Thread: Iraq/Dinar News. 09/05 to 01/14/07

Originally Posted by Hardwood

I've read a lot (and I mean A LOT) of pasted stories on here, but this one really struck differently than the rest....

I believe this is monumental in the future safety of the Iraqi people. It shows the insurgents that their leaders are coming together to try and get along with their neighbors.

A great find and I thank you for sharing it!

My mindset is not on material things, sounds peculiar I know, because we are all waiting for something that is as material as it comes, but, when I see something like this, which is TRULY SPIRITUAL IN NATURE, especially in a part of the world that has claimed all "sense of spirituality" I get excited. It means the "tares are being gathered" (parable in the Bible) and we are closer everyday to the NEW JERUSALEM

Originally Posted by _Apollo_

SGS,

We were approached by this company, and wanted us to go into this with them. He has tried to convince me that Iraq will reprint, and has sent articles about other countries doing the same. I told him that I didn't think Iraq would do this, and I am sure I speak for all of our members and customers as well.

When the zero lopping comment came out we began to inquire into purchasing bank bonds from the TBI, backed by the CBI for any of our customers who would want to trade their Dinars out. But since we also do not believe that a reprint or zero lop will happen, we let the idea die.

This Dinar dealer is making money three fold. They will buy back your Dinar for the fee, sell it to other dealers at a profit, then wire the money to Warka (and get a small commission). It's a great way to make money for the dealers, but I couldn't do that unless I thought a reprint or zero lop was a reality. I don't get any sleep now, and I definitely wouldn't if I had to lie to people everyday. I'm not saying that this dealer doesn't believe he is doing the right thing, and he might really believe that Iraq is heading towards this option, I just know that I don't hold the same opinion.

I'm also not a fan of Warka..

Dan

PS... After all the recent news (even after the Sunday morning let down on the CBI site) we are still going to hold off from selling. Too much happening this month!

Dan... check you pm ... have a question 4 u.. but don't want to hyjack the thread... thanks :) ez

Voices of Iraq: Iraq-Khalilzad

Posted by: saleem on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 04:39 PM

Iraq-Khalilzad
Syria, Iran support armed groups in Iraq-ambassador
By Santa Michael
Baghdad, Oct 24, (VOI) – The U.S. ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad accused on Tuesday Syria and Iran of supporting armed groups in Iraq urging the Iraqi politicians to do utmost to stabilize Iraq.
“The U.S. strategy in Iraq depends on helping the Iraqi leaders to make a success the national reconciliation plan, urging the politicians to more curb the militias and death squads and persuading the ( Sunni insurgents) to lay down arms and to take part in the political process,” Khalilzad told a joint news conference with the top US military commander in Iraq Gen George Casey in Baghdad.
The U.S. ambassador reveled that the U.S. administration asked for the assistance of “Saudi Arabia and Jordan for convincing what he called the (Sunni insurgents) to lay down arms and join the political process.”
Khalilzad who accused Syria and Iran of supporting armed groups in Iraq did not make a mention of opening dialogue with the two countries.
Ambassador Khalilzad said “ there are initiatives to try to stabilize Iraq, including a plan to reform Iraqi security ministries.”
The security ministries reforms, Khalilzad pointed out, should be ready by the end of the year.
The U.S. ambassador blamed Iraqi political forces for the surge of violence in the country because of what he called “ a fight for positions and interests.”
“The death squads were formed from within militias including Mahdi army though the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr says he is not responsible for them,” Khalilzad said.
“There are sectarian violence, fight within the Shiites among themselves and attacks by outlaws,” added the U.S. ambassador blaming some politicians who are in power of connection with these acts.
U.S. aim in Iraq remained unchanged, Khalilzad said adding : “the goal of creating a democratic multi-ethnic and multi-faith Iraq remained unchanged.”
The ambassador who reaffirmed the U.S. support to the Iraqis said “success in Iraq is possible and can be achieved on a realistic timetable.”
The top US military commander in Iraq Gen George Casey attributed the violence in Iraq to three factors.
The surge of violence in Iraq was due to “al-Qaeda in Iraq armed group, death squads, and those claim an honest resistance,” Casey told reporters.
The U.S. military commander stressed the need for tougher security plan in Baghdad but he said “we need more military reinforcements be it Iraqi or multi-national.”
Gen Casey added that although the situation in Iraq was "hard", it was not "awash in sectarian violence" as 90% of attacks were occurring in the Baghdad area and there were 13 Iraqi provinces which Casey described as “safe”.
The statements came only days after President Bush reviewed Iraq strategy with top military commanders.
At least 83 U.S. troops have so far died this month, surpassing the year’s previous monthly high of 76 in April.

