Thread: Iraqi/Dinar News before 3-12-2007 7:45PM CentralTimeZone

So do we know if parliment is for sure working and what do you all think of a time frame of an rv after it has passed? Also good to see you back Adam!!

Parliament resumes sittings

بغداد / هشام الركابي

Baghdad / Hisham became

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The first deputy chairman of the House of Representatives Sheikh Khaled al-Attiyah that the Council will resume today, Tuesday, the first chapter of its first legislative year Sunday.

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Al-Attiya said : that the Parliament would be held today after concluding his patrol through the second legislative chapter of last year.

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Iraq sets provincial oil production quotas

BAGHDAD, March 5 (UPI) -- The Iraq Oil Ministry will set production quotas for provinces to ensure oil revenue sharing, though the effects of war still hamper the vital oil sector.

"Each province will be notified of its weekly quota to guarantee fair sharing," Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani was quoted in a ministry statement.

In order to redistribute oil revenues to the entire country by population, a move more likely after a recent tentative agreement on a hydrocarbons law, the provinces will be relied upon to keep oil production at a certain level to guarantee they receive money, the Voices of Iraq news agency reports.

Iraq has 115 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and produces about 1.7 million barrels per day, though that's nearly a million before prewar levels.

Development of its struggling oil sector has been hindered by the current violence and lack of security, as well as the absence of a law governing the country's hydrocarbons sector.

Last week, the central government and Kurdistan Regional Government agreed to a draft of a law that outlined the role of each in developing oil resources.

Attacks, the lack of investment and inconsistent supplies of electricity are hampering both production and refining, keeping provinces from hitting quotas.

"The ministry was using the pre-planned system to distribute oil products over the Iraqi provinces but due to sabotage and technical glitches there was a gap between the planned amount and the actual distributed amount," Shahristani said.

United Press International - Energy - Iraq sets provincial oil production quotas

Kurdish students in 'orange' protest
Published Date: March 05, 2007

SULAIMANIYAH: Around 100 Iraqi Kurdish students held a Ukrainian-style "orange protest" yesterday in the northern city of Sulaimaniyah to protest against corruption in their regional government. The students waved orange banners similar to those flown by pro-democracy demonstrators in Kiev in 2004 and 2005 and have chosen a name for their movement-"Solidarity"-that harks back to Polish trade unionists of the 1980s. "We are trying to send a message to the government to persuade them to carry out reforms and take measures against corruption," the movement's leader Zana Abdel Karim told an AFP reporter. Iraq's northern Kurdish region has enjoyed almost total autonomy for more than 16 years, and has been spared the carnage that has descended on central and southern Arab areas while making modest economic progress. But many in the region believe that the two powerful political parties that control the area have unfairly divided up its wealth between themselves. Abdel Karim said Solidarity had polled 4,000 students and that 90 percent of them believe there is corruption in the government, which is looking forward to increased revenues as Kurdistan attracts oil prospectors. Sulaimaniyah University officials tried to prevent journalists covering the event, and some students said they had been threatened with expulsion.

Iraqi PM to bring new faces into cabinet soon
Last Updated(Beijing Time):2007-03-05 13:33

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Sunday that he is going to make a reshuffle in his cabinet within two weeks.
"Either this week or next week there would be a cabinet reshuffle," Maliki said in a news conference in Baghdad.

The move came as a sign that Maliki's government resolve to restore order and stability during the joint U.S. and Iraqi security crackdown in Baghdad.

Earlier, Maliki invited former members of Saddam Hussein's army to join efforts to rebuild the war-torn country at a national reconciliation meeting held in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone.

"This conference is a major step in the national reconciliation project," Maliki said, adding that "national reconciliation is a strategic choice to build Iraq."

More than 30 high-ranking commanders out of some 500 officers of the former Saddam Hussein army attended the conference in a gesture meant to calm the country's sectarian hatred.

Maliki has been under increasing U.S. pressure to improve security situation and ease tensions as the country is descending into a civil war.





Source:Xinhuanet
Related articles

: 04/03/2007 12:00 AM (UAE)

Al Maliki gives insurgents ultimatum
Agencies


Baghdad: Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki gave Iraqi insurgents an ultimatum on Sunday - either accept his peace offer, or face a crack-down the likes of which has not been seen before.

