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

IRAQI INTERIOR MINISTRY FORCES CAPTURE GROUP PRODUCING CHLORINE BOMBS
Iraqi security forces have captured a terrorist cell responsible for producing chlorine bombs in the Al-Anbar Governorate, London-based "Al-Sharq al-Awsat" reported on February 27. An unidentified Interior Ministry source told the daily that the cell members were arrested in Al-Fallujah earlier this week. The official said information indicates that a similar cell is operating in the Diyala Governorate north of Baghdad. The official added that some 1,500 insurgents have fled from Baghdad to Diyala, and many of the insurgents have links to the outlawed Ba'ath Party. He also contended that the Ba'athists are cooperating with Al-Qaeda to manufacture chemical bombs. KR

Originally Posted by CharmedPiper

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A government delegation negotiating the International Monetary Fund on debt pw refined

- 28 / 02 / 2007-13:07

Participating Oil Minister Hussein Shahrastani beginning of the month pain before the government delegation in charge of negotiations with Sando s IMF to reduce and cancel the debt of Iraq, comprising thousands d also the Minister of Finance and the Central Bank Governor.

A source in the ministry "that these negotiations is the joule e with two representatives of the International Monetary Fund and would Might my reconsider some prices, the ministry announced P j timely. "

Saying that he had "In the last meeting, which was held before more than u mutual audit was in Paris where good and the Fund Iraq is committed to the reforms needed. " And raising the prices of oil derivatives, the source said, "The shelf p prices of oil derivatives comes to reduce indebtedness of enormous on Iraq due to the policy of the former regime, where Tass told Iraq's debts only to the members of the Paris Club (140) billion dollars. "

It is noteworthy that Iraq entered into negotiations with many of the complex father AIPAC creditor was agreed to cancel (80%) of this Aldeo n and in stages, provided by Iraq to carry out due Sadeh in the overall and his only Qatsadi and not be a Head t in the wealth. It was agreed to cancel certain percentage of the debt amounted to so far (60%) and the remainder (20%), as required by the International Monetary Fund raising his Creditor nations confirming that Iraq is committed to the implementation of economic reforms, including a modified products prices for oil. It is noteworthy that the fund had urged Iraq to lift the prices of j large percentages to be parallel with the market rates% pw for Mia.

I for one, am glad to see you posting again , you have so much to contribute to this forum.
Leann

AS MINISTER SAYS IT'S TIME TO 'BREAK THE ICE'
Foreign Minister Zebari told Al-Jazeera on February 27 that the purpose of the meeting is to extricate Iraq from regional and international conflicts. Asked what he hopes to achieve through the talks, he said: "We want Iraq to change from being a contentious issue in the conflict of interests among the neighboring states, the Iraqi government, and big powers, including the United States, to an issue where interests converge and unite. This can take place by sitting together and discussing things." He added that the meeting is meant as a starting point and is "an attempt to break the ice" with regard to the positions of the countries involved. The Iranian news agency IRNA reported that deputy foreign ministers will attend a preparatory meeting in Baghdad on March 12 ahead of the planned conference. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 27 that the United States will attend the meetings. "We hope that all governments will seize this opportunity to improve the relations with Iraq and to work for peace and stability in the region," "The Washington Post" on February 28 quoted her as saying. U.S. officials have reportedly said the State Department will likely send Iraq envoy David Satterfield to the March meeting; Rice will likely attend the second meeting slated for April to be held elsewhere in the region, "The New York Times" reported on February 28. KR

Carney Finds New Role: Reconstructing Iraq
by Anne Garrels


Enlarge David Furst
Iraqi General Manager Saad Salman of the Sharq Dijlah Water Treatment Plant in Baghdad during a tour of the facility with members of USAID in July 2006. USAID is one of the agencies diplomat Tim Carney now oversees in his new position as America's economic coordinator in Iraq. AFP/Getty Images


Morning Edition, February 28, 2007 · Diplomat Tim Carney left Iraq three years ago — angry and outspoken about United States policy there. Now the administration has asked him to return as the economic coordinator.

