Thread: Iraq/Dinar News up until March 18th Midnight ctz

Originally Posted by shotgunsusie

and again, i can show you lots of articles that stated one thing and quite a different scenario took place.

youve got to read all of these with a bucket of salt in order to decipher an ounce of truth out of em.

the fact of the matter is these guys, even tho they got plenty of money, arent gonna sit around on their duffs waiting for hell to freeze over so to speak.

You make a good point as you always do but I was refferring to this one article and so were you.

Originally Posted by shotgunsusie

this confirms the rumors about the oil companies waiting to move into iraq.

And disproves rumors of contracts being written (WROTE) with prices included.

Throw another shrimp on the barbie.

Originally Posted by neno

Great Responce. I am telling all that the OiL Bosses are there, Guarantee that one.

THEY ARE NEGOTIATING WITH CHINA AND RUSSIA!! YOU CAN BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR THAT ALL THE MAJORS ARE SCRAPPING FOR A PRIME OILFIELD OF THEIR OWN!!

Man, the "unbiased" tone of this reporter made me laugh my a%% off. Geeze, whos side are you on. I just gotta say something, so sorry in advance if you are offended.

My comments are in the dark red/brown, reporters article is highlighted in red.

Originally Posted by shotgunsusie

Insurgents Target Strykers in Iraq
The Associated Press

By LAUREN FRAYER

March 15, 2007

You realize how quickly your life can go. (OMG-way to set the tone of your article, sounds scary, I think I want to cry, bring the troops home, please oh please god we don't want someone to fight) Dozens of U.S. Stryker combat vehicles roared into Baqouba at sunrise. The enemy was ready. (ya think???)As the dawn call-to-prayer fell silent, the streets blazed with insurgent fire.

Within minutes of the start of their first mission in Diyala province Wednesday a voice crackled across the radio: 'Catastrophic kill, with casualties.' (OMG CATASTROPHIC, that must mean, no say it aint so, we have, no it can't be, we must have lost Iraq)Inside the rear of one Stryker, soldiers shushed one another and leaned closer to the radio. They all knew what it meant. A U.S. vehicle had been lost to hostile fire. (Ok, a vehicle was destroyed, but that can't be what was meant by catastrophic, right? surely not, well come on what about our guys...)

Nearly 100 Strykers, armored troop carriers with 50-caliber machine guns, were called north from Baghdad into the province and its capital to try _ yet again _ to rout Sunni insurgents, many who recently fled the month-old Baghdad security operation.[/ ((Hmm, wonder what they are running away from Baghdad for? I mean all of our guys are just cuddly wuddly cream puffs right?-uh guess again)

The fighters have renewed their campaign of bombings and killings just 35 miles northeast of the capital as the war enters its fifth year. Diyala province is quickly becoming as dangerous as Anbar province, the Sunni insurgent bastion west of Baghdad.

Rocket-propelled grenades pounded buildings Wednesday where U.S. soldiers sought cover. Mortar rounds soared overhead and crashed to earth ****ing clouds of deadly shrapnel.

Gunfire rattled ceaselessly _ the hollow pop of insurgent AK-47s and whoosh of grenade launchers nearly drowned out by shuddering blasts from the 50-caliber machine guns.

Soldiers screamed (OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH no it must be a rout, they are screaming for mercy, help me, help me) into their radios for backup. Apache attack helicopters swooped in, firing Hellfire missiles.

By day's end, one soldier was dead, 12 wounded (uh, wait a minute, um back up here 1 soldier killed???, I remember the word, um, yes, there it is CATASTROPHIC being stated, I was expecting something like "Charlie Platoon wiped out" or "Striker brigade wiped out" but 1 guy. Well holy smoley we lose one guy and its "CATASTROPHIC"??? Well damn I am sure that guy was a great American, but if we are going to lose this war because the measuring stick is 1 guys death = CATASTROPHIC then we are FREAKIN SCREWED) and two Strykers destroyed (Not to worry Insurgent A-holes we will make more-no wait we will send something even better-like this---->Force Protection, Inc. - advanced ballistic and blast-protected vehicles). The Americans said dozens of insurgents were killed but gave no specific number. (Yes, how quaint, way to report what you were told and lace it with a hint of sarcastic doubt, mustn't trust the military right....)

It was a bloody first day (well there was some blood, but hey I cut myself shaving this morning too, so I guess I had a bloody day too) for the 2nd Infantry Division's 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment _ the crack Stryker battalion dispatched from Baghdad's northern suburbs.