"We do not need to implement security measures except against those who reject the language of reconciliation and dialogue, those who insist on restoring the past," Al Maliki said, in a reference to Sunni Arab insurgents loyal to Saddam Hussein.

"We present in our hand a green olive branch, and in the other hand we present the law ... Operation Imposing Law started in Baghdad, it will cover every inch of Iraq."

In a later news conference, Al Maliki said he will soon reshuffle his government. Al Maliki told reporters he would rearrange the 39 cabinet portfolios within the next two weeks.

The planned move comes after the Iraqi National List, a secular party representing both Sunnis and Shiites, threatened to pull out of the coalition, accusing Al Maliki of pursuing a sectarian agenda.

US officials have also been putting pressure on Al Maliki to reform the Iraqi government around a new alliance of “moderates” from both the Shiite and Sunni communities.

Ambassador says security plan encouraging
Monday, 05 March 2007
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service


Zalmay Khalilzad,U.S. Ambassador to IraqWASHINGTON — The initial implementation of the new security plan for Iraq has been encouraging, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq said today from Baghdad.

“The initial signs are encouraging, although there is a long way to go,” Zalmay Khalilzad said in an interview on CNN’s “Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer.”

“I think we have some difficult days ahead and it will take time,” Khalilzad said.

Khalilzad said he believes the performance of Iraqi forces has improved, admitting that some of the earlier units deployed to Baghdad were manned at about 50 percent. But he added that the manning level of more recent units to arrive have been much greater, as high as 80 to 90 percent.

“They’re doing much better,” he said. “Today, the coalition forces with Iraqi forces went into Sadr City, (and) they’re going to establish a permanent presence there.”

Whether radical cleric and militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr has had a change of heart or just a change of tactics is unclear, but the fact he hasn’t resisted the move into Sadr City is a good thing, the ambassador said.

“This is a good thing that he’s not resisting the coalition at this time, but what is needed over the long term … is for Muqtada al-Sadr to embrace the political process and to give up on militias and on violence,” Khalilzad said.

As he prepares to represent the United States at an Iraqi-hosted regional conference, Khalilzad said he hopes to have the opportunity for bilateral talks with Iran to address arms smuggling from Iran into Iraq. An Iranian representative is scheduled to attend the regional conference. Weapons suspected of coming from Iran are being used against coalition forces.

“The protection of the American forces, the American troops, here is an important priority of ours,” Khalilzad said. “The purpose of any talks that take place, bilateral talks, will be, very much, the security of our forces.”

Khalilzad, who is awaiting Senate confirmation as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said the military aspect is only one piece of the security puzzle for Iraq. He feels the Iraqis must resolve their political differences as well.

“The Iraqis have to rise to the occasion and make the compromises that are necessary on the political front for the security and stability of the country,” he said.

Iraqi business works with Brinkley, American CEOs for successful economic future
Monday, 05 March 2007


Paul Brinkley, the deputy under Secretary of Defense for Business Transformation and approximately 50 CEOs from the American business community spoke with the press Mar. 3, at the Joint Visitor’s Bureau building on Camp Victory in Baghdad, about tactics by the international business community to revitalize Iraqi businesses. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Emily Greene, Combined Press Information Center.BAGHDAD — A press conference was held Saturday at Camp Victory to discuss efforts made towards the reinvigoration of Iraqi economics.

Paul Brinkley, the deputy under Secretary of Defense for Business Transformation and approximately 50 CEOs from the American business community spoke with the press, at the Joint Visitor’s Bureau building, about tactics by the international business community to revitalize Iraqi businesses.

The Task Force, headed by Brinkley, is charged with evaluating Department of Defense business processes and systems affecting contracting, logistics, fund distribution and financial management to ensure theater commander’s goals for reconstruction and economic development in Iraq are addressed. Its primary focus is to reinvigorate the Iraqi industrial base by driving demand to viable Iraqi factories, thereby reducing violence by re-employing the predominantly idle workforce.

“Our efforts are broad-ranging” said Brinkley. “They involve an effort to revitalize Iraqi factories, both public and private, crossing all industry sectors.”

Brinkley said his Task Force’s efforts involve collaboration with Iraqi ministries who are partnering with them to connect the Iraqi economy and international economies and to create opportunity and prosperity for the people of Iraq.

Since 2003 many factories have been idle or running at very low rates of production across the country, according to Brinkley. They also provide markets for private companies to sell their goods and services.

