“Tidbits From TNT” Tuesday 2-17-2026

TNT:

Tishwash:  Iraqi-UAE consortium to build $700 million 'WorldLink' fast data cable network

The project would comprise an undersea cable from Fujairah in the UAE to Iraq's Faw Peninsula on the Gulf, which will then run overland north to the Turkish border

 An Iraqi-Emirati consortium plans a $700 million subsea-and-terrestrial data cable linking the United Arab Emirates to Turkey via Iraq, one of the backers said, just over a week after the announcement of a Saudi-backed fiber-optic project in Syria.

Gulf neighbors Saudi Arabia and the UAE are racing to tap into the demand for connectivity in the region and to attract investment into data centers.

The Iraqi-UAE project, branded WorldLink, would comprise an undersea cable from Fujairah in the UAE to Iraq's Faw peninsula on the Gulf, which will then run overland north to the Turkish border, Ali El Ekabi, head of Iraq's Tech 964 —one of the three members of the consortium —told Reuters.

El Ekabi said the project would be privately funded, take four to five years to complete, and target "hyperscalers, international carriers, and AI applications."

It aims to ease congestion on existing east-west data routes and reduce transit times versus paths that run through the Suez Canal.

The Emirati foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Besides Tech 964, WorldLink's sponsors include Iraqi-Kurdish DIL Technologies and UAE-based Breeze Investments, according to El Ekabi, who is the son of Iraqi real estate billionaire Namir El Ekabi.

It is the second such new project planned in the region. Saudi Arabia and Syria announced on February 7 plans to set up a fiber-optic network under a wider investment package.

The project was described as a roughly $1 billion push to rehabilitate Syria's infrastructure and position it as a data route between Asia and Europe.

Iraq, which is trying to market itself as a stable transit corridor after decades of conflict, launched a $17 billion "Development Road" rail-and-road plan in 2023 to connect Faw to Turkey. link

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Tishwash: Iraq increases its holdings of US Treasury bonds by more than $1 billion

The US Treasury Department announced on Monday that Iraq's holdings of US bonds have increased by more than $1 billion, reaching approximately $40.8 billion in December 2025.

According to official data from the US Treasury, which was audited and analyzed by Shafaq News Agency, “Iraq’s holdings of US Treasury bonds for December 2025 increased by $1.1 billion, reaching $40.8 billion, after being $39.7 billion during the previous month.”

She added that this holding increased by 74% compared to January 2025, when Iraq’s holdings of bonds amounted to $23.4 billion.

In the Arab world, Saudi Arabia topped the list of countries holding the most US bonds with a value of $148.8 billion, followed by the UAE with $101 billion, and then Kuwait in third place with $50.3 billion.

The data indicated that the largest holders of US bonds are Japan with $1.202 trillion, followed by the United Kingdom with $888 billion, then China with $682 billion, and then Belgium with $481 billion.

The total holdings of US Treasury securities by countries in December 2025 amounted to approximately $9.355.4 trillion, an increase of $736.1 billion from the same month in 2024, which was $8.619.3 trillion.  link

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Tishwash:    Parliamentary move to host the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq to discuss "salaries and citizens' income"

On Monday, MP Duha Al-Bahadli, from the National Approach bloc, revealed a parliamentary move to host the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Ali Al-Alaq, to ​​discuss the reasons for the fluctuation in cash liquidity and mechanisms for addressing it.

Al-Bahadli told Shafaq News Agency that "the purpose of the meeting is to inform the MPs in detail about the reasons for the fluctuation in cash liquidity, the mechanisms for addressing it, and the extent of the efficiency of monetary policy in facing the current challenges, in addition to ensuring that no financial crisis and its impact are reflected on the salaries of employees, or the state’s obligations."

She continued: "Also to review the measures taken to ensure market stability and protect the purchasing power of citizens," noting that "the date of the meeting will be determined later by the Council Presidency."

She pointed out that "the House of Representatives is exercising its oversight role with full responsibility, and there will be a commitment to complete transparency and reassuring the Iraqi public regarding the financial and monetary situation."

It is noted that informed sources revealed yesterday, Sunday, the worsening financial liquidity crisis in Iraq, confirming that the available resources are no longer sufficient to secure the payment of salaries for employees and retirees during the coming period.

Sources who spoke to Shafaq News Agency reported that the government was forced to withdraw about 20 trillion dinars from Al-Rafidain Bank, in addition to between 7 and 8 trillion dinars from Al-Rasheed Bank, as well as withdrawing about 7 billion dollars from another bank, along with sums of money from industrial and agricultural banks, in order to cover salaries during the past months.

She explained that these measures have led to the depletion of a large portion of the liquidity available in government banks, which makes the option of delaying the payment of employee salaries strongly on the table during the next stage if urgent financial solutions are not found to contain the crisis.

She pointed out that the continuation of these conditions may exacerbate the financial crisis, especially with the existence of observations related to mismanagement, waste of public money and suspicions in some files, which calls for taking urgent reform measures to ensure financial stability and secure the salaries of employees and retirees on their specified dates.  link

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Mot:  Careful What Ya Wants!! --- Siiggghhhhhh  irish blessing

 Mot:  ole Mot Says!!! ~~~friends

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Tuesday Morning 2-17-26

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

Sovereign Stress Builds as Japan Stalls and Ukraine Secures IMF Lifeline

Fiscal expansion collides with monetary hesitation as markets price optimism into fragile conditions

 Overview

• Japan’s economy expanded just 0.2% annualized in Q4 2025, far below forecasts, complicating the Bank of Japan’s rate path.

• Asian markets traded cautiously as oil prices rose ahead of U.S.–Iran nuclear talks.

• The U.S. dollar steadied while investors awaited Federal Reserve minutes and U.S. GDP data.

• Ukraine expects IMF approval within weeks, constructing financial infrastructure to manage a $140 billion budget gap.

Key Developments

• Global Markets and Oil Risk Premium
  Asian equities opened tentatively in holiday-thinned trading. Oil rose more than 1% ahead of negotiations between Washington and Tehran, even as Iran conducted drills in the Strait of Hormuz — a passage responsible for roughly 20% of global oil shipments. U.S. Treasury yields slipped to 4.044%, their lowest level since early December, signaling cautious positioning rather than conviction.

• Dollar Steady, Central Banks at a Crossroads
  The dollar held firm at 97.12 as markets awaited Federal Reserve minutes and advanced GDP data. Meanwhile, Japan’s weak growth numbers strengthened the political case for fiscal stimulus while reducing pressure on the Bank of Japan to raise rates. Markets are pricing only minimal tightening ahead, revealing uncertainty about policy direction.

• Japan’s GDP Miss Complicates Policy Alignment
  Quarterly growth of just 0.1% underscores economic fragility. The data strengthens Prime Minister Takaichi’s reflation agenda while simultaneously undermining the central bank’s justification for continued tightening. This creates a potential policy imbalance between fiscal expansion and monetary restraint, historically associated with currency weakness.

• Ukraine Builds Wartime Financial Architecture
  Ukraine expects board approval of an $8.2 billion IMF programme replacing its existing $15.6 billion facility. Combined with EU assistance, the framework helps manage a projected $140 billion shortfall over coming years. Kyiv is gradually easing wartime capital controls and positioning to re-enter emerging market bond indices, signaling preparation for prolonged conflict rather than imminent peace.