'They threw everything at us _ RPGs, mortars _ and a guy even tossed a grenade just in front of my vehicle (wow, they threw everything they had and they kill one guy and take out two vehicles-man kiss your asses goodbye insurgents if that is the best you got),' said Capt. Huber Parsons, the 28-year-old commander of the 5-20's Attack company. 'But the most devastating was the IEDs,' the Coral Gables, Fla., native said. He was talking about improvised explosive devices _ roadside bombs.

One Stryker was lost in a particularly sophisticated ambush. (hmm, smart are they, they must have actually planned something as in setting up an ambush type of planning, wow so brilliant that we must not even try to stop them, what are we to do... All is lost.)

Struck head-on by an IED, the rubber-tired armored vehicle was swallowed up in the bomb crater. Insurgents emerged from hiding, firing RPGs in unison.

The Stryker crew was trapped. One U.S. soldier was killed. All nine other crew members were wounded, though six later returned to duty. (So, what your are saying is we have a bunch of dedicated, tough S.O.B.'s that are doing battle for the U.S. of A. eh, well let me take this moment to salute you guys, as this reporter is not, thanks for all that you are doing)

The other Stryker was destroyed when a roadside bomb exploded as the armored vehicle drove over it. The nine-man squad got out alive, three with injuries.

'It was quite an introduction to Diyala,' said Sgt. William Rose of the 5-20's 3rd platoon, Alpha company. 'That was the most contact we've had in weeks, maybe months,' said Rose, a 26-year-old Arlington, Mass., native.

'They always say the next place we're going is the worst _ the most violent _ and it never turns out to be the case,' Rose said. 'They really meant it this time.'

Violence has risen dramatically in Diyala since the Feb. 14 launch of the Baghdad security operation. Insurgents have slowly been taking control for months, however. Attacks on American forces in the province have shot up 70 percent since July, according to military figures.

The Stryker group sent to fight the insurgents was hand-picked by Gen. Ray Odierno, the second in command of all U.S. forces in Iraq. It marked the opening of a new front in the Baghdad security operation, a broadening of the mission for which President Bush has promised more than 20,000 additional soldiers.

The Stryker group came to Baqouba on Tuesday full of optimism about pacifying Diyala, as they did earlier in parts of Baghdad and in the northern city of Mosul.

Confidence faded Wednesday in the hail of insurgent fire and news of casualties among comrades.

'Our first day and we lost one already,' said 22-year-old Spc. Jose Charriez of Hermiston, Ore. 'You realize how quickly your life can go.'

He and his comrades went through names _ Jones, Rubenstein, could it be them? _ trying to figure out who died. A young private bowed his head in prayer.

'One killed in action and nine casualties. That's basically all of us right here,' said Spc. Anthony Bradshaw, a 21-year-old from San Antonio, pointing to the nine men around him.

Hunkered down in their vehicles, the 3rd platoon was itching to get into the fight. They are infantrymen trained for foot patrols, not to ride in armored vehicles, they said. And word of the two lost vehicles fueled their determination.

Then the order came: dismount, clear houses to the north.

At the back of the Stryker, the hatch dropped open, and nine soldiers piled out. They took cover on the front porch of an abandoned house and plotted their path. Explosions rang out to the east, source unknown.

They crouched behind a crumbling cement wall separating overgrown lawns where rusted garbage trucks lay. With large red wire cutters, Spc. Jeremiah Westerfeld, 22, ripped through concertina wire to allow the soldiers to scramble over the wall.

The Batesville, Ind., native bent over and offered a reporter his shoulder as a step to break her fall.

They dropped down into a scruffy yard, thick with foliage and muddy ruts. A dog barked wildly. Smoke grenades were thrown for cover.

Someone shot the dog. (OMG not the DOG, not fluffy... Oh the horror, pull us out of there, set the date for the war crimes tribunal.... what? what do you mean there is no evidence? Oh, the owner's ate the dog. Uh nevermind...)

Doors were kicked in, residents questioned. One vacant house was booby-trapped with a trip wire connected to a homemade bomb made from a propane tank. (Interesting, things our guys have to face day in and day out, good info-I applaud the effort)

Throughout the day, soldiers took aim but seldom got a clear shot at the elusive militants, who hid behind rooftop water tanks and vanished in lush palm groves. Gunfire seemed to come from nowhere and from everywhere. (Oh no sarge run, run they are all around us we are surrounded-we gotta get outta here, we can't stop what we can't catch or see oooooooooooooohhhh noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!)

Insurgent fire kicked up pebbles at the Americans' feet as they ran between buildings. Incoming bullets were getting more accurate. (so um what your saying is that they are pretty much crappy shots, as it takes awhile for them to acheive any kind of accuracy)

In Baghdad, the 5-20 met little resistance as it scoured suspected insurgent dens in neighborhoods around Sadr City. They often drank tea with residents.

