدادا لتصعيد محتمل مع سوريا وايران التي تتهمها تل أبيب بالسعي الي امتلاك أسلحة نووية. Israel is planning to conduct emergency exercises largest in its history next month, in preparation for a possible escalation with Syria and Iran, accused by Tel Aviv is trying to acquire nuclear weapons.
ونقلت صحيفة "جيروزاليم بوست " عن مسؤولين أمنيين قولهم ان المناورات التي تنظمها سلطة الطوارئ الوطنية المنشأة حديثا ستبدأ يوم الأحد في السادس من ابريل (نيسان) المقبل، وستستمر خمسة أيام. The newspaper "Jerusalem Post" quoted security officials as saying that the exercises organized by the authority of the newly established national emergency will begin on Sunday on the sixth of April (April) next, and will continue for five days. وتجري اليوم أول مناورة من نوعها لمستشفي لتبيان كيفية تعاطي مستشفي برزلاي الطبي في عسقلان مع هجوم بصاروخ غراد يستهدف مبني من خمس طبقات، ومع حريق يشب خارج مختبر عيادة خارجية مليء بكيميائيات سامة، يتطلب اخلاء المرضي عن طريق سطح المبني. Today, the first of its kind for manoeuvre Hospital to show how abuse Brzelai Medical Hospital in Ashkelon with Grad rocket attack aimed at a building of five layers, with the fire grow up outside the clinic laboratory Foreign Mayat full of poisonous, requiring evacuation of patients through the roof of the building. ويشارك في التمرين الذي يجري في الفترة الممتدة بين الساعة الحادية عشرة صباحا والساعة الواحدة والنصف ظهرا حوالي مئة اطفائي وعشر سيارات اطفاء ومعدات أخري بالاضافة الي أطباء وممرضين. Participates in the exercise conducted in the period between the hours of ten am and atheist one o'clock noon and half about a hundred staying and ten fire engines and other equipment in addition to doctors and nurses. ويشرف نائب وزير الدفاع متان فلنائي علي التحضيرات لمناورات ابريل. The Deputy Defense Minister Vlinai careful preparations for the manoeuvres April. وفي اليوم الأول للمناورات سيعقد رئيس الحكومة ايهود اولمرت اجتماعا للحكومة في القدس لتقرير الرد الاسرائيلي "علي هجوم للعدو". On the first day of manoeuvres will be held Prime Minister Ehud Olmert meeting of the government in Jerusalem to the report of the Israeli response "to an attack of the enemy." وسيشارك في المناورات: الشرطة،وقيادة الجبهة الداخلية في الجيش وفروع عسكرية أخري،بالاضافة الي جميع المستشفيات وخدمات الاطفاء والانقاذ، ونجمة داوود الحمراء (الصليب الأحمر)،وذلك استنادا الي احد الدروس التي تم تعلمها من حرب لبنان الثانية تموز (يوليو) أغسطس (آب) 2006. Will participate in the exercises: the police, the leadership of the internal front in the army and other military branches, in addition to all hospitals and fire and rescue services, and the red Star of David (Red Cross), based on one of the lessons that have been learned from the war in Lebanon, the second in July (July) August (August ) 2006. وقال مسؤولون انه سيتم خلال المناورات اطلاق صفارات الانذار في جميع أنحاء الدولة. Officials said it will launch during the exercises sirens throughout the State. وستنفذ خدمات الانقاذ عمليات اخلاء ضخمة في "المناطق المستهدفة" بما في ذلك تمارين علي هجمات كيميائية وبيولوجية،وستختبر المستشفيات قدرتها علي تقديم العلاج لآلاف الجرحي. Rescue services will be carried out massive evictions in the "target areas" including the exercises to chemical and biological attacks, and hospitals will test their ability to provide treatment for thousands of wounded.
وقال مسؤول أمني كبير يشارك في التخطيط للمناورات "هذه اكبر مناورات في تاريخ اسرائيل". He said senior security official involved in the planning of exercises "This is the largest maneuvers in the history of Israel." وشدد علي ان المناورات لا تجري استنادا الي معلومات استخباراتية بان الحرب وشيكة، ولكن استنادا الي أحد الدروس المستقاة من حرب لبنان الثانية. He stressed that the exercises are not conducted on the basis of intelligence information that the imminent war, but one based on the lessons learned from the war in Lebanon second.
Azzaman International Newspaper - Issue 2945 - Date 18/3/2008 Azzaman International Newspaper - Issue 2945 - Date 18/3/2008
جريدة (الزمان) الدولية - العدد 2945 - التاريخ 18/3/2008 Newspaper (time) International - No. 2945 - DATE 18/3/2008
Barzani confirmed that the Kurdish part of the solution
تشيني يطلب في أربيل التعجيل بقانون النفط Cheney asked in Erbil accelerate oil law
بغداد - أربيل - الزمان Baghdad - Irbil - Azzaman
طلب نائب الرئيس الامريكي ديك تشيني الذي اختتم زيارة الي اربيل التي وصلها من بغداد امس من رئيس اقليم كردستان مسعود البارزاني تصويت القائمة الكردستانية الي جانب قانون النفط والغاز الذي لازال معطلا بعد احالته من الحكومة الي البرلمان حيث تعارض حكومة الاقليم المشروع لانه يمنح صلاحية التوقيع علي عقود استثمار حقول النفط للحكومة المركزية . Asked Vice President Dick Cheney, the American who concluded a visit to Arbil, which arrived from Baghdad yesterday by the President of the Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani to Kurdish vote existing law by the oil and gas, which is still stalled after transmission of the Government to Parliament as opposed to the Government of the Territory project because it gives the power to sign contracts Investment oil fields of the central government. في حين تريد حكومة الاقليم منحها هذه الصلاحية في دائرة حدودها الادارية . While the Government wants the Territory granted such power in the administrative borders. من جهته، قال البارزاني في ختام اللقاء ان الاكراد "جزء من الحل وليسوا جزءا من المشكلة كما انهم عامل استقرار وسلام". For his part, Barzani said at the conclusion of the meeting that the Kurds "part of the solution and not part of the problem as they are a factor of stability and peace." في حين صل تشيني امس الي سلطنة عمان في اطار جولته في الشرق الاوسط، وهبطت طائرة تشيني في مدرج خاص في مسقط وسط حراسة مشددة قادمة من العراق حيث اكد ضرورة تكثيف الجهود لتحقيق المصالحة الوطنية وانهاء العنف الطائفي. While Pray Cheney yesterday to the Sultanate of Oman on a tour of the Middle East, and the plane landed Cheney in particular included in Muscat amid heavy guard coming from Iraq stressed the need to intensify efforts to achieve national reconciliation and end sectarian violence. وتعتقد واشنطن ان تصويت البرلمان علي القانون يساعد علي انجاز المصالحة بين العراقيين . Washington believes that Parliament vote on the law help to accomplish reconciliation among Iraqis. وكانت وزارة النفط في بغداد قد عاقبت عددا من الشركات التي دخلت في تعاقدات مع حكومة اربيل لاستثمار حقول نفط في شمال العراق بحرمان تلك الشركات من تقديم عطاءات لاستثمار حقول وسط وجنوب العراق. The Ministry of Oil in Baghdad had punished a number of companies that entered into contracts with the Government of Irbil to invest oil fields in northern Iraq to deprive those companies from bidding for the investment fields of central and southern Iraq. ودعا تشيني اثر لقائه البارزاني الاكراد الي المساعدة في تحقيق المصالحة الوطنية عبر تمرير عدد من مشاريع القوانين الحيوية. He called Cheney after meeting with Barzani Kurds to assist in achieving national reconciliation through pass a number of bills vital. وقال تشيني للصحافيين في اليوم الثاني من زيارته المفاجئة الي العراق "نعتمد بالتأكيد علي قيادة الرئيس البارزاني للتوصل الي علاقة استراتيجية جديدة بين الولايات المتحدة والعراق كما نعتمد عليه لتحقيق تقدم في مسائل تشريعية مهمة في مجلس النواب". He said Cheney told reporters on the second day of his visit to Iraq sudden "certainly rely on the leadership of President Barzani to reach a new strategic relationship between the United States and Iraq also rely on him to achieve progress in the important legislative issues in the parliament." واوضح البارزاني ان الاكراد سيواصلون لعب دور "ايجابي من اجل التوصل الي عراق ديمقراطي متعدد وفيدرالي حر". Barzani said that Kurds will continue to play the role of "positive for a democratic Iraq and the federal multi-free." وتابع "اود ايضا سيادة نائب الرئيس ان اؤكد التزامنا بالدستور العراقي كما سنستمر في لعب دور ايجابي لكي نكون جزءا من الحل وليس جزءا من المشكلة". He continued: "I would also rule Vice President would like to assure our commitment to the Iraqi constitution also will continue to play a positive role to be part of the solution and not part of the problem." وقال تشيني: ان واشنطن واكراد العراق كانوا يقيمون "صداقة خاصة" اثناء فترة حظر طيران النظام السابق من التحليق فوق المناطق الكردية الخارجة عن سيطرة الرئيس السابق صدام حسين منذ العام 1991. Cheney said: that Washington and Iraqi Kurds who live "special friendship" during the flight ban former regime of circling the Kurdish areas beyond the control of former President Saddam Hussein since 1991.
