Thread: Iraqi/Dinar news until March 1st, 2007

A bill awaiting parliamentary ratification oil
Baghdad-Citizen

A Kurdish MP Mahmoud Othman said : "The Americans Wa for Britons, who hurry to approve the draft law on oil Wa gas, had a big role in persuading the Kurds accepting " On the other hand, "Accord Front," opposition Adoption Almshro p in light of the security situation, With favorable conditions of the Iraqi Council of Ministers to adopt a for the project, which provides for the distribution of oil revenues e to all areas in accordance with the proportions of the population. A Osma n some of the details that accompanied the process of approving the draft S44 n oil and gas in the cabinet after long months of a the disagreement between the central government and the government of the territory Krdsta N., and said that "the Americans and the British, , who strongly want him to the draft resolution had requested N. oil and gas, they had a big role in persuading the parties to the Kurdish Balkebo told him after intensive talks between the Iraqi government and insisting stack Kurdish ended predicated between the parties on Ast the fruits of oil and how to manage contracts and distribution. " and among our P Osman said that "the recent visit of the American ambassador Zelm any Khalilzad had to Dukan focused on convincing the Kurds Bqbo told the oil after they pledged that the new j within the interests of Kurdistan.

He pointed out that "the Kurdish government wants to have the the power to sell the oil contracts and extraction and the granting of licenses to companies are subjective that there be a representative of the Hako away the central, at a time when the government in Baghdad demanding oversee a contracts signed with the presence of a representative of the Kurds. " He added, "it was resolved after the agreement to be half contracts signed at the disposal of the government of Kurdistan. "

For his part, stressed the spokesperson of the "Accord Front," Abdul Salim God that "the current situation is not appropriate for approval of the draft oil and gas "and said : "look to the new law with suspicion and fear in light of the situation security, which does not help to put Such law, in particular it deals with oil investment, which is the most important the element of the Iraqi national income. " He added, "We are in Twas part of that foreign companies have had a role in the passing of the bill told serving its own interests, We reject the call for the law of the privatization of the public sector oil and its transfer to foreign investment companies " , pointing to "the need to distribute the proceeds of oil resources e is just away from sectarianism. " it is expected that the a project , which was approved by the Iraqi government Monday, the House of Representatives after the completion of spring vacation told becomes effective, if approved, the end of next May.

A member of the oil, gas and natural resources in the Parliament Osama Alnjevi that "it will not be ratified in a parliament quickly on the project because of differences based e-political blocs on oil investment. " and new law provides for the conversion of the National Oil Company holding to the independent powers granted equal Llte captain and the extraction of oil and awarding of contracts for oil each from the Ministry of oil and the National Oil Company, a regional bodies the one created by the law and gives them the right to identify the companies foreign willing to be the knowledge of the government center Yeh.

The United States was the first to the government here Iraqi approval of the draft law on oil, The news agency "France Presse," the spokesman space e American Sean McCormick Monday : "We congratulate the Iraqi government for approval of the law on fuels. " He added that the Iraqi parliament's approval of the project T. the form "an important legislatively." He pointed out that the draft cascade. Unwin provides that "all proceeds will be collected in the national Mu degree.

He pointed out that "the regions and provinces all Iraqi Council will be represented at the federal oil and gas will be the main body of energy policy in the country. " and Tabb p "that the provinces will directly share of the revenues AT means local control is much more important to articles financial restitution. "

He concluded, "that this law will make the oil tool Tessa counting in the unification of Iraq and give all Iraqis a fair share of proceeds home

Translated version of http://www.almowaten.com/economy.html

Major companies in the waiting for the adoption of the Law of oil Ar Christians final

Iraqi officials said that dozens of companies demons were sent marvel major companies including American, Russian, Chinese expressed an interest in the development of Iraqi oilfields and industry oil in the country. after the approval of a draft bill of oil by the Council of Ministers a the one who allows the sharing of oil wealth between governorates pw sublime to the proportion of the population, including the provincial Els faith. , and opens the new law in the case of final approval part of the House of Representatives for the industry to the flow of foreign investments, awaiting the opportunity to enter the slightest p Iraqi oil, which possesses one of the largest reserves in the world.

An official in the Iraqi government yesterday that the government is now preparing to invite international companies to Las Tthmar in the oil and gas sector once the project n Haifa in Parliament. at the same minister said useless i Iraqi Hussein Shahrastani that the oil and gas open the doors to the Ministry of Oil to hold rounds of pain Faudhat and invite international companies qualified to provide p Rudha. He added that the ministry will adopt in its contract with the companies on the nationality and background, but on the ability p I develop oil fields according to models developed by the Ministry of oil.