The factories serve as an engine for Iraq’s economy that is not presently running full force said Brinkley.

The U.S. government, in connection with the Iraqi government, is sponsoring international business to bring their knowledge to Iraq in order to create opportunities Brinkley said.

“It is not so much a project to build a building, or a road, or a school, but rather a business opportunity being created for entrepreneurial Iraqi leaders to step forward and take their place in the global economy that lasts far beyond a single project,” said Brinkley.

The focus of the Task Force is on the revitalization of Iraqi industry and through that renewal of large industry, reaching the small business owners.

“Much of our attention is focused on the revitalization of large state-owned factories in Iraq, but we are also working very hard to connect, create and revitalize private sector businesses in Iraq as well,” said Brinkley.

“We have met with Iraqi businessmen, Iraqi farmers and Iraqi people who uniformly express a great desire for economic prosperity and economic opportunity for themselves, their families and all of the Iraqi people,” said Brinkley.

(By U.S. Army Spc. Emily Greene, Combined Press Information Center)

Brits launch Operation Phoenix
Monday, 05 March 2007

Lance Corporal Hargreaves from A Company 1 Staffords examines a vehicle containing illegal munitions and delivery systems. Official Ministry of Defence photo.BASRAH — British troops in southern Iraq have conducted a reactive strike operation against rogue militia elements following an attack on a Multi National Forces (MNF) base in Basrah City on Saturday.
The operation, codenamed Operation Phoenix, was launched after an Indirect Fire attack on Basrah Palace.

Those involved in the attack were observed and tracked to a building west of the Al Jameat district of Basrah City. An operation to secure this location was quickly launched.

On their way to carrying out the raid the soldiers, from the 1 Staffords Battlegroup, came under attack from small arms fire and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) but the patrol continued to its target.

At just after midnight local time, UK troops launched the operation on the property, where it was believed illegal weapons and ammunition were being stored.

The raid uncovered a significant arsenal of ammunition, weapons and bomb-making equipment, hidden in a vehicle at the property.

These included a 107mm rocket, 6 Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), some of which were still in their primary packaging, a mortar launcher and a number of 60mm mortars.

In addition various items of equipment associated with the use of such materials were also found. Whilst carrying out the raid, troops came under further attack.

Major David Gell, the UK military spokesman in southern Iraq, explained the significance of this operation.

"Op Phoenix was a short-notice, reactive strike operation launched as a direct result of information gained after an attack made on a Multi National Forces base earlier in the evening," Gell said.

He explained how important he believes operations of this nature are to bringing stability and security to the streets of Basrah:

"In terms of what was found at the property, there’s no doubt that the operation was a success. The fact that we found these weapons and equipment, which could well have been used for either mortar attacks or for producing roadside bombs against MNF soldiers, means that we have certainly disrupted rogue militia elements.” Gell said. "It will also mean that there are less weapons on the streets, which in turn can only make the streets safer for the people of Basrah.

"Above all I believe the operation demonstrates the ability of UK forces to deal with the threat of Indirect Fire on its bases robustly and swiftly. These people now know that if they attack us we can strike back quickly and effectively."

Monday, 05 March 2007
MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Multi-National Force - Iraq
703.270.0320 / 0299

Mar 5, 2007
Release A070305b




36 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS CAPTURED THROUGHOUT IRAQ


BAGHDAD, Iraq –Coalition Forces detained 36 suspected terrorists during raids Monday morning targeting foreign fighter facilitator and al-Qaeda in Iraq networks.

During a raid near the Syrian border, Coalition Forces targeted terrorists believed to be involved in the facilitation of foreign fighters, weapons and vehicles into Iraq. Coalition Forces captured the two suspected senior-level foreign fighter facilitators along with 20 other suspected terrorists who were at the targeted location.

A raid in Tikrit netted four suspected terrorists believed to be involved in the development and emplacement of improvised explosive devices in the Tikrit and Bayji areas.

Five suspected terrorists were detained during operations near Arab Jabour targeting a vehicle-borne IED network.

Coalition Forces also detained five suspected terrorists while targeting a foreign fighter cell south of Fallujah,

“Successful Coalition operations continue to disrupt al-Qaeda in Iraq operations, restrict the flow of foreign fighters and reduce the terrorist organization’s manpower pool,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.