بقاء برغم تعب الاخرين Survival despite tiring others
علي صعيد آخر اعلن تشيني امس امام العسكريين في قاعدة بلد الجوية شمال بغداد في اليوم الثاني من زيارته المفاجئة: ان بلاده ستبقي في العراق حتي لو تعب الاخرون من بذل الجهود. Meanwhile Cheney announced yesterday before a military air base north of Baghdad on the second day of his visit sudden: that his country will remain in Iraq even if tiring efforts of others. واضاف نائب الرئيس في قاعدة بلد حيث امضي ليلته: ان العراقيين يعرفون قبل كل شيء انه يمكن الوثوق بأمريكا. The Vice President in a country where he spent the night: that the Iraqis know everything before he can be trusted to America. وتابع "انهم يعرفون ايضا اننا امة تقبل العمل الصعب حتي لو تعب الآخرون من بذل الجهود". He continued: "They also know that we work hard to accept the nation even if tiring efforts of others." واوضح احد المساعدين ان تشيني كان يشير الي المعارضة المتنامية للحرب في الولايات المتحدة وليس الدول التي شاركت في الاجتياح. He explained that one assistant Cheney was referring to the growing opposition to the war in the United States and not countries that participated in the sweep. وانتقد مطالب الديمقراطيين بسحب القوات الامريكية من العراق قائلا "مع فهمنا لكل اخطار هذا العصر الجديد، لا ننوي التخلي عن اصدقائنا او السماح بتحول هذا البلد الي منطقة لشن المزيد من الهجمات علي الامريكيين". He criticized Democratic demands to withdraw American forces from Iraq, saying "our understanding with each notice of this new era, we do not intend to abandon our friends, or to allow the transformation of this country into an area to launch more attacks on Americans." وقال "ان الطغيان في العراق كان يستحق هزيمته كما ان الديمقراطية في العراق تستحق الدفاع عنها وبإمكان الامريكيين كافة التأكيد اننا ننوي انجاز مهمتنا. وبالتالي، فان الاجيال المقبلة من الامريكيين لن تضطر للعودة الي هنا للقيام بذلك مجددا". He said that the "tyranny in Iraq deserves to be defeated, as was that democracy in Iraq deserve defense, the Americans could all emphasize that we intend to accomplish our mission. Consequently, future generations of Americans will not have to return here to do so again."
واكد تشيني انه "كلما تعرف العراقيون اكثر الي الامريكيين، اي الي طبيعة نياتنا وشخصية جنودنا، كلما كان شعورهم تجاهنا افضل". Cheney stressed that "whenever know more Iraqis to the Americans, that is the nature of personality and deeds of our soldiers, wherever us feeling better."
وكان نائب الرئيس الامريكي رفض الاثنين "التكهن كيف سينظر العراقيون الي اقتراح محدد حول الانسحاب. من المهم جدا ان ننجح وان لا ننسحب قبل اتمام العمل نحن بحاجة الي ان نتذكر ان هدفنا هنا هو النصر كما اننا بحاجة الي ان نكون مستعدين للقيام بما يلزم من اجل انجاز هذا" الامر. The Deputy President Bush refused Monday "to predict how Iraqis will consider the specific proposal on withdrawal. Very important that we succeed and not to withdraw before completion of the work we need to remember that our goal here is a victory and we need to be prepared to do what is necessary to This achievement "of the matter.
واضاف "اقول ذلك وانا افكر بالجهود الضخمة المبذلة والتضحيات التي قدمت". He added: "I say that and I think Alambzlh huge efforts and sacrifices made."
وتابع "اعتقد بأننا نسير قدما باتجاه تحقيق ذلك سيكون من الخطا الان انهاء مهمة القوات لاننا سنعرض النتائج المحققة للخطر ولا اعتقد اننا سنفعل ذلك". He continued: "I think we are moving forward towards that now would be a mistake to end the task forces we put the results achieved in danger and I do not think we will do that."
وسمع دوي القذائف المدفعية بين الثانية والسادسة صباحا في محيط قاعدة بلد لكن مسؤولين عسكريين قالوا ان القصف كان مقررا سابقا. The sound of artillery shells between the second and six o'clock in the vicinity of a country but military officials said that the shelling was previously scheduled.
Petrallos invite foreign companies to invest in energy prior to the approval of the law of Iraqi oil
واشنطن - مرسي ابوطوق Washington - Anchorage Abootook
يعمد الجنرال ديفيد بترايوس الي دعوة "الشركات الغربية الكبيرة" للاستثمار في قطاع الطاقة في العراق الذي يسعي لتعزيز انتاج شركات النفط والغاز والكهرباء. Intentionally General David Petrallos the call for "large Western companies" to invest in the energy sector in Iraq, which seeks to enhance the production of oil and gas and electricity. وقال قائد قوات التحالف في العراق ان رئيس الوزراء العراقي نوري المالكي طلب منه ايصال هذه الرسالة الي الشركات. The commander of coalition forces in Iraq, said that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki asked him to deliver this message to the companies. وقال بترايوس في مؤتمر صحافي ببغداد "ان رئيس الوزراء حريص جداً علي التزام الشركات الغربية الكبيرة من جديد بالعمل في قطاعي البترول والكهرباء في العراق". Petrallos said in a press conference in Baghdad that "the Prime Minister is very keen on the commitment of large Western companies again to work in the oil and electricity sectors in Iraq."
ورفض متحدث باسم بترايوس اطلاع يونايتد بريس انترناشيونال علي أسماء الشركات التي دعاها. The spokesman refused Petrallos for United Press International, the names of the companies which were invited. وقال العقيد في الجيش الامريكي بالعراق ستيفن بويلان "أجرينا بعض الأبحاث ونؤكد ان ثمة شركات ستبدأ مشاريع بالحجم والمدي الذي يحتاجه العراق". The Colonel in the American army in Iraq Steven Boylan "We conducted some research and confirm that companies will begin size projects and the extent to which Iraq needs." يشار الي ان العراق ينتج ويصدر النفط بالمستويات التي كانت قبل العام 2003، لكن يتم احراق معظم كميات الغاز الطبيعي التي يتم انتاجها بدلاً من استهلاكها أو تصديرها. It should be noted that Iraq produced and produces oil levels before the year 2003, but are burned most of the natural gas produced rather than consumption or export. فمعامل انتاج الطاقة العراقية تفتقر للفيول ولا يمكنها تأمين حتي ربع الطلب. Agro energy production Iraqi lacked Viol could not secure even a quarter demand.