He added : "We are keen that the oil fields diligence paper Ka and the very hands of the giant and the ministry six Iraqis work to be beneficial in the context of contracts, according competition zone between the companies. " Despite signs of Iraqi officials and according to the "New York Times" that the American yearning Regrettably oil contracts with foreign companies will be subject to the auction fair, However, the inspectors said that the Americans the upper grades in the Iraqi government, including those with large positions in the Ministry of Oil dead Hamon corruption and there are fears among companies - Prince MK favor of the American companies at their expense.

In Iraq, vast reserves of crude oil and abolished presentations declared a natural crude oil 511 billion b Rammell and another in the process of exploration of 214 billion barrels P in addition to the 1000 billion cubic meters of natural gas, according to Dr. Rasat the Iraqi Oil Ministry. The statistics rarely Are the Iraqi oil that Iraq's oil fields Drugs Utility and waiting list and investment since the 1970s, and eight Nath last century own abilities located mostly south j field west of the country, notably Qurnah, crazy uncle and rivers t and the Rafidain and flying the boundary and Allhes and Albzerka N. and east of Baghdad and the Al-Ahdab, Nasiriyah and Artawi and other p Dedeh.

Translated version of http://www.almowaten.com/economy.html

Received Mr. President Jalal Talabani on Alar Afae 28-02-2007 handwritten letter from the President of Ameri so, George W. Bush, he wished a speedy recovery for His Excellency, and text of the letter reads as follows :
"عزيزي الرئيس"Dear President
أنا قلق بشأن الوعكة الصحية التي مررت بها، و قد بلغني انك ترتاح بشكل جيد، أتمنى لك الشفاء العاجل.I am worried about the health indisposition which I passed out, and I understand that you may well be satisfied, I wish you a speedy recovery.
العراق بحاجة إلى قيادتكم المستمرة.Iraq needs your continued. اقدر شجاعتكم مع أفضل التمنيات.I appreciate your courage with best wishes.
جورج دبليو بوش"George W. Bush. "
Iraqi Presidency

The HCL is all over fox news!!! Their gonna get 1 bite at the
perverbial apple and they better get it right!!, because now more investers than
just us are going to be looking into cashing in, putting more pressure
on the NID, OMG, this investment just might clear the launch
:
---End Quote---
*With HCL Passed in Parliment Expect the DINARS to REVAL ANY DAY
NOW.:huge: *
***************

The Presidency ratified the Law Office of the High t elections
(Voice of Iraq) - 28-02-2007
This issue was sent to a friend

The Republic of Iraq
The Office of the President
Press Office

News : the Presidency ratified the Law Office of the High t elections
February 28, 2007

Sadik of the Presidency, Assembly at its meeting on Monday 2-26-2007. the Law Office of the High Commissioner for the elections, Based on the approved by the House of Representatives, in accordance with the provisions of article (61 / I) of the Constitution WAS Tnada to the provisions of paragraph (5 / a), of the 100th then timely and 30th of the Constitution, and by calling (11).

The Republic of Iraq
The Office of the President
Press Office

Documents : the Presidency ratified the Law Office of the High t elections
February 28, 2007

Sadik of the Presidency, Assembly at its meeting on Monday 2-26-2007. the Law Office of the High Commissioner for the elections, Based on the approved by the House of Representatives. In accordance with the provisions of article (61 / I) of the Constitution WAS Tnada to the provisions of paragraph (5 / a), of the 100th then timely and 30th of the Constitution, and by calling (11).

The name of the people
The Presidency
Decision No. (11)

Based on the approved by the House of Representatives in accordance with the provisions of article e (61 / I) of the Constitution, based on the provisions of A. Qarah (V / a) of Article Eight hundred and thirty-m n Constitution.

