Thread: Iraq/Dinar News Before Febuary 12th, 2006

Originally Posted by Tigger1

Sorry if this is in the wrong place but I have not seen on this site if currency is regulated as far as how often it can revalue. I think that it would make a huge difference to how high it can be valued at initially.

For instance, can they value it at (for rough numbers) 1.00 then a month later value it at 2.00 or do they have to wait a certain period of time.

Just curious, Tigger1

Neat question, Tigger. People have been granted Phd's after reaching incorrect conclusions in their efforts to deal with your very question. The US went from a gold standard (departure therefrom, thanks FDR) to a pegged/stated value then to a basket of currencies (Bretton Woods) then to 'free' float all within the last seventy years or so. The direct answer to your question is, yes 'they' could value it at 1.00, then tommorow at 2.00. But since this event would not take place in a vacuum, there would be consequences with a global reach.

saddam had set a stated exchange rate, but the "Yazzman Rate" developed. The saddam rate was about 3USD -1IQD. The Yazzman rate was about half as favorable to Iraqi Dollar buyers as the official rate. saddam killed people who did not agree with him, en masse, but the Yazzman still developed. The Yazzman was reflective of the free market, which rate shall always prevail.

The situation in Iraq was remotely akin to WWI Germany when it was cheaper to paper your wall with Marks than to buy wall paper. The situation now is much more like post WWII Germany with the economic reorganization under the Marshall plan. In all events, whatever the Central Bank of Iraq sets as a value is of nominal and transitory significance anyway - the market will always prevail. The smaller and more open the country's economic significance in global terms, the sooner the free market rates will develope in the face of whatever official rates are mandated. Iraq is in a state of economic flux (moving from a socialistic/communistic system to hopefully, an open market system) and political flux (moving form a despotic/dictatorship form of government to more of a representative republic - like the US). The market is uncertain of the outcome, which is why we stand to gain so handsomely.

We, as Dinar investors, believe that the US will prevail in establishing a free market and and fairly representative republic form of government in Iraq. Even if the US (to me that's a "we") lacks the political will to continue, the seeds of freedom have been sown, the Iraqi's have actually been given the experience of voting for WHOEVER THE HE** THEY WANTED, by our President and our Military.

Think of it, if the Dinar had a market value of the Yazzman rate while saddim was dictator, imagine what a free country with a free market could do.

Scott Paye

Originally Posted by adm

Wow! WoW!


Shahrastani and Shabibi to France to discuss the issue of support

(صوت العراق) - 03-02-2007(Voice of Iraq) - 03-02-2007
ارسل هذا الموضوع لصديقThis issue was sent to a friend

Shahrastani and Shabibi to France to discuss the issue of support for the pain Changet oil with the World Bank

بغداد - الصباحBaghdad-Sabah
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.Oil Hussein Shahrastani and the Central Bank Governor not n Shabibi left France to the direction of the Council of Ministers, to hold talks with the World Bank on prices Monte resorted oil and the continuing government support for this product Stresses in this period.

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.It is noteworthy that the issue of lifting of government support for a price for oil products raised many of the reactions of before large segments of Iraqi society due to the increase of a for the financial burden on families, especially low-income Almohad friendliness and junior staff as well as the drivers of trucks a of particular.

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With all those red words in one articule grouped together AND HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IT'S
RV TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Iraqi refugees feel hounded by Syria crackdown

DAMASCUS: Hussein, like hundreds of thousands of other Iraqis, fled to neighbouring Syria from the violence blighting daily life at home. But now that Damascus has tightened residency rules, he faces an uncertain future. "If I go back I'm dead," Hussein told AFP. Until January 20, Iraqis were eligible for permits allowing them to stay in Syria for three months-and then the permits could be renewed. But no longer. Now the Syrian authorities will only provide "two-week permits that can be renewed just once and with certain documents, including a rental contract," according to Mohammed. Like Hussein, he does not wish his last name to be made public. He did provide AFP with his full name, but then asked that it not be used. "You know very well the conditions" of Iraqi refugees in Syria, he said. More than 100 Iraqis whose permits to stay have expired or are about to gathered on Thursday outside the Damascus offices of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to ask for United Nations help.

On Friday UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres began a four-day trip to the Middle East to assess programmes for hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees in the region. Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan are on his itinerary. He will not visit Iraq itself because of timing and security considerations, UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond said. Iraq lashed out on Friday at Syrian treatment of the refugees. "Syria's attitude was hostile towards Iraqis in the way they dealt with the Iraqi issue," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in Baghdad. "There are a huge number of Iraqi refugees in Syria owing to the abnormal situation in Iraq," he told state television Al-Iraqiya. "They are there for a temporary period. But Syria imposed measures on residency which are very rare. By these measures they will put hundreds of thousands of Iraqis in a dire situation, and this is not a friendly attitude." Dabbagh called the situation disastrous for Iraqis in Syria, and added: "There is anger among Iraqis over the Syrian attitude and there is anger from Iraq." Several Iraqi protesters told AFP they were planning a sit-in on Monday outside the UNHCR building in Damascus. Some of them possess a UN document, valid for six months, that is supposed to preclude their expulsion from a host country because of their refugee status.