Why It Matters

Markets appear to be pricing best-case diplomatic and policy outcomes in environments where structural pressures remain unresolved. Oil optimism hinges on negotiations that have yet to deliver results. Japan’s fiscal push may collide with central bank caution. Ukraine’s financing assumes sustained Western commitment.

When markets price hope before policy delivers, volatility follows.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

Many readers hold foreign currencies anticipating appreciation during a potential Global Reset. Japan’s fiscal expansion combined with monetary hesitation could weaken the yen further before any structural realignment occurs. Meanwhile, dollar stability amid geopolitical risk underscores its continued reserve strength. Ukraine’s IMF-backed restructuring demonstrates how sovereign currencies can become heavily influenced by external financing frameworks. Currency holders should recognize that policy misalignment and sovereign dependency directly influence exchange rate stability and long-term valuation prospects.

Sovereigns are stretching their balance sheets while monetary policy stands at the edge of restraint.  

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Fiscal Dominance Rising
Governments are leaning more heavily on deficit spending to stabilize growth. When fiscal authorities expand aggressively while central banks hesitate, monetary independence erodes. This dynamic reshapes global capital flows and reserve currency perceptions.

Pillar 2: Sovereign Financing Dependency
Ukraine’s reliance on multilateral institutions highlights a broader trend — sovereign nations increasingly depend on coordinated lending frameworks. This shifts power toward global financial institutions and away from purely domestic monetary control.

Fiscal expansion rises as central banks hesitate — the imbalance markets can’t ignore.  

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters – “Japan Q4 Growth Misses Forecast as Fiscal Debate Intensifies”

• Modern Diplomacy – “Financial Brief: A Weekly Roundup on the Geopolitics of Money | Feb 17”

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BRICS Debuts Brazil-Backed Cross-Border Payment System

A new payment network built on Brazil’s Pix tech is operational in 2026, aiming to settle trade directly in local currencies and challenge dollar dominance.

Overview

• BRICS members are launching a Brazil-based cross-border payment system intended to bypass reliance on the U.S. dollar and SWIFT in trade settlements.

• The network leverages a Decentralized Cross-Border Messaging System (DCMS) architecture to connect central bank rails.

• Brazil’s Pix instant payment technology provides the technical backbone for high-speed messaging and settlement.

• The system is designed to integrate local currency settlement and digital currencies such as China’s digital yuan and Brazil’s Drex.

Key Developments

1.  Operational Phase Activated in 2026
The BRICS payment platform is transitioning from pilot to operational scale, connecting central banks of China, India, Egypt, and the UAE through a Brazil-hosted network. Unlike SWIFT, the DCMS model has no single authority and ensures countries retain control of their own nodes.

2.  .Brazil Leads Architecture with Pix Integration
Brazil’s Central Bank prepared the foundational framework and adapted its nationally successful Pix real-time payment technology to an international settlement context. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva framed the system as part of a multipolar financial architecture.

3.  Dollar Dominance Under External Pressure
Surveys show net Bitcoin and FX exposure to the U.S. dollar at historic negative levels, with record short positioning and a softer outlook for U.S. growth and inflation. Market dynamics underscore the broader context in which BRICS payment alternatives are emerging.

4.  Integration of Local Currency & CBDC Rails
Members have shifted more than 60% of trade into local currency settlements, with plans to integrate national digital currencies like Drex and the digital yuan. Saudi Arabia and Iran are among likely future participants, potentially extending the system into energy trade corridors.

Why It Matters

The launch of an operational BRICS payment network marks a strategic shift in cross-border finance infrastructure, directly reducing transaction friction and slowly displacing dollar-centric settlement norms. By moving trade settlement into local currencies and interoperable digital rails, member states are laying foundation stones for a multipolar monetary landscape.

 A transactional architecture born in Brazil may be a cornerstone in the long arc of de-dollarization.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

Holders of foreign currencies anticipating shifts in global reserve dynamics should take note:

• Reduced dollar settlement demand across BRICS trade corridors could dampen structural dollar demand over time.

• Broader adoption of local currencies, supported by interoperable payment rails, can redistribute liquidity flows in FX markets.

• Integration of digital currencies into trade settlement may accelerate new reserve asset frameworks beyond legacy fiat hierarchies.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Payments Infrastructure Evolution
By actualizing a decentralized cross-border payment system, BRICS is building alternative plumbing for global transactions. This foundational layer is a prerequisite for any sustained shift away from dollar-centric settlement systems and toward diversified international liquidity networks.

Pillar 2: Multipolar Currency Adoption
Integrating local currency settlement and digital currency rails increases demand for non-dollar currencies in real economic activity. This dynamic supports broader multipolar reserve diversification and weakens the historical automatic preference for dollar-denominated clearing.

This is not just politics — it’s global finance restructuring before our eyes.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Watcher Guru – “BRICS Launches Brazil-Based Payment System, Challenging Dollar Power”

• BRICS Info – “BRICS Shifts Focus to Unified Payment System as Strategic Financial Alternative”

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🌱 A Message to Our Currency Holders🌱

If you’ve been holding foreign currency for many years, you were not foolish.
You were not wrong to believe the global financial system would change.

What failed was not your patience — it was the information you were given.

For years, dates, rumors, and personalities replaced facts, structure, and proof. “This week” predictions created cycles of hope and disappointment that were never based on how currencies actually change.

That is not your failure.

Our mission here is different:   • No dates • No rates • No hype • No gurus

Instead, we focus on:
• Verifiable developments • Institutional evidence
• Global financial structure • Where countries actually sit in the process

Currency value changes only come after sovereignty, trade, banking, settlement systems, and fiscal coordination are in place. History and institutions confirm this sequence.

You will see silence. You will see denials. That is not delay — that is discipline.

Protect your identity. Organize your documents.    Verify everything.
Never hand your discernment to anyone who cannot show proof.

You deserve truth — not timelines.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News

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RV Facts with Proof Links Link

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Follow the Gold/Silver Rate COMEX

Follow Fast Facts

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Thank you Dinar Recaps

Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Tuesday Morning 2-17-26

Oil Market Sentiment Hinges On Geneva Negotiation Progress

2026-02-17 Shafaq News   Brent oil prices drifted lower in Asian trade on Tuesday as investors assessed risks of supply disruption after Iran conducted naval drills near the Strait of Hormuz right ahead of nuclear talks with the U.S. later in the day.  Brent crude futures were down 0.47%, or 32 cents, at $68.33 a barrel by 0430 GMT, following a 1.33% gain on Monday.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $63.51 a barrel, up 62 cents, or 0.99%, but the move included all of Monday's price action as the contract did not have settlement that day due to the U.S. Presidents Day holiday.

Many markets are closed on Tuesday for Lunar New Year holidays, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would be involved "indirectly" in the talks in Geneva, adding he believes Tehran wants to make a deal. At the weekend, Trump said that regime change in Iran "would be the best thing that could happen."

"Market sentiment is closely tied to the tone and progress of these negotiations ... sustaining a geopolitical risk premium in prices," said Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of SS WealthStreet, a New Delhi-based research firm.

Oil prices are therefore likely to stay volatile, with sharp two-way swings driven by diplomatic signals rather than pure demand-supply fundamentals, Sachdeva added.

Iran began a military drill on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international waterway and oil export route from Gulf Arab states, who have been appealing for diplomacy to end the dispute.