Council decided the presidency Assembly at its meeting on 26 December, February 2 007
Law issued the following statement :

No. (11) of 2007
The Independent Higher Commission for Elections

(Chapter I)
Article (1) :
First : cancels under this law is the authority of the coalition lamb m (92) to May 31, 2004 from the date of the law PFC Regrettably, regulations and instructions issued thereunder.
Second : under this law makes a body called the Commission may be wondered whether Oh Independent Elections

(Chapter II)

Article (2) :

The Office of the Independent Electoral Commission of the professional e-governmental independent and impartial enjoys moral personality e subject to the control of the House and possessing :
1. Laying the foundations and rules adopted in the elections Wa the federal and regional referendums in the local Cem Regrettably, throughout Iraq to ensure the implementation of a fair and impartial e.
2. The supervision of all types of elections and Alastefatta Fat federal, regional and provincial-pain Ntzema in the territory.
3. Do the announcement and the organization and implementation of all kinds of only Ntekhabat and federal and local referendums in the past provinces and the Province of others regularly referred to in the Constitution in all parts of Iraq.
4. Authority territories for the elections coordination Walt aided with the National Office management functions and systems now Tekhabih regional and local private Territory under UNHCR auspices of the Independent Electoral Commission.
(Chapter III)
Bodies UNHCR

Article (3) :
First : The Independent Higher Commission of elections :
A-Board of Commissioners.
B-electoral administration.

Second : Board of Commissioners.
•يتالف Board of Commissioners of nine members, two of whom Might j least lawyers chosen by the Board of Deputies Balag Lebbie after nomination (a committee of the House of Representatives) on the j Rest with the competence and experience and who are known for their attention loyalty and integrity and independence, taking into account the representation of Allen worsened).
•يشترط Candidates for the Board of Commissioners to enjoy including :
1. The Iraqi resident in Iraq are durable.
2. Must possess a university degree initial p to me at least.
3. That is below the age of thirty five years.
4. He must be of good character and behavior.
5. To be qualified and experienced in the area of work secretary.
6. To be independent from the political point of view.
7. That is not covered by the law of abolishing the Baath Party or of Ath Ri at the expense of public money or committed a crime against the people of a , a member of the repressive apparatuses.
8. There should be governed by a crime against the honor.

Third :
A-elected by the Council at its first meeting from among its members Luba Glbeh five of its members at least a Chairman and Vice M. The director decided not enjoy the right to vote.
B - The mandate of the Speaker and the Deputy Director Altenvi a one-year renewable term by five members of the e at least.
C-Chairman of the Board is the legal representative of UNHCR has b undue representation to the others.
D-exercised by the President or on behalf of the following powers :
1. Management Council's regulatory and administrative.
2. The preparation of the meetings of the Council and held the presidency Bom in a meeting requested by any four members of the Council on at least.
3. Any other tasks assigned by the Board.

Fourth :
Leading members of the Board of Commissioners were sworn in before the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, as follows : (swear to God Almighty that I will perform my responsibilities Aka 7-11 and professional honesty and dedication, devotion and work on a of achievement tasks assigned to the independence and neutrality of God p what I say martyr).
Fifth :
A true meeting of the Council by an absolute majority Ela dd its members and its decisions are taken by those present at the event e tie vote, which is likely side with the President Unless the law provides otherwise.

(Chapter IV)
Powers Board of Commissioners

Article (4) :
UNHCR should exercise the following powers :
First : the creation and updating the register of voters in cooperation and coordination with provincial and district offices.
Second : organization of the political entities and ratify Lg bruises contest the elections.

Third : organization of the lists of candidates for elections and to ratify them.
Fourth : adoption of election observers and agents entities Elsie Aceh and journalists.
Fifth : a decision on electoral complaints and appeals all the s Raratha be challenged before a judicial body discriminatory brain Tassa.
Sixth : ratification of the sorting and counting procedures.
Seventh : the announcement of the final results of the elections and referendum after approval of the competent judicial authorities, b exception results of the elections of the House of Representatives, which ratified p attacks Federal Supreme Court.
Eighth : develop regulations and instructions to keep the process Alant Jabih fairness.
Ninth : ratification of the structure of the electoral administration and Altai JPY in senior posts.
Tenth : financial policy of the Office.

(Chapter V)
The Electoral Administration

Article (5) :

A - The electoral administration from the National Office Wa the electoral offices in the region and the governorates according the structure being proposed by (general manager / head), but his election and validated by the Board of Commissioners Witt Crown Director General Presidency electoral administration Wissa drive by the governing bodies of Commissioners and conferred by a Council to organize its work and to ensure the proper functioning of their performance.
B - The Department is responsible for the implementation of the election now Zema and the decisions of the Board of Commissioners and the Department of k the scourge of operational activities and executive Wa the motion at the national and regional levels.