Maliki confirms the government's position in the elimination of armed groups
Baghdad - (Voices of Iraq)
"New Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki government's position about the armed groups stressing the government's determination to end the show of arms "of the weapons, however, the state alone."
The prime minister reiterated in a letter yesterday, Monday, the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, which Agence (Voices of Iraq) independent copy.
"Al-Maliki said that the government takes this opportunity to reaffirm its determination "to continue the way in the political process, which includes all sects and components, to adhere to the democratic process."
"Al-Maliki added that the government was determined to "fight terrorism and the alien ideology than an organization and the elimination of the armed rallies of the weapons, however, the state alone represented to our security."
The Iraqi government is facing big challenges was how to develop clear plans for the elimination of militias and armed groups, disarming and whose presence is the greatest challenge facing the government of al-Maliki.
Maliki message comes in light of a dramatic escalation of violence in Iraq, where Iraqi Interior sources announced yesterday, Monday, that found the 50th body was found shot dead and most of the effects of torture in various places in the city of Baghdad.
In Amarah, where the city is witnessing increasing confrontations between armed militias and the Iraqi security forces forced the Iraqi authorities yesterday, Monday, to declare curfews after armed confrontations resulted in the deaths of 25 people.
"Al-Maliki said in his letter that the government is determined to its position "that calls for national reconciliation, tolerance and equality and to remove any congestion that would spoil the atmosphere of unity and cohesion."
The Maliki on maintenance in the implementation of the government's plans to "improve the economy and infrastructure and provide employment opportunities and basic services and raising the standard of living of citizens." The government is facing great pressure from the American administration, which called on the government to take clear and concrete steps to disarm the militias.
The American Administration announced earlier this week that it intends to hold a big change in its policy in Iraq, especially after the recognition spokesman for the American army in Iraq, William Caldwell last week, the failure of Baghdad security plan.
The losses of the American army in Iraq has risen dramatically this month, as this month is about to become the most bloody month for the American army in Iraq after the number of its members killed so years to the 90th.Translated version of http://www.aswataliraq.com/

Voices of Iraq: Missan-Calm

Posted by: saleem on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 11:42 AM

Missan-Calm
Amara calm, Iraqi army deployed in Fitr Eid
By Nazar al-Radhi
Amara, Oct 24, (VOI) – The southern Iraqi city of Amara was calm on Tuesday morning while the Iraqi Shiite Muslims celebrated in mosques the first day of Fitr Eid amidst intensive deployment of the Iraqi army in the city.
Amara city had seen clashes between the Mahdi army gunmen loyal to the Shiite young cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and the local police after some Mahdi army fighters were arrested by the Iraqi police following the assassination of a local chief police officer.
25 Iraqis died and 150 others were wounded in the clashes according to Missan governor Adel Mehoder.
“Things are calm now in Amara shortly after a series of steps were taken by the Amara local government to calm down the tension following the death of the Mahdi army leader’s brother,” Mehoder told a news conference on Monday night.
Earlier, a source at Shaheed Sadr office said the headless body of the brother of Mahdy Army Shiite militia leader in the Iraqi southern province of Missan was found near Amara town.
The governor decided to form a delegation to meet representatives of Shaheed Sadr office to calm down the tension after the heedless body of Mohammed al-Bahadli, a brother of Mahdy Army leader Fadel al-Bahadli, was found near Amara.
“We contacted and urged the victim’s family to stay calm,” the governor said.
The Iraqi army deployed more troops to quell the violence and prevent gunmen, outside the city, from a possible entry to Amara, Mehoder added.
Meanwhile, the British forces moved and situated on Monday night near the Iraqi army-run al-Bedirah Camp. 10km west of Amara, to provide support for the Iraqi troops in Amara city.
The Iraqi army patrols requested Monday night Amara residents to keep indoors.
An Amara provincial council member, who asked not to be named, said the city suffered because of the recent clashes a monumental loss estimated so far at four billion Iraqi dinars ( $ 2.711 million).
The British forces withdrew in August from Amara city, 380 km south of Baghdad, and took positions at the Iraqi- Iranian borders.

