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equals lots of petros and...REVAL BABY
No date for talks: US, Iraqi officials in Baghdad hahaha
(Reuters)
8 March 2008
BAGHDAD - US and Iraqi officials in Baghdad said there was no firm date for senior officials from both sides to start talks on future relations, after a spokesman in Washington said they would start on Saturday.
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said the talks would begin in earnest on Saturday and that ambassador Ryan Crocker would lead the US delegation.
‘There is no starting gun today for these talks. We’ll just kind of evolve along,’ US embassy spokesman Phil Reeker said.
Iraqi government spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh also said there were no talks scheduled for Saturday.
He said when the talks began they would focus on security and the future role of the US military, diplomatic and political relations between Baghdad and Washington, and economic and cultural ties.
Preparations for the talks have been under way for some time but no firm start date has been set. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari has said he hopes the pact will be concluded by July.
Crocker told Reuters in January the pact would frame the bilateral relationship for ‘years and even decades ahead’.
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Progress made in Iraq oil oversight: IMF official
(Reuters)
8 March 2008
WASHINGTON - A U.N. watchdog agency cannot say whether all of Iraq’s oil money was properly used but significant progress has been made to improve transparency, an International Monetary Fund official said on Friday.
Bert Keuppens, one of two IMF officials on the United Nation’s International Monitoring and Advisory Board (IAMB), said more than $100 billion has flowed into an Iraq oil fund since it was launched in 2003.
“Our objective was to be able to report that all oil revenues were used for the benefit of the Iraqi people,” Keuppens told IMF Survey publication.
“Because of many shortcomings in a country that is torn apart by war, the IAMB has not been able to unilaterally declare that all oil revenues have been used for the benefit of the Iraqi people. You simply have no control over all oil revenues.”
Oil is the country’s main source of hard currency needed to rebuild after years of mayhem prompted by a 2003 US-led invasion. Proceeds from oil sales pass through the Development Fund for Iraq.
In 2007, oil output was around 2 million barrels, of which three-fourths were exported, amounting to between $25 billion and $30 billion a year in sales, Keuppens said.
The bulk of the money is used for budget support in Iraq and flows through the finance ministry to spending ministries, which are subject to IAMB audits.
Short answer
Asked whether the IAMB had encountered corruption in its work, Keuppens said: “The short answer is yes. Under the circumstances one would expect that.”
However, “significant progress has been made in ensuring that the oil revenues are used for the benefit of the Iraqi people, which was the original objective of the body,” he said.
Keuppens said oil smuggling had been reduced and there were better controls over the oil being pumped out of the ground.
The U.N. Security Council created the IAMB to watch over the stewardship of Iraq’s natural wealth. It includes representatives from the IMF, the United Nations, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and the World Bank.
Chris Hemus, who heads the IMF’s safeguards assessments division, said there were still concerns about the lack of a proper metering system for Iraq’s oil in the field and controls in the spending ministries.
He said an Iraqi Committee of Financial Experts (COFE) established in 2006 to follow up on IAMB recommendations for improvements will eventually take over the IAMB’s functions, probably at the end this year.
He said the committee had the expertise and “at this point we expect that COFE would be ready to take on this role”.
“Against that background, we believe that very good progress has been made in addressing the concerns raised by the IAMB,” Hemus said. “It’s not that challenges don’t remain, but progress is being made, and the more important things are being actively addressed, notably the metering.”
Iraq to block oil contracts signed by Kurds....geez
Baghdad says all oil contracts to be handled by central government, brands Kurdish deals illegal.
ANKARA - Baghdad will block any contracts signed by foreign oil companies with Iraqi Kurdish regional authorities, Iraq's Oil Minister Hussein Chahristani said on Saturday.
"All contracts will be handled by the central government," he told a joint press conference in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Hilmi Guler.
"No contracts signed by any regions in Iraq will be recognised by the government of Iraq. Companies will not be allowed to work on Iraqi territory unless their contract is approved by the central government in Baghdad."
The government in Baghdad and authorities in the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq have been at loggerheads over the issue for months.
In November the minister announced he had cancelled around 15 oil contracts signed by the authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan.
In response, Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzan insisted the contracts would be honoured, saying "nobody can cancel contracts signed by Kurdistan", as his government approved the signature of seven more oil contracts.
The autonomous Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq has signed 15 exploration and export contracts with 20 international companies since it passed its own oil law last August, infuriating the Baghdad government.
Chahristani has repeatedly said he considers the contracts "illegal".
He has threatened the companies concerned that they would not in future have the chance to work with the Iraqi government, threats which have so far have not been carried out.
This friggin guy pulls himself out of a coma and quits...unbelievable..they were gonna whack him anyway
The leader of the Shi'ite Sadrists in Iraq, Muqtada Al-Sadr, has announced in a letter to his followers that he is stepping down from his position, distancing himself from people, and focusing on his studies.
He explained that he was doing so because he had failed in carrying out his father's will to liberate Iraq from the occupation and turning its people into believing Muslims.
He wrote that the continuation of the occupation, the many who were distancing themselves from the true path, and their turning to politics and affairs of this world had motivated him to sequester himself from human society, in order to carry out his obligation to Allah and not to add sin to the crime.
Al-Sadr called on his men to obey the committee for managing the affairs of the Sadrist movement and all Sadrist institutes, and its representatives that bear the name of the Office of Al-Sayed Al-Shahid – which is named after his father, Ayatollah Muhammad Sadeq Al-Sadr, murdered in 1999 by the regime of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
Source: Elaph.com, March 6, 2008
Posted at: 2008-03-07
http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/6014.htm
thanks....gotta have news..lol
Muqtada Al-Sadr Announces He’s Retiring From Leadership Of Sadrist Movement, Sequestering Himself
The leader of the Shi'ite Sadrists in Iraq, Muqtada Al-Sadr, has announced in a letter to his followers that he is stepping down from his position, distancing himself from people, and focusing on his studies.
He explained that he was doing so because he had failed in carrying out his father's will to liberate Iraq from the occupation and turning its people into believing Muslims.
He wrote that the continuation of the occupation, the many who were distancing themselves from the true path, and their turning to politics and affairs of this world had motivated him to sequester himself from human society, in order to carry out his obligation to Allah and not to add sin to the crime.
Al-Sadr called on his men to obey the committee for managing the affairs of the Sadrist movement and all Sadrist institutes, and its representatives that bear the name of the Office of Al-Sayed Al-Shahid – which is named after his father, Ayatollah Muhammad Sadeq Al-Sadr, murdered in 1999 by the regime of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
Source: Elaph.com, March 6, 2008
Thousands protest over security in southern Iraqi city of Basra
BAGHDAD -- Thousands of people took to the streets Saturday in Basra, protesting deteriorating security in the southern city where Iraqi forces assumed responsibility for safety last December.
It was day of violence as well as political unrest in Iraq: Police in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad reported two separate bombings in which six people were killed, and officers also found 13 bullet-ridden bodies.
In Basra, Iraq's second-largest city and the urban center of an oil-rich region, Shiite groups have been wrestling for control.
Residents are becoming increasingly alarmed, saying that killings, kidnappings and other crimes have increased significantly since British forces turned over responsibility for Basra at the end of last year.
In February, two journalists working for CBS were kidnapped in the city. One was released but the other, a Briton, is still being held.
As many as 5,000 people demonstrated near the Basra police command headquarters Saturday, demanding that the police chief, Maj. Gen. Abdul-Jalil Khalaf, and the commander of joint military-police operation, Lt. Gen. Mohan al-Fireji, resign.
Many carried banners, decrying the killing of women, workers, academics and scientists. Dozens of women were slain in Basra by religious extremists last year because of how they dressed, their mutilated bodies found with notes warning against "violating Islamic teachings."
cont...
http://yorkdispatch.inyork.com/yd/na...rld/ci_8502685
US - Iraq Talks to Start Saturday
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By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: March 7, 2008
Filed at 5:51 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States and Iraq are opening negotiations in Baghdad on a blueprint for a long-term relationship, plus a narrower deal to define the legal basis for a U.S. troop presence, a Pentagon official said Friday.
Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said the talks are scheduled to start Saturday.
Leading the U.S. negotiating team will be Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. He will be assisted by senior officials from the Pentagon, the State Department and the White House's National Security Council.