Things were different in Diyala, which could prove far more difficult to tame than Baghdad.

'I think the chai (tea) days _ the quiet days _ are over,' said 24-year-old Pfc. Allen Groth of Winona, Minn. (Wait a minute I thought you guys in the media were just saying a couple of weeks ago that BAGHDAD was a lost cause, and now its tame and time to sit down with a chamomile tea (oops I mean chai tea) and read a good book, so which is it??? Hmm, maybe these reporters are writing a book, fiction that is, but I think you need an editor to point out the plot holes.....)

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

To all of our military men and women that are serving us so well I salute you and wish the stories being told about you and your duties weren't being laced with political slant in order to undermine your efforts. That slant saddens me greatly and if this commentary has helped to reveal that bias then I am glad that I took the time to poke fun at the tone of the article.

To the family of the soldier that died all I can say is that is the truly catastrophic event that occured in that military action. For the reporter to try and capitalize on that event to push a slanted biased agenda is unquestionably unforgiveable in my mind. Thank you for raising a son that was willing to do what he did for our country in order to protect both the grateful and the ungrateful citizens who benefit equally by that action.

Originally Posted by Inscrutable

And disproves rumors of contracts being written (WROTE) with prices included.

Throw another shrimp on the barbie.

OH?? What rumors are these? I seem to recall they were written WITHOUT the prices included.

Originally Posted by Bubba Dinar

THEY ARE NEGOTIATING WITH CHINA AND RUSSIA!! YOU CAN BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR THAT ALL THE MAJORS ARE SCRAPPING FOR A PRIME OILFIELD OF THEIR OWN!!

And dont forget about all the US ones too. I have heard nothing but good reports finally today on the News Waves. Also hearing nothing but the Dem's digging a whole. Now that I have Satelite Radio, I can hear Fox and not just that CNN.

Just like today when Fox reported that President Bush fired all his 93 US Attorney's, and How Hillary was dawning it. But How can she forget that Hubby canned all the 93 and another 30 he appointed during his tenour. So Glad the other story comes out.

Another one is where Rosie Odonnal spoke up for the Terrorist yesterday like she had all the Inside. lol Can not remember the lady's name now, but she is at the Capital everyday for the past 25 years and said you can never believe the Main Stream Media. What Rosie Odonnal forgot was the pic of the Terrorist was the pic from his arrest.........YEARS AGO.....lol

Originally Posted by Mike5200

OH?? What rumors are these? I seem to recall they were written WITHOUT the prices included.

I believe it was something to do with a CEO and you're right Mike, the price was undecided but was being claimed as equal to the Euro.

Originally Posted by shotgunsusie

Fri, Mar 16, 2007, 12:43 GMT

Civilian deaths fall after Baghdad security drive


Thursday, Mar 15, 2007

US and Iraqi officials yesterday claimed that civilian deaths had declined precipitously in Baghdad since the push to secure the capital began a month ago.

The Americans acknowledged, however, that car bombs remained a big threat that could restart the cycle of violence, and said they were concentrating operations in areas where such weapons were believed to be assembled.

Brigadier Qassim Moussawi, Iraqi military spokesman, said the number of Iraqis killed by violence in Baghdad in the 30 days since Operation Enforcing the Law began was 265, down from 1,440 killed in the previous month. He said that the number of attacks in surrounding provinces had increased, although he did not provide figures.

Major General William Caldwell, US military spokesman, meanwhile said: "Murders and executions have come down by over 50 per cent (in Baghdad)."

He acknowledged there had been a slight climb in the number killed in the last seven days, but not as much as at the equivalent point in the cycle of previous Baghdad security plans.

"This past week is normally the week in which the number of murders goes back to their previous levels," he said.

Stepped-up operations by US and Iraqi forces appear to have had much more impact on death-squad activity than on car bombings, however.

Brig Moussawi said the number of car bombs had declined in the last month to 36 from 56, but blasts attributed to Sunni insurgents, such as a March 6 pedestrian suicide attack on a procession of Shia pilgrims which killed nearly 120 people, continue to take a high toll.

Even before the offensive, the radical Shia militiamen who are believed to be responsible for most such killings around the capital began disappearing from the streets, and some Shia claim this has left them vulnerable to Sunni extremists.

"If the high-profile car bombs can be stopped or brought down to a much lower level, we'll just see an incredible difference in the city overall," Maj Gen Caldwell said.