It's a surprise invitation for an official who has said that the U.S. was not listening to Iraqis after the invasion, and formulating policy in isolation from the people it affected.

Carney is a veteran diplomat; over the last three decades, he has served in Cambodia, Haiti and Sudan, among other posts. In his return Baghdad news conference, he stood by his earlier criticism of administration policy in Iraq.

"In 2003, the coalition, notably the United States, failed to invite Iraqis into our councils," Carney said. "And that failure is what has led to the situation in which the country finds itself today."

It's a situation where U.S. federal oversight agencies say billions of dollars in aid was wasted. But Carney says the situation is improving.

"The big difference now is that Iraqis are inviting us into their councils to try to help use our resources to actually get things done," Carney said.

As economic coordinator, Carney will juggle a dizzying, and often overlapping, list of U.S. funding organizations, including USAID, the U.S. Treasury, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and others.

But with American reconstruction money drying up, Carney's biggest job will be to help Iraqis spend their own money, primarily from oil revenues.

Despite the deteriorating state of the country's electricity system, road networks and other public services, the ministries have managed to spend as little as 15 percent of their budgets.

The reasons are numerous, including problems finding companies to work under dangerous conditions, a lack of skilled contracting officers and U.S. anti-corruption programs that have intimidated bureaucrats.

"This is still a relatively new government. This government needs to demonstrate convincingly to the Iraqi people that they are governing for the benefit of all Iraqis," Carney said.

In part, Carney will rely on the State Department's "provincial reconstruction teams," known as PRTs.

The PRT program was launched a year ago to help the Iraqi government function better. There are 10 branch offices around the country.

Because of security concerns, the Baghdad PRT is a well-guarded office inside the heavily fortified Green Zone. If getting into the office is difficult, getting out to meet the Iraqi officials they want to help is even more so.

Each time he wants to leave, Deputy Director Bob Ruck has to organize an elaborate security convoy.

"We're trying to teach governance right now two hours at a time," Ruck said. "You get in a convoy, you drive down there, you meet with them, you leave; it's frustrating."

Ruck wants to place staff full time in key government offices. But security is an issue standing in the way of staff integration.

The program has also been criticized for not having people with the right backgrounds on staff. Baghdad PRT Director Joe Gregoire admits the State Department has had trouble hiring skilled people to work on PRTs.

"The problems is finding people who are very specific to certain subject matters," Gregoire said. "[Like] real business development [people], as you would expect from people who might be working for the Department of Commerce."

President Bush proposed last month doubling the number of teams, saying such civilians are now central to American efforts.

But just filling the jobs of the original PRTs is a challenge. U.S. officials say expanding them will take until the end of the year, at least. By then officials hope the risks will not be as great as they are now.

Iraqi tip leads to large IED find
Wednesday, 28 February 2007

Capt. Clayton Combs, C company commander, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division displays one of 150 metallic disks that were part of a weapons cache that was discovered Feb. 24 in the Baqubah area. The disks are key in the construction of explosively formed projectiles (EFP).BAGHDAD – A large cache of improvised explosive devices was discovered Monday by Iraqi police and Coalition forces near the Baqubah area in the Diyala province.
Iraqi Police from Judidah and Soldiers from the 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division teamed up together and found the deadly arsenal.

Thanks to a tip received from a concerned Iraqi citizen, the team found the IED-making material in an open palm grove stashed under tarps and palms, said Capt. Clayton Combs, C company commander, 1-12 Cav. “Crazy Horse."

Combs, who commands the company that found the cache, said the significance in this particular find was the presence of explosively formed projectiles (EFP).

There is a deadly effectiveness with these types of IED’s, Combs said. “If put together properly, these are a very dangerous form of IED.”

The lethal component of an EFP is the metallic disk, which takes on a cone shape once triggered. The piece of metal blasts through intended targets causing large scale damage to personnel and equipment.