Morrell said the U.S. expects a lengthy negotiation, with a goal of completing a deal by December, when the U.N. Security Council resolution that now governs the U.S. and coalition presence in Iraq will expire.
The process of negotiating a long-term deal with the Iraqi government has triggered criticism from some in Congress, in part because the administration's position is that the deal will not require congressional approval and in part out of concern that it might commit to a specific U.S. troop level.
Morrell would not discuss specifics of the U.S. negotiating position, but he said the final agreement ''does not seek permanent bases; will not in any way codify the number of troops that will remain in Iraq; it will not tie the hands of a future commander in chief; it will not require Senate ratification, but we will make every effort to keep Congress apprised of progress in these talks.''
The intent is to negotiate two parallel agreements. One, known as a strategic framework agreement, would spell out the basis for a long-term U.S.-Iraqi relationship in the political, economic and security fields. Both sides see it as the basis for establishing a normal state-to-state relationship, enabling Iraq to function with full sovereignty.The other would be what is known as a status of forces agreement, a standard arrangement that spells out the legal basis for the presence of U.S. troops on Iraqi territory and establishes the legal rights and obligations of the troops. The U.S. government has such deals with dozens of other countries.
What makes the Iraq case more complex is the U.S. interest in continuing to pursue terrorist threats inside Iraqi borders. Crocker addressed this issue in an Associated Press interview on Feb. 1.
''I don't think al-Qaida is going to have gone away after this year, and we and the Iraqis are going to want to make sure we are able to pursue them, but questions of force levels and whatnot, those will be executive decisions by this president and by the next,'' Crocker said. ''This agreement is in no way going to get into that executive decision prerogative.''
The United States now has 159,000 troops in Iraq and is expected to have more than 100,000 by the time a new president enters the White House next January.
David Satterfield, the senior Iraq adviser at the State Department, told Congress this week the status of forces agreement is intended to provide ''all necessary legal authorities and protections for our troops to continue to operate in Iraq.'' He said the two countries also will establish a separate ''strategic framework'' that will reflect ''our shared political, economic, cultural and security goals and interests.''
''Together, they seek an accord that both affirms Iraqi sovereignty and will permit the continued assistance of U.S. and coalition forces in that nation's progress towards full security and peace,'' he said.
I don't think for too much longer. wow
Dollar refuses to rally; bring on GCC revaluations
Last week the UAE central bank again suggested that a US dollar bottom was close and that therefore revaluation was unnecessary, and by implication might even damage the dollar's recovery. Unfortunately for GCC policy makers the greenback was not listening, and has since plunged to another record low.
Middle East: Tuesday, March 04 - 2008 at 00:22
The dollar peg and revaluation issue refuses to go away
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So are we now facing a dollar recovery, or a dollar meltdown? That is the multi-trillion dollar question.
The pro-recovery argument is basically this: the US dollar has taken a big fall in the past couple of years, this now puts other currencies under pressure and it is their turn to correct now, pushing the dollar up in value. In addition, the US stock market should correct sharply when a recession is officially declared, causing a flight to cash and boosting the dollar.
On the other hand, the dollar negative argument is still strong: US property prices are crashing down - 9% in the fourth quarter - and the low interest rates needed to improve liquidity make the US dollar a poor currency to hold; it pays little interest and is losing value in a declining spiral; and just how long is a US economic recovery going to take, months or many years?
Precious metals
Better then to get out of the dollar and into something tangible like precious metals or stronger currencies. The dilemma for current holders of US dollars is that they do not want to ditch the dollar at the lowest point in the cycle, or hold on if things are going to get worse.
In this context the UAE central bank and its colleagues in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar are acting as heroic contrarians in maintaining the value of their currency pegs. They must also be mindful of the political implications of deciding to fry the currency of their key ally. You do not hit your friends when they are down, unless you want to lose them.
However, there comes a point when even friends have to part and go their separate ways. And if the US dollar is about to collapse then the break would be best done soon.
On a day when commercial electricity prices in Dubai have just gone up by 65% nobody can be unaware that inflation is on the march, and that the policy response so far has not worked.
Revaluation
Governments may be powerless over some price changes, but as the former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan reminded an audience in Abu Dhabi last week, revaluation is an appropriate and effective response to inflationary pressures. It is something that central banks can do as a one-off attack on inflation.
And given that Greenspan is one of the guilty men responsible for the current US economic sickness, perhaps he is somebody worth listening to when it comes to seeking a solution. Doing nothing condemns the GCC to higher rates of inflation than would otherwise be the case.
At the moment a vicious wages and prices spiral means that a 65% hike in electricity prices is unlikely to be the last major price surge. The need is to take immediate offsetting measures like revaluation, or some way down the road the UAE will end up with a bust like the one Greenspan has left as his legacy in the USA.
Iraqi minister meets provincial leaders
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Published: March 6, 2008 at 5:00 PM
TIKRIT, Iraq, March 6 (UPI) -- The Iraqi deputy prime minister met with provincial leaders in the seven northern Iraqi provinces to discuss reconstruction issues at a U.S.-led conference.
The meeting near Tikrit was the third installment of the ongoing United and Strong conferences bringing central government officials together with provincial leaders.
The United and Strong campaign allows Iraqi officials and U.S. military overseers to "consolidate and focus issues (that) encompass Iraq's northern provinces (and deliver them) to Iraq's central government," the U.S military said.
Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih told the provincial leaders Baghdad would examine the issues presented by the provincial leaders, but urged them to meet their obligations to coordinate with Baghdad as well, Multi-National Division-North said.
The conference focused on agriculture, investments and other reconstruction issues.
http://www.upi.com/International_Sec..._leaders/8074/
Something to ponder about March
1) GW gives an annual address regarding the state of Iraq each year on the anniversary of the war 3/19
2) The Oil (tenders?) were requested by 2/18 - due to be answered on 3/18
3) The GOI parliment (congress, whatever they are called) are due back from vacation on 3/18 or 19
4) The Rafidain Bank in London has called for documents by creditors in January - all due in for a meeting 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.
http://www.rafidainbank.co.uk/Default.aspx
It would seem reasonable that they would set the exchange rate to be the same for everyone if they are announcing that rate with an effective date of 3/19/08 with the intention of clearing debt to Rafidain creditors
Commander warns of terror plansThursday, March 06, 2008 | 5:19 PMStory Media Top Stories
By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - March 6, 2008 -- Al-Qaida terrorists may be plotting more urgently to attack the United States to maintain their credibility and ability to recruit followers, the U.S. military commander in charge of domestic defense said Thursday.
Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, chief of the U.S. Northern Command, told reporters he has not seen any direct threats tied to the U.S. But he said it would be imprudent to think that such threats are not there.
"We need only to look at Spain and see that they're certainly willing to try to do something that is significant that could affect an election process," Renuart said. "I think it would be imprudent of us to let down our guard believing that if there's no credible threat that you know of today, there won't be something tomorrow."
Story continues belowAdvertisementWhile he said that U.S. authorities have thwarted attacks on a number of occasions, he said terrorist cells may be working harder than ever to plot high-impact events. He did not point to any specific intelligence that authorities have received but said the "chatter" they are hearing "gives me no reason to believe they're going to slow down" in their efforts to target the U.S.
"If an organization like that is to maintain credibility and continue to grow more of its extremists, it has to show tangible results," Renuart said. "So I think there may be a certain sense of urgency among that organization to have an effect. So it would tell me that they're trying harder."
(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Officials Lean Toward Keeping Next Iraq Assessment Secret
By Walter Pincus and Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, March 7, 2008; Page A07
A new National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq is scheduled to be completed this month, according to U.S. intelligence officials. But leaders of the intelligence community have not decided whether to make its key judgments public, a step that caused an uproar when key judgments in an NIE about Iran were released in November.
The classified estimate on Iraq is intended as an update of last summer's assessment, which predicted modest security improvements but an increasingly precarious political situation there, the U.S. officials said.
It is meant to be delivered to Congress before testimony in early April by Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, according to a letter sent last week by Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell to Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.).
Since the Iraq invasion in 2003, the intelligence community has been more cautious than the military and the White House in assessing political, economic and security gains in Iraq. And the war's progress has been a prominent issue in the presidential campaign.
In his letter to Warner, McConnell said that separate estimates are also being prepared on the "terrorist threat to the homeland" -- focusing on al-Qaeda and Pakistan -- and on "the tactical and longer-term security and political outlook for Afghanistan." Both are scheduled for publication by early fall.
