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

Originally Posted by tiffany

I know what you're saying CP! 321 is in my address and I've thought the same thing! Coincidence, or NOT?
I would flip RIGHT OUT at $3ANYTHING! I've just been crossing my crossable parts that it hits at anything over $.25!

I'll take it!

Baghdad residents say US troops' knock on door is welcome


by Bryan Pearson

=(PICTURE)=

BAGHDAD, March 7, 2007 (AFP) - The knock on the door came before dawn in the darkened and violence-ridden city, but when the embattled residents of Baghdad warily opened it to see US soldiers outside, alarm turned to relief.

"We are happy you are here," said a woman in a yellow nightdress, turning on a light and opening the door of her house in the Iraqi capital's Mansour district to some 15 infantrymen of a US army Stryker Brigade.

"We feel safe when the Americans are around," she added, as heavily armed troops go from room to room searching for weapons and insurgents.

"Security is such an issue here in Baghdad," she said, as her husband, a retired police general, joined her in welcoming the soldiers into the house.

It is just after 5 am.

"We want peace, no more bloodshed," said the woman, asking the soldiers if she can sit down as she has heart problems.

"I can't even go to hospital here as it is too dangerous and in any case all the good doctors have left," she said, declining to give her name. "I have just come back from Dubai where I now have to go for treatment."

Captain Isaac Torres, heading a Stryker mission to flush out insurgents and thwart car bombers in raids that include house-to-house pre-dawn searches -- asked if she has specific security concerns.

"We need security in every area," she replied. "We are even too afraid to drive our cars. We are tired of this war."

Torres explained that Operation Fardh al-Qanoon (Imposing the Law), a massive security crackdown involving some 90,000 Iraqi and US troops, was launched just to do exactly that -- bring stability to every area of the capital.

The troops filed out into the night and rattled the gate of a house farther down the road, even as others were doing the same in different parts of the upmarket neighbourhood.

A man in a knee-length dark blue shirt opened and troops swarmed in.

Children sleeping on the floor in the living room woke up bewildered. As soldiers fanned through the house, occupants of bedrooms spilled into the living room in their nightclothes, looking startled.

The man in the blue shirt said security was indeed a big headache and that two months earlier he received a telephone call warning him that his right hand would be cut off unless he stopped his work as a security agent.

He did so immediately.

He said that he, too, was happy the American troops were in the streets but worried that as soon as they go the gunmen who arrive by night in search of more victims in Baghdad's bloody sectarian war will return.

Farther down the road, now crowded with Stryker armoured vehicles bristling with weaponry, another man, who gave his name as Mohammed, tried to put up a brave front.

"No everything is fine here -- it is a safe neighbourhood," he said, nervously.

"That's not true," said his wife, clad in a black chador - an Islamic all-covering dress -- with a sigh. "You are frightened even to go to the market."

Mohammed came clean.

"Yes, we in fact are afraid here," he admitted. "Very afraid. Many strangers come in and out of the neighbouring suburb. They have taken over the empty houses. We don't know who they are or what they are up to."

A soldier asked Mohammed if he could identify any of the houses or point out some of the strangers.

"I can't," he answered. "But there are people on the streets who know every little detail of what's happening out there."

After spending about four hours in the suburb raiding homes mainly of professionals, bureaucrats and business people, Torres called a halt.

Though they had found no weapons nor any insurgents, he was satisfied that they had managed to reassure residents.

The troops climbed back into the Strykers and the vehicles headed off in convoy to their next assignment -- discussions with factory owners concerned for their safety.

As Torres drank tea and chatted with one owner, the crackle of gunfire interrupted their conversation.

The factory owner jumped to his feet shouting, "You see what I mean!"

"Yes we see what you mean," said Torres. "That's why we're here. But don't expect things to happen overnight. This is going to be a very long operation."

bpz/dc/jfb/ns

Iraq-unrest-US-military

Originally Posted by Adster

Have to move CP. Somewhere like this:

sweet yayzoo. I can live wit dat. What a place!

Originally Posted by Original Spiderman

All my contacts are asking me what's the deal so they can split this scene! That's why my rational side says it can't happen until the conflict ends... We are so tired here, and can't believe these folks just won't do right. One of the Iraqis I speak with on occations says that these folks are so blinded by their pride and hatred for each other that a RV would not matter. They would just keep killing each other with a full belly. Sad sad... Dang!