Iran along with fellow OPEC members Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq export most of their crude via the strait, mainly to Asia.

Meanwhile, Citi said if disruptions to Russian supply keep Brent in a $65 to $70 per barrel range in coming months, OPEC+ is likely to respond by increasing output from spare capacity.

OPEC+ is leaning towards a resumption in oil output increases from April, three OPEC+ sources said, as the group prepares for peak summer demand and with prices bolstered by U.S.-Iran tensions.

"It is our base case that both Iran and Russia-Ukraine deals happen by or during the summer of this year, contributing to a decline in prices to $60-62/bbl Brent," Citi said.

(Reuters)   https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Oil-market-sentiment-hinges-on-Geneva-negotiation-progress

Basrah Crude Prices Rise As Global Oil Steadies

2026-02-17 Shafaq News- Basrah   Basrah crude prices recorded gains of around 0.3% on Tuesday, while global oil markets held firm.  Basrah Heavy crude rose by 31 cents, or 0.34%, to $62.74 per barrel, while Basra Medium crude increased by 21 cents, or 0.32%, to settle at $64.99 per barrel.

In international markets, Brent crude futures rose 32 cents, or 0.47%, to $68.33 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) climbed 62 cents, or 0.99%, to $63.51 a barrel.   https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Basrah-crude-prices-rise-as-global-oil-steadies-4

Iraq Oil Exports To US Drop To 7M Barrels In January

2026-02-17 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Washington   Iraq exported 7.037 million barrels of crude oil to the United States in January, down from 7.533 million barrels in December, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

EIA data showed that weekly shipments fluctuated, averaging 261,000 barrels per day in the first week, 83,000 bpd in the second, 325,000 bpd in the third, and 249,000 bpd in the fourth.

Iraq ranked fourth among crude suppliers to the US, behind Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico. Among Arab exporters, Saudi Arabia led with 12.4 million barrels, followed by Iraq, while Libya shipped 1.54 million barrels.

The US remains a significant outlet for Iraqi crude, although Asia continues to receive the bulk of Iraq’s exports.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Iraq-oil-exports-to-US-drop-to-7M-barrels-in-January

USD/IQD Exchange Rates Climb In Baghdad, Erbil

2026-02-17    Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil  The US dollar rose against the Iraqi dinar in Tuesday trading in Baghdad and Erbil, climbing by 300 dinars compared with Monday’s rates.

A Shafaq News survey showed the dollar trading at 151,500 dinars per 100 dollars in Baghdad’s Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya central exchanges, up from 151,200 dinars recorded a day earlier.

In local currency shops across the capital, the dollar sold for 152,000 dinars per 100 dollars and bought at 151,000 dinars.  In Erbil, the dollar also strengthened, selling at 151,400 dinars per 100 dollars and buying at 151,300 dinars.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/USD-IQD-exchange-rates-climb-in-Baghdad-Erbil-8

Gold Falls In Baghdad And Erbil Markets

2026-02-17 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil   On Tuesday, gold prices hovered around 1.05 million IQD per mithqal in Baghdad and Erbil markets, marking a decline from the previous session, according to a survey by Shafaq News Agency.

Gold prices on Baghdad's Al-Nahr Street recorded a selling price of 1.048 million IQD per mithqal (equivalent to five grams) for 21-carat gold, including Gulf, Turkish, and European varieties, with a buying price of 1.044 million IQD. Prices had closed at 1.064 million IQD on Monday.

The selling price for 21-carat Iraqi gold stood at 1.018 million IQD, while the buying price reached 1.014 million IQD.

In jewelry stores, the selling price per mithqal of 21-carat Gulf gold ranged between 1.050 million and 1.060 million IQD, while Iraqi gold sold for between 1.020 million and 1.030 million IQD.

In Erbil, 22-carat gold was sold at 1.107 million IQD per mithqal, 21-carat gold at 1.057 million IQD, and 18-carat gold at 906,000 IQD.   https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Gold-falls-in-Baghdad-and-Erbil-markets

Iraq Boosts US Treasury Holdings To $40.8B In Dec. 2025

2026-02-16 Shafaq News- Baghdad  Iraq increased its holdings of US Treasury securities by more than $1 billion in December 2025, pushing total investments to $40.8 billion, according to official US Treasury data.

The figures show Iraq’s holdings rose by $1.1 billion from November’s $39.7 billion, marking a 74% increase compared with January 2025, when Iraq held $23.4 billion in US Treasuries.

Regionally, Saudi Arabia remained the largest Arab holder with $148.8 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates at $101 billion and Kuwait at $50.3 billion.

Globally, Japan ranked first with $1.202 trillion in holdings, followed by the United Kingdom at $888 billion, China at $682 billion, and Belgium at $481 billion.

Total foreign holdings of US Treasury securities reached $9.355 trillion in December 2025, up $736.1 billion from $8.619 trillion recorded in the same month of 2024. https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Iraq-boosts-US-Treasury-holdings-to-40-8B-in-Dec-2025

MilitiaMan and Crew: IQD News Update-REER-Global Financial Integration-Stage is Set

MilitiaMan and Crew: IQD News Update-REER-Global Financial Integration-Stage is Set

2-16-2026

The Crew:  Samson, PompeyPeter, Petra, Daytrader, Sunkissed, GIGI and Militia Man

Follow MM on X == https://x.com/Slashn

Be sure to listen to full video for all the news……..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2pO7xMrTqU

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Monday Evening 2-16-26

Good Evening Dinar Recaps,

Euro Liquidity Lifeline Goes Global: ECB Makes Biggest Structural Move Yet

The European Central Bank is expanding its euro liquidity backstop for central banks worldwide — a milestone in rebalancing global reserve currency architecture.

Overview

• The European Central Bank (ECB) will make its euro liquidity backstop facility permanent and globally accessible.

• The move extends emergency euro liquidity lines to central banks outside the euro area starting Q3 2026.

• ECB leadership highlights preparation for greater volatility and geopolitical strain.

• The initiative strengthens the euro’s role as a global liquidity provider alongside the U.S. dollar.

Key Developments

• Permanent Global Access to Euro Backstop
The ECB will transition its emergency liquidity facility into a standing repo line that foreign central banks can tap in times of stress. This step symbolizes a strategic bet on the euro as a trusted international funding currency.

• Expanding the EUREP Framework
Under the revamped scheme, central banks across regions — subject to compliance checks — can access euros in exchange for high-quality collateral, reducing the risk of euro funding shortages.

• Policy Commentary Highlights Strategic Intent
ECB President Christine Lagarde emphasized the need to prepare for “a more volatile environment,” linking financial resilience with broader geopolitical and industrial tensions.

• Complement to Swap Lines, Not Replacement
The updated backstop complements existing swap arrangements and signals long-term confidence in the euro’s global utility, beyond short-term crisis intervention.

Why It Matters

This policy shift is a major structural enhancement to global liquidity infrastructure. By offering standing access to euro funding, the ECB is moving toward a multipolar liquidity network, breaking the historic near-exclusive dominance of the U.S. dollar in cross-border crisis financing.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For holders of foreign currency anticipating the Global Reset:

• EUR could strengthen as a meaningful reserve alternative, not merely a regional currency.

• Wider usage of euro liquidity lines may increase demand for euro-denominated assets.

• Diversified infrastructure reduces systemic reliance on a single monetary anchor.