“The IED emplacers and manufacturers have become very efficient,” said Combs.

“I have lost Soldiers to EFP’s not far from where this cache was found,” Combs said.

The discovery of 150 metallic disks at the cache site, each representing a possible EFP, lessens the risk to his men, which pleases Combs.

“My Soldiers are sleeping better at night with the fact that these EFP’s have been removed,” Combs said.

This was the first time Combs’s unit has found an EFP manufacturing plant.

“I think we took a big dent out of the (insurgents) resources and finances,” said Combs.

Combined efforts by the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces and the Iraqi citizen who provided the information leading to the cache discovery, have taken deadly weapons out of the hands of the insurgents.

“Countless lives have been saved,” Combs said. “Not just Americans but Iraqis and others.”

Also found in the cache were mines, mortar rounds, rockets, anti-aircraft rounds, rocket propelled grenade (RPG) warheads and plastic and steel containers in different stages of fabrication.

(Story and photo by Sgt. Sky M. Laron, Combined Press Information Center)

In

Abandoned youth center becomes Iraqi Police headquarters
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
AD DAWR — An abandoned youth center is now the new headquarters for the Ad Dawr police department. An attack on Feb. 11, left the previous headquarters in rubble.

The attack came somewhat as a surprise, said an Ad Dawr police lieutenant through a translator. Ad Dawr is a very close-knit community and violence in the area hasn't been an issue like it has in other parts of the country.

The source of attack was a car bomb detonated from within the perimeter of the police station at around 9 a.m. It killed at least nine policemen and wounded six others, two of which were innocent bystanders.

"I think some people must hate us," said the lieutenant. "No one can expect something like this. The attack was out of hate."

Patrolling U.S. paratroopers from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, were about three miles away when they heard the blast. They verified the bombing with policemen at a nearby checkpoint and moved toward the police station.

"The explosion was massive," said Capt. Greg Sakimura, commander of Company B. "It completely destroyed the building."

The paratroopers aided in blocking off the area and sifting through the debris for casualties. They were just as surprised as the police about the attack.

No one is sure what sparked the attack. It was unusual because, according to reports, there hasn't been a car bomb or attack of this size reported in Ad Dawr for a couple of years, said Sakimura.

After the attack, the abandoned youth center was promptly chosen as the new headquarters building because of its location. The police force was adamant about remaining in the city even though another building was available just a few miles outside.

Sakimura and his paratroopers helped with the move by delivering barbed wire, sand bags, wood, and pickets Feb. 12, 2007, so the police could fortify their new facility.

"I think it's great that the police are making progress so quickly," said Sakimura. "The police chief said he felt the only way the police station could support the community is from within the community."

Although similar incidents across Iraq, such as a November attack in Siniyah, have caused entire police forces to quit, no one from the Ad Dawr department has, said the police lieutenant.

"This will not happen again," he added. "We will be patrolling around the tower and the new station and the city at all times."

Sakimura said he's impressed by the policemen's resilience in making the necessary steps to establish their new headquarters so quickly.

The fact that policemen were already at the new police headquarters to download and receive their barrier equipment was a positive sign that they are ready to move forward, he added.

"If there's anything we can do to assist them and support them, we will," continued Sakimura, "but in the end, it's their choice to determine whether or not they want the new facility to be successful."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070228-08
February 28, 2007

Iraqi Army troops nab five insurgents with cavalry paratroopers supporting operation
4th BCT (Abn.), 25th Inf. Div. Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – An Iraqi battalion conducted a raid with Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops supporting to curb sectarian violence south of Baghdad, capturing five suspected insurgents Feb. 27.

Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division with support from paratroopers of 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, raided buildings in Hawr Rajab, Iraq, detaining the five suspects.