But "the Syrian security services just don't want to know," said Mohammed. A year and a half ago, he fled Iraq's notorious "Triangle of Death" south of Baghdad after being threatened by militiamen. "My brother was murdered and my son was jailed. As soon as he got out, we came here," Mohammed said. He now lives with his wife and four children at Sitt-Zeinab in southern Damascus, as do many other Iraqi refugees. The UNHCR estimates the number of Iraqi refugees in Syria at more than 600,000. Only neighbouring Jordan hosts more Iraqi refugees than Syria, with more than 700,000, according to UNHCR figures. There are also at least 100,000 in Egypt, 54,000 in Iran and up to 40,000 in Lebanon. Hussein has a young son and doesn't know which way to turn. His Syrian permit expires in one day, and the idea of returning to Iraq is unthinkable. The former aviator in the forces of the late dictator Saddam Hussein told AFP there had been four attempts on his life in Iraq. "So I fled. If I go back I'm dead. They killed my brother, and I'm number nine on the list (of an extremist Shiite militia)," Hussein said. "I was supposed to leave (Syria) a month ago."

He said the new Syrian measures came into force after Iraqi President Jalal Talabani came to Damascus in January. The landmark trip was the first such visit by an Iraqi head of state in three decades, and came after the two countries restored relations last November after a 26-year break. The crackdown on refugee permits "is the fruit of an accord" made during Talabani's talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Hussein claimed. After their meeting last month, Assad joined Talabani in expressing a "readiness to work together and do everything possible to eradicate terrorism." Ahmed Al-Tay is another Iraqi refugee in Syria. He is a 25-year-old journalist and poet. "I'm known in Iraq," he said. "I can't go back. My permit has expired and it won't be renewed. I need to find exile in whatever country I can." All of the Iraqis cited the violence they had seen in their home country, saying "life there is no longer normal" amid the anarchy and widespread sectarian killings. The United States has repeatedly accused Damascus of turning a blind eye to foreign fighters using Syria to enter Iraq and take part in a raging anti-US insurgency. Syria says it has prevented thousands of fighters from entering Iraq, and its attempts to discuss cooperation to resolve the Iraqi security situation have been rebuffed by Washington. _ AFP

Kuwait Times

Ministry denies closing border crossings



By Ali Al-Mawsawi



Azzaman, February 3, 2007



The Interior Ministry has denied reports that it has closed borders with neighboring countries.



But a ministry source said the authorities were determined to boost security and control measures at all crossings on international borders.



“Reports about the closure of border crossings are not true. We have only introduced tough measures to prevent infiltrators from entering Iraqi territories,” the source, refusing to be named said.



The government, backed by U.S. occupation troops, is gearing towards a massive military campaign to retake Baghdad.



The toughening of border controls is seen by many as a prelude to close the borders with to the start of the campaign.



The ministry source admitted the latest measures were related to the campaign but said the borders would remain open even during the military operations in Baghdad.



U.S. occupation troops have also denied reports that they had closed the Shalamja border crossing on the borders with Iran.



Iran, currently Iraq’s top trading partner, has several border crossing points with the country.

Talabani to Arabic paper: Establishment of Kurdish state is an impossible dream

2/3/2007 KurdishMedia.com
London (KurdishMedia.com) 03 February 2007: Jalal Talabani, the president of Iraq and the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, recently stated, “The Establishment of Kurdish state is an impossible dream.” Talabani was interviewed in Arabic by the Arabic paper Dar al-Khaleej, on 22 January 2007.

“The establishment of a Kurdish state is a dream of some Kurdish patriotic and of some Kurdish poets and perhaps of some Kurdish youths who see 190 flags on top of the United Nations building. But I think that the realistic Kurdish politicians know that this is a dream and they regarded this way. A man does not run after a dream to lose its achievement and what he has gained on the ground.”

Nearly 100 percent of voters in southern Kurdistan voted for accession in an unofficial referendum, which ran parallel to the Iraqi election.

This is not the first time Talabani steps over Kurds. On two occasions, once in Australia and once in the USA, Talabani refused to speak his native language, Kurdish, because he stated, “Kurdish is not an official language of Iraq.”

According to the Iraqi Constitution of Saddam Hussein and that of Talabani’s governemnt, Kurdish is one of the two official languages of Iraq.