Currency flows and reserves are increasingly defined by network access as much as reserve shares, and this move marks a big step in that evolution.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Liquidity Architecture Rebalancing
Extending standing repo lines places the euro on infrastructure footing similar to the Federal Reserve’s global dollar facilities — a structural pivot in how emergency liquidity is supplied across borders.

Pillar 2: Multipolar Reserve Catalysts
Broad access to euro liquidity supports diversification of reserve holdings and trade settlement tools, anchoring the euro more firmly in global monetary arrangements.

The euro steps onto the global liquidity stage with structural confidence.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters – “ECB to extend euro backstop to boost currency’s global role”

• The Brussels Times – “Enhanced ECB facility to curb foreign market risks, bolster policy transmission”

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European Shares Mixed Amid Earnings and Volatility — Market Micro-Reset Incoming?

European equities wobble as earnings, sector rotations, and macro themes test market confidence.

Overview

• European share markets showed modest gains but remain volatile in thin trading conditions.

• Financials rallied, easing some recent sell-off pressure.

• Technology and luxury sectors lagged, showing uneven investor sentiment.

• Markets continue to parse corporate earnings and macroeconomic headwinds.

Key Developments

1.  STOXX 600 Edges Higher
The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose modestly, led by financial and insurance companies rebounding from last week’s underperformance, signaling improving sentiment ahead of key earnings reports.

2. Sector Divergence Persists
While banks and insurers climbed, technology and luxury stocks lagged, reflecting ongoing concerns about earnings sustainability and competitive pressures within key industries.

3.  Economic Data and Earnings in Focus
Markets are watching eurozone industrial production and corporate earnings reports that are arriving this week, which could influence broader confidence and risk pricing.

4.  Volatility Underlying Broader Trends
Despite today’s gains, markets have exhibited sensitivity to macro themes including AI disruption, inflation expectations, and geopolitical pressures — suggesting structural realignment under market stress.

Why It Matters

Equity markets are reflecting more than near-term sentiment swings; they are pricing in uncertainty over growth, technology disruption, and the evolving monetary environment. This patchy performance could presage broader capital rotations in global portfolios as investors reassess risk in the face of shifting central bank alignments and fiscal policies.

Equity turbulence may be the market pricing in monetary transition.  

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For holders positioning ahead of a Global Reset:

• Rotations between sectors can influence currency flows tied to equity and bond markets.

• Renewed strength in financial stocks may support confidence in euro-area financial systems.

• Uneven performance highlights the rebalancing dynamic between growth and traditional sectors — relevant for currency valuation trends.

Markets often signal deeper economic adjustments before monetary policy changes become evident.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Capital Market Sentiment as Monetary Indicator
Price action in equities is increasingly serving as a forward indicator for monetary and fiscal policy shifts — especially in regions adapting to multipolar monetary dynamics.

Pillar 2: Structural Sector Rotation
Sector divergences illustrate underlying recalibration of investment preferences, suggesting that capital is shifting toward assets perceived as stable amid global monetary uncertainty.

When markets hesitate at record highs, capital is repositioning.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters – “European shares edge higher, buoyed by financials ahead of key earnings”

• Reuters – “Europe’s earnings gain pace while lofty valuations cap rewards” 

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Thank you Dinar Recaps

Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Monday Evening 2-16-26

Standard & Poor's International Agency: The Iraqi Economy Is Moving Steadily Towards Strengthening Financial Sustainability

Baghdad/ Nina / Standard & Poor's (S&P) credit rating agency confirmed that "the Iraqi economy is moving steadily towards strengthening financial sustainability despite regional challenges."

According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, the agency, in its February 2026 report, which affirmed Iraq's rating at (B-/B) with a positive outlook, anticipated that increased oil production during 2026 would provide crucial support for Iraq in the face of global price volatility and surrounding geopolitical tensions.

Regarding fiscal management, the report commended the government's successful implementation of its spending control policy, which directly led to a reduction in the fiscal deficit to 2.5% of GDP in 2025, a significant improvement compared to the 2.7% recorded in 2024.

The agency also highlighted the country's financial strength, noting that Iraq is expected to maintain average international reserves of approximately $100 billion until 2029, representing nearly 35% of GDP. This figure far exceeds the size of the public sector's external debt, thus bolstering international confidence in the country's financial solvency.

A Standard & Poor's report explained that "inflation rates in Iraq remain low and stable compared to regional standards, with expectations that the average annual inflation rate will decline to 1.9% in 2025 after reaching 2.6% in 2024."

The agency believes that "this stability is supported by improved tax collection mechanisms through the introduction of new digital systems in the customs sector, along with effective measures taken by the Central Bank of Iraq in the area of compliance to enhance transparency and governance and develop channels for foreign currency flows, in addition to the judicious use of monetary policy tools and the restructuring of the banking sector, which will in turn lead to raising the overall efficiency of the national economy." /   https://www.ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1278204

Sudanese: We Have Eradicated Corruption!!!!

Baghdad/Iraq News Network – The Iraqi government issued a statement today, Sunday (February 15, 2026), regarding the results of the Corruption Perceptions Index. The Prime Minister's Media Office stated that “the results of the Corruption Perceptions Index, issued on February 10, 2026, by Transparency International, show that Iraq has made significant and remarkable progress in its ranking among countries for 2025.

This reflects the government's unwavering commitment and the contribution of all public institutions towards enshrining the principles of transparency, integrity, and good governance in the public sector.

This improvement is also a positive indicator of the will to consolidate the principles of transparency and accountability, strengthen trust in public institutions, and implement the requirements related to combating and reducing corruption.”

The government added that “this progress in the international ranking, year after year, is a result of the comprehensive efforts led by the government and its adoption of several priorities in its government program, most notably combating corruption.

 It also reflects the government's commitment to providing support to oversight bodies and continuing reforms in various areas to raise the levels of integrity in all government institutions, and its adoption of appropriate measures to improve and develop the overall performance level.”

This has resulted in tangible progress in the international ranking,” she noted, adding that “efforts are continuing to intensify at various levels to achieve the best results through the combined efforts of all.”

The government, according to its statement, affirms that “these results represent an incentive to increase efforts in the coming years in order to maintain and develop them, and we appreciate the roles of public institutions, each according to its specialization, that contributed to achieving these results.” https://aliraqnews.com/السودانيقضينا-على-الفساد/

The Central Bank Of Iraq Clarifies The Mechanisms For Dealing With The Dollar In All Its Issuances

Baghdad Today – Baghdad   The Central Bank of Iraq issued a clarification today, Monday (February 16, 2026), regarding the mechanisms for dealing with the US dollar in all its versions, stressing the need to not differentiate between the old and new versions of the currency.

The bank stated in a statement received by “Baghdad Today” that “the directive aims to reduce the phenomenon of discrimination in the dollar exchange rate between different issues, while emphasizing the commitment of all banks and financial institutions to the instructions for trading and exchanging banknotes according to the approved standards for foreign banknotes, in order to ensure the safety of transactions and the stability of the market.”

The bank explained that "the applicable laws and instructions do not recognize any discrimination between editions of the US dollar," noting that it "continues to receive and deal with these editions through all authorized banks, provided that they are within the standards and controls approved locally and internationally."