C-senior positions in the National Office assistants pain Der General and the directors of departments in the office are to be nominated M. n by executive management and be ratified by Majdal S. UNHCR by five of eight managers either Makat b Territory and the provinces is one of them, and approval of the nomination by the Council of Commissioners majority of the five candidates before members of the House of Representatives in that region or those recognized in words are chosen one, and approval by the Council of Commissioners vote of five of its members at least.
D-heads and members of electoral offices officials n on the performance of their assigned them to the Director of Administration a who is eligible for election to be held accountable and the proposed replacement from undue advantage of them the same mechanism provided for P j paragraph (c).

(Chapter VI)
Replacement Member

Article (6) :

Term membership of the Board of Commissioners for one reason only False :
1. Acceptance of the resignation of a member of the Board of Commissioners approved Alenda m procedure.
2. The death of a member of the Commissioners or disability.
3. A judicial decision is the right member of the Board of Commissioners were away the dishonest.
4. Ratification of the House of Representatives by simple majority, at Walt guardian passed by the vote of five commissioners of the MI bright sacking of one of its members as it violated the rules of conduct.
5. The House exemption Board of Commissioners, collectively or members of his absolute majority, after it was proven otherwise accused legal.
6. If proved to be incorrect information given by at Tuol j function.
7. If one of the seats vacated the Board of Commissioners for a one of the reasons for mentioned in the article (6) of this chapter are replaced Akhiarh member is the same mechanism set out in pain births (3), paragraph II.


(Chapter VII)
Human Member

Article (7) :
First : The members of the Commissioners (Privileges and Under-visited e) for a period of five years, subject to renewal.
Second : the Board of Commissioners grant allocations to its employees does not exceed the pain Khssat granted to the staff of the ministry.
Third : all members of the Board of Commissioners could not be appointed to Z P general academic posts except for three o tsunamis from the date of the end of their errands.
Fourth : Commissioners have donated a pension of 80% of the total they Etkaddouh of their salaries after the termination of their functions except h machines impeachment and resignation or conviction of a crime with p Aka for their work and the provisions of this paragraph shall apply to the Commissioners combatants.
Fifth : the appointment of the Cabinet wishes of those who contracted M. p UNHCR earlier in the National Office and the offices of pain portfolios in one of the departments of State, according to their abilities and in accordance the controls in place.
Sixth : the former Office of the treatment provided Here in item III of this article.
(Chapter VIII)
Complaints

Article (8) :

First : the Council has exclusive authority with respect to implementation pain Dennie of the procedures and regulations and the Council must refer any e criminal case to the competent authorities if it finds evidence misconduct on the integrity of the election.
Second : unless the law of the High Commission on the contrary, has a for the exclusive power to resolve disputes arising from MI Dad and the implementation of national and regional elections or Misto j governorates and may delegate authority to the Department of electoral resolve disputes moment they occur.
Third : the Court of Cassation, the formation of the body called the veto power Landespolizei for the elections is composed of three part-time judges to hear appeals referred to it by a Board of Commissioners , submitted by affected by the decisions of the Council Mbach danger to the judiciary.
Fourth : no decisions may be appealed only to the final the judiciary of the elections.
Fifth : published in the Security Council Office (3) daily newspapers for Th Atha days to at least move of the Arab, Kurdish and must be appealed within three days starting from the day following the publication of the political entity on the resolution provides that appeal to a National Bureau and any electoral office of the UNHCR in the Territories and the governor tires.
Sixth : the judicial body for the elections in Chapter Alaste precluding within a period not exceeding ten days from the date of assignment the appeal by the Board of Commissioners.
Seventh : the decisions of the judicial branch of the elections are final and an appeal could be made in any way.
Eighth : put discriminatory judicial body when it was formed paid Fat challenge it in the Security Council of Commissioners not j runs the contents of this law and exception to the law Murr Afat civilian force, as amended (No. 83) of 1969 and other procedural law.
(Chapter IX)
FINAL PROVISIONS

Article (9) :