Warner requested all three estimates in January, describing them as key to upcoming policy discussions in Congress.
Intelligence officials said that the National Intelligence Board -- made up of the heads of the 16 intelligence agencies plus McConnell -- will decide whether to release the Iraq judgments once the estimate is completed. But they made clear that they lean toward a return to the traditional practice of keeping such documents secret.
In internal guidance he issued in October, McConnell said that his policy was that they "should not be declassified." One month later, however, the intelligence board decided to publicly release key judgments from an NIE on Iran's nuclear weapons program, saying that it had weighed "the importance of the information to open discussions about our national security against the necessity to protect classified information."
The estimate, which said Iran had halted the weaponization element of its nuclear program, appeared to undermine the Bush administration's position on Tehran's overall effort. With Bush arguing that Iran remained "a danger," McConnell publicly said the NIE judgment was poorly written because it emphasized a halt in the weapons program rather than Iran's continuing nuclear enrichment.
Key NIE judgments on Iraq had previously been made public, beginning with a highly controversial October 2002 assessment warning that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. That estimate was later proved wrong, with no such weapons discovered in Iraq after the U.S. invasion, and the matter led to charges that the intelligence community had been politicized by the Bush administration.
"Overall, professional life is less complicated if nothing becomes public, and one doesn't have to organize classified assessments always having in the back of one's mind, 'If this is ever leaked, how would it read' " in the news media, a former intelligence analyst said.
not unless you hit lotto overnite
March 7th 2008 Christian Unification for Iraq.
March 7, 2008
Washington, D.C.
Communities and individuals of all faith traditions and spiritualities committed to ending the war in Iraq are planning an interfaith witness in Washington D.C. on March 7, 2008, to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to justice and to the sacredness of human life. The world cries out for a common voice for peace from across religious traditions and paths.
On Friday, March 7th, 2008, people of all faith traditions from across the United States will gather for worship at 12:00 noon in temples, mosques, synagogues, and churches in the U.S. Capital.
For a listing of worship services and other events associated with the March 7th Peace Witness, go to:
http://olivebranchinterfaith.org/events
New Iraq Carnage Kills 4 More
Friday, Mar. 07, 2008 By AP/ (BAGHDAD) — Bombings in the northern city of Mosul, an al-Qaida in Iraq stronghold, killed at least four people and wounded 46 on Friday, officials said, while relatives mourned the victims of an attack that killed 68 in a Baghdad shopping district.
The carnage was a grim reminder of the continuing danger in Iraq, which nonetheless has seen major security gains in the last half-year.
An extremist detonated an explosives-laden car outside a police station's front gate in Mosul, killing at least three and wounding 32, authorities said.
The U.S. military said two Iraqi police were killed and one civilian, and that 12 officers were among the wounded. A local police officer, however, put the death toll at four, all officers, and the wounded at 33.
Meanwhile, a provincial police officer said twin bombings in the central part of the city killed one person and injured 14 others. The officers spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information. Mosul is the focus of a joint U.S.-Iraqi military campaign to force al-Qaida in Iraq out of what the military describes as its last major urban stronghold.
Al-Qaida in Iraq was blamed for Thursday's attack in the primarily Shiite, middle-class Baghdad neighborhood of Karradah, where back-to-back bombings killed 68 people and wounded 120.
Cleaning crews swept debris and cleaned blood from the site in the shopping and residential district. Shop owners inspected the damage.
Though there were no claims of responsibility, double bombings to maximize casualties have been a hallmark of al-Qaida in Iraq. The tactic seeks to draw in people, especially rescue workers, with the first blast before a second bomb detonates. "This was definitely AQI and we know who the cell leader is. He and his dogs are all targets," said military spokesman Lt. Col. Steve Stover.
Iraqis were enjoying a pleasant spring evening when the roadside bomb hidden under a vendor stall detonated. Five minutes later, a suicide bomber wearing an explosives belt detonated, Mohammed al-Rubaie, the head of the Karradah municipality, told the state-run Al-Iraqiya TV.
Interior Ministry officials said Friday that 68 people were killed and 120 injured after several people died from their injuries overnight.
Hassan Abdullah, 25, who owns a clothing shop in the area, said he was walking to the site of the first blast to see what happened when the second bomb went off. "I saw a leg and a hand falling near me as I was walking. The whole place was a mess. Wounded people were crying for help, and people started to run away," he said. "The aim of such attacks is the random killing of as many people as possible in order to terrorize Iraqi people."
Many of the victims were teens or young adults, officials said.
At one funeral Friday, family members mourned the death of a 17-year-old Christian man. Several young men carried his wooden coffin out of his family's home and down the street as family members walked behind. "I lost my son. It breaks my heart," said the man's father.
Associated Press writers Sameer N. Yacoub and Hamed Ahmed contributed to this report.
Drop in demand for Dollar E-mail
Baghdad, 07 March 2008
Demand for the dollar dropped in the Iraqi Central Bank's auction on Thursday, registering at $51.175 million compared to $116.175 million on Wednesday.
"The demand hit $24.175 million in cash and the rest $27 million in money transfers outside the country, all covered by the bank at a rate of 1,210 Iraqi dinars per dollar, stable for the 20th session in a row," according to the central bank's daily bulletin and received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).
None of the twelve banks that participated in the auction offered to sell dollars.
Speaking to VOI, Ali al-Yasseri, a trader, said that the general demand for the dollar got down due to decrease of money transfers on Sunday and Thursday more than other days”.
Al-Yasseri pointed out “the general demand was in its highest levels during the past two weeks as Thursday is the payback day for business men”, al-Yasseri, accounted one of the reasons for the demand rise.
He added “the slowdown of market activity for two weeks spurred more circulation”.
The Iraqi Central Bank runs a daily auction from Sunday to Thursday.
Last Updated ( Friday, 07 March 2008 )
First Khurbet East Development Well Successfully Completed E-mail
07 March 2008
Gulfsands Petroleum plc, the oil and gas production, exploration and development company with activities in Syria, Iraq, and the U.S.A., announced that the Company has successfully completed the drilling of its first development well within the Khurbet East Field ("KHE-4") following the recent approval by the Syrian Government for the development of the Khurbet East Field.
The KHE-4 well was drilled to a total depth of approximately 1,935 metres, and the top of the reservoir section was encountered within 3 meters of the pre-drill prognosis. The well has now been completed and suspended as a future oil producer, and will be brought on line when the Khurbet East Early Production Facility is operational, scheduled to commence by Q4 2008. As planned, the Company did not undertake a drill-stem test with this well as the tests from the KHE-2 and KHE-3 wells provide sufficient information for the vertical wells in this portion of the Field. As previously announced, a drill stem test on the KHE-3 appraisal well produced at an average stabilized rate of 3,420 bopd with 206,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day.
The KHE-4 well is the first development well within the Khurbet East Field, and is designed to deliver oil production from the Cretaceous Massive Formation reservoir. KHE-4 is a vertical well located near the currently mapped crest of the structure.
Drilling operations on KHE-4 were completed ahead of schedule and under budget, which is a significant achievement for the first development well in the Field. The next development well in the Field, KHE-5H, is designed and will be completed as the first horizontal well within the Massive Formation reservoir. Drilling operations on KHE-5H are expected to commence in mid-March 2008.
Gulfsands CEO John Dorrier, said, "KHE-4 is the first development well in the field. We have planned an aggressive programme of drilling and early production for the balance of 2008, and look forward to updating the market on its progress."
Last Updated ( Friday, 07 March 2008 )
Iraq Gets Close to Oil Field Development
07 March 2008 13:24
Iraqi officials are in the final stage of negotiations with international oil majors to develop five oil fields in the country.
Iraqi Oil Ministry spokesperson Asim Jihad told Bloomberg that he hopes to conclude the deal within a matter of weeks to boost production by 500,000bpd.
Last month Iraqi officials met with Shell, ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron Corp. and Total SA to discuss technical support contracts to help develop the five oil fields.
By staff writer
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these arabs slay me man..sooo full of crap
wtf man...Shi'ite cleric and leader Muqtada Al-Sadr was secretly transferred a few days ago from Iraq to Iran for hospitalization as he was comatose.
It was reported that his illness resulted from food poisoning.