This clarification comes within the framework of the Central Bank of Iraq’s commitment to enhancing transparency and discipline in the banking sector, protecting the rights of customers, and supporting monetary and financial stability in Iraq.   https://baghdadtoday.news/293343-.html

Iraq’s Maliki Standoff: Three Exits, No Easy Way Out

Iraq’s political deadlock now turns on a single question: does Nouri al-Maliki come back? 
His bid to return to power has pushed the government formation crisis into a more volatile phase, deepening divisions inside the Shiite Coordination Framework and drawing an unusually blunt warning from Washington.  

For the second time, parliament failed to convene a session to elect a president and designate a prime minister. This time, the collapse was driven not by Kurdish infighting, but by disagreement over Maliki’s candidacy, according to sources inside the Coordination Framework, the Shiite coalition entitled to nominate the next government.  

 Nearly two weeks after President Donald Trump warned that Maliki’s return would have consequences for U.S.-Iraq relations, Shiite leaders remain deadlocked. A Framework official told Alhurra that three scenarios are now under discussion.  

 The first is persuading Maliki to withdraw in favor of a consensus figure acceptable domestically and internationally. The name most frequently mentioned is Hamid al-Shatri, Iraq’s intelligence chief, seen by several factions as a low-profile security figure with broad backing. This option hinges on Maliki stepping aside, which he has so far refused.  

 The second scenario is pressing ahead with Maliki’s nomination and forcing a parliamentary vote. That path faces stiff resistance. Sunni blocs and key Shiite factions, including Ammar al-Hakim’s Hikma Movement, have declared their opposition, making it difficult to secure the quorum and votes required.  

A third option, now being discussed more openly, would keep Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s caretaker government in place for up to a year with expanded authorities, effectively postponing resolution while negotiations continue.  

 In Washington, the standoff is seen as more than an internal Iraqi dispute. A former U.S. ambassador to Iraq told Alhurra that Trump’s opposition reflects a broader judgment about Iraq’s direction. “This isn’t about personalities,” he said. “There is a view in Washington that returning to that model of governance would deepen instability and complicate Iraq’s external relationships.”  

Inside the Coordination Framework, intermediaries have tested whether the U.S. position is negotiable. According to a senior member, the response was clear: Trump’s opposition remains firm, and proceeding with Maliki would carry diplomatic and economic consequences.  

Maliki has rejected what he calls “blatant American interference” in Iraq’s sovereignty. But his stance has sharpened internal rifts, where resistance to his candidacy existed even before Trump’s intervention.  

 For now, the Framework is stuck between escalation and retreat – pushing forward at the risk of confrontation with Washington or backing down at the cost of internal unity. With no consensus in sight, Iraq’s paralysis is deepening, and the question is no longer just who governs next, but how long the system can absorb the strain.    https://alhurra.com/en/12521

Government Formation: Why Do Parties Treat The Constitution As A Non-Binding "Memorandum Of Understanding"?

Baghdad Today – Baghdad   The stalled formation of a new Iraqi government is no longer merely a dispute over the prime minister's name or the distribution of ministerial portfolios. As political analyst Mohammed Ali al-Hakim told Baghdad Today, it has become "a clear indicator of a deep-seated dysfunction in the structure of public decision-making and the mechanisms of power production."

The prolonged waiting period following each election, and the protracted conflict over the government's form and composition, have made delays in its formation seem like the norm, while adherence to constitutional deadlines has become the exception.

The Constitution: From A Governing Authority To A Bargaining Chip

Al-Hakim believes that what is happening is not merely a matter of political disagreements, but rather a question of the constitution's place in public life. The constitutional articles that stipulate the deadlines for electing the president, appointing the prime minister, and approving the cabinet are treated in every crisis as clauses open to interpretation and obstruction, rather than as binding red lines for all.

In this way, the constitution is transformed from a governing framework that regulates the balance of power into a bargaining chip within the political arena, used when it serves a particular party's interests and disregarded or frozen when it becomes an obstacle to gains or compromises. This selective use of the text, as Al-Hakim warns, opens the door to the growing influence of external powers that find in internal division and the absence of a unified national will an opportunity to intervene and influence the course of sovereign decision-making.

Multiple Decision-Making Bodies: One State Or A Network Of Power Centers?

The failure to form a government also reveals the extent of fragmentation within decision-making centers. Political will does not emanate from a single, clear source, but rather from a wide network of actors.

Parliamentary blocs and alliances are vying for "entitlement" and influence.

-Political houses and authorities within the same component have the power to approve or reject.

-Armed forces with a field presence and direct or indirect political influence.

-Regional and international extensions that have the ability to exert pressure, provide support, or impose red lines.

In this context, the next government is not the natural outcome of a clear electoral process, but rather the result of a long series of compromises between these various power centers. Each party possesses, in one way or another, the ability to use a "veto" to obstruct the process if it does not receive what it deems appropriate in terms of shares and positions, thus transforming the formation process into a redistribution of influence rather than a response to the voters' choices.

Is It A Crisis Of Forming A Government Or A Crisis Of Sovereignty?

When Al-Hakim speaks of the "growing role of external powers," he is directly linking internal setbacks to Iraq's position on the map of regional and international conflicts. Every governmental crisis brings sensitive issues back to the forefront, including:

-The future of the foreign military presence in the country.

-The level of engagement between the United States and Iran on the Iraqi scene.

-Shaping Iraq's economic and energy relations with its surroundings and the world.

The longer a government vacuum persists or a fully empowered government is absent, the weaker the state's ability to make independent decisions on these issues becomes, and the wider the influence of foreign powers grows. At that point, the form and program of the government are no longer the product of purely internal will, but rather the result of a balance with external interests and pressures, thus transforming the crisis of government formation from a domestic political issue into one that touches the very core of sovereignty.

Public Trust: Between Erosion, Protest, And Withdrawal

The most dangerous aspect, according to Al-Hakim, is the impact this trajectory has on the relationship between citizens and the state. The difficulty in forming governments, the recurring crises of political deadlock, and the prioritization of elite deals over the needs of the people all weaken public trust in the political process.

The average citizen observing the situation sees that elections always end in closed-door meetings that redistribute power among the established elites, while issues like public services, unemployment, and corruption remain unresolved or postponed. Over time, a widespread conviction takes root that the political system is closed to genuine change, and that only the faces change, not the underlying principles.

This feeling leads to divergent behaviors: some citizens withdraw from participation and succumb to apathy and despair, while others lean towards more radical options, whether through new waves of protest or by seeking radical alternatives outside the existing system. In both cases, the gap between the public and the ruling class deepens, and the legitimacy of the state and its institutions is undermined in the public consciousness.

A Crossroads... Between The Logic Of The State And The Logic Of Guardianship

In concluding his remarks to “Baghdad Today”, Mohammed Ali Al-Hakim points out that “historical responsibility requires political forces to demonstrate political courage and move from the logic of obstruction and immediate gains to the logic of the state and national partnership, before the government formation crisis turns into an existential crisis that affects the very existence of the state.”

This warning places Iraq at a clear crossroads: either to restore the logic of the state, based on respect for the constitution as a governing reference, not a bargaining chip, and to prioritize the general national interest over sectarian interests, and to build an independent decision stemming from the internal will, or to remain in the circle of multiple tutelages and the struggle for internal and external influence, with all the cumulative risks this entails for sovereignty, stability, and the future of the entire political process.

Between these two options, there seems to be an urgent need for practical steps, not general slogans: transforming constitutional deadlines into an actual, non-negotiable commitment, stopping the use of obstruction as a negotiating tool, separating weapons from political decision-making, and gradually moving from broad power-sharing governments to governments with specific, measurable, and accountable programs.