Pride and blind hatred seems to be what drives all Islamic conflict. They say they do it for their God, but I don't buy it. Muslims can't seem to live outside of pride and hatred. It seems to be bred into them, passed from generation to generation for thousands of years. I agree that money won't change that. Sad, indeed Spiderman. It breaks my heart to see Islamic children indoctrinated with hate.

IMHO, the all-powerful clerics must make it a priority to propigate and practice sectarian peace, stop funding the violence, mandate complete participation within each sect, with consequences set for violators (social excommunication, loss of job, etc). The problem with that is, within Islamic society, suicide and taking as many bodies with you as you can for the sake of the cause is considered heroic. Money won't change their religious beliefs and practices.

So what's the fix to move toward RV?

pp

Originally Posted by tiffany

I know what you're saying CP! 321 is in my address and I've thought the same thing! Coincidence, or NOT?
I would flip RIGHT OUT at $3ANYTHING! I've just been crossing my crossable parts that it hits at anything over $.25!

You know, I was just going through the "thread that started it all" yesterday. A year ago, we were flippin' out to hear about $.30. Boy have things changed. For the better tho'. I like to hear the $3.21/$3.22. I'll take that anytime!

Iranian foreign minister announces his country will attend Baghdad conference on Iraq
By Associated Press
Wednesday, March 7, 2007 - Updated: 06:28 AM EST

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran will attend the international conference on Iraq that will be held in Baghdad on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Wednesday.

A deputy foreign minister will lead the Iranian delegation to the conference of Iraq’s neighbors and the Big Five of the U.N. Security Council. The meeting will be the first public encounter between U.S. and Iranian envoys since late 2004.

”We hope the conference will result in sending a clear message that the countries of the region are standing alongside the government and nation of Iraq,” Mottaki told a news conference.



Mottaki said the chief Iranian delegate would be the deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Abbas Araghchi.

On Monday, Mottaki said his government was finalizing its decision on whether to attend the conference. He indicated that Iran was in favor of participating but it did have reservations.

”With the aim of helping the government and people of Iraq, an Iranian delegation will attend the Baghdad conference,” Mottaki said Wednesday in the first unequivocal commitment to the event.

The Iraqi government invited countries to the conference last week. The United States quickly said it would attend, making a diplomatic shift after months of refusing to talk to Iran about calming the conflict in Iraq.

Mottaki said Monday that his government had ”some concerns” about the conference. He did not spell these out, but it is thought Iran fears that both the U.S. and Iraqi delegations might accuse Iran of supporting Shiite armed groups in Iraq.

The United States has recently hardened its line on Iran, both diplomatically and militarily.

President Bush has stepped up accusations that Iran is backing Shiite militants in Iraq. The U.S. military has detained a number of Iranians in Iraq and strengthened its naval presence in the Gulf.

Washington is also leading a push for stronger sanctions against Iran over its defiance of U.N. Security Council demands that it stop enriching uranium, a process that provides material for nuclear reactors or atomic warheads.

The last time U.S. and Iranian envoys met in public was in late 2004 at a meeting of 20 nations in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik to discuss Iraq’s future.

Then-Secretary of State Colin Powell and his Iranian counterpart, Kamal Kharrazi, did not hold formal talks, but Egypt sat the two officials next to one another at a dinner. Powell said the two mostly had ”polite dinner conversation.”

Wednesday, March 7, 2007


Extend ASDF Iraq mission: Kyuma
Kyodo News
Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma expressed hope Tuesday that the special law authorizing the deployment of the Air Self-Defense Force for reconstruction aid in Iraq will be extended two years beyond the current July 31 deadline.

Asked at a press conference whether the government is seeking to have the law extended for a duration of two years, Kyuma responded, "That is what I am hoping."

Official sources revealed earlier that the government plans to submit a bill during the current Diet session seeking a two-year extension of the law, but it is the first time a Cabinet member has indicated the duration of the planned extension in public.

The Cabinet is expected to approve the bill later in March then submit it to the Diet.

"There are various opinions, so we are currently discussing it with the ruling parties," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said at a separate news conference. "I think there are pros and cons to two years, and I guess that is among the matters under discussion."

The Foreign and Defense ministries have called for a two-year extension of the law due to concern over the possible negative effects on Japan-U.S. relations, the sources said.

Kyuma has irked Washington by saying in January that President George W. Bush's decision to start the war in Iraq was "wrong."

A two-year extension would reflect Tokyo's desire to maintain good relations with Washington.