Al-Sadr is being treated by Iranian specialists, as well as by Russian doctors brought in to help the Iranian medical staff treat him.
Source: Al-Siyassa, Kuwait, March 3, 2008
Posted at: 2008-03-03
OHHHHHHHH he's speaking from his coma? a true Martyr
Iraqi cleric Sadr explains long absence to followers
Fri Mar 7, 2008 8:38am EST Email | Print | Share| Reprints | Single Page| Recommend (0) [-] Text [+]
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Iraq’s Sadr expected to extend ceasefire
22 Feb 2008
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NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Powerful Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who has not been seen in public for months, issued an unusual statement on Friday explaining his absence to his followers and admitting splits in his movement.
"I swear that I live with you and among you. I am a part of you. I will not change this unless death separates us," he said in a two-page statement bearing his personal stamp.
The statement was issued two weeks after Sadr extended a ceasefire by his Mehdi Army for another six months. He first called on the militia, blamed by the U.S. military and Sunni Arabs for fuelling sectarian violence, to halt its activities in August so that he could reorganize it.
While professing their loyalty to the young cleric, many members of the Mehdi Army have openly questioned his decision to renew the ceasefire, fearing that U.S. forces will exploit it to carry out further arrests of Sadr's followers.
Sadr, who commands a large following among young and poor Iraqi Shi'ites and has one of the largest bloc of legislators in parliament, has not been seen in public since attending a religious ceremony in the holy city of Kufa on May 25, 2007.
He did not indicate when he might return to public view.
In December, a senior aide to Sadr, Salah al-Ubaidi, said the young cleric was taking advanced Islamic studies in a bid to earn credentials that would allow him to issue decrees.
Sadr's statement issued on Friday acknowledged that his followers were wondering where he was and his absence "could be a reason for depressing them". Continued...
Sadr, who the U.S. military believes is in Iran, said he had chosen to isolate himself to concentrate on his studies and to distance himself from groups that had splintered from his movement and developed their own political agendas.
"Many whom we believed were good followers are not listening to or obeying the instructions of their religious leaders and they are involved in political conflicts," he said.
"Many followers have split from me for many reasons, some of them want to be independent. This does not mean there are not loyal followers," he added.
The U.S. military has in the past questioned how much influence Sadr exerts over his movement. Most recently, it has praised Sadr's call for the ceasefire and said it is targeting rogue Mehdi Army units that have ignored it.
The young cleric has sought to portray himself as a nationalist leader and a possible alternative to the Shi'ite Islamist parties now in government. He has repeatedly called on the government to set a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal.
"The continued presence of the occupiers ... pushed me to take this isolation. It is a way to express my protest at what is going on," he said.
(Additional reporting by Aws Qusay and Waleed Ibrahim in
Baghdad; Writing by Ross Colvin)
Legacy of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait
By Abdullah Al Shayji, Special to Gulf News
Published: March 06, 2008, 00:53
Kuwait celebrated the 17th anniversary of its liberation from Iraqi occupation by the US-led coalition forces on February 26.
Kuwait was liberated by 750,000 coalition troops from more than 30 countries, the world's biggest military alliance since the Second World War.
The liberation war of Kuwait has changed the outlook and the need for the United States in Gulf countries. This was a result of the late Iraqi president Saddam Hussain's miscalculations.
On this occasion, we recall memories of Saddam and the Baath Party's 30-year dictatorship, which left Iraq with a legacy of wars, massacres and mass graves. Saddam's legacy is not confined to Iraq and its people, but extends to Kuwait, Iran, Lebanon and Mauritania.
His actions led to the establishment of the US presence in the Gulf region. This, as a result of his occupation of Kuwait and the military imbalance among the regional powers.
History will mark Saddam's occupation of Kuwait as the start of the strong and prolonged US presence in the region. By occupying Kuwait, Saddam had legalised the US presence in the region and even the need for it to protect people and regimes.
Saddam was executed while Iraq is under US occupation. This came about a year before Iraqi's Presidency Council endorsed the execution of Ali Hassan Al Majid for genocide against Kurds.
Al Majid, known to the world as "Chemical Ali", was appointed as the "Ruler" of Kuwait, considered by Saddam to be the 19th province of Iraq.
In fact, Chemical Ali deserves this just punishment for torturing Kuwaitis and their courageous national resistance against the occupation. Kuwait had been the brotherly Arab country that supported and stood by Iraq during its difficult times.
The question arises: Had Saddam and his associates known that the occupation of Kuwait would mark the beginning of their end, would they still have invaded the country?
Similar fate
Saddam gave the Americans a pretext to stay in our region. Due to him, the GCC people, ruling systems and trading establishments require the US presence to protect them from a similar fate, and avert the consequences of the war in Iraq.
With the American elections just a few months away, there is a fear that if Democrats - either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton - win the White House, they may withdraw US troops.
The US administration is being asked not to withdraw its troops from Iraq, for many reasons.
The GCC countries have genuine fears about Iran's nuclear programme and its growing power. As a result, they want the US to retain its military presence.
This is simply because they need to maintain a balance with Iran, which has taken strategic advantage of the vacuum left after the fall of both the Taliban in Afghanistan and Saddam in Iraq.
In order to achieve its ambitious targets, Iran spares no time or effort to benefit from the situation in Iraq.
The visit by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad under the protection of the US occupation is evidence of Iran's success in turning Iraq from an enemy into a friend, which will support and empower Iran and make its project a success.
There is no doubt that the Iranian influence is growing, and Iran is satisfied with this. Moreover, this has also been acknowledged by the Americans, when they called Iran for negotiations on the Iraqi issue.
Meanwhile, the Arabs are absent from the Iraqi scene, and have so far failed to play any role in this key Arab country.
With more than 200,000 troops stationed from Muscat to Mosul, the US has gained more influence over the countries in the region, both individually and collectively.
Security cooperation
Washington is further cementing its relations with the GCC countries to develop bilateral partnerships with each country, and security cooperation with the six GCC nations as one bloc.
In October 2007, Washington began the third round of talks on the Gulf Security Dialogue with the GCC countries. The aim was to strengthen the security of the countries in the region, including Iraq.
Dealing with the terrorist threats - both of a conventional and unconventional nature - and wars was also among other issues covered during the US-GCC talks.
It is amazing what a devastating impact one man's decisions, whether of Saddam in autocratic Iraq or George W. Bush in democratic US, can have on the prosperity, security and future of an entire nation and a strategic region that will pay the price of these mistakes for many decades to come.
Dr Abdullah Al Shayji is a Kuwaiti writer.
http://www.gulf-news.com/opinion/col.../10195056.html
Zubaidi: Iraq's debts cancelled Bnhiadtha including $ 100 billion
اوا Maliki directed four ministries and the protection of power stations overland air حسم .. The Iraqi Finance Minister Baqir Jabr Zubaidi that the issue of Iraq's debts States reached its final stages have been resolved more than 100 billion dollars and pointed out that the $ 20 billion will be invested this year to provide services for the citizens in all Iraqi governorates, according to the proportion of the population .. بيبها. While Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the two ministries of oil and electricity to conclude contracts with foreign companies and the protection of power stations on land and air security plan extensive coordination with the Ministries of Defense, Interior and tighten procedures deterrent against terrorist gangs working to sabotage power stations and prevent the citizens to take advantage of them.
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yesterdays
Announcement No.(1120)
D.G. of Foreign Exchange Control
The 1120 daily currency auction was held in the Central Bank of Iraq day Thursday 2008/3/6 so the results were as follows :
Details Notes
Number of banks 10 -----
Auction price selling dinar / US $ 1210 -----
Auction price buying dinar / US $ ------ -----
Amount sold at auction price (US $) 51.175.000 -----
Amount purchased at Auction price (US $) ------
Total offers for buying (US $) 51.175.000 -----
Total offers for selling (US $) ------ -----
Iraq: Big Oil deals could clear late-March
Published: March 6, 2008 at 6:44 PM
WASHINGTON, March 6 (UPI) -- Iraq will wind up negotiations with five Big Oil firms later this month on key fields and soon announce the firms that qualify for an upcoming bidding round.
Oil Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad also confirmed to United Press International via phone the country's Council of Ministers gave its blessing to the ministry's plans.
"The Ministry of Oil has the legal situation to sign contracts according to the oil law," Jihad said. "The Ministry of Oil has that ability."