Without this serious review, the failure to form governments will continue to occur in every cycle, not as an emergency crisis, but as part of the nature of the system itself, which turns the question from "When will the government be formed?" to "What country can be stable on this shaky foundation?" Source: Baghdad Today    https://baghdadtoday.news/293349-.html

The New Fed Chair’s Plan to Reduce the National Debt

The New Fed Chair’s Plan to Reduce the National Debt

Heresy Financial:  2-16-2026

TIMECODES

0:00 What Happens When Government Can't Tax or Lower Rates

 0:28 The Fed and Treasury Merger Has Happened Before

0:52 Kevin Warsh Is Trump's Fed Chair Pick for This Exact Purpose

 1:04 Markets Rocked by Kevin Warsh Fed Treasury Accord Comments

1:19 US Government Debt to GDP Ratio Is Back to WWII Levels

1:48 Government Successfully Deleveraged From 1945 to 1980s

2:10 Government Can't Tax Enough and Can't Lower Rates Without Inflation

2:32 The Same Problem the US Faced After World War II

2:43 Federal Reserve Did Yield Curve Control From 1942 to 1951

4:00 What Exactly Is Yield Curve Control

4:30 Fed Controls Short End Market Controls Long End of Curve

5:01 Fed Kept Short Rates Low Long Rates Rose From Inflation

5:26 Fed Pegged Short Term T Bills at 0.375% Long Term at 2.5%

6:26 Fed Had to Buy Treasuries to Keep Rates Pegged at Target

7:10 This Created Massive Inflation in the Late 1940s

7:56 The 1951 Accord Ended Yield Curve Control

8:38 Kevin Warsh Calling for a New Fed Treasury Accord

9:20 Four Ways to Deal With Unsustainable Debt

9:47 Option 1 Raise Taxes Not Politically Viable

10:00 Option 2 Default on Debt Highly Unlikely

10:24 Option 3 Economy Grows Faster Than Debt AI and Energy

11:19 Option 4 Inflate the Debt Away Most Likely Path

12:01 Higher Prices Are Coming We Pay Through Inflation

12:16 How Does This Work With Warsh Ending Yield Curve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq82ylM0U3w

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Monday Afternoon 2-16-26

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

Euro Ascendant? Europe Moves to Challenge Dollar Dominance

EU leaders push sweeping reforms to elevate the euro’s global status and reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.

Overview

• Euro zone finance ministers are meeting to strengthen the euro’s international role.

• The European Commission has proposed structural reforms to boost competitiveness and financial resilience.

• Plans aim to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar and external economic pressure.

• Digital currency initiatives and capital market reforms are central to the strategy.

Key Developments

• Removing Internal Trade Barriers
EU officials are examining the elimination of internal trade frictions across the 27-member bloc. According to the International Monetary Fund, these barriers are equivalent to a 44% tariff on goods and 110% on services. Removing them would deepen the single market and enhance economic efficiency across the euro area.

• Introducing a Unified Corporate Framework
The proposed “28th Regime” would create a single corporate legal structure across the EU. Currently, businesses must navigate 27 separate legal systems. A unified structure would reduce compliance costs, improve cross-border expansion, and strengthen Europe’s competitive footing globally.

• Strengthening Financial Stability and Joint Debt Tools
Discussions include establishing an EU-wide bank deposit guarantee scheme to ensure equal protection for savers. Reforming the European Stability Mechanism into a stronger EU-level institution capable of managing joint debt issuance would further solidify financial crisis defenses.

• Digital Euro and Capital Markets Expansion
Plans for a Capital Markets Union could mobilize nearly 10 trillion euros currently sitting in deposits, redirecting funds into sectors such as green energy, defense, semiconductors, biotech, and digital infrastructure. A digital euro is also under consideration to reduce reliance on U.S.-controlled payment networks. Expanding euro-denominated bonds and liquidity lines to foreign central banks would enhance the euro’s global reserve appeal.

Why It Matters

This is a strategic attempt to reshape the global financial balance of power. By strengthening internal integration, expanding joint debt markets, and launching a digital euro, Europe is positioning itself as a stronger monetary counterweight to the U.S. dollar and growing Chinese influence.

As dollar dominance faces pressure, the euro is being engineered for greater global weight.  

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

Readers holding foreign currencies in anticipation of a Global Reset should pay close attention:

• A stronger euro could increase competition among reserve currencies.

• Expanded euro bond markets may boost global demand for euro-denominated assets.

• A digital euro infrastructure could shift international payment flows away from dollar-centric systems.

Currency realignments often unfold gradually, but structural reforms of this scale can significantly influence long-term valuation trends.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Reserve Currency Diversification
If successfully implemented, these reforms could elevate the euro’s share in global reserves and trade invoicing. This would accelerate movement toward a multipolar reserve currency system, reducing singular dollar dominance.

Pillar 2: Digital Monetary Sovereignty
The launch of a digital euro and euro-based stablecoins reflects Europe’s desire to control its own payment infrastructure. This shifts power from private global networks toward sovereign-backed digital systems, redefining monetary influence.

The euro isn’t just strengthening — it’s positioning for a larger role in the coming currency reset.  

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Modern Diplomacy – “Euro Zone Aims to Boost Global Role of the Euro”

• Reuters – “Euro Zone Finance Ministers Discuss Strengthening Euro’s Global Role”

~~~~~~~~~~

Germany Recalibrates: Berlin Admits BRICS Strategy Misstep

Germany signals a diplomatic pivot, acknowledging that distancing from BRICS members weakened strategic ties.

Overview

• Germany admits alienating BRICS nations was a strategic error.

• Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul publicly acknowledged the misjudgment.

• Berlin is reassessing its approach toward India and other BRICS members.

• The shift reflects broader European recalibration in a multipolar world.

Key Developments

• Public Admission at Munich Security Conference
Speaking alongside India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the Munich Security Conference, Wadephul stated that Europe previously viewed countries primarily through the “BRICS lens,” which created unnecessary distance. He acknowledged that this approach “was wrong.”

• Recognition of Shared Interests
Wadephul emphasized that Germany shares democratic values and economic interests with nations such as India and Brazil. He suggested that prior policy framing overshadowed these shared priorities and limited cooperation opportunities.

• Strategic Course Correction
Germany now signals a broader diplomatic realignment—moving from ideological grouping distinctions toward pragmatic engagement. The pivot suggests Berlin recognizes BRICS’ growing global economic weight.

• Europe’s Broader Reassessment
This development reflects Europe’s attempt to adapt to a more fragmented global order where emerging economies hold increasing influence in trade, energy, and geopolitical negotiations.

Why It Matters

Germany’s acknowledgment underscores a shift from rigid bloc-based diplomacy toward strategic flexibility in a multipolar system. As BRICS nations expand economic influence, European powers are recalibrating engagement strategies to avoid isolation from high-growth markets and resource hubs.

Diplomatic recalibration may precede financial restructuring in the evolving reset landscape.  

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

Readers holding foreign currencies in anticipation of a Global Reset should consider:

• Strengthened EU-BRICS engagement may influence cross-border trade flows and currency demand.

• Increased cooperation with India and Brazil could boost regional economic integration.

• Diplomatic realignment often precedes financial agreements, investment flows, and currency settlement adjustments.

As alliances shift, currency positioning can shift with them. Diplomatic recalibration is often an early indicator of financial realignment.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Multipolar Diplomatic Realignment
Germany’s shift signals that Western economies are adapting to the rise of BRICS rather than isolating it. This supports the emergence of a more balanced global power structure, reshaping influence across trade and finance.

Pillar 2: Economic Pragmatism Over Ideology
The acknowledgment suggests future global finance will be driven by shared economic interests rather than rigid bloc divisions. That transition can accelerate cooperative trade mechanisms and diversified currency usage.

Germany’s admission underscores that BRICS influence now demands engagement, not exclusion.  

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Watcher Guru – “Alienating BRICS Was Wrong, Says Germany, Promises Course Correction”

• Reuters – “Germany Signals Policy Shift Toward India and Emerging Powers”