First : UNHCR continues Independent Electoral Commission in its work until the formation of the Independent Higher Commission elected T. Under this law, that the selection of the High Yen limited to a maximum of 60 days from the date of ratification of this law.
Second : a committee in the House of Representatives to follow the formation of the Almf The Den of the Office of the Independent Electoral Commission.
Third : UNHCR hiring in the field of international elections of the United Nations in the stages of preparation, the preparation and holding of elections and referendums.
Fourth : the UNHCR's annual budget will be prepared independently in accordance with the rules and principles of customary suggests Qubb l Board of Commissioners in consultation with the Ministry of Finance approved in the House and included in the general budget% pw has.
Fifth : linked to electoral offices in the provinces of the region Bom wrote the Territories for the elections.
Sixth : The Board of Commissioners own rules High Yeh.
Seventh : A UNHCR staff of the Independent Election AT choose between retirement benefits or recruitment and State functions taking into account grades Aloz Yves except for the Board of Commissioners.
Eighth : the Board of Commissioners its publication in Arabic Kurdish within 24 hours and in the manner determined by the a n not inconsistent with paragraph IV of Article IX of e a law.
Ninth : prepare and submit quarterly reports to the House of Representatives.
Tenth : take into account in the formation of the Higher Commission for Elections, including j achieved a balance in the representation of the components of the Iraqi people in accordance the regulations and instructions.
Eleventh : the President's Council of Commissioners powers of the minister in respect of the official correspondence with the relevant ministries and departments, official e other.
12nd : UNHCR adopt the Independent Electoral only Hossa general population done by the Russian government Yeh formally.
13rd : this law implemented from the date of approval and published in the the Official Gazette.

Tariq Al-Hashmi Adel Abdel Mahdi, Jalal Talabani
Vice President Vice President of the President of the Republic Republic "

Reasons

As the transition phase set forth in S44 n State Department after the ratification of the Constitution of lasting peace in the referendum and the ratification of the election results the House of Representatives and what the law which established the the Office of the Independent Electoral Commission (is the power of coalition Provisional No. 92 of 2004) came into force that Than transitional phase and the need to enact a law very by regulating the work of UNHCR in implementation of the article (102) the Constitution, initiated this law.

Khalilzad welcomed the ratification by the Iraqi government to S44 n the national oil and gas
Source : KUNA-28 / 02 / 2007

The American ambassador in Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, MI because the Iraqi government to the oil and gas as " an important political achievement "and expressed the hope that the longer this Alcan won "the main pillar of the National Pact, which was adopted by the Iraqis.

He said in a statement that "leaders who represent all segments of a the Iraqi society proved they are capable of work that Cries to solve the difficult issues of vital importance Hello national. "

He said it is "possible to achieve the National Charter (of interests national e) if completed, will similar solutions on the felt before the eradication of the Baath and amending the constitution ".

He praised the American ambassador to the Committee on Energy told the Council of Ministers headed by Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih and with the participation of ministers of oil, planning and finance and justice electricity and Governor of the Central Bank and others and said that s Unwin oil, which contains firmly committed to participate P j revenue among regions and provinces "confirms reaffirms that the oil and gas resources belong to all the people Iraq. " Under this law, all proceeds from sales of oil "will go to the expense of a national one."

He also pointed out that the representation of all regions and recognized in Fadat in the Federal Council of oil and gas, which is a of the major industry energy policy in the country. The Iraqi governorates receive shares directly from Abu And therefore there will be increasing local control financial resources. The law of international standards for transparency including the public disclosure requirements of the contracts and the returns Mairafqaha payments also defines the role of the Ministry of Oil as organized first as is the case in general in the pain other attended. The draft legislation this legal framework to allow international investment in the oil and gas sectors in the Iraq. Khalilzad said he "will be on the House Iraqi ratification of the draft legislation this when he returns from waned e clearance. "

Because of the representation of parliamentary blocs in the President a the ministers, there has very high expectations to become a draft legislation to this law the country's oil will not be impaired Alberlm that discussion.

And through the American ambassador expressed his belief that the leaders of Iraq they know that achieving progress on the political level and they take difficult decisions, it was essential. It was of the view that this is the first time since 2003 that followed Afterward which all segments of Iraqi society President on T. Cheria important this.

The Iraqi government identified the 10th of March date for the holding of
(Voice of Iraq) - 28-02-2007
This issue was sent to a friend

The Iraqi government identified the 10th of March date for the holding of the Baghdad regional

Political / Iraq / conference / Baghdad
The Iraqi government identified the 10th of March date for the holding of the Baghdad regional

Baghdad-2-28 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi government on the 10th of March next date for the holding of a conference Baghdad, Klimi to discuss the Iraqi crisis and alleviate the tension and "break the ice" in the region.

A statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister received the Iraqi the Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA) copy, "and sent the Iraqi government official invitations to the neighboring countries least Yemi, Egypt, the five permanent members of the Organization the United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the League of father AIPAC Arabia to attend a conference held in Baghdad in a the March 10th next. "

The statement said that the conference "aims to support the process Els Jasih and the efforts of the government of national unity in stabilizing security and stability, which would contribute in consolidating national reconciliation in a the Iraq. "

The Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari had addressed call to neighboring countries and the five permanent members in the Security Council, the States and Arab organizations and other foreign Leh Eissawiya Conference to be held in Baghdad to discuss ways of resolving the buzzing away the current in Iraq.

The holding of this conference seating Britain and the States United States along with Iran and Syria, discussion of solutions for the stability of Iraq and to support pw Malé political and security efforts Astttbab.

Heading for the exit


Leader
Thursday March 1, 2007
The Guardian


The announcement that the US will participate in talks with Iran and Syria on the future of Iraq came as something of a surprise. U-turn was the phrase that came to mind, even to those versed in the history of the Pentagon's policy lurches. But today's Guardian report may explain why US diplomats are preparing to sit down with the representatives of two regimes that they have hitherto accused of destabilising Iraq. A group of officers advising General David Petraeus, the warrior-scholar sent in to quell the insurgency in Baghdad and Anbar province, has concluded that US forces have six months to win the war; otherwise it faces the prospect of defeat and withdrawal.
The timescale hangs on the political realities of the home front as much as it does on military realities in Iraq. If the insertion of 21,500 additional US troops fails to pacify the capital quickly, the general's advisers say there will be a meltdown of public opinion back home. This could encourage Congress to mount direct challenges to the administration's policy. So General Petraeus is running out of time even before his extra troops have been fully deployed. This may explain Washington's willingness to use any levers, even ones they have previously refused to touch, to succeed.

So many mistakes have been made in Iraq that there is a general expectation that this policy will go wrong too. Yet Robert Gates, the man who replaced Donald Rumsfeld as defence secretary, is nothing if not a pragmatist, and this is starting to show through. Sunnis are to be offered a fairer share of oil revenue, based on population, and a law on de-Ba'athification will relax restrictions on members of the old regime. The US military also claims its increased presence in Baghdad is starting to have an effect on the Shia militias, whose commanders are keeping their heads down or have fled to Iran.

The authors of the new strategy are making several large assumptions. The first is that the extra five brigades will reduce the daily carnage in Baghdad and Anbar province. That is far from certain. Despite the latest surge, the number of troops still falls short of the number stipulated in the counterinsurgency manual that General Petraeus wrote. The second assumption is that Sunni opinion is reaching a tipping point, and producing splits between tribal chieftains and al-Qaida fighters. This has been predicted before but has never happened.

There is a sting in General Petraeus's tail, too. If the surge does not work, he has promised, he will explain its failure to Congress. Telling the truth about Iraq may be an insurance policy for the general, but it will also focus attention on the man who bears the real responsibility: the president.


Heading for the exit | Iraq | Guardian Unlimited

US praised for diplomacy ahead of summit


· Syria and Iran likely to attend stability meeting
· Conference marks abrupt reversal by Washington

Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
Thursday March 1, 2007
The Guardian


The Bush administration won rare praise for its diplomacy on Iraq yesterday as plans for an international conference on stabilising the country gathered pace, with Syria and Iran indicating they would participate.
"Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, even the US and Britain have informed us they will participate," the Iraqi deputy foreign minister, Labi Abawi, told reporters in Baghdad.

Publicly, Iranian officials said only that Tehran was weighing up its participation in the meeting, which will take place on March 10 in Baghdad.

"We support solving problems of Iraq by all means and we will attend the conference if it is expedient," Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's supreme national security council, told state television. "We believe Iraq's security is related to all its neighbouring countries, and they have to help settle the situation.

Officials in Damascus confirmed Syria's participation and said it would be represented by Ahmed Arnous, an aide to the foreign minister .

The administration's abrupt decision to end its isolation of Iran and Syria and give its support to a conference hosted by Baghdad on stabilising Iraq was welcomed.

"It's a very important and a very positive first step to take a diplomatic offensive," Lee Hamilton, one of the chairs of the Iraq Study Group, told National Public Radio.

The Iraq Study Group last December had urged the administration to engage with Tehran and Damascus - a path the administration resisted until Tuesday.

Instead, the Bush administration in recent weeks had stepped up its pressure on Iran because of its nuclear programme, and what Washington views as attempts to destabilise Iraq. The Bush administration accuses Tehran of supporting Shia fighters in Iraq; it says Syria has allowed Sunni militants to cross its borders.