Later this month Iraqi negotiators will meet with representatives from Shell, BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Total for technical support contracts aimed at increasing five of Iraq's largest and oldest fields by 100,000 barrels per day each. The two-year deals are intended to bring equipment, training and further studies.
Jihad said Iraq is considering paying the companies with oil in lieu of cash but is in talks with the United Nations to ensure that's OK.
More than 70 companies, Jihad said -- around 150, according to Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani -- have registered to qualify for a bidding round to be held later this month aimed at developing a number of other fields. The ministry is scarce on details but said it will be fully transparent.
Iraq has no new oil law -- relying on the Saddam-era oil regulation -- and plenty of controversy; both are preventing any long-term deals with international oil companies.
Saddam Hussein mismanaged the fields, U.N. sanctions kept out modern equipment, and post-2003 has seen the oil sector attempt to operate in a constant war zone, despite having the world's third-largest reserves.
Iraq's oil workers have kept the country producing just more than 2 million barrels per day. Once largely Western-educated in the oil sector, those who haven't retired, fled or been killed need modern training. They also are urging the government to reinvest in them instead of a wholesale import of international oil companies.
Iraq's Kurdish region has passed its own oil law and signed dozens of deals for exploration after frustrations with Baghdad came to a head.
Jihad also said Shahristani is in Turkey meeting with his counterpart to plan development of Iraq's natural gas sector.
--
Ben Lando, UPI Energy Editor
http://www.upi.com/International_Sec...te-march/7106/
IMF urges GCC countries to keep dollar currency pegsPublished: Thursday, 6 March, 2008, 02:03 AM Doha Time
WASHINGTON: Arabian Gulf states including Saudi Arabia and the UAE should keep their currencies pegged to the US dollar amid rising pressure for a change in policy as inflation crimps growth, a senior International Monetary Fund official said.
“There’s a lot of value that comes with remaining pegged to the dollar,†Mohsin Khan, the IMF’s regional director for the Middle East and Central Asia told Zawya Dow Jones at the fund’s Washington headquarters.
Five out of six currencies in the GCC are pegged to the dollar at a fixed rate, forcing the region’s central banks to follow US Federal Reserve policy at a time when their booming economies are in danger of overheating.
“The peg provides confidence and stability, but the cost of that stability is you lose a policy instrument to control inflation,†he added.
Rising prices across the economic block, which pumps a fifth of the world’s oil, are undermining the benefits of buoyant economic growth in the region, adding to pressure on governments to sever ties with the greenback that date back to Britain’s withdrawal from the area in the 1970s.
A move by the Gulf states, which are estimated to hold dollar assets worth more than $1tn overseas, to change their foreign exchange policies could add pressure to the greenback at a time when it continues to hit new record lows.
“If the GCC de-peg it will have a significant short-term downward effect on the dollar,†said John Sfakiankis, economist at SABB, the Saudi Arabian banking arm of HSBC Holdings.
Kuwait, the third largest Arab economy in the Gulf after Saudi Arabia and the UAE ended its currency peg to the dollar in May in an attempt to end the country’s rising inflation which it said was mainly caused by the weakening dollar.
Central bankers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, are struggling to follow US Fed moves to head off an economic recession as the region’s oil-rich economies continue to boom.
The Fed has lowered the federal funds rate 225 basis points since September, including 125 basis points last month alone.
The UAE and Qatar, two of the largest sheikdoms in the Gulf, are expected to record “double digit†inflation throughout 2008, Khan said.
Saudi’s Minister of Trade Hashim bin Abdullah Yamani resigned on Monday amid mounting criticism over rising prices in the Middle East’s largest economy.
The IMF, in its Regional Economic Outlook report last year, had estimated that inflation in the UAE would fall to 8% in 2007 and 6.4% this year. In Qatar, the IMF said inflation would reach 12% in 2008 from 11.8% in 2006. So far this hasn’t happened.
“Our estimates were wrong. Inflation in the UAE was much higher than we predicted in 2007 so this shifts our base for 2008 when it will probably remain in double digits again,†Khan said.
“In Qatar, inflation was around 14% in 2007 and this year it will presumably stay the same, or if it comes down it will be between 10 and 12%,†he added.
Khan said that while rising inflation in Qatar and the UAE was partly due to high government spending, a shortage of housing and rising food prices have also helped drive up the cost of living.
“We thought inflation in the Qatar and UAE would fall as more housing units came on to the market, but while new housing has been built, it has been kept for investment purposes and not rented out so this hasn’t eased the pressure,†Khan said.
Regional central banks are hoping that the introduction of GCC monetary union planned for 2010 will help ease the pressure of rising inflation, but Khan said the looming deadline is challenging.
“It’s becoming increasingly challenging because the institutional framework required for monetary union isn’t in place yet,†he said. – Zawya Dow Jones
Gulf Times Newspaper, 2008 آ©
Talabani arrived in Ankara at the head of a large delegation
(Voice of Iraq) - 07-03-2008
Talabani arrived in Ankara at the head of a large delegation ...Kurdish fears of Turkish attempts to sow differences between the Kurds and parliamentary blocs involved in the discussion of the Agreement American - Iraqi
BAGHDAD - Omar Sattar life - 07/03/08 / /
Up today with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, the head of a large government delegation to Ankara, in response to the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gil to discuss the problem of «PKK» and the issue of Kirkuk, and a visit two days, the Kurds hoped to be «beginning to resolve the outstanding problems between the two countries».
On another front, the Iraqi government is preparing to begin negotiations with the United States on the Convention «cooperation and friendship», which is expected to be signed mid-year.
She bloc «Kurdistan Alliance» fear that the visit by Talabani to Turkey in this «sensitive time» to the differences between the Kurds themselves, and the Bloc leader, Mahmoud Othman «The objective of the call made by Turkey to the President of the Republic is laying the differences between him and President of the Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani, in particular, the atmosphere remained tense on the border under constant shelling of villages Turkish Kurdish safe ».
Uthman added in a statement to «life» that «Talabani will discuss the crisis in Ankara PKK and we hope that this problem will be resolved through dialogue and bilateral agreements, especially after Turkey failed in a military solution, which it insists», indicating that the Turkish side was «desire to discuss the issue of Kirkuk and article 140 of the Constitution relating to the normalization of the situation in which we reject discuss the matter with Ankara because it is an internal matter is not entitled to any foreign body to interject itself in such things».
The Kurdish MP from signing any agreement with Turkey for the time being «it would not measured in the atmosphere charged and tense», calling for making the visit Talabani «visit preliminary» for future rounds of talks.
The President Abdullah Gil called Talabani to visit Turkey during the Turkish army to invade northern Iraq to chase the party «Kurdistan Workers» last month, but for that Iraqi President «of the sensitivity of the situation on the border».
According to official sources Talabani, a government delegation will be headed significantly, comprising Ministers of Finance and the oil industry, water resources, officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in addition to government spokesman on Skinner.
On the other hand, in preparation for future negotiations between Iraq and the United States decided Political Council for National Security, which includes the Presidential Council, ministers and heads of parliamentary blocs during a meeting last Wednesday chaired by Talabani involve parliamentary blocs to discuss the terms of the agreement before negotiations strategic prospective.
The Political Council in a statement that «gathered paying much attention to the issues concerning negotiations boots for a convention long between Iraq and the United States».
He added that «Given the importance of the issue agreed consensus on the need to involve the largest number of representatives of the political blocs and politicians in the preparation and negotiations, will also be using the broadest number of technicians and professionals, legal and security experts to discuss this important topic».
It should be noted that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki signed with President George Bush in the November 26 (November) last year «Declaration of Principles» contains items Assembly of the strategic agreement between the two countries would be signed at the completion of the July 31 (July) this year.
He informed source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs «life» that the ministry completed preparations for the negotiations that will start within weeks, the Iraqi delegation will be at the level of experts and professionals from various ministries, pointing out that the first round of talks will be in Baghdad.
For its part, announced the American Embassy in Baghdad yesterday that the Iraqi and American sides «in the process of the formation of committees to negotiate the foundations and frameworks Assembly of the Convention on friendship and cooperation signed between the two countries». The «there are many issues must be resolved before the signing of the Convention in the lead identify new legal framework for the survival of the American forces in Iraq».