The Japan Times
(C) All rights reserved

Kurdish view: Baghdad deployments

Mohammed: Kurds don't think the Baghdad violence is their concern
In the first of a series of diary entries from Irbil in northern Iraq, Kurdish journalist Mohammed A Salih records concerns about local troops being sent to Baghdad.
Yesterday, I woke early to go out for my usual reporting job.

The taxi driver tuned the radio to one of the local stations. The main story was about the sending of 1,800 Kurdish troops to Baghdad as part of the new Iraqi-American security plan to stabilise the capital.

This is in addition to a Kurdish brigade that left for Baghdad a few weeks ago.

I could see the panic and dissatisfaction on the faces of the other taxi passengers.

"I see no sense whatsoever in sending our [Kurdish] soldiers to Baghdad," said the driver in a very disgruntled voice.

There are worries that violence may spill over in to Kurdistan


"I swear by God, the same with me," said the passenger in front sitting next to him.

"Just tell me what they can achieve in the chaos over there."

In no time I was in the middle of a heated debate about the general situation in Iraq.

Although Kurdistan in the north has been spared much of the bloodshed of other parts of the country, many here are worried that with Kurds fighting in Baghdad, the violence may spill over in to Kurdistan.

"We can't calm down the situation in Baghdad," said someone sitting next to me.

"We would become part of the problem and would start receiving the dead bodies of our fighters everyday."

"It's not our business to get involved in the fighting between Arabs. Let them sort it out themselves," the driver yelled.

Persecution

Kurds, who are ethnically distinct from Arabs, have very little sense of Iraqi identity these days.

The accounts of persecution at the hand of Saddam Hussein's regime are still very fresh in their memories.

While feeling deeply sorry about the bloodshed in the rest of the country, they still believe "we must not be involved".

The discussion reflected how unpopular the move to send Kurdish soldiers to Baghdad is with the ordinary people here.

The next news item was about a deadly bombing in front of a university in Baghdad. The driver sighed deeply.

"This is brutality. Whose conscience can accept doing this? All these poor innocent students dying. What for?"

Others nodded in agreement.

The presence of Kurdish soldiers can only create more targets


With sectarian divisions running deep in Iraq today, US and Iraqi officials hope that Kurdish soldiers can keep the peace in Baghdad. The Kurds are neither affiliated with, nor against any of the conflicting Shia and Sunni Arabs there.

But most of the people I talked to in Irbil, Iraqi Kurdistan's regional capital, didn't like the idea.

They doubt Kurdish soldiers can make any positive contribution to the deteriorating security situation in Iraq.

Many of them question what Kurdish soldiers can do when tens of thousands of well-equipped Iraqi and American troops cannot change things for better.

They feel the presence of Kurdish soldiers can only create more targets and increase the number of dead.

Tehran, March 6, IRNA
Iran-Cooperation-Iraq
The first Iran-Iraq Trade Cooperation Commission meeting will be held in Tehran from March 6-7.

According to a report released by the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Commerce, Iranian Commerce Minister Seyed Masoud Mir-Kazemi and Iraqi Trade Minister Abd al-Fallah Hassan al-Sudani will chair the two-day joint commission meeting on behalf of Iran and Iraq respectively.

Expansion of trade exchanges, investment, transport as well as banking and customs relations between the two sides will be high on the agenda of talks at the upcoming event.

Originally Posted by pparrott

Pride and blind hatred seems to be what drives all Islamic conflict. They say they do it for their God, but I don't buy it. Muslims can't seem to live outside of pride and hatred. It seems to be bred into them, passed from generation to generation for thousands of years. I agree that money won't change that. Sad, indeed Spiderman. It breaks my heart to see Islamic children indoctrinated with hate.

IMHO, the all-powerful clerics must make it a priority to propigate and practice sectarian peace, stop funding the violence, mandate complete participation within each sect, with consequences set for violators (social excommunication, loss of job, etc). The problem with that is, within Islamic society, suicide and taking as many bodies with you as you can for the sake of the cause is considered heroic. Money won't change their religious beliefs and practices.

So what's the fix to move toward RV?

pp

Actually the vast majority of my Muslim friend are peace loving God fearing people. I lived in the region outside of Iraq since 98 and It is safer there than the states. The unfortuante thing is that there are just enough evil clowns to make it bad for the majority. And our media won't give time to the good things or people. Blood and guts is what sells comercials. Sad!