"The high-profile car bomb is the one (form of attack) we're really focused on because that's what will start that whole cycle of violence again."

Many of the car bombs detonated in Baghdad are believed to be assembled in the predominantly Sunni parts of the belt of farmland surrounding the city, and US forces have in recent days stepped up operations in the capital's southern outskirts.

US troops have also been moving into areas outside Baghdad that have been hit hard by sectarian violence, such as Diyala province, where 700 US troops equipped with Stryker armoured vehicles redeployed yesterday.

The full 21,500-strong force that was earmarked for Iraq as part of the US troop surge announced in January will not be in place for several more months, Maj Gen Caldwell said.

Two of five brigades were in place and a third was currently deploying through Kuwait, he said.

By STEVE NEGUS


© Copyright The Financial Times Ltd 2007. Privacy policy.

(The rats are jumping ship and looking for greener pastures)

Originally Posted by Mike5200

Question: A quick question on the Iraq Compact Group. I know that you told us you’re expecting a statement. Can at least we have an initial list of participants of that meeting and what’s expected out of it. And then just quickly on the Israeli Defence Minister, we were told in the squawk today that we go down for the stakeout. And then the Israeli Defence Minister simply spoke to the Israeli reporters in Hebrew. And we ended up getting nothing. It was also organized by the Spokesman’s Office.

Spokesperson: No, it was not. It was asked for by the Israeli Mission. We don’t have anything to do whenever a Member State has a stakeout. This is something that is the responsibility of each individual country, of course. Your other question about the Iraq Compact, as you know it is starting tomorrow. We’ll have definitely additional information for you. As you know, we don’t have the exact list yet. But, I know there are quite a few delegations. I think about 40 of them have already arrived. And I will have a definite list for you tomorrow. And we’re trying to get someone to come and brief you on it. As you know, Mr. Gambari is in charge of the process. So we’ll ask if he can come or if someone else within the department can come and brief you with the specifics. And the statement will be out shortly.

Question: I asked before about, since you brought up the Iraq Compact Group, where do we stand as far as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq, is he staying? Is there going to be a new person instead of him?

Spokesperson: We’ll find out soon. But Mr. Qazi is here and he’s going to participate in the meeting tomorrow.

Question: Is the United Nations or Mr. Ban Ki-moon planning to increase the presence of the United Nations in Iraq or that would be one of the issues discussed?

Spokesperson: The reason why, as you know, the UN presence in Iraq is conditioned by security questions. No matter what the will is, we have to take into account security reasons and environment.

Question: So there are no plans for any?

Spokesperson: As far as I know not immediately.

Question: It would be very helpful or something also on this International Compact with Iraq. I still just don’t have the vaguest idea what it is and no one seems to be able to say. And it’s slightly surreal.

Spokesperson: I’m trying to get you a briefing tomorrow.

Question: There’s a meeting of 40 people coming here

Spokesperson: Or more.

Question: And we don’t know who they are or what they’re doing or what they’re talking about.

Spokesperson: They are representatives of Member States essentially.

Question: But no one seems to know what anybody’s doing. It’s bizarre.

Spokesperson: We’ll try to get a list of the participants for you. And, as I said, we’re also trying to get you a briefing on that.

Question: We don’t know who the figures are who are showing up, if it’s like the regular ambassadors or some top-level officials.

Spokesperson: I’ll find out for you.

Question: About the Iraq Compact Group, I’m glad that Mark asked that question, because I thought I was the only one who didn’t know. That was just before, but now it becomes more pertinent. There are moves in the US Congress to maybe cut off funding. It has to come up, I would imagine, in a meeting. If the US troops and you just said that the UN presence is dependent on security. If they leave, how will that impact the UN’s presence there? It will help or hurt obviously. Do you think that will be an issue discussed and does the Secretary-General have any views on that yet?

Spokesperson: I don’t have any views on that at this point and it’s kind of a hypothetical questions. It’s not the case yet. It’s just not a reality.

Question: But they’ve prepared for it continuously, didn’t they?

Spokesperson: Sure they did, but it doesn’t have to be a public stance.

Question: Michèle, there are indications that the Quartet would meet with a number of Arab countries before the end of this month. Do you know which Arab countries would be participating in this meeting?

Spokesperson: I don’t think a Quartet meeting has been fixed yet. They haven’t really set a date or a place yet. All we know is that it is going to be in an Arab country.

Question: At the risk of piling on here. I think this is something that’s always bothered me. I don’t understand what the word "compact" means in this compact. I mean compact car is small. I don’t understand what the word "compact" means here.