Mr Hamilton said he hoped America's support for the conference suggested that Mr Bush was willing to heed the study group's advice. "What it indicates to me is that we are beginning to move beyond purely a military solution. We understand that at the end of the day we are going to have to solve the problems in that region diplomatically."

Others said they hoped the movement on Iraq would lead the administration into broader policy changes for the region.

"It's a big reversal," said Philip Gordon, a foreign policy expert at the Brookings Institution. "I think it reflects that what almost anyone has to acknowledge is that there has been a failure of foreign policy. This pattern has been under way throughout their second term - their backing away from policy taken in the first term."

The Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has invited all of Iraq's neighbours - Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Turkey, Iran and Syria - as well as Bahrain, Egypt, the five permanent members of the Security Council, the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

Ambassadors are expected to meet on March 10 followed by a ministerial meeting to be held in April, possibly in Istanbul.

"Our hope is that this will be an ice-breaking attempt for maybe holding other meetings in the future. We want Iraq, instead of being a divisive issue, to be a unifying issue," the Iraqi foreign minister, Hoshiyar Zebari, told Reuters.

Washington has stepped up accusations that Iran is funnelling support to insurgent groups in Iraq, and to the Hizbullah movement in Lebanon. The US has sent aircraft carriers to the Gulf, and arrested a number of Iranian diplomats in Iraq.

Although some have said such displays of pressure could be a prelude to direct talks between Tehran and Washington, White House officials played down that possibility. But the State Department said it would not rule out the possibility of bilateral talks with the Iranians.

US praised for diplomacy ahead of summit | Iraq | Guardian Unlimited

US commanders admit: we face a Vietnam-style collapse


Elite officers in Iraq fear low morale, lack of troops and loss of political will

Simon Tisdall
Thursday March 1, 2007
The Guardian


An elite team of officers advising the US commander, General David Petraeus, in Baghdad has concluded that they have six months to win the war in Iraq - or face a Vietnam-style collapse in political and public support that could force the military into a hasty retreat.
The officers - combat veterans who are experts in counter-insurgency - are charged with implementing the "new way forward" strategy announced by George Bush on January 10. The plan includes a controversial "surge" of 21,500 additional American troops to establish security in the Iraqi capital and Anbar province.

But the team, known as the "Baghdad brains trust" and ensconced in the heavily fortified Green Zone, is struggling to overcome a range of entrenched problems in what has become a race against time, according to a former senior administration official familiar with their deliberations.

"They know they are operating under a clock. They know they are going to hear a lot more talk in Washington about 'Plan B' by the autumn - meaning withdrawal. They know the next six-month period is their opportunity. And they say it's getting harder every day," he said.

By improving security, the plan's short-term aim is to create time and space for the Iraqi government to bring rival Shia, Sunni and Kurd factions together in a process of national reconciliation, American officials say. If that works within the stipulated timeframe, longer term schemes for rebuilding Iraq under the so-called "go long" strategy will be set in motion.

But the next six months are make-or-break for the US military and the Iraqi government. The main obstacles confronting Gen Petraeus's team are:

· Insufficient troops on the ground

· A "disintegrating" international coalition

· An anticipated increase in violence in the south as the British leave

· Morale problems as casualties rise

· A failure of political will in Washington and/or Baghdad.

"The scene is very tense," the former official said. "They are working round the clock. Endless cups of tea with the Iraqis. But they're still trying to figure out what's the plan. The president is expecting progress. But they're thinking, what does he mean? The plan is changing every minute, as all plans do."

The team is an unusual mix of combat experience and academic achievement. It includes Colonel Peter Mansoor, a former armoured division commander with a PhD in the history of infantry; Colonel HR McMaster, author of a well-known critique of Vietnam and a seasoned counter-insurgency operations chief; Lt-Col David Kilcullen, a seconded Australian officer and expert on Islamism; and Colonel Michael Meese, son of the former US attorney-general Edwin Meese, who was a member of the ill-fated Iraq Study Group.

Their biggest headache was insufficient troops on the ground despite the increase ordered by President Bush, the former official said. "We don't have the numbers for the counter-insurgency job even with the surge. The word 'surge' is a misnomer. Strategically, tactically, it's not a surge," an American officer said.

According to the US military's revised counter-insurgency field manual, FM 3-24, written by Gen Petraeus, the optimum "troop-to-task" ratio for Baghdad requires 120,000 US and allied troops in the city alone. Current totals, even including often unreliable Iraqi units, fall short and the deficit is even greater in conflict areas outside Baghdad.