Azzaman International Newspaper - Issue 2947 - Date 20/3/2008 Azzaman International Newspaper - Issue 2947 - Date 20/3/2008
Sadrists welcome approving provinces law
Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Thursday , 20 /03 /2008 Time 3:02:36
Baghdad, Mar 20, (VOI) - The Sadrist bloc on Thursday welcomed the recent decision taken by the presidential council to approve a draft law to hold provincial elections, asserting the decision was taken because of political and popular pressures.
“The Sadrist bloc welcomes approving the law by the Presidential Council,” Nassar al-Rubaei, head of the Sadrist bloc in the parliament, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI).
“The decision came due to political and popular pressures,” he underlined.
The three-member Presidential Council on Wednesday withdrew its objection to a law calling for provincial elections, temporarily defusing a dispute that erupted last month.
The move came two days after U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney visited Baghdad to press Iraqi leaders to overcome their differences and take advantage of a lull in violence to further political progress.
“The presidential council’s veto could cause a severe problem inside the parliament,” the Sadrist MP said.
“The Sadrists had said earlier that Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi made a big mistake when he vetoed the law,” al-Rubaei added.
“All Shiite political parties, including the Unified Iraqi Coalition, Fadhila party and the Sadrists, ask for approving the law,” he said, noting that the Supreme Islamic Council under the vice president was the only one who rejected it.
The implementation of the law, passed with high-pitched celebrations in early February, was delayed by the council on February 27, due to the objections raised by one of the council's members, Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi, a member of the powerful Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC).
The main sticking point focused on whether local officials or the central government currently led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will have the right to ask parliament to fire provincial governors.
For its part, the Presidential Council issued a statement saying that "there would be no changes to the law" read the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI). The announcement noted the "Council had exercised its right to review the law, delaying its implementation, and that it would now take effect."
The shift in the Council's stance raises the possibility that elections could take place on Oct. 1, despite points of disagreement persisting.
The legislation was intended to correct electoral distortions that had suffered from disproportionate power in regions where many groups had been unwilling to participate in the political process or forced to not participate in local elections.
U.S. officials have repeatedly said that holding new local elections would be an important step forward in Iraqi politics.
Check this out....4) The Rafidain Bank in London has called for documents by creditors in January - all due in for a [COLOR=blue ! important]meeting[/color] on 3/18......
They will be meeting again on 3/20 to finalize. The exchange rate they will be paid off in is Dinar 0.30 to $1.00 US. It is the same rate as the accounts were seized at in 1991. You can find it in the Scheme of Arrangement documentation. The exchange rate is listed in appendix 5 - currency conversion Table.
I posted this table not long ago
Chemical Ali...the heavyweight chump of the world..he he
Iraqi government wants to execute three Saddam aides together
Agencies
Published: March 19, 2008, 14:40
Baghdad: The Iraqi government wants to execute three aides of former president Saddam Hussein together, including his cousin "Chemical Ali", Iraqi media reported on Wednesday.
Ali Hassan Al-Majid, also known as Chemical Ali, along with former defence minister Sultan Hashim and former army chief of operations, Hussein Al-Tikriti, were all sentenced to death in June for a genocide campaign against the Kurds in the 1980s.
Al-Majid earned the name Chemical Ali for gassing the Kurds in the brutal crackdown.
The row over the planned executions pits prime minister Nuri Al-Maliki against the presidential council, which has vetoed the executions of Hashim and Al-Tikriti.
Hashim and Al-Tikriti are regarded by many Sunni Arabs as career soldiers who were just following orders.
Sunni vice-president Tarqi Al-Hashimi has launched a campaign to spare Hashim, who along with the two other Saddam-era officials are in US custody.
The US military is refusing to hand the three over to the Iraqi authorities before the legal wrangling is resolved.
Iraq to get new law to hold fresh local elections
Reuters
Published: March 20, 2008, 00:38
Baghdad: A law paving the way for fresh local elections, seen as vital for reconciliation among Iraq's warring political factions, will be enacted soon, the country's presidential council said on Wednesday.
Provincial elections are seen as a chance to draw more disenfranchised Iraqis, especially minority Sunnis, into the political process and away from the insurgency and sectarian violence that has killed tens of thousands in five years of war.
The passage of Iraq's provincial powers law, which will define the relationship between Iraq's 18 provinces and the central government, had been held up by objections from presidential council member Vice-President Adel Abdul Mahdi.
"The presidential council has decided to withdraw its objections on the provincial powers law and [it] will be sent to the Justice Ministry to be published in the Iraqi gazette," a statement from Iraq's presidency said.
The unexpected announcement by the council came as a two-day reconciliation conference in Baghdad came to an anti-climactic end after major blocs boycotted the poorly attended event.
can't they just do 100 barrels of oil on the wall 100 barrels of oil..take one down give it to Kurds 99 barrels of oil on the wall..etc....lol
yep HCL still rules the nest.The 800 lb gorilla..lol
Yeah stox, I saw that too...beats me man but we keep looking for signs right? all we can do at this point lol
De La Rue currency business to shine in full year results
Josh Brooks, PrintWeek, 19 March 2008
De La Rue's banknote printing division is set to be the star in the group's annual results after a year of strong demand.
In a pre-close trading statement released this morning, the world's biggest currency printer said that better productivity and strong demand had led to a year-on-year improvement in both turnover and profit figures for its Security Paper & Print division.
In 2006/07, the division posted a turnover of £354.5m, an 11.3% improvement on the previous year's figures. Operating profit was £61.7m, up 21% on the previous year.
The reasons for particularly strong demand for banknotes are unclear, and a spokeswoman for De La Rue told printweek.com that the firm does not discuss specific contracts.
However, De La Rue prints more than 150 currencies including sterling, the euro and Iraq's dinar.
Elsewhere, De La Rue said that its Cash Systems division, which supplies cash counting equipment and ATMs, is likely to announce "modest revenue growth" despite a weakening US dollar.
It said that margin improvement had been achieved through improvements to its supply chain.
The statement added: "The group order book has improved in both divisions compared with the prior year, most particularly in the currency activities."
De La Rue's full year results will be published on 22 May
IMF Iraq Makes Progress on Economic Front
Although Iraq continues to experience
perilous conditions, the IMF
said its economy has improved over
the past two years, and a new arrangement
with the IMF will help the war-shattered
economy move toward sustainable growth.
Iraq made significant progress under an
IMF Stand-By Arrangement approved in
December 2005. On December 19, 2007,
the IMF’s Executive Board approved a new
Stand-By Arrangement for Iraq. The decision
to continue supporting Iraq’s economy
recognizes the significant progress
the country made under the first program.
In light of Iraq’s strong international
reserves position, the authorities will treat
the new arrangement as precautionary,
which means that they do not intend to
draw these resources.
But the IMF noted that much remains to
be done to put Iraq on a path to sustainable
growth. The main objectives of the new
program, which will run through March
2009, are to maintain macroeconomic stability,
facilitate higher investment and output
in the oil sector, and advance structural
reforms and institution building.
Top UN envoy to Iraq monitors progress of election preparations
19 March 2008 – Iraq’s independent electoral administrators must remain transparent in their work as they prepare for governorate council polls later this year, the senior United Nations envoy to the country said today after visiting their Baghdad headquarters.
Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, toured the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and observed its efforts to select 6,500 staff members to work at 550 voter registration centres across the country.
The board of commissioners of IHEC provided Mr. de Mistura with an update of preparations to hold the governorate council elections by 1 October, and also told him that further preparations depended on funding and the passage of an election law by the Council of Representatives.