Spokesperson: All I can say is it was an initiative, as you know, of the Government of Iraq. They wanted a new partnership with the international community, which as you know, started in July 2006.

Question: (inaudible)

Spokesperson: It’s an initiative.

Question: So it’s not like an acronym for (inaudible).

Spokesperson: No. It’s not an acronym for anything.

Question: Is it different from the compact in Afghanistan?

Spokesperson: I don’t know whether there’s any link between the two, but the words mean the same. It was a request from the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mr. Maliki, that the Secretary-General host this meeting that is taking place tomorrow in New York. And the meeting offers an opportunity to involve the larger international community in a discussion on how best to support the Government of Iraq and the framework of that Compact. And the Government of Iraq is expected to formally present the group with a document at the meeting and will brief participants on the latest development of the implementation of commitments made under the Compact so far. And as I said, all Member States have been invited to participate in the meeting. I don’t know exactly who will be there and I will find out for you very soon.

Question: Michèle, what are the intentions regarding the conclusions and results of the Iraq Compact. Will they be submitted to the General Assembly?

Spokesperson: No. I don’t think so. It’s an initiative of the Government of Iraq and we are giving a support role in this in getting the Government of Iraq together with the international community. So it has nothing to do with the General Assembly.

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

All I can say is WOW. This is big. All done with the cameras turned off even....

Shahrastani foreign investments in the Iraqi oil sector limited
Shahrastani told Lucky :
أكبر عض".Vienna (March 16) and the agency (Lucky) Italian News - The Iraqi Oil Minister, Hussein Shahrastani, expressed the belief that his country has "enormous oil wealth is much greater than some imagine." ".It said that "a committee of senior jurists and experts and advisers in the ministries of oil and justice is putting the final touches on a comprehensive bill to regulate and ambitious oil and gas sector in the next stage, based on the development of a comprehensive national strategy for the development of the existing oil fields and intensify prospecting and encourage foreign companies to invest giant in the energy sector. " ".And across minister Shahrastani, in a statement to the correspondent of the Italian Agency (Lucky) expressed hope that "Iraq will regain its prominent role in international forums as one of the biggest oil-exporting countries in the world, and reach annual production capacity to about five million barrels per day over the next few years, specifically in the beginning of the year 2010." ".However, he said that "Iraq's current production of crude oil is still limited as it was before the fall of the former Iraqi regime, especially in the western areas." ".It also complained of "poor export oil through the northern ports or transfer to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, in view of the vulnerability of pipelines to sabotage operations by terrorist groups." And on the challenges facing the reconstruction of the oil sector, the Minister explained that "the southern oil fields, which are supervised by the national oil company, has started to recover, gradually, and the current plan focuses on increasing production to higher levels during the current year. " ال.The minister said that Iraqi production at the current stage is still almost at the level of two million barrels per day. ".He hoped the arrival of Iraq's production to five million barrels over the past three or four next after the success of the strategy of national and foreign investments. Regarding evaluation of the results of the meeting of oil and energy ministers in OPEC, welcomed the Iraqi minister of oil, the Vienna agreement to extend the line of production currently in place and of 25.8 million barrels per Iraq today without the quota, and said, "in fact, are the meetings of the Ministerial Council of OPEC often extremely important, because the provision of large quantities of oil for global consumption is a major factor in the stability of the market and balance the prices reasonable and acceptable levels of producing and consuming countries alike." نفط".He Shahrastani to "several factors contributed to the extension of the current production ceiling of the OPEC members highlighted the existence of sufficient quantities of crude oil in the market, and the decline in world demand for oil because of the warm weather which dominate the surface of the Northern Hemisphere, where there are major consumers of oil." .The minister said the presence of large oil fields in the northern region of Iraq, and pointed out that the development had advanced stage. وفي.In this context, he Shahrastani hoped the "elimination of the oil pipeline sabotage carried out by terrorist organizations from time to time, which is aimed at preventing the export of Iraqi oil from the northern fields, after the successful implementation of the security plan in Baghdad, which will be transferred to other Iraqi provinces soon." The minister admitted that the government had not Shahrastani beginning after the activation of the national oil investment, as it has not yet entered into any dialogue for a special agreements with a number of major international companies specialized affairs oil due to several reasons, foremost of which the completion of the formulation of the draft law regulating the oil and gas sectors in Iraq. ولك.But he expected the direct application of the law before the end of May next, after parliamentary approval. ".At the end of a modern, the minister said that "many international oil companies expressed willingness to invest in the oil and gas sectors, and memoranda of understanding have been signed with most of the international oil companies, but talks between the two sides are still limited."
Translated version of http://www.sotaliraq.com/