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Says Half of Extremists Come From Syria
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Posted GMT 2-3-2007 21:53:43
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BAGHDAD (AFP) -- Half the extremists who commit bomb attacks in Iraq come from Syria, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Saturday.

"What we see on the streets of Baghdad, 50 per cent of it is coming from Syria. I confirm that 50 per cent of murders and bombings are by Arab extremists coming from Syria," Dabbagh said.

"They come from Syria, we have evidence to prove it. We have already proved it to our brothers in Syria. We want to tell all Arabs now that those who call themselves mujahedeen come from Syria, and murder our oppressed population this way."

Dabbagh's remarks came after a suicide bombing in a central Baghdad market killed 127 people and wounded 305.

The attack was the biggest since Nov 23 car bombings in the Shiite district of Sadr City left more than 200 people dead. Dabbagh also pressed Syria to hand over suspects wanted for carrying out attacks in Iraq. A number of top former regime officials have reportedly found refuge in Syria and many of them are on Iraq's most wanted list.

The US military has repeatedly accused Damascus of turning a blind eye to foreign fighters slipping across the border to join the insurgency dogging US troops in Iraq.

© 2007, Assyrian International News Agency

U.S., Iraqis work to reopen factories
Saturday, 03 February 2007
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
AR RAMADI — U. S. officials are working with the Iraqi Government to reopen various production factories to stimulate the local economy here.

Mohammed Abdullah, the deputy minister of industry, met with Bob Love, the director of Iraqi operations for the Defense Business Transformation Agency, during a Jan. 31 visit to ceramics and glass factories to discuss the future of the businesses.

“The factories in Ramadi are important to the government of Iraq and the United States,” Love said. “We have to move quickly.”

Love said that meetings like this would speed up the process of opening the ceramic factory’s doors to its more than 700 employees.

“We are here to build that bridge to move into the future,” Abdullah said.

During the meeting, the supervisor of the factories, General Manager Fouad Hamad, told Love and Abdullah that neither one of the businesses can operate without more generators.

“The future of my company is important to this community,” Hamad said. “We need someone to take a deep look at our problem, so the people can come back to work.”

Love told Abdullah that he would work closely with getting the generators needed, and promised to provide the movement of the generators to the factory.

“Hopefully, we will get this wheel turning and get the factories back to the way they used to be,” Abdullah said.

Love said he has already seen great improvements since his first visit. He said the security in the area is better and he was impressed with the number of employees coming out to the factory despite the conditions.

“I am excited to see what can happen in the next two months,” Love said.

After the meeting, the group toured the ceramic factory and the glass factory and spoke with some of the employees.

Mayor Latif Obaid Ayadah, the mayor of Ramadi attended the meeting. Love spoke to Latif about getting Ramadi on board with a new wireless communication project for his city.

“We want that type of service,” Latif said. “We very much need that type of service.”

Love said he plans to return to monitor progress and to show his continued support for the factories and the local population who work there.

Soldiers work with Iraqis to stop corruption
Saturday, 03 February 2007
Story and photo by Spc. Joshua R. Ford
3rd Brigade Combat Team
82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs


A U.S. Soldier mans a checkpoint near the Bayji Oil facilities. Official Department of Defense photo.BAYJI — Providing security for facilities with economic and strategic importance has been one of the primary missions of Soldiers serving here. Helping Iraqis stem the corruption that was commonplace during Saddam Hussein’s reign often goes hand in hand with that mission.

When the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, deployed last August in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, leaders saw fit to place the task of providing security for the Bayji Oil Refinery to the paratroopers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, in hopes of preventing corruption and ensuring security. Capt. Kwenton Kuhlman, Company B’s commander, works diligently trying to end the corruption at the refinery and to help form a foundation which incoming units could continue to build on.

The Bayji Oil Refinery is one of the three largest refineries in Iraq, producing more than 75 percent of Iraq’s refined products, making it one of the more important infrastructures in the country.

The facility employs more than 5,000 people, including security guards hired by the Oil Protection Force, which are all employed by Iraq’s Ministry of Oil.

“Security is always at an elevated level, especially when we start to disrupt corruption. When (anti-Iraqi forces) start to lose money, it increases our threat level. Basically the better we (and the Iraqis) do our job, the more danger we are in,” said Kuhlman.

The Oil Protection Force provides security for the refinery by manning the gates and more than 30 guard towers strategically placed around the perimeter of the refinery.

Because of problems with guards bribing and extorting drivers, the Oil Protection Force fires and hires at least 10 people a week, said Hassan Ahmad, an employee of the Oil Protection Force.

Ahmad added that the problem is not nearly as severe as U.S. Forces suggest, though evidence collected by Company B contradicts his assumption.

“We have caught guys at the pumps, pumping extra fuel. We have caught guys short-changing government fuel tankers. We have caught a couple of Oil Protection Force guys taking bribes from oil tankers,” said Kuhlman. “The Iraqis are very aware of what is going on at the refinery.”