“I’m pleased to see that efforts are under way to prepare for an update of the voter registry and elections,” Mr. de Mistura said after the meeting, stressing the importance of IHEC remaining transparent and professional in its dealings.
The envoy also assured IHEC of the continuous support of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) in the election process.
Rafidain and Rasheed banks Lieberman agreement for the use of smart card
بزنس واقتصاد - 19/03/2008 - 5:46 am Business and Economics - 19/03/2008 - 5:46 am
بغداد – الملف برس Baghdad - Portfolio Press
ابرم مصرفا الرشيد والرافدين اتفاقا مشتركا مع احدى الشركات العالمية لاستخدام البطاقة الذكية التي أصبحت الوسيلة المثلى للتدوال النقدي في العالم. Concluded the Rafidain and Rasheed banks joint agreement with an international company to use the Smart Card, which have become the ideal means of alternating cash in the world.
وقال وكيل شؤون المصارف في وزارة المالية ضياء الخيون ان الأيام القليلة المقبلة ستشهد تداول البطاقة الذكية في مصرفي الرشيد والرافدين بالتعاون مع شركة عراقية مسجلة في الإمارات العربية المتحدة. The assistant on the banks of the Ministry of Finance Zia fired that the next few days would witness a smart card in circulation rational and the Rafidain bank in cooperation with the Iraqi company registered in the United Arab Emirates. وأشار الخيون الى بدء العمل بالنظام الشامل لتطوير العمل المصرفي في مصرف الرافدين فقط وبالاتفاق المشترك مع شركة مايسز البريطانية. He fired to start the Global System for the development of banking operations in the Rafidain Bank and only by mutual agreement with the British company Maysz.
ويأمل كثير من اصحاب المصارف الأهلية والأسواق والمحال التجارية في ان يسهم التداول بالبطاقة الذكية في تنشيط حركة التسوق. He hopes many of the bank owners and civil markets and shops in the smart card circulation contribute to the revitalization of the Movement of shopping.
What must happen for Iraq to be an established success in 2013
Inevitably, five years after the invasion of Iraq, there are attempts, especially by those who are, or were, hostile to the allied coalition, to draw up a balance sheet. In many ways it makes for sorry reading. So many opportunities were missed, so much was left to chance. An extraordinary military victory was vitiated by inept occupation policies. Iraq's history, make-up and traditions were ignored, its sufferings and weaknesses played down. A rundown country has been further weakened by a bloody terrorist campaign, an explosion of atavistic hatreds, virtual civil war and the mass exodus of its ablest citizens. As our analyses over the past week have shown, a tyranny has been overthrown - but at a great cost.
Recriminations, however, are a poor basis for future policy. What matters now, especially to Iraq's long-suffering people, is how the country can be helped towards recovery. Already that recovery has begun. Security is incomparably better than it was two years ago. There are fewer sectarian killings and suicide bombings. Al- Qaeda is on the run, as sickened Iraqis turn on the pathological murderers. People are venturing out of their houses and on to the streets. Trade is beginning to recover and exiles are coming home. A government paralysed by wrangling and sectarian suspicion has passed vital long-term legislation. Wrecked infrastructure is slowly being repaired. Oil revenues are at last bringing in the huge sums needed to fund Iraq's rehabilitation.
Three factors will largely determine the next few years: America, Iran and what happens on the ground. There is an expectation that much will change in Iraq itself after the US election. That is wrong. Given the success of the surge, neither Democratic contender nor John McCain, if elected, will order a swift US military withdrawal. To do so would jeopardise all the recent gains. There may be scope for some force reductions; but what Iraq needs is a properly trained and equipped army, a competent police force and an external security guarantor. Some Iraqi brigades are fairly capable but few can yet act on their own. Al-Qaeda still has strongholds that must be smashed. US forces must remain engaged for years - and with them American policymakers.
Iraq cannot recover without the help of its neighbours. The most influential is Iran, a country with a vital security interest but one also with a huge capacity for mischief. Perhaps because, in its hubris, it believes it has triumphed, Iran has played a more responsible role in recent months. Funding and support for terrorism have dwindled. Political engagement has been stepped up. Tehran seems willing even to countenance a tacit security understanding with the Americans. That must be encouraged. But Iran should exercise no hegemony. Iraq's Arab neighbours must end their pusillanimous and self-righteous refusal to intervene, open embassies in Baghdad, engage the various political groups and underpin Iraq's educational and cultural links with the Muslim world broken by Saddam's misrule.
Most importantly, however, Iraqis themselves must press their bickering Government to make those compromises essential to hold the country together. This means dividing oil revenues fairly, institutionalising regional autonomy, curbing tribal factionalism and sectarian militias, expanding trade and overcoming the tradition of vendetta politics. Real democracy may be a long way off. But with a framework for co-existence, tolerance and enterprise at home, and recovery sustained abroad, Iraq has, at last, a chance.
Iraq oil deals total $2.5bn
The Iraqi government is expected to pay up to $2.5 billion to five top oil companies to increase the country's oil output by nearly a quarter.
In what would be the biggest foreign involvement for decades, Baghdad is close to signing technical support contracts with BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Total, according to Reuters.
Thamir Ghadhban, energy adviser to Iraq's prime minister, said he expected the contracts, which would add 500,000 barrels per day to current production of 2.27 million bpd, would be signed by early next month.
"There is a rough estimate that it could cost about $400 to $500 million per field," he said in an interview.
"So a total could be up to between $2 billion and $2.5 billion over two years that should be paid by the government to companies."
With oil prices at around $100 a barrel, the contracts could mean extra revenues to Iraq of around $1.5 billion a month before costs, according to Reuters calculations.
Ghadhban said Iraqi representatives met with company officials last week in Amman, Jordan, to discuss final details of the initially two-year contracts, including whether payment would be by cash or by oil.
"As far as we are concerned, everything is positive and it's a matter of time for the minister of oil and oil companies to finalize and shake hands," he said.
Shell is negotiating for the northern Kirkuk oilfield and is also in talks, along with BHP Billiton, for the development of the Maysan fields.
BP also has its eyes on Iraq's southern Rumaila field, while Exxon wants the contract for the Zubair oilfield in Basra.
Finally, Chevron and Total are looking to work together to develop the West Qurna oilfield.
Ghadhban said he expected the companies to boost output by around 100,000 bpd at each of the fields.
The ongoing talks have also given the five major oil companies a head start in efforts to bid for future oil contracts.
"I have no doubt whatsoever those five major companies are going to be qualified," he said. "They are major oil companies and of course they will be qualified."
More than 100 companies have registered to compete for oil extraction and service contracts to help develop Iraq's oil reserves, the world's third largest.
Ghadhban said the government was expected to announce the list of qualified companies next month, a month later than initially expected.
He said the technical support contracts with the five oil majors needed to be finalised before the government could move on to other contracts
http://www.upstreamonline.com/incomi...icle150876.ece
yep, some news trickling in now
Maliki calls to renounce political blocs differences among themselves
طالب رئيس الوزراء نوري المالكي امس الثلاثاء قادة الكتل السياسية بنبذ الخلافات فيما بينهم وتوحيد الصف الوطني. Asked Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki yesterday, Tuesday, leaders of political blocs to renounce the differences among them and unify the national front.
جاء ذلك في كلمة القاها خلال افتتاح مؤتمر القوى السياسية بهدف تسريع المصالحة الوطنية. This came in a speech he delivered during the opening of the political forces to speed up national reconciliation.
وقد قاطعت كل من جبهة التوافق العراقية والكتلة الصدرية اعمال المؤتمر فيما نوّه رئيس الوزراء بالجهود التي تبذلها حكومته لتحقيق المصالحة الوطنية. Having boycotted by the Iraqi Accord Front and mass chest of the Conference with the Prime Minister noted the efforts made by his government to achieve national reconciliation.