The raid was part of Operation Lion’s Roar which was an effort to curb sectarian violence south of Baghdad. This was the second successful raid in Hawr Rejab in the last two weeks.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070228-02
Feb. 28, 2007


Hostages freed by paratroopers, weapons cache secured
4th BCT (A), 25th Inf. Div. Public Affairs
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

KALSU, Iraq – Dismounted paratroopers located an insurgent safe house uncovering a
weapons cache and freeing two hostages south of Baghdad Feb. 26.

Paratroopers from 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th
Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division located the safe house, where
they found the two hostages and a weapons cache near Mahmudiyah.

The cache contained three AK-47s, 14 30-round magazines, one 100-round
magazine drum, two fragmentary grenades, one cell phone and one hand held radio.

The freed hostages were given immediate medical treatment

'Young jihadists joining Iraqi resistance an embarrassment'




28 February 2007
Islamic leaders, people should unite: Al-Awdah


KUWAIT CITY: "We strongly oppose the idea of letting young jihadists fight against the US Army in Iraq just as we had earlier opposed allowing them to go to Afghanistan," Islamic Intellectual and General Supervisor of Islam Al-Yawm website Dr Salman Al-Awdah told Al-Rai. "The number of young foreigners joining the Iraqi resistance against the US occupation is negligible as they comprise only no more than five per cent of the total population of jihadists," added Al-Awdah indicating this move is an embarrassment not only to the Iraqi resistance but also to Islam.

Calling for a unified stand among all Islamic groups, Al-Awdah said "the Islamic leaders and their people should unite. Muslim groups should forget nominal differences in their beliefs as an internal strife among Islamic groups would only be beneficial to the enemy." Describing the recent armed attacks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as forms of terrorism, Al-Awdah said the attacks are dire consequences of the US occupation in Iraq giving young Jihadists the notion that US will completely occupy Iraq and will colonize Islamic countries one after the other including KSA. "These young fighters have adapted a mistaken belief that they could only protect lives through armed struggles," he added.

Refuting rumors that he has not allowed his son to join the Jihadists in Iraq, Al-Awdah explained "my son went to the desert and we have not heard from him since due to communication network problems. After some time, I decided to inform the security authorities regarding the absence of my son." Al-Awdah then stressed the need for Iraq to unite, practice tolerance and aim for peace by any means -- either through political reforms or distributing its wealth equally among its people. Talking about the US strategy in Iraq, Al-Awdah commented "the US thought the Shiites in Iraq will assist them in achieving their goals but such an idea has only resulted to a disagreement with Iran on the Iraqi security issues and other related international issues including that of Syria and Lebanon."

With its failure to win the support of the Shiites, the US decided to rethink its move and tried to persuade the Sunnis to join its political programs. However, the alternative strategy has also been futile due to the intensified US presence in Iraq. Al-Awdah warned the worsening sectarian violence might lead to a Sunni-Shiite or Farsi-Arab civil war making US and Israel the foremost beneficiaries of the war as Muslims are bent on ending the war in Iraq.
Appealing to the coalition forces in Iraq, Al-Awdah said the US and other forces should coordinate in immediately stabilizing the situation in Iraq if they are really committed to their alleged campaign for peace in the country.

After criticizing the Iranian policy on supporting the Shiite groups who murder Iraqis based on their identities, Al-Awdah talked about the situation in Palestine. He said both Hamas and Fatah are responsible for the massive Palestinian killings, which had greatly benefited Israel as it watched Palestinians kill their own brothers. Instead of fighting among themselves, Al-Awdah said Palestinians should unite in opposing archaeological excavations aimed at uncovering ancient cultures. He also commended Makkah for agreeing to end the killings in Palestine indicating such a move brought joy to the hearts of Muslims around the world.

When asked to comment on the issues in Somalia, Al-Awdah said the Islamic Courts Union is in Somalia where the internal revolution is not linked with al-Qaeda or any other foreign group as it has been ousted by the Ethiopia-US alliance. Expressing his concern over the possibility of bringing chaos back in Somalia, Al-Awdah said the anti-Islam campaign does not make any difference between two Muslim countries. "We need to narrow down the differences between Muslims regardless of their being Islamists or liberals as long as they all follow the teachings of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)," Al-Awdah added.