There are specialty exchangers that we can use. Over the past number of years I have exchanged in excess of 5 mil USD using Custom House Global Foreign Exchange. They are a company headquartered in Victoria, BC, Canada with branches in about 10 countries. I have spoken with them a number of times concerning the IQD and they affirmed to me that they exchange any currency on Forex and, therefore, they said as soon as the IQD is on Forex they would provide exchange services. Their rates are consistantly superior to rates quoted by any banks. Check them at Custom House Global Foreign Exchange

oh if I was a member of NOOZZ AARRRGHHHHH!!!!!

Noozz.com | IRAQ
Iraq: Currency forecast
(EIU) Oct 19 2006

Originally Posted by nventr

There are specialty exchangers that we can use. Over the past number of years I have exchanged in excess of 5 mil USD using Custom House Global Foreign Exchange. They are a company headquartered in Victoria, BC, Canada with branches in about 10 countries. I have spoken with them a number of times concerning the IQD and they affirmed to me that they exchange any currency on Forex and, therefore, they said as soon as the IQD is on Forex they would provide exchange services. Their rates are consistantly superior to rates quoted by any banks. Check them at Custom House Global Foreign Exchange

At the very least this will provide a great reference and comparison when negotiating with the bank.

Originally Posted by Treater

Heres an idea, anyone who has bought from a Chase branch (even if you have not, just call any branch), call that branch, and ask them and report the news here, we can all get better results if as many of us that CAN gather info on things we wanna know pool our efforts together, instead of waiting for someone else to report. Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 118 (63 members and 55 guests) and two follow ups so far...

Called the Chase bank in Longview Texas on Judson Rd. They are stil letting people purchase. A teller will call me back on what the price is for 100,000 dinar. But they said "no problem" to purchase.

From Bloomberg---
Iraq Can Take on Security Within 18 Months, U.S. Says (Update2)

By Robin Stringer and Roger Runningen

Oct. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Iraqi forces should be able to take over the country's security from coalition soldiers within 18 months, the top U.S. commander in Iraq said.

The Middle Eastern country's own troops and police are 12-18 months away from being ``completely capable of taking over their own security,'' General George Casey said at a news conference in Baghdad aired live by international broadcasters, though the Iraqis may still need ``some level of support.''

Iraqis must ``step up and achieve key political and security milestones which they have agreed to,'' U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters. A plan for transferring security duties will be announced by the end of the year, Khalilzad added.

The escalating violence in Iraq is increasing pressure on U.S. President George W. Bush and the Republican Party to change strategy ahead of the Nov. 7 U.S. midterm election. Twenty-seven percent of registered voters surveyed for an ABC News/Washington Post poll released yesterday said the conflict was the issue that most affected their vote. Seventy-six percent of that number said they favored a Democrat candidate in their congressional race.

Bush met Oct. 21 with military commanders to discuss strategy in Iraq, after a security clampdown by U.S. and Iraqi troops in Baghdad was met with a surge in sectarian violence. Bush remains committed to the goal of setting Iraq up to govern itself and take responsibility for quelling sectarian strife, the president's spokesman Tony Snow said yesterday, though he added that the administration is flexible about how to achieve those goals.

`Verge of Chaos'

Communications strategists working with House Republicans circulated a three-page memo yesterday that advises candidates in the midterm election to highlight past statements by military and administration officials that show that the U.S. is adapting to changing military conditions, and requiring Iraqi police and security forces to take a more prominent role in combating sectarian violence.

An independent bipartisan commission established by Congress and headed by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Representative Lee Hamilton plans to make recommendations on U.S. policy in Iraq after the November election.