~~~~~~~~~~

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Another “Temporary” Spending Bill That Still Costs Americans 93 Years Later

Another “Temporary” Spending Bill That Still Costs Americans 93 Years Later

Notes From the Field By James Hickman (Simon Black)  February 16, 2026

In January 1933, a farmer named Wallace Kramp was about to lose everything. A lender in Wood County, Ohio was foreclosing on his farm over an $800 mortgage he couldn't pay.

Kramp wasn't a bad farmer. It was actually the government’s fault: during World War I, the US government had urged farmers to plant as much as they could to feed the troops and war-torn Europe.

Families like the Kramps borrowed money and used the loan proceeds to expand production. But then the war ended; European agriculture recovered, and demand for US agriculture vanished. But the American farmers’ debts didn't.

By the early 1930s, wheat that had sold for $2 a bushel during the war was going for 25 cents. Nearly 750,000 farms went bankrupt between 1930 and 1935.

These weren't giant agribusinesses. They were small, family farms.

Kramp, at least, got lucky. On January 26th 1933, his assets were up for bankruptcy auction... and Kramp's neighbors showed up to bid a combined total of $14. Then they handed everything back to him so that he could keep his property.

But most farmers weren't so lucky, and they lost everything.

That's why, a few months later, Congress passed the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933. The idea was to pay farmers to reduce production, prop up crop prices, and keep family farmers on their lands.

The original budget was $100 million— about $2.5 billion in today's dollars— and it was supposed to be a temporary measure.

That was 93 years ago.

But, big surprise, the "temporary" program never went away. And the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1933 evolved into the modern farm bill— a sprawling piece of legislation that Congress renews every five years, now costing roughly $1.5 trillion per decade.

More importantly, the struggling family farmers it was meant to protect have been replaced by massive agricultural conglomerates.

For example, they receive billions to grow corn. And that subsidized corn flows into the processed food supply— much of it as high-fructose corn syrup which ends up in practically everything Americans eat and drink.

The modern farm bill then funds SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, aka food stamps) for more than 40 million people.

Ironically, soft drinks— full of that high fructose corn syrup— are the single largest category of SNAP purchases.

Processed foods have fueled epidemic levels of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The United States spends nearly $5 trillion per year on healthcare, with the government picking up roughly two-thirds of the tab through Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs.

So taxpayers subsidize Big Ag’s corn production. Then further subsidize the purchase of junk food made from that corn. Then further subsidize the medical care for Americans who become unhealthy from all of that processed food.

This is what I'd call the government spending spiral— a self-reinforcing doom loop where each dollar spent justifies even more spending.

And this isn’t even the most corrosive layer of the spending spiral... because at every step, the industries involved— agricultural conglomerates, food manufacturers, healthcare providers, insurance companies— lobby Congress to keep the money flowing.

PepsiCo alone spent $2.8 million last year lobbying to keep their highly processed junk food eligible for food stamps.

You can see the pattern— these companies benefit from ample taxpayer funded subsidies, then recycle a portion of those proceeds back into the political machine to prop up the candidates who vote in favor of those subsidies.

This is why Congress— with an approval rating under 15%— somehow maintains a 90%+ reelection rate for incumbents: their campaigns are funded by the very graft that they vote for!

The federal government now spends roughly $7 trillion per year— roughly double from ten years ago.

What exactly did Americans get for the extra trillions in government spending? Are roads smoother? Schools better? Healthcare more affordable?

None of the above. In fact, despite a 100% increase in spending, schools, healthcare, and infrastructure have all become worse.

It’s truly staggering how much all of this spending is creating a drag on the US economy.

But it works both ways: cutting spending and eliminating subsidies reverses the spiral and moves things in the right direction.

Last week we told you that RFK Jr. helped to eliminate junk food subsidies in several states. And Pepsi— suddenly devoid of a government teet to suckle— responded by slashing prices to make up that lost revenue.

In other words, they cut subsidies and prices fell. Immediately.

It’s amazing to think how a "temporary" farm program from 1933 is still costing American taxpayers 93 years later.

Just imagine what would happen if the spiral ran the other way.

To your freedom,   James Hickman   Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

https://www.schiffsovereign.com/trends/another-temporary-spending-bill-that-still-costs-americans-93-years-later-154388/?inf_contact_key=23d6949389a7f07ad4ceb061ecb7ba1f6b52fb27a108dfee299ccbafe321d99b

“Tidbits From TNT” Monday 2-16-2026

TNT:

Tishwash:  The coordinating framework is looking for an alternative to Maliki.

Iraqi parliamentarian: Election of a president is unlikely without prior political agreement

As pressure mounts to convene a parliamentary session to elect a new president, an Iraqi parliamentarian warned that the process could falter without a prior political agreement. Meanwhile, with the US vetoing Nouri al-Maliki's candidacy remaining in place, a leader in the Hikma Movement revealed that the coordinating body is working to identify a new candidate acceptable to all parties.

Sunday, February 15, 2026 – Iraqi MP Faisal Al-Issawi told Kurdistan 24: “There is intense pressure within Parliament to hold a session dedicated to electing the President of the Republic during this week, but there is no tangible political agreement so far, and it is difficult to proceed with the session without consensus.”

Al-Issawi pointed out that the Speaker of the House of Representatives addressed the Federal Supreme Court to request clarification regarding Article (72)/ Paragraph Two/ Clause (B) of the Constitution, which relates to the continuation of the President of the Republic in his duties and setting a date for the election of his successor, stressing that everyone is waiting for the court’s response.

The data indicates that the main obstacle to electing a president lies in the failure to resolve the issue of the prime ministerial candidate within the "coordination framework." According to the Iraqi constitution, the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc must be tasked with forming the government immediately after the presidential election, thus linking the two positions to each other as a single package.

In this context, Sami Al-Jizani, a member of the Wisdom Movement, stated that "the coordination framework is continuing its political efforts to break the current deadlock, especially in light of the sensitive circumstances and challenges facing the region."

Al-Jizani revealed an "anticipated political breakthrough in the next few days through the introduction of an alternative candidate," explaining that "this candidate will be chosen by consensus of the framework's forces, and must be acceptable and non-controversial at the local, regional, and international levels."

Al-Jizani added that just as the Shiite forces contributed to supporting the Sunni component to decide the election of the Speaker of Parliament, efforts are now focused within the "Shiite House" to overcome internal differences.