This has caused many problems, including increased black-market fuel points. Everyday, Iraqis wait hours in line to get a tank of gas or pay double the government price, said Maj. Curtis Buzzard, executive officer, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.

“I am beginning to get a sense that the people are fed up with it, especially the average Iraqi. They are tired of their day-to-day lives being interrupted by this fuel process,” said Kuhlman.

In general, people affected by this are scared to stand up and stop the corruption in fear for their lives or their family’s safety. Many key leaders and sheiks are frustrated feeling that they can’t make a difference, said Buzzard.

Bayji’s oil refinery produces $8 million to $11 million in potential exports every year.

“Ultimately it is the Iraqis problem to solve. All security issues here should be solved by Iraqis,” said Kuhlman. “It is an assistance role we take, it’s not a lead role and that’s the bottom line. We are like an honest broker out there.”

Lt. Gen. Abdul-Aziz, commander of the 4th Iraqi Army Division, has told Kuhlman that he will permanently garrison an infantry battalion at the refinery to help with the security and corruption issues and is currently in the process of making good of his promise.

Iraqi soldiers from strategic infrastructure battalions will also provide security at the front gate of the refinery, based on Aziz’s plan for the facility.

To help be the “honest broker” Kuhlman tasked two of his men to assist him in finding who the key players are in the extortion and corruption that is plaguing the facility.

Sgt. Stephen Truesdale and Pfc. Roger R. Dean make up the Oil Gas Refinery Enforcement team. Both are infantrymen with Company B and have law enforcement backgrounds as police officers before enlisting into the Army. They use basic investigative techniques and know-how to propose methods to reduce corruption.

The team also assists Iraqi Security Forces in acquiring information from people to form prosecutable cases.

“It’s not something that you can do every now and then. It’s something that you will need to be dedicated to,” said Truesdale. “If I’m not at the refinery, doing paper work on the refinery or teaching people about the refinery, then I’m on the internet researching different ways we can go about stopping the corruption.”

Truesdale compares the situation to the Donnie Brasco story saying it took Brasco seven years to get into the mafia and start getting evidence to prosecute the guilty.

“It’s not something we can solve while we’re here, but what we are doing will lay a good foundation for the next unit that comes in,” said Truesdale. “This is a system that has been in place for a long time so it’s not something we can change drastically, but if we can change the way they do business, hopefully we can detour it enough to make a lasting dent in the money flow between the corruption, refinery and the insurgency.”

“We’re trying to find the honest men in there. Just somebody who wants turn to this money over to what it can do instead of what it is doing,” said Dean.

Iraqi village builds women’s center
Saturday, 03 February 2007
By Norris Jones
Gulf Region Central District


A woman from the village of Assriya, takes advantage of a new $230,000, 400-square-meter Women’s Center. Local residents have sewn dozens of dresses, sold many in the local market, and are now looking to expand their business enterprise. U.S Army Corps of Engineers PhotoBAGHDAD — A small town in north Baghdad province provides a positive glimpse of Iraq’s future. Assriya Village, located outside Camp Taji, has about 4,600 residents representing all sects.

“Assriya” in Arabic means “modern” and its name exemplifies the way residents treat each other. They worked together to build a Women’s Center that officially opened in August and today that facility is producing apparel for children.

The $230,000, 400-square-meter facility includes 12 sewing machines and 12 computers to encourage female business opportunities. Local residents have sewn dozens of dresses, sold many in the local market, and are now looking to expand their business enterprise.

They are working with Camp Taji to open a store there. They also are contacting Baghdad merchants about the possibility of selling their apparel.

Col. Debra Lewis, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Gulf Region Central District, recently visited the facility and talked to those operating it. “It’s great to see the community’s positive outlook and pride in what the Center represents,” she said.

Lewis brought with her 16 boxes of fabric, thread and other sewing items donated by Americans wanting to help. (The Daughters of the American Revolution and Seattle churches are among those supporting the effort.) Six of the local women who are part of the work force expressed their sincere appreciation.

Lewis plans to continue seeking stateside support for this facility, and doing whatever else she can, after seeing the impact this is having on the community, she said.

After his father was killed, Sheik Luqman Raheem stepped in and is continuing his work at the center. The 414th Civil Affairs Battalion at Camp Taji was responsible for getting the project funded through the Commander’s Emergency Response Program. USACE oversaw the construction. Capt. William LeFever with the 414th said Luqman has done a good job getting the Women’s Center going and also has plans to open an internet cafe there to generate even more revenue for the facility.

Freedom Facts ::
In Iraq, approximately 270 km of village roads have been completed. These projects are directly contracted with local firms and assist in the economic development of smaller communities. The Village Roads program is expected to be completed in July 2007 and will provide 424 km of improved roads.