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For Dong holders....lol
Dong continues to strengthen against dollar
Viet Nam’s dong rose for a fourth day against the dollar as the government allows the currency to gain to help tame inflation.
The dong appreciated 0.04% to VND15,916 per dollar, the highest level since March 2006, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Government bonds declined Thursday with the yield on the benchmark five-year note rising 5 basis points to 8.65%, according to a daily fixing price from 10 banks compiled by the news agency.
A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.
The Viet Nam Association of Financial Investors recommended the government allow the dong to strengthen 5% this year.
The appreciation would be aimed at reducing import prices of gasoline, oil and other materials to quell inflation. (Bloomberg)
at 3/07/2008 02:48:00 AM
Nhãn: Banking - Finance, Inflation, Viet Nam Dong - VND
The IMF shuffle..lol OPEC says theres plenty of oil, the IMF says the price increase is due to shortage...wtf these guys confuse me....or, the game is on....who knows
gm joe
Presidency: no disagreement between us and al-Maliki on the issue
(Voice of Iraq) - 06-03-2008
Presidency: no disagreement between us and al-Maliki on the issue (Majid)
Baghdad - Iraq votes
The chief of the Office of the Presidency of the Republic, on Thursday, a disagreement between the Presidency and the Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on the issue of execution of Ali Hassan al-Majid, refusing at the same time "comment" on the Government's refusal to recognize Majid of the American forces, without two others who had been convicted with him in the same case.
He said Naseer Ani, the Independent News Agency (Voices of Iraq) "there is no disagreement between the Prime Minister, the Presidency of the Republic on the issue of execution of Ali Hassan Al-Majid."
The Presidency Council had ratified the decision of the death sentence against Ali Hassan al-Majid, nicknamed "Chemical" cousin of former President Saddam Hussein last week.
Ani declined to comment on the failure of the government recognizes Majid of the American forces, without the others convicted Sultan Hashim Ahmad, a former defense minister, Hussein Rashid Al Associate Chief of Staff of the former army.
Ani said that "the Presidency has not received a formal request from the Council of Ministers in this regard, we have not heard it, therefore there is no body to the Presidency any comment."
A source close to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, said yesterday Wednesday (Voices of Iraq) that the Government Maliki has not yet applied to the American forces for the extradition of Ali Hassan al-Majid, because it (the government) believes that the issue of the three convicted: Ali Hassan al-Majid and Sultan Hashim Ahmed and Rashid Al-Hussein, one case, and file one, and one resolution.
The source did not give more details, but indicated that the government will call upon the American side to hand over all convicted suit holds.
The spokesman of the American forces in Iraq said yesterday, Wednesday, that those forces ready for the extradition of Ali Hassan Al-Majid to the Iraqi government, in the event submission (government) request.
The board presidency Sadik, last Friday, to a resolution of the death sentence against Ali Hassan al-Majid, nicknamed "Chemical" cousin of the President of the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein and one of his most prominent.
It ordered the Iraqi Supreme Criminal Court, last June, to death by: Ali Hassan al-Majid and Sultan Hashim Ahmad, a former defense minister, Hussein Rashid Al Associate former army chief of staff, indicted for genocide against the Kurds in (Anfal) during (1988 - 1989).
The endorsement of the Presidency to implement the provision right (Majid) only, in view of the high points of objection, including Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and his deputy, Tariq Hashemi for the execution Sultan Hashim Hussein Takriti, as they were carried out "military orders" issued to them, nor can trampled rejected.
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Maliki directed the ministries of oil and electricity to conclude contracts with foreign companies
PUKmedia Baghdad: 22:01:11 2008-03-06
The Iraqi Prime Minister Dr. Nouri Kamel al-Maliki the two ministries of oil and electricity to conclude contracts with foreign companies for the purpose of improving the level of energy production to be the way that meets the needs of citizens.
This came during the weekly meeting convened by the Prime Minister with experts and specialists of the ministries of oil and electricity.
He also drew Maliki develop a security plan with extensive land and air forces for the protection of all electric power stations, in coordination with the Ministries of Defense and Interior, and tightening procedures deterrent against terrorist gangs working to sabotage power stations and prevent the citizens to take advantage of them.
The Prime Minister continued operational procedures that have been agreed upon in previous meetings, and ways to provide the necessary financial support to strengthen infrastructure in the two ministries and rehabilitation stations deactivated.
Malki also stressed the necessity of coordination between the two ministries and work intensively in order to provide necessary services for citizens and filling their needs, especially in the summer season ahead.
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between the arabish..retire rate request $3.20: 1 NID
Law No. 69 2007 disappointed retirees BEARS REPEATING
سلة غذاء المواطن العراقي .. Food basket Iraqi citizen .. سلة سياسية Political basket
عبدالجبار أحمد الربيعي Abdul Jabbar Ahmed Al-Rubaie
من المؤسف القول ان قيادتنا السياسية ووزارة المالية لم تتمكن من ايقاف التجاوز علي حقوق المتقاعدين بإصدارهم القانون رقم 69 لسنة 2007 الذي امتد اربع سنوات. It is regrettable to say that the political leadership and the Ministry of Finance have not been able to stop the overrun on the rights of retired issuing Act No. 69 of 2007 which spanned four years. منذ عام 2004 ونحن نطالع في صحافتنا اليومية والاسبوعية والمحطات الفضائية عن قيام وزارة المالية واللجان المتخصصة فيها بدراسة موضوع رواتب المتقاعدين بهدف ايقاف التجاوز علي حقوقهم التقاعدية والمحنة التي وضعهم فيها النظام السابق الذي لم يفلح في معالجة اوضاع تلك الشريحة النبيلة التي اعطت الي الوطن الشيء الكثير واثمن ذلك الشيء العمر الذي قضي في بناء الوطن نظرا لما تحمله تلك الطبقة من قيم ومثل عليا. Since we are in 2004 and reading in our newspapers daily, weekly and space stations on the Ministry of Finance and specialized committees are studying the subject of salaries of retirees aim to stop waive their rights to pensions and the plight of their status by the previous regime, which has failed to address the situation of those noble tranche, which has given the country a lot and the most precious thing That old thing, who died on the nation-building since endured such class of the values and ideals. باسم تلك الطبقة نناشدكم وكذلك نناشد اللجان التي كلفت بمهمة دراسة رواتب المتقاعدين والتي فشلت في توصياتها عندما جاءت بالقانون رقم 69 لسنة 2007 المشار اليه اعلاه. Appeal to you on behalf of the class as well as appeal committees tasked with studying the salaries of retirees, which failed in its recommendations when it came to Act No. 69 of the year 2007 referred to above.
يا سادتي الافاضل O distinguished gentlemen
نناشدكم ما دمتم تنشدون العدل والعدالة التي جئتم من اجلها للحكم بأخذ المقترح الذي نضعه بين اياديكم والذي يتسم بالبساطة وعدم التعقيد (علي الرغم من انه لم يأخذ بالحسبان حالة التضخم السائدة بنظر الاعتبار الذي ولد ازمة خانقة بسبب ارتفاع اسعار السلع والخدمات وما ترتب عليها من آثار كان نتيجتها انخفاض القوة الشرائية للعملة خاصة وانها مرتبطة بالدولار الذي اخذ يتهاوي منذ فترة طويلة مما يستدعي والحالة هذه تدخل الدولة للحد من تأثيرات هذا التضخم باعتباره مؤشراً خطيراً وما يترتب عليه زيادة الاعباء علي المواطنين ومنهم ذوو الدخل المحدود من المتقاعدين) واظن ان اخواني المتقاعدين سيسامحونني لما توصلت اليه في احتساب الراتب التقاعدي لهم.لاني اخذت بنظر الاعتبار الظروف الحالية الصعبة التي يمر بها وطننا العزيز ولعلمي المسبق بأن طبقة المتقاعدين هي طبقة الصابرين وان الله مع الصابرين. Appeal her soul as long Tencdon of fairness and justice that they come from the proposed rule, which keep taking between hands, which is simple and non-complex (although it did not take into account the situation prevailing inflation into account, which was born crisis raised because of the high prices of goods and services and its implications was resulted in lower purchasing power of the currency especially as they are linked to the dollar, which is falling apart for a long time, which calls for state intervention this situation to reduce the impacts of this as an indication of serious inflation and the consequent increase the burden on citizens, including low-income retirees), and I think that the brothers reached for retirees Sisamehonni in the calculation of pension to them. because I took into consideration the current difficult conditions experienced by our dear and scientific advance that the ozone layer is retired steadfast and Allah is with the steadfast. استسمحكم العذر بالقول ان افضل طريقة لاحتساب الراتب التقاعدي للموظف يجب ان تكون محسوبة علي اساس حفظ كرامة الانسان خلال الايام القليلة الباقية من عمره المديد إن شاء الله وباختصار يمكن القول انه من غير المعقول ان يحسب الراتب التقاعدي وفق حسابات اللجان التي توصلت اليها في القانون والذي احتسب بأقل من مستوي سد الرمق للمتقاعد وعائلته. Let excuse by saying that the best method for the calculation of employee pension should be calculated on the basis of preserving human dignity during the few remaining days of his life prolonged God willing In a nutshell, it is unreasonable to calculate pension accounts as commissions findings in the law, which the referee less than the level of the dam survival retired and his family.