© Arab Times 2007

Rebuilding Iraq combines high risk with rich rewards




by Bryan Pearson

=(PICTURE)=

BAGHDAD, Feb 28, 2007 (AFP) - He's big, he's burly, he talks tough and he's been helping rebuild Iraq for the past three years -- but now he's had enough.

Like many of the tens of thousands of private contractors who descended on Iraq to grab a slice of the reconstruction pie, David, a US contractor who is reluctant to give out more than a first name, is tired.

"I want out of Iraq," he says as he arrives for another six-month stint in a country he has grown to love and to loathe, depending, he says, on the time of day.

Clearly used to the security at Baghdad's international airport, he saunters through the customs lines with his knapsack, ignoring demands by officials that he present himself for a baggage inspection.

"If you keep walking they often don't call you back," he says, as he's greeted outside by a team of South Africans who will provide him with a private security escort.

"Howzit, my chinas," he says, giving a South African greeting in his American accent.

When pressed, the 43-year-old engineer admits he's here for the money, the adventure and the adrenalin, as is the case with many contractors.

But along with the many highs, also come the lows -- and the very low lows.

The most vexing problem, he says, is graft.

"Corruption exists at all levels of the Iraqi government and among the Iraqi contractors. The sub-contractors will actually ask you what your cut is!

"They also ask how much they have to kick back so they will be awarded the work," he says, smiling.

Timothy Carney was appointed by US President George W. Bush as Coordinator for Iraq Transitional Assistance in January.

Now the man who must oversee Iraq's difficult economic recovery says fighting graft is one of his biggest challenges.

"Corruption is a huge issue," Carney told a media briefing in Baghdad on Tuesday, his first since arriving in the country three weeks ago.

"The first way to deal with it is to establish transparency in all of the processes that deal with finance and budget and that is an effort that is already under way," he said.

A US government audit pulled no punches in a report last month in which it said reconstruction efforts in Iraq are hampered by widespread violence, corruption and bureaucratic snarls.

David could have built schoolhouses in his peaceful hometown and go home regularly to a family, a dog and a weekend stint at the lawnmower.

Instead, he chose to work on some of the most dangerous building sites in the world, and knows the problems intimately.

"The quality of work is often substandard, there is a shortage of skilled tradesmen and it is difficult to get local workers in some areas of the country," he complains.

"Materials are often substandard or counterfeit and obtaining materials locally is at times difficult. Depending on the geography, they must come from Turkey, Syria, Iran, Jordan -- all the bordering countries."

In the three years he's been building police stations, medical clinics and military bases on behalf of the US military, he's also seen all the violence he wants to see.

"We have had numerous instances where workers are threatened or killed. Sites get mortared, snipers shoot at the workers. It is a challenge to even get to the sites often times."

Around 800 civilians working under contract to the Pentagon have been killed in Iraq since the reconstruction process began after the US-led invasion of March 2003, according to official US figures.

Most of these are Iraqis but scores of foreigners have been kidnapped and are either still missing or their bodies have been found -- some decapitated.

According to David, some new buildings are destroyed by insurgents as fast as they are built.

But if the reconstruction programme is beset by problems, it is also awash with cash.

The US had by October last year poured in about 29 billion dollars (21 billion euros) for Iraqi reconstruction and stabilisation efforts, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Bush says he wants Congress to approve another 1.2 billion dollars to help rebuild Iraq while the Iraqi government says it will this year add a further 10 billion dollars of its own funds.

The pay packets can be huge, with some contractors making 100,000 dollars a year or more.

Which is why David and thousands like him keep coming back even as some of the bigger concerns, such as US engineering giant Bechtel, pack it in.

"Yes I've had enough. I want to go somewhere peaceful," says David, trying to look convincing. "I'll just see out this contract and then for sure I'll be gone. And won't be coming back. Ever. I mean it."

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