بدوره قال المتحدث باسم جبهة التوافق العراقية سليم عبد الله الجبوري ان الجبهة قاطعت مؤتمر المصالحة الوطنية "لأن الحكومة أرادت أن تجير هذا الحدث لصالحها" . Turn spokesman said Iraqi Accord Front Salim Abdullah Nation that the front boycotted the national reconciliation conference "because the government wanted to Tagir this event to their advantage."
واوضح الجبوري بأن الحكومة لم تلتزم بما اتفق عليه في المؤتمرات السابقة مشيرا الى مقاطعة عدد آخر من الكتل النيابية للمؤتمر. The Nation that the government did not honor what has been agreed upon in previous conferences, pointing to the province a number of other parliamentary blocs of the conference.
من جانبه قال رئيس مجلس النواب محمود المشهداني إنه يدعم جميع الجهود الرامية لإنجاح المصالحة الوطنية. For his part, House Speaker Mahmoud Mashhadani that he supports all efforts for the success of national reconciliation.
Alkervolli describes visits American officials to Iraq to another surprise
وصف النائب عن جبهة التوافق العراقية عمر عبد الستار الكربولي زيارات المسؤولين الأميركيين للعراق في هذا الوقت بأنها غير مفاجئة معتبرا اياها جزء من حملة الانتخابات التي يشهدها السباق نحو البيت الأبيض. Description deputy Iraqi Accord Front Omar Abdel Sattar Alkervolli visits by American officials to Iraq at this time that it is not a surprise, considering them part of the election campaign taking place in the race to the White House.
وقال الكربولي في حديث مع (راديو سوا) ان حملة الانتخابات الرئاسية تمر بمنعطفات معروفة وربما تأتي زيارات المسؤولين الأميركيين في اطار دعم حملة ماكين الانتخابية وخصوصا انه يبدو الأوفر حظا في حصد اصوات الناخبين. He said in an interview with Alkervolli (Radio Sawa) that the presidential election campaign with curves known and perhaps come visits by American officials in support of McCain electoral campaign, especially as it seems most likely in harvesting votes.
واشار الى احتمال ان تكون تلك الزيارات كرد فعل لزيارة الرئيس الإيراني محمود احمدي نجاد الى بغداد او انها جاءت لتواكب بداية المفاوضات بين بغداد وواشنطن حول الاتفاقية الطويلة المدى بين الحكومتين. He pointed to the possibility that such visits reaction to the visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Baghdad or she came to keep up with the beginning of negotiations between Baghdad and Washington on the agreement between both the long term.
مؤكد ان ما يهم العراقيين في هذا الصدد هو التحسن الأمني الذي يجب ان" يترجم الى تحسن سياسي والتقاء الجميع على مشروع وطني يشمل تعديلا دستوريا لإعادة التوازن الى العملية السياسية التي ضاق بها العراقيون ذرعا". Uncertain what matters Iraqis in this regard is the improvement of security which must be "translated into improved political and meet everyone on the national project includes a constitutional amendment to restore balance to the political process by which Iraqis too tired."
Wednesday March 19 (March) 2008, at 12:50 Baghdad time
مصرف الوركاء في ميسان يطلق خدمة الصراف الآلي Bank in the northern Maysan called ATM service
اطلق مصرف الوركاء لاول مرة في محافظة ميسان خدمة الصراف الآلي الذي يعمل بالبطاقة الذكية لتقديم الخدمة للمواطنين على مدار الساعة. Bank northern launched for the first time in the province of Maysan service ATM smart card which works to provide service to citizens around the clock.
وأبدى المواطنون في محافظة ميسان ترحيبهم لخدمة الصرّاف الآلي ومواكبة التطور العالمي في هذا المجال معربين عن املهم في ان تنتشر هذه الخدمة في جميع انحاء البلاد. A citizens in the province of Maysan welcomed the ATM service and keep up with global development in this area and expressed the hope that the spread of this service throughout the country.
من جانب اخر انجزت الهيئة العامة للطرق والجسور في وزارة الأعمار والإسكان المراحل الأخيرة لجسر الكريعات العائم الذي يربط منطقتي الكريعات والكاظمية شمالي بغداد. Another completed by the General Authority for Roads and Bridges in the Ministry of Construction and Housing final stages of Alkriet pontoon bridge, which links the areas Alkriet and Kazimiya north of Baghdad.
واوضح رئيس المهندسين المشرف على انجاز المشروع عامر فيصل ان مجلس محافظة بغداد كلف الوزارة بإنجاز الجسر لحل ازمة الاختناقات المرورية على جسر المثنى بعد اغلاق جسر الأئمة المؤدي إلى المنطقة. The president of Engineers supervisor of the completion of the project Amir Faisal that the Baghdad governorate commissioned ministry completing the bridge to resolve the crisis jams on the bridge Muthanna after the closing Imams bridge leading to the area
Iraq cuts oil price to Europe, ups US
by Simon Webb on Thursday, 13 March 2008
IRAQI OIL: Iraq has cut the official selling price of its Basra Light crude for April loading by $2.20 a barrel to European buyers and raised prices for the US. (Getty Images)Iraq has cut the official selling price of its Basra Light crude for April loading by $2.20 a barrel to European buyers and raised prices for the US, an Iraqi oil official said on Thursday.
The April Basra Light price for European buyers was set at BFOE minus $6.25 versus $4.05 in March.
For customers in the United States, the Basra Light price for April was raised by 60 cents to second month WTI minus $7.05 from minus $7.65 in March. (Reuters)
Iraqi law paves way for provincial vote
3/19/2008, 2:09 p.m. EDTBy SAMEER N. YACOUB The Associated Press
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's presidential council approved a law Wednesday that paves the way for provincial elections, giving a major boost to U.S.-backed efforts to promote national reconciliation on the fifth anniversary of the war.
The move came two days after Vice President Dick Cheney visited Baghdad to press Iraqi leaders to overcome their differences and take advantage of a lull in violence to make political progress.
Many Sunnis boycotted the January 2005 election in which Iraqis chose a parliament and provincial councils. The vote ushered in representational government, but it also gave majority Shiites and minority Kurds the bulk of power, including at the provincial level.
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The U.S. hopes new elections, to be held by Oct. 1 according to the measure, would give the Sunnis more political power and thereby weaken the insurgency.
The three-member presidential council, which must sign off on legislation passed by parliament, had rejected the measure on Feb. 27.
The main sticking point focused on whether local officials or the central government currently led by Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will have the right to ask the parliament to fire provincial governors.
Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi had objected to a provision that gave the power to the prime minister.
Abdul-Mahdi is a senior official in the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, the country's largest Shiite party. The party wields considerable regional power and the law's rejection had drawn criticism that Abdul-Mahdi was putting his party's interests above the nation's.
Abdul-Mahdi agreed to sign off on the law, according to Nasser al-Ani, a Sunni lawmaker and presidential council spokesman.
"This is a good, positive step to enhance national unity and defuse the political tension," al-Ani told The Associated Press.
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lol...unskilled labor?
Iraqi ministers' performance questioned
Baghdad claims improvements; the GAO claims otherwise.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Erbil, 19 March 2008 (Kurdish Globe)
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Two relevant reports show different information on the Iraqi government's expenditure of its money.
The Iraqi government spent a humble sum not exceeding 7% of its $10.1 billion 2007 budget allocated for capital projects and reconstruction till November 2007, according to a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), presented to U.S. Congress on March 11.
The report, presented by the U.S. Comptroller General David M. Walker, also contended that "despite the United States' investment of about $6 billion to rebuild Iraq's oil and electricity sectors, production in both sectors has consistently fallen below U.S. program goals of 3 million barrels per day and 6,000 megawatts of electrical peak generation capacity."