ولا نبالغ اذا قلنا ان الراتب التقاعدي الحالي مؤشر خطير سيكون مردوده سلبا علي العاملين حاليا في دوائر الدولة في الوقت الحاضر وسيتعاملون من خلال وظائفهم وفق المعيار الذي يسد لهم احتياجاتهم في المستقبل قبل احالتهم علي التقاعد مما سيدفعهم الي السلوك المعروف لدي الجميع (سلوك الفساد المالي والاداري) لتأمين مستقبلهم. No exaggeration to say that the current pension index would be refunded seriously negatively on the workers currently in the government departments at the present time and kill through their jobs according to the standard by which fills them in the future before their retirement, which experienced to conduct known to everyone (the behaviour of financial and administrative corruption ) to secure their future.
واليكم ياسادتي كلفة بعض الاحتياجات اليومية لسلة الغذاء البسيطة لمتقاعد لديه زوجة واربعة اولاد من طلاب المدارس والكليات. Here Iasadti cost of some daily needs of the food basket for a simple retired with a wife and four children of students of schools and colleges.
سلة الغذاء اليومي Daily food basket
1000 دينار كيلوطمامة يوميا 1000 dinars per day Ikltmamh
1500 دينار كيلوخيار يوميا 1500 dinars per day Iklkhiar
1500 دينار كيلوشجر/ أوباذنجان 1500 dinars Kilosjr / Obazngan
3000 دينار 18 رغيف خبز يوميا (سعر6 أرغفة خبز 1000 دينار لثلاث وجبات) 3000 dinars 18 loaf of bread a day (6 price of bread loaves 1000 dinars to three meals)
3000 دينار يوميا مواصلات الاولاد للمدارس والكليات وبعض الاحتياجات البسيطة 3000 dinars daily transportation of children to schools, colleges and some simple requirements
4000 دينار نص كيلولحم يومياً 4000 dinars text Kiloulihm daily
1000 دينار زيت / بصل / بهارات 1000 dinars oil / onion / Bharat
15000 دينار يوميا (أي 450000 دينار شهريا) عدا ايجار البيت وخط الكهرباء والغاز (الذي لا يقل سعر القنينة الواحدة عن 25000 الف دينارتستهلك خلال اسبوعين) والنفط (الذي لا يقل سعر 20 لتر عن 20000 دينار لا يكفي لاربعة ايام) ومراجعة الطبيب (سعر الفحص 10000 دينار حاليا وبعضهم 15000 دينار) عدا اسعار الادوية استيراد القطاع الخاص التي حلقت الي السماء وحلاقة الشعر للطفل الواحد لا تقل عن 3000 دينار والملابس والاحذية والاحتياجات الاخري اضافة الي ما ذكر اعلاه فاذا افترضنا متواضعين ان كل تلك الحاجات ستكون بحدود 250 الف دينار شهرياً فسيكون الاحتياج الشهري للمتقاعد (حد الكفاف) 700 الف دينار مع ملاحظة ان هناك العديد من الاحتياجات لم يرد ذكرها وهي كما تعلمون كثيرة جدا (ولكنها كمالية محرمة علي المتقاعدين في عرف لجنة صياغة قانون التقاعد). 15000 dinars a day (ie 450000 dinars a month), except line rental house electricity and gas (which at least the price of a single bottle from 25000 thousand Dinartisthlk in two weeks) and oil (which at least the price of 20 dinars per litre on 20000 is not enough for four days) and review the doctor (check price 10000 dinars currently some 15000 dinars) except for the import prices of medicines by the private sector flew into the sky and haircutting per child not less than 3000 dinars, clothing, footwear and other requirements in addition to the above modest If we assume that all of those things would be the limits of 250 thousand dinars per month would be needed Monthly retired (subsistence) 700 thousand dinars, while noting that there are many needs not mentioned which, as you know very many (but luxury taboo to retirees in the custom of the law drafting committee retirement).
ياسيادة وزير المالية المحترم ويا قادتنا السياسيين الاكارم ويا ممثلي الشعب الافاضل هل ترضون الراتب التقاعدي الذي توصلتم اليه وبأي المقاييس حسبتموه نعتقد انكم مع ضمائركم ووجدانكم غير راضين عن هذا الراتب. Mr. Finance Minister, distinguished political leaders Loya Loya distinguished representatives of the people as my Will prefers pension which Touseltm him and any standards Hspettmoh believe you with your conscience and Ojaddankm not satisfied with the present salary. علي هذا الاساس نطرح مقترحنا الذي يمثل الحد الادني المطلوب لكل متقاعد هو700 الف دينار (وهوكما ترون قياساً برواتبكم التقاعدية المحسوبة بموجب القوانين الخاصة بكم لا تشكل 10% مماتتقاضون) علي ان تضاف له الزيادة وفق المعايير ادناه. On this basis we present our proposal, which is the minimum required for each retiree is 700 thousand dinars (The analogy Hokma you satisfied pension calculated under special laws you did not constitute 10% Mmataatkadon) to add an increase according to the criteria below.
1 ــ العودة الي نظام رواتب المتقاعدين القديم والذي صدر في ظروف طبيعية (ايام كان ايجار البيت لا يتجاوز 10 دنانير وطبقة البيض لا تتعدي 450 فلس وكيلوالدجاج لا يزيد علي 600 فلس ورغيف الخبز لا يتعدي 10 فلوس وهكذا). 1 return to the old system of salaries of retirees, which was issued in normal conditions (days the rental home does not exceed 10 dinars and white layer does not exceed 450 fils and Ikldigaj no more than 600 fils and a loaf of bread does not exceed 10 money and so on).
2 ــ تحويل الراتب التقاعدي المحسوب بالدينار القديم الي ما يعادله بالدولار الامريكي (الدينار يساوي 3.2 دولار) خاصة وان التوقيفات التقاعدية احتسب علي هذا الاساس. 2 conversion of pension calculated old dinar equivalent to the American dollar (the dinar equivalent of 3.2 dollars), especially since the arrests pensions calculated on this basis.
3 ــ تحويل مقدار الراتب المحسوب بالدولار الامريكي الي ما يعادله بالدينار الجديد (الدولار يساوي 1200 دينار). 3 convert the amount of salary calculated U.S. dollar equivalent to the new dinars (equivalent to the dollar 1200 dinars).
فالموظف الذي حدد راتبه بالدينار العراقي بموجب نظام الرواتب التقاعدية القديم وفق استحقاقه علي اساس : The employee, who identified his salary Iraqi dinars under the old system of pensions according entitlement on the basis of:
1 ــ مدة الخدمة (سنين الخدمة). 1 length of service (years of service).
2 ــ التحصيل العلمي (لم يؤخذ بنظر الاعتبار من قبل لجنة صياغة القانون الجديد). 2 educational attainment (not taken into consideration by the drafting committee for the new law).
3 ــ الدرجة الوظيفية المحال عليها علي سبيل المثال درجة (مدير) تتوزع بين ستة درجات. 3 Position by the assignee for example degree (Director), distributed among six degrees.
4 ــ الحالة الزوجية وعدد الاولاد العاطلين عن العمل (لم تؤخذ بنظر الاعتبار من قبل لجنة صياغة قانون التقاعد الجديد). 4 marital status and number of children of unemployed (not taken into consideration by the drafting committee for the new retirement law).