Although Nouri al-Maliki remains the only official candidate of the Coordination Framework for the premiership at the moment, American reservations and the refusal to assign him have pushed the Framework's forces towards searching for alternative options to ensure the government's passage.link

************

Tishwash: The Iraqi parliament resorts to the Federal Court to resolve the issue of the presidency... document

 The Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Hebat al-Halbousi, has submitted a request to the Supreme Federal Court to interpret a constitutional provision related to the election of the President of the Republic, given the inability to hold a session with a quorum for this purpose.

According to an official document issued by the Presidency of the House of Representatives, published by Shafaq News Agency, the request is based on the texts of the Constitution and the Federal Court Law, and aims to interpret Article (72/Second/B), which stipulates that the President of the Republic shall continue to exercise his duties after the end of his term until a new president is elected within thirty days from the date of the first session of the House of Representatives.

The document explained that the election of the President of the Republic was not achieved within the constitutional period, despite the House of Representatives continuing to hold its sessions, due to the lack of a legal quorum in more than one session dedicated to this purpose.

The request indicated that the council continues to hold its sessions according to the usual agenda, without including the item of electing the president of the republic, due to the lack of the required quorum, and asked the Federal Court to state the legal opinion on this matter.

The Iraqi constitution stipulates that the president must be elected within a period not exceeding 30 days from the date of the first session of the House of Representatives.

Taking into account this period from the first session held on December 29, 2025, the constitutional time limit ended on the night of January 28, 2026.  link

************

Tishwash: No turning back on the ASYCUDA... The government calls on traders to accept the new reality

 The Iraqi government called on Sunday (February 15, 2026) for those objecting to the implementation of the ASYCUDA system and customs tariffs to accept the new reality and comply with the law. Speaking on behalf of the government, spokesperson Bassem Al-Awadi explained that this system, which is implemented in more than 100 countries, will be applied in Iraq under international and UN supervision. He added that part of the ASYCUDA implementation is linked to Iraq's international obligations in the areas of combating money laundering, currency and goods smuggling, and international trade. He further stated that after 2003, Iraq relied on a process he termed "arbitrary" in managing customs and taxes, and that the time has come to change this process.

Al-Awadi stated in an interview with the official channel, which was followed by 964 Network , that “during the past few days with the beginnings of the implementation of the ASYCUDA system, there was some delay in the ports and many goods were delayed. According to the government’s estimates, some of them were delayed normally and others were delayed abnormally. When the government implemented the ASYCUDA system, this does not mean that there is a problem between it and the traders, but this step is an organizational process.”

Al-Awadi added, “In order to facilitate the movement of goods and make things easier for the private sector and Iraqi traders, the Iraqi government decided to zero out the government’s percentage of goods in warehouses - these warehouses are a joint facility between the ports and maritime transport, and also in cooperation with the private sector - so the government’s fees were zeroed out, and also 50% of the fees of the investing partner were zeroed out.”

Al-Awadi pointed out that “in light of the recent atmosphere that we all experienced, and the many rumors that try to make the government and the Iraqi state in general seem like something poised to harm the private sector or harm the people, and this is something that does not exist,” indicating that “the private sector and the merchant class are witnesses to the level of interaction that the government has undertaken, and in the end, only the truth will prevail.”

Al-Awadi pointed out that “trade from 2003 until today, especially with regard to taxes and customs, was more like arbitrariness. In simple terms, things were done in the form of a small container with 3 million and a large container with 4 million, regardless of what was inside the container. This was an old method that was imposed by the reality of the change after 2003, and it continued due to the repercussions and recent events.”

Al-Awadi stressed that “the ASYCUDA system is a United Nations system and was not brought by the Iraqi government. It is implemented in 102 countries around the world and is linked to the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCTAD). Part of the implementation of ASYCUDA is linked to Iraq’s international obligations in the areas of combating money laundering, smuggling of currency and goods, and international trade.”

The government spokesman stressed that “this system is not targeting a specific class, and the rumors that speak of a lack of liquidity in the Iraqi state and that is why it went towards this system are untrue. All of this is incorrect, because the process of trade, accounting and customs since 2003 was an arbitrary emergency process, and in the end, now this year or next year or after 3 years, everyone knows that these temporary matters must end and we must move towards the right things.”

Al-Awadi explained that “this new system (ASYCUDA) has been implemented, and we do not have (Quranic texts nor angels). It is an electronic automation system, operated by Iraqi teams under international and UN supervision.” He pointed out that “over time and after implementation, if there is any kind of injustice that may befall an economic class, group, or a specific type of goods, there are unions and federations of the Iraqi private sector and spokespeople for them, and the door of the Prime Minister and the Iraqi government is open to them, and it is possible to address any injustice that may affect merchants or other classes.”  link

************

Mot:  .. Special Time with ole ""Earl"" 

Mot:  Its a Seasoned Thingy!!!!

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Monday Morning 2-16-26

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

India Expands Cross-Border Payment Power Under RBI Oversight

Full Authorization Signals India’s Push Toward Integrated Global Settlement Rails

Overview

India has taken another decisive step in strengthening its financial infrastructure. In-Solutions Global Ltd has received full authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate across online, offline, and cross-border payment aggregation under the country’s updated regulatory framework.

The approval enables the company to deliver a unified merchant payments stack spanning domestic and international transactions — reinforcing India’s ambition to lead in regulated digital payments innovation.

Key Developments

• In-Solutions Global Ltd now holds comprehensive authorization as a payment aggregator.
• Approval covers online, physical (offline), and cross-border transactions.
• The move aligns with India’s modernized payments regulatory structure.
• Merchants gain access to integrated domestic and international settlement capabilities.

India already operates one of the world’s most advanced real-time domestic payment ecosystems. Expanding regulated cross-border aggregation strengthens its ability to influence regional and global payment corridors.

Why It Matters

Cross-border payments remain one of the most expensive and friction-heavy components of global finance. By expanding regulated payment aggregation under central bank supervision, India is:

• Increasing settlement efficiency
• Enhancing compliance oversight
• Strengthening monetary control over outbound and inbound flows
• Positioning itself as a major fintech infrastructure hub

This is sovereign-led modernization — not deregulated experimentation.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• More efficient cross-border rails can shift trade settlement behavior.
• Regulated infrastructure increases transparency in international transactions.
• Strong central bank oversight preserves currency stability during digital expansion.
• Expanded payment corridors can influence regional trade dynamics.

Payment rails shape capital flow. Capital flow shapes currency power.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Infrastructure Sovereignty

India is reinforcing central bank authority while expanding digital capability.

Pillar 2: Cross-Border Modernization

Integrated merchant stacks reduce reliance on fragmented correspondent banking systems.

Structural resets do not happen overnight — they begin with infrastructure upgrades like this.

This is not just a fintech approval — it is sovereign payment strategy in motion.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Economic Times – In-Solutions Global Ltd secures RBI authorization

• ETBFSI -- In-Solutions Global gets RBI nod to operate as online, offline & cross-border payment aggregator

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U.S. Banking Leaders Engage White House on Crypto Market Structure

Digital Asset Regulation Moves From Periphery to Policy Core

Overview

Digital asset regulation is entering a new phase in the United States. A White House crypto market structure meeting convened major banking trade organizations including the American Bankers Association, Bank Policy Institute, and Independent Community Bankers of America.

The discussion focused on crafting regulatory frameworks that balance innovation in digital assets with financial system stability.

Key Developments

• Banking trade groups participated directly in policy dialogue.
• Discussions centered on crypto market structure and regulatory clarity.
• Emphasis was placed on protecting