"Additional troops are essential if we are to win," said Lt-Col John Nagel, co-author of the manual, in an address at the US Naval Institute in San Diego last month. One soldier for every 50 civilians in the most intense conflict areas was key to successful counter-insurgency work.Compounding the manpower problems is an apparently insurmountable shortage of civilian volunteers from the Pentagon, state department and treasury. They are needed to staff the additional provincial reconstruction teams and other aid projects promised by Mr Bush.

The cut in British troops in southern Iraq, coupled with the actual or anticipated departure of other allies, has heightened the Petraeus team's worries that the international coalition is "disintegrating" even as the US strives to regain the initiative in Iraq, the former official said.

Increased violence in the south is expected, caused in part by the "displacement" of Shia militias forced out of Baghdad by the US crackdown. American and Iraq forces entered the militant Shia stronghold of Sadr City on Tuesday for the first time since the surge began. No other major operation has yet been attempted there but "we or the Iraqis are going to have to fight them", one US officer said.

According to a British source, plans are in hand for the possible southwards deployment of 6,000 US troops to compensate for Britain's phased withdrawal and any upsurge in unrest.

Morale is another concern in the Green Zone headquarters: American forces are preparing for a rise in casualties as the crackdown gathers pace. In a message to the troops after he assumed overall command last month, Gen Petraeus praised their sacrifices while warning of more "difficult times" to come.

"We serve in Iraq at a critical time ... A decisive moment approaches. Shoulder to shoulder with our Iraqi comrades we will conduct a pivotal campaign to improve security for the Iraqi people. The stakes could not be higher," Gen Petraeus said.

"It's amazing how well morale has held up so far," the former official said. "But the guys know what's being said back home. There is no question morale is gradually being sapped by political debates."

The advisers are also said to be struggling to prevent the "politicisation" of the surge by the Shia-dominated government. The fear is that any security advances may be exploited to further weaken the position of Baghdad's Sunni minority.

Despite progress this week on a new law sharing Iraq's oil wealth, the Petraeus team believes the government is failing to work hard enough to meet other national reconciliation "benchmarks" set by Mr Bush.Yet it is accepted that the US is asking the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, to do what most politicians in normal circumstances would refuse to contemplate. "What we're doing is asking Maliki to confront his own powerbase," one officer said.

Possibly the biggest longer term concern of Gen Petraeus's team is that political will in Washington may collapse just as the military is on the point of making a counter-insurgency breakthrough. According to a senior administration official, speaking this week, this is precisely what happened in the final year of the Vietnam war. Steven Simon, the national security council's senior director for transnational threats during the Clinton administration, said a final meltdown in political and public backing was likely if the new strategy was not seen to be working quickly.

"The implosion of domestic support for the war will compel the disengagement of US forces. It is now just a matter of time," Mr Simon said in a paper written for the Council on Foreign Relations. "Better to withdraw as a coherent and at least somewhat volitional act than withdraw later in hectic response to public opposition... or to a series of unexpectedly sharp reverses on the ground," he said.

"If it gets really tough in the next few months, it will throw fuel on the fire in Washington," the former official said. "Congress will be emboldened in direct proportion to the trouble in Iraq." If the policy was not judged to be working by Labor Day (the first Monday in September which marks the start of the new political year), Mr Bush could lose control of the policy to Congress and be forced to begin a phased pull-out, he suggested.

A senior Pentagon official said this week that it was too early to gauge the strategy's chances of success - but preliminary reports were encouraging. "There are some promising signs. There is a new overall Iraqi commander in Baghdad. A number of joint operations have just begun. The number of political murders has fallen. Iraqi forces are showing up as promised, admittedly a little bit under strength, and are taking up some of the responsibilities that Maliki said he would,"he said. "We have to be realistic. We're not going to stop the suicide bombers and the roadside explosive devices for some time. And the military alone are certainly not going to solve the problem. Maliki has to meet the benchmarks. A civilian surge is needed, too. The Iraqis have to do it themselves."

US officials say they also have rising hopes of a breakthrough in Sunni-dominated Anbar province where tribal chiefs are increasingly hostile to al-Qaida and foreign fighters - and are looking to build bridges with moderate Shias.

But this week's US decision to join talks on Iraq with Iran and Syria, after previously refusing to do so, is nevertheless seen as an indication of the administration's growing alarm at the possibility of a historic strategic failure.


US commanders admit: we face a Vietnam-style collapse | Iraq | Guardian Unlimited