مع ملاحظة الآتي With the following observation
أ ــ الحد الاعلي للخدمة 25 سنة التي قدر راتبها بمقدار 200 دينار قديم شهرياً وقد اجاز القانون الاستمرار بالخدمة حسب حاجة الدائرة التي يعمل بها علي ان لا يتجاوز العمر63 سنة. A cap of 25 years of service to a maximum salary of $ 200 a month old dinars has allowed the service to continue as needed Chamber works should not exceed 63 years old.
ب ــ يضاف 10% الي الراتب اعلاه عن كل سنة خدمة تضاف الي الحد الاعلي لسنوات الخدمة ولغاية خمس سنوات ولغاية 30 سنة. B add 10% to above salary for each year of service added to the upper limit of years of service up to five years and 30 years.
ج ــ يضاف مبلغ 10% الي الراتب التقاعدي عن كل شهادة دراسية (ابتدائية، متوسطة، اعدادية، كلية، دراسات عليا (ماجستير أودكتوراه أومايعادلها). C add $ 10% to a pension for each certificate courses (elementary, middle, junior high, college, graduate studies (Master Aocanutourah Ahumaiedelha).
د ــ يضاف مبلغ 10% الي الراتب التقاعدي اذا كان المتقاعد متزوجاً وليس له اولاد D add $ 10% to a pension if the retiree is married and has no children
هـ ــ يضاف مبلغ 10% عن كل ولد لغاية اربع اولاد اذا لم يكن له مورد (عاطل عن العمل او طالب بغض النظر عن عمر الابن او البنت) E% Add $ 10 for each child up to four children if he does not have a supplier (unemployed work or student, regardless of age son or daughter)
عليه سيكون حد الراتب كما يلي: It will be a salary as follows:
200 دينار قديم الراتب الشهري لدرجة مدير 100 دينار لمن يحمل (دراسات عليا) 200 dinars old monthly salary of the degree manager who holds 100 dinars (postgraduate)
100 دينار عن درجته الوظيفية مدير 100 دينار للمتزوج وله اربعة اولاد. 100 dinars on the degree of functional manager 100 dinars Married with four children.
وبذلك سيكون مجموع الراتب الشهري للموظف الذي بدرجة مدير وله خدمة 25 سنة ويحمل مؤهلاً عالياً ومتزوجاً وله اربعة اولاد 500 دينار قديم ولتحويل الدينار القديم الي ما يعادله بالدولار سيكون الراتب 1600 دولار اي (500 3.2 ). This will be the total monthly salary of the employee who is the service manager with 25 years and a highly qualified and is married with four children and an old 500 dinars transform the old dinar to the dollar equivalent will pay 1600 dollars (500 3.2). وبتحويل الدولار الي الدينار الجديد بافتراض الدولار = 1000 دينار جديد (علما انه 1200 دينار) سيكون مقدار الراتب التقاعدي -1600000 (مليون وستمائة الف دينار) هذا هوالراتب الذي يستحقه موظف لديه 25 سنة خدمة بدرجة مدير متزوج وله اربعة اولاد وحامل لشهادة (الماجستير اوالدكتوراه ) ويتم قياس بقية الرواتب التقاعدية علي هذا الاساس علي ان لا يقل عن 700 الف دينار شهرياً.( مع ملاحظة اضافة سنوات الخدمة التي تزيد علي 25 سنة ولغاية 30 سنة فقط وذلك لفسح المجال امام الشباب الجديد ) كما ارجو ملاحظة الاكتفاء بدرجة مدير وعدم اعطاء اية امتيازات الي الدرجات الخاصة نظراً للكسب المادي الكبير الذي حصل عليه اثناء خدمته في زمن النظام السابق والحالي. The conversion of the dollar to the new dinar assumption dollar = 1000 new dinars (note that 1200 dinars) will be the amount of pension -1600000 (one million six hundred thousand dinars) this Hoalratb deserved employee has 25 years of service rank of director Married with four children and the certificate holder (Masters Awacanutourah) The rest is measured pensions on this basis that not less than 700 thousand dinars per month. (noting add years of service in excess of 25 years and 30 years ago in order to make room for new young people), as I noted only a director and not to give any concessions Special marks to the view of the considerable material gain, which occurred during his service in a time of the former regime and current.
سادتي أعضاء اللجنة المكلفة دراسة قانون التقاعد..... Gentlemen, members of the Committee in charge of studying the law of retirement .....
لقد خيبتم آمال الصابرين بما توصلتم اليه في احتساب الراتب التقاعدي الحالي هل هذا هوالعدل وتلك هي العدالة مع الاسف الشديد لم تكونوا بمستوي الامانة لقد اهنتم تلك الشموع التي انارت لكم ولقادتكم الحاليين الدرب فأوصلتكم الي ما انتم عليه من امتيازات فوق مستوي التصور في الوقت الحاضر عندما تحدت الموت ووصلت الي صناديق الانتخاب وعند احالتكم علي التقاعد ستأخذون الجمل بما حمل لانكم اصحاب الدرجات الخاصة وقوانين التقاعد الخاصة التي شرعت لصالحكم بعكس المظلومين المشمولين بقانونكم رقم 69 لسنة 2007 الذي سميتموه بمكرمة القيادة السياسية الجديدة ولجان وزارة المالية للمتقاعدين المظلومين منذ العهد القديم ولحد الان كونوا علي ثقة بانهم سيرفعون ايديهم الي الله ليشكو ظلمكم لهم كما شكوا ظلم من سبقوكم لهم واياكم ودعوة المظلوم . The Ikhyeetm hopes steadfast Touseltm including in the calculation of the current pension Is this Hoaladl That is justice is with deep regret that you did not have the level of the secretariat board those candles that you and your leaders shown the current path Vaouseltkm to you by the privileges above scenario at the present time when challenged Death and went to the polls and when to punctuate retirement Stakdhun strings including pregnancy because you owners grades private and special laws retirement started to set up joint stock firm contrary to the oppressed covered Bakanonkm No. 69 2007 which Smeetmoh generous new political leadership committees and the Ministry of Finance for retirees oppressed since the Old Testament and yet Be confident they forces would present their hands to God to complain Zlmkm have also complained of the injustice of their predecessors and you are invited to the oppressed.
واخيراً نتوجه الي السيد وزير المالية المحترم باعتباره المسؤول الاول عن صدور القانون اطلعنا ياسيدي الكريم علي تصريحكم الي الصحف اليومية بعد صدور القانون والذي اشرتم فيه انكم غير راضين عن حدود الرواتب التقاعدية موضوعة البحث وقد وعدتم بإعادة النظر فيها عند دراسة القانون ثانية خلال هذا العام 2008 نحن نرجو مخلصين شمول اعضاء اللجان التي ستؤلف لهذا الغرض وكذلك اصحاب الدرجات الخاصة ووكلاء الوزارات واعضاء البرلمان بذات القانون الذي تدرسونه ثانية عندها سنري ان العدالة قد تحققت عند التوصل الي الراتب الذي يحفظ كرامة الانسان في ضل الاحتياجات اليومية لكل من اصحاب الدرجات الخاصة وغير الخاصة دون النظر الي درجته الوظيفية اسوة بوقوف الجميع في عرفة ويوم الحشر امام الله وفي الختام ادعو الله العلي القدير ان يوفق الجميع لما فيه خير البلاد والعباد والسلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته. Finally, we call on the Minister of Finance esteemed as primarily responsible for the issuance of the law have come to the holy sir to your daily newspapers after the issuance of the law and to which you when you are dissatisfied with the limits of pensions research theme has promised to reconsider the law when examining a second course of this year 2008 we We sincerely hope that the inclusion of members of the committees Stelv for this purpose as well as owners of private and grades deputy ministers and members of parliament the same law, which refers again then we will see that justice had been achieved in reaching a salary that preserves human dignity in lost daily needs of both owners and non-graduates without special consideration to the degree of functional Like everyone in the parking Arafa and Doomsday before God In conclusion I call upon God Almighty to reconcile all for the good of the country and people, peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings be upon you.
Azzaman International Newspaper - Issue 2935- Date 6/3/2008 Azzaman International Newspaper - Issue 2935 - Date 6/3/2008
جريدة (الزمان) الدولية - العدد 2935 - التاريخ 6/3/2008 Newspaper (time) International - No. 2935 - DATE 6/3/2008