The U.S. auditors are eyeing the Iraqi government's expenditure rate of its own oil revenues, which soared this year and brought the country a budget surplus. In addition, this comes as the U.S. continues to invest billions of dollars in rebuilding Iraq and internally faces a financial squeeze because of oil prices.
Research on the weak performance of the Iraqi government in 2007 is not only being rejected in Baghdad, but they are also assuring that there have been improvements in projects compared to the previous few years.
Two of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki's advisors for economic affairs published a report showing improvement in the rate of the executed investment project at the Iraqi ministries.
Al-Maliki's advisors, Kamal Al-Basri and Faruq Abdul-Qader, say in their report published early this month that "the rate of executing investment projects at the Iraqi ministries including Kurdistan Region have reached 68%, while the rate of the executed investment projects at the Iraqi governorates reached 74%," depending on figures by the Iraqi Finance Ministry.
The Kurdistan Regional Government's ministries were able to carry out 100% of their allocated budget for reconstruction, according to information announced by the Iraqi Finance Ministry; the budget for Kurdistan Region makes 17% of the country's general budget, and it come from Baghdad as well.
Meanwhile, the ministries operated by Kurds in Baghdad, such as Industry, Municipality, and Water Resources, were able to use 93-100% of their reconstruction allocation.
Fazil Nabi, Deputy Minister of Iraqi Finance, said that 40% of the $50 billion of oil income within the budget 2008 would be allocated for reconstruction projects. Kurdistan Region gains 17% of this sum. The Iraqi official also said that the unspent reconstruction budgets in 2007 would be allowed to the requiring ministries in this year.
Back to the GAO report, it-like previous reports made by U.S. officials-lacks proper views on Kurdistan Region in particular.
In a statement to Radio Sawa on Friday, al-Basri replied about the contradictions between his report and the GAO report, saying that the Iraqi government "easily can defend its figures."
Despite the contradictions in the statistics, both reports noticed weak points of government performance.
The GAO report counts several challenges facing the Iraqi ministries that pose a risk to their success and long-term sustainability. First, the Iraqi ministries lack personnel with key skills, such as budgeting and procurement. Second, sectarian influence over ministry leadership and staff complicated efforts to build a professional and nonaligned civil service. Third, pervasive corruption in the Iraqi ministries impeded effectiveness of U.S. efforts. Fourth, security conditions exist that limit U.S. advisors' access to their Iraqi counterparts.
As for the Iraqi government report, it counts factors that negatively influenced the percentage rate of the executing of projects. The factors include absence of security and law sovereignty; absence of a positive investment condition that hinders transporting; work requirements; and contracting with contractors of high quality. The report also pointed to the absence of complete inspection and supervision on projects.
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Final statement of the second conference for national reconciliation
"بيان صحفي" "PRESS RELEASE" تحت شعار... Under the slogan ...
(معاً لوحدة القوى الوطنية لتحقيق الأمن والأعمار واستكمال السيادة) (Together for the unity of nationalist forces to achieve security, reconstruction and completion of sovereignty)
وعلى بركة الله عقد المؤتمر الوطني الثاني للقوى السياسية العراقية في بغداد للفترة من18-آذار ولغاية التاسع عشر منه 2008. And God's blessing held Second National Conference of the Iraqi political forces in Baghdad for the period from 18 - March until the nineteenth of 2008.
وتحت رعاية دولة رئيس مجلس الوزراء الأستاذ نوري كامل المالكي ومشاركة سيادة رئيس مجلس النواب العراقي وممثل هيئة الرئاسة أضافه إلى أكثر من 400 شخصية سياسية وثقافية ودينية ومجتمعية تمثل القوى الوطنية والشخصيات السياسية من مختلف تنوعات المجتمع العراقي، منها المشاركة في العملية السياسية في داخل مجلس النواب وخارجه ومنها من هو خارج العملية السياسية في داخل العراق او خارجه وكذلك قيادات بعض المجاميع المسلحة التي عادت للصف الوطني. Under the auspices of the Prime Minister Professor Nuri al-Maliki and the full participation of the President of the Chamber of Deputies and the Iraqi representative of the Presidency in addition to the more than 400 political, cultural, religious and community are strong national and political figures from various variations of Iraqi society, including participation in the political process within the House and outside , which is outside of the political process inside or outside Iraq, as well as some leaders of armed groups that have returned to the national chapter.
كان سقف المشاركة في المؤتمر مفتوحاً ولا يحد منه شيء سوى الأنفاق على الثوابت الوطنية والدستورية. The roof participation in the conference is open not only to limit spending on national constants and constitutional.
انتظم المشاركون بأربعة ورش عمل لدراسة مجموعة من القضايا الوطنية التي تعزز العملية السياسية وبناء العراق الجديد. Participants attended four workshops to study a range of national issues that promote the political process and building the new Iraq.
ولابد أن نشيد بالحضور المتميز للقوى المجتمعية والميدانية من مجالس الصحوة والإسناد والتي ساهمت بشكل مباشر مع قواتنا الأمنية في تحسن الوضع الأمني وجعل المصالحة الوطنية ممكنة على المستوى المجتمعي. We must commend the distinguished audience of community and a strong field of awakening and backing boards, which contributed directly with our security forces to improve the security situation and make national reconciliation possible at the community level. وفتحت الباب أمام القوى السياسية الوطنية لتحقيق المصالحة الوطنية على المستوى السياسي. , And opened the door to the national political forces to achieve national reconciliation at the political level.
والشكر موصول للذين تجشموا عناء السفر الطويل من خارج العراق للمشاركة في المؤتمر والمساهمة فيه. And thanks go to those who travel long gone trouble from outside Iraq to participate in the conference and contribute to it.
تبنت لجنة(أاستثمار ومتابعة نتائج المؤتمر)استقبال التوصيات التي توصل أليها المؤتمرون وفتحت باب الإدلاء بالآراء الإضافية من خلال التواصل بالبريد الالكتروني مع اللجنة لاحقاً. Adopted the Commission (Aastosmar and follow-up conference) receive recommendations reached by the conferees, and opened the door to make additional views through e-mail communication with the Committee later.
كما ستلتزم اللجنة التحضيرية للمؤتمر ومن خلال وزارة الدولة للحوار الوطني برفع هذه التوصيات إلى مجلسي النواب والوزراء. As will the Preparatory Committee for the conference through the Ministry of State for National Dialogue lift these recommendations to the House of Representatives and the Cabinet.
أكدت التوصيات بمختلفها على الالتزام بالثوابت الوطنية ووحدة العراق أرضاً وشعباً وأدانت الإرهاب كما أدانت نهج التكفير والتخوين والتهجير التي مارسها أعداء العراق بحق مواطنينا. The recommendations as to adhere to national principles and the unity of Iraq's land and people and condemned terrorism and condemned a penance, mistrust and displacement exerted by the enemies of Iraq against our citizens.
ولابد من الإشارة إلى أن كتل وقوى سياسية وبرلمانية مشاركة في العملية السياسية شاركت في أعمال الجلسة الافتتاحية للمؤتمر تضامناً وأيمانا منها بأهمية مشروع المصالحة الوطنية وان انسحابها من باقي الجلسات لأسباب مختلفة لا يخل ولا يؤثر على أصل المشاركة في المؤتمر وأيمانها العميق بضرورة تفعيل المصالحة الوطنية. It must be noted that the masses, political forces and parliamentary participation in the political process participated in the opening meeting of the Conference of solidarity and belief in the importance of the draft national reconciliation and a withdrawal from the rest of meetings for various reasons do not prejudice or affect the continued participation in the conference and deep belief in the need to activate the national reconciliation.
الدكتور Dr.