Both Democrats and Republicans have made repeated calls for changes in strategy. ``We're on the verge of chaos, and the current plan is not working,'' Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, said in an interview with the Associated Press published today. Graham said U.S. and Iraqi officials were responsible for failing to achieve goals toward a stable Iraq.

Iran, Syria

Graham was asked whether U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should be held accountable, or the generals running the war. ``All of them,'' Graham said. ``It's their job to come up with a game plan'' to stop the violence.

The main sources of violence are sectarian death squads and insurgents, and Iran and Syria ``cynically support groups responsible for the violence,'' Khalilzad said. The U.S. is ``working with the Iraqi and other governments in the region to develop policies and strategies'' to tackle the problem.

Stabilizing Iraq is ``the defining challenge of our era,'' the envoy said, adding ``the outcome in Iraq will affect the security of the world.''

Iraqi leaders must commit in the coming weeks, Khalilzad said, to enacting legislation sharing the profits of oil wealth, implementing a plan to tackle militias and death squads, and increasing the credibility and capability of the country's armed forces. The envoy said that Iraqi leaders had agreed to a timeline for making the ``hard decisions needed to resolve these issues.''

`Tough Fight'

White House National Security Council spokesman Fred Jones and Snow did not immediately return phone and e-mail messages requesting comment on the plan outlined by Casey and Khalilzad.

``We are in a tough fight,'' particularly around Baghdad, Casey acknowledged. The general said he is prepared to ask for more Iraqi and coalition personnel if necessary, and warned ``we are not going to have total security here in Baghdad until the political issues dividing the communities are resolved.''

The U.S.-led coalition and its Iraqi partners would, though, ``succeed in Iraq, but it will take patience, courage and resolve from all of us,'' Casey said. The Iraqi Army is making progress, he told reporters, and 90 out of 112 battalions are supported, rather than led, by U.S. forces. Casey was responding to questions about whether Iraqi forces are competent to deliver security. Three hundred Iraqi personnel were ``martyred'' in the increased violence during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Casey said.

Deadly Month

Attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces in Baghdad rose 22 percent this month, Major General William Caldwell, a U.S. military spokesman, said Oct. 19. Operation Forward Together, a joint effort by U.S. and Iraqi forces to quell violence in Baghdad, failed to meet expectations for sustaining a reduction in the levels of violence.

October has been the deadliest month for the U.S. military in Iraq since the battle to clear the insurgent stronghold Fallujah in November 2004. At least 81 military personnel have been killed in action this month, according to Department of Defense tally released yesterday.

A majority of Americans, 57 percent, say the U.S. should set a deadline for withdrawing its troops from Iraq, according to a Cable News Network poll released yesterday. Bush said last week in an interview with ABC News that he expects U.S. troops will remain in Iraq until after he leaves office in 2009, and he has repeatedly refused to set any timetable for a withdrawal.

Marines, Soldier Killed

Two Marines died yesterday from wounds sustained in ``enemy action'' in the western al-Anbar province, and another Marine was killed in fighting on Oct. 21, again in al-Anbar, the U.S. military said in separate e-mailed statements. A Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldier was killed on Oct. 22 when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in southeast Baghdad, the military said in another statement.

A sailor assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7 died yesterday from ``enemy action'' in the al-Anbar province, the U.S. military said in an e-mailed statement late today.

A soldier from the Baghdad division was listed as ``duty status-whereabouts unknown,'' which means it is not clear whether he is absent without leave or missing in action, the military said.

As of yesterday, 2,236 members of the U.S. military had been killed in action in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion, according to figures posted on the Department of Defense Web site. Including those who have died from other causes, such as illness and vehicle accidents, the toll was 2,791.

Almost 6,600 Iraqi civilians were killed in July and August, the United Nations said in a report last month. As many as 655,000 people may have died in Iraq as a result of the violence and deteriorating conditions that followed the invasion, according to a study released Oct. 11 by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and al-Mustansiriya University in Bagdad. Bush dismissed the survey as not credible.

To contact the reporter on this story: Robin Stringer in London at [email protected] ; Roger Runningen in Washington at [email protected] .