تحسين الشيخلي Improve Shaykhli
المتحدث الرسمي للمؤتمر Spokesman for the Conference
Maliki pledged merging forces awakening hung in the institutions of security
ا ف ب AFP
Wednesday, 19 March 2008 Wednesday, 19 March 2008
تعهد رئيس الوزراء العراقي نوري المالكي الاربعاء خلال مشاركته في احتفالات ذكرى المولد النبوي في حي الاعظمية، ابرز مناطق العرب السنة في بغداد، دمج قوات مجالس الصحوة في هذا الحي ضمن المؤسسات الامنية. Iraqi Prime Minister pledged Nuri al-Maliki Wednesday during his participation in the celebrations of the anniversary of Muhammad's birth in the neighborhood hung, the most prominent areas of the Sunni Arabs in Baghdad, merging forces councils awakening in this district within the security institutions.
وقال المالكي امام الحضور في مسجد الامام ابو حنيفة النعمان "هؤلاء ابناؤنا الذين وقفوا وصرخوا صرخة الحق في وجه الباطل لابد ان يكون لهم موقعهم. وموقفهم الكريم مثار اعجاب للجميع". Maliki said the attendance at the mosque Imam Abu Hanifa Naman "Those are our children who stood and screamed a cry right in the face of evil, we have to have a location. Their holy cause and admiration for all."
واضاف المالكي الذي يشارك للمرة الاولى في مثل هذه الاحتفالات في الاعظمية "سنعمل على تسهيل كل الصعاب (...) وفتح كل الدوائر والمؤسسات المغلقة، واستقبال ابناءنا الذين وقفوا بحزم في مواجهة هذه التحديات". He added Maliki, who participated for the first time in such celebrations hung in the "We will work to facilitate all difficulties (...) and opening all departments and institutions closed, the reception of our sons who stood firmly in the face of these challenges."
والقى المالكي كلمته بعد ان خاطبه رئيس الوقف السني الشيخ احمد عبد الغفور السامرائي قائلا "اننا بحاجة لدمج من تنطبق عليه الشروط في صفوف الجيش والشرطة، لان الشباب بذلوا الارواح (...) نريد مكافاتهم واعتقد ان دولة رئيس الوزراء لا يستكثر على اولادنا ان يكونوا جزءا من المؤسسة العسكرية والامنية". Maliki delivered his speech after the moratorium addressed by the President of the Sunni Sheikh Ahmed Abdel Ghafour Samurai, saying "we need to integrate the applicable conditions in the ranks of the army and police, because young people have made life (...) we want to reward, I think that the Prime Minister does not begrudge our children to be part of the military and security. "
وتابع السامرائي "اهيب بدولته ان يشكل لجنة لان اكثر من ثلاثين قائدا من الصحوة والانقاذ زاروني خلال الاسبوعين الماضيين وحملوني الامانة نريد ان يامر باحتواء هذا العدد الكبير الذي يعاهد على السعي الى تحقيق الامن". He continued Samurai "I call going to be a committee because more than thirty leader of awakening and rescue Zaroni over the past two weeks, struck the Secretariat want to order containing such a large number who favor the pursuit of security."
وتضم مجالس الصحوة البالغ عددها نحو 135 والتي تشكلت بدعم مادي اميركي لمحاربة شبكة القاعدة ما لايقل عن 80 الف مقاتل غالبيتهم من العرب السنة. The awakening of the boards of some 135 which formed American material support to fight the Al-Qaeda network no fewer than 80 thousand fighters, most of whom are Sunni Arabs.
واوضح السامرائي ان "اكثر من مئتي عائلة من سكان الاعظمية عادوا الى الحي، نريد ان تكون الاعظمية نموذجا يفتخر به العراقيون بغض النظر عن الانتماءات الطائفية". Samurai pointed out that "more than two hundred people hung family returned to live, we want to be hung model proud of the Iraqis, regardless of ethnic affiliations."
وتساءل "اين العالم الاسلامي؟ فنحن بكل اطيافنا ومكوناتنا سنة وشيعة نقف وقفة واحدة ضد الارهاب". He wondered, "Where the Islamic world? We all Attiyava and Mkunatena Sunni, Shiite pause for one against terrorism."
ورافق المالكي وزير الداخلية جواد البولاني والفريق عبود قنبر قائد عمليات خطة "فرض القانون" في بغداد. Maliki accompanied Interior Minister Jawad uranium and the Working Abboud Qunbur commander of the "law enforcement" in Baghdad.
وقد سيطر مجلس الصحوة منتصف تشرين الثاني/نوفمبر الماضي على الاعظمية بعد ان تمكن من طرد مقاتلي القاعدة. He dominated the mid-awakening in November last hung After able to expel al-Qaeda fighters.
This Question Was Asked: What exchange rate of this capital budget allocated to each sector oil?
This is a long article, but in the middle of it this question was asked...
What exchange rate of this capital budget allocated to each sector oil? Not sure what it means, if anything.
03/19/08
Proceedings long round table .. Lawsuit to revive the National Oil Company and the participation of Iraqis in the draft shares
Excerpt:
Northern production fields
[color=black]As I talked in the past meeting the system northern fields play a role in the perpetuation of the lost production after the last two years has begun to move since last September, during the past four months was able Iraq from shipping large quantities of oil through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, and almost 33 million barrels during the four months years, as well as last month the system was able to issue at North 360 thousand barrels per day and this good gesture and receive shadows on the ground that the Iraqi security operation correlated with the process of economic and processes are interrelated with the political process, which we hope to continue the protection of oil installations and to continue the draft national reconciliation, which resulted in least to provide protection to the oil installations that were able to continue to pump oil from the northern system .. Perhaps we might get indications from these figures: that Iraq might be able to achieve the planned 2008 budget revenues, since what is planned will be about 1,700 million barrels daily figures indicate the possibility of achieving, and our ambition encouraged by the direction that paying more. But the question that arises is: Can productive companies in the south and north of achieving that? .. This question needs to pause and reflection and study .. One indicator to know this possibility is the implementation of the budget for this investment companies and generally Othdtna allocations from the Government for the oil sector during the past four years, we will find that it exceeded the more than $ 7 billion or more,the question that can set the overall framework through knowledge is: What exchange rate of this capital budget allocated to each sector oil? Indeed, the rate there had scarcely ambitious .. About 48 90 2006 is the worst years undergone this sector terms of budget implementation investment.
http://www.almadapaper.com/
Iraq PM assures jobs for Sunni anti-Qaeda fighters
19/03/2008 14:20 BAGHDAD, March 19 (AFP)
Iraq PM assures jobs for Sunni anti-Qaeda fighters
Iraq's Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki visited the Sunni bastion of Adhamiyah in Baghdad on Wednesday and promised to offer jobs to Sunni Arabs who were fighting Al-Qaeda there.
Maliki was participating in a function in the northern Baghdad neighbourhood to mark the birth anniversary of prophet Mohammed.
This was his first visit since he became the premier in 2006 to Adhamiyah, a bastion of Sunni Arabs loyal to executed dictator Saddam Hussein and a former Al-Qaeda insurgent stronghold.
Maliki, whose visit is seen as a major step to boost national reconciliation in Iraq, said the government will "open the doors of all the establishments to welcome" the men who are fighting Al-Qaeda.
"I am proud of the efforts of the sons of this neighbourhood. We will welcome our sons who are challenging terrorism and injustice. They will have suitable jobs. What they have done is amazing," Maliki said.
Hundreds of young Sunni Arabs have allied themselves with the security forces in the district to thwart Al-Qaeda attacks in an area which was a key insurgent flashpoint after the toppling of the former regime five years ago.
These men are part of the overall Al-Sahwa, or awakening groups as they are known across Iraq. These groups have been fighting mainly alongside US forces against Al-Qaeda militants.
The US military pays them around 300 dollars a month.
Dozens of Iraqi soldiers surrounded the premier, who was accompanied by Interior Minister Jawad Bolani and senior Iraqi commander Qasim Ata, for the Adhamiyah visit.
Iraqi Girls Selling Their Bodies In Syria <now we're talking>
Posted GMT 3-19-2008 0:56:4
Location -- a smoky, dimly-lit night club in the outskirts of Syria`s capital, Independent writes.
Wearing glaring make-up, tight jeans and tops, girls climb the stage and seductively dance, attempting to allure men from the audience.
The club manager sits behind the scenes, doing business and arranging the end of their evening with clients.
The fact that most of them are not even 16 years old does not worry anyone at all. After all, prostitution is a lucrative business.
Approximately 95 percent of these girls come from Iraq, while most customers are from the severely conservative climate of Saudi Arabia.
Selling their bodies to live
More and more Iraqis are requesting asylum, over 45,000 requests were submitted last year alone. Fleeing violent American marines and CIA agents, many have chosen the lesser evil -- Syria. As they do not have a source of income, and they cannot return to Iraq, the women have nothing left to do but prostitute themselves because they have to survive somehow.
"I don`t like it, but what can I do? I hope things get better in Iraq, because I miss it. I want to go back, but I have to look after my sister," said 17-year-old Zahara who came to Syria from Baghdad.
Syria has become a popular destination
Thanks to Iraqi girls, Syria has become a popular destination for men who are leaving their conservative countries in a search for a bit of pleasure, which they have to pay for, of course, AlterNet writes.
It is necessary to single out 300 to 500 dollars for a night with these poor girls, but they only get 50 dollars from the sum, if they satisfy their clients that is.
errrr, would you be referring to muah? lol ya big time slow down in news from all ME newspapers
KRG to announce two more oil deals
Oil, Kurdistan
(UPI) -- Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government will announce two more oil deals in coming days as it develops its oil sector with state-owned and private oil firms. There has been no response yet from Baghdad after the KRG’s announcement last Tuesday of another six production-sharing contracts it has signed. The KRG’s semiautonomous region in Iraq’s north has the geological makeup for major oil and natural gas deposits but has 0.5 percent of Iraq’s proven oil reserves.
Baghdad has called the KRG’s oil deals illegal, saying it needs to wait for a national oil law to be approved. That law is being held up for lack of agreement as to whether the federal government or regions and provinces have the authority to sign deals, among other reasons. KRG Natural Resources Minister Ashti Hawrami told United Press International in a telephone interview two additional oil deals, including at least one with “a Western company,” will be announced “in just a few days, maybe a week.” According to a KRG map of exploration blocks, it has 28 either open or pending contracts.
The KRG has signed deals with a number of smaller, more risk-taking firms, including Hunt Oil of Dallas. Larger firms fear blacklisting from Baghdad, which will likely have the say-so on the majority of Iraq’s oil deals. But Tuesday’s announcement of deals by the KRG shows the applicants for its deals are getting weightier. A subsidiary of MOL Hungarian Oil and Gas was part of two production-sharing contracts. India’s largest private oil company, Reliance Energy, and Central Europe powerhouse OMV, an Austrian firm, each signed two production-sharing contracts.
The KRG also awarded four “strategic blocks” to the Kurdistan Exploration and Production Co. and gave the discovered but not developed Khurmala oil field to the Kurdistan National Oil Co. Both KEPCO -- which will concentrate on exploration and production -- and KNOC -- an operator of discovered fields -- were newly formed under the KRG’s oil law but would send revenues to Baghdad to redistribute. Hawrami said the companies “answer to the Council of Ministers in Kurdistan and is monitored and regulated by the Ministry of Natural Resources in Kurdistan, and is recognized by the Parliament in Kurdistan.” KNOC will also build a 50,000 barrels per day refinery.
I think theres alot going on that we will never know about till it happens..imo
Bush's speech...nothing about Dinar...sob
Iraqi Provincial Elections Law Approved
BAGHDAD - Iraq's presidential council has withdrawn its objection to a provincial elections law. The announcement on the fifth anniversary of the war gives a major boost to U.S.-backed efforts to promote national reconciliation.
The move comes three weeks after the law was rejected because of concerns by Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi.
Wednesday's statement says the council approved the bill after talks with legislators and political blocs. The decision paves the way for a national vote on Oct. 1 that the United States hopes will give the Sunnis more political power.
Bush to Say Iraq War Worth `High Cost in Lives and Treasure'
By Nicholas Johnston and Hans Nichols
March 19 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush will argue today the Iraq War has been worth the ``high cost in lives and treasure'' because recent successes there are paving the way for a broader victory against terrorists.
In a speech marking the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion, scheduled for delivery this morning at the Pentagon, the president will say American forces are prevailing in Iraq because of his decision to send more troops to the country. That effort must be sustained, he says.
``The successes we are seeing in Iraq are undeniable, yet some in Washington still call for retreat,'' Bush will say, according to excerpts of the speech released by the White House. ``War critics can no longer credibly argue that we are losing.''
Bush is making a case for continued U.S. involvement in Iraq to what polls show is a skeptical public. He also is confronting repeated attempts, so far unsuccessful, by Democrats in Congress to set a deadline for U.S. withdrawal.
``The military has done its job,'' Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid yesterday. ``It is time for this administration and Iraq's political leaders to do theirs.''
The two contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination, Senators Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois both have promised to begin withdrawing U.S. troops if elected.
``The fact is, there is no military solution to Iraq's civil war,'' Clinton said yesterday in Philadelphia.
The U.S. has about 158,000 military personnel in Iraq after Bush boosted the number troops last year.
`Faltering' Before Surge
In the speech excerpts, Bush says that before the extra troop deployments, the mission in Iraq was ``faltering'' as terrorists and insurgents destabilized the country.
``The surge has done more than turn the situation in Iraq around; it has opened the door to a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror,'' Bush will say. ``The challenge in the period ahead is to consolidate the gains we have made and seal the extremists' defeat.''
Because of the surge, ``we are witnessing the first large- scale Arab uprising against Osama bin Laden, his grim ideology, and his terror network,'' Bush says. ``The significance of this development cannot be overstated.''
Bush criticizes congressional Democrats, who have attacked the money being spent on the war and derided what he called ``exaggerated estimates'' of its cost.
War Costs
Congress has already appropriated more than $400 billion for military operations in Iraq. Nobel economics laureate Joseph Stiglitz told Congress's Joint Economic Committee last month that the war may end up costing the U.S. more than $3 trillion once all bills associated with the conflict come due.
In addition, at least 3,988 U.S. personnel have died in Iraq and 29,395 more have been wounded, according to Department of Defense figures.
``No one would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure,'' Bush says, ``but those costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq.''
Withdrawing too soon would lead to violence spreading beyond Iraq.
``Out of such chaos in Iraq, the terrorist movement could emerge emboldened,'' Bush says. ``A free Iraq will fight terrorists rather than harbor them.''
Withdrawals
The U.S. is in the process of pulling five of 20 combat brigades out of Iraq, totaling about 20,000 soldiers. General David Petraeus has said he wants to take time to assess security after that series of withdrawals ends in mid-July. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are scheduled to deliver a progress report on Iraq to Congress next month.
Vice President Dick Cheney spent two days in Iraq this week, rallying troops and vowing that the U.S. will stay committed to its mission to end the conflict in the country. ``Tyranny in Iraq was worth defeating,'' Cheney said yesterday. ``Democracy in Iraq is worth defending.''
At a military briefing Monday, officials presented statistics showing a decline in violence in Iraq. Weekly attacks in the country have dropped from a peak of 1,550 in July 2007 to about 450 in mid-March of this year. Car bombs and suicide attacks, about 130 a month in March 2007, were down to about 45 in February.
To contact the reporter on this story: Nicholas Johnston in Washington at njohnston3@bloomberg.net; Hans Nichols in Washington at Hnichols2@bloomberg.net;
Last Updated: March 19, 2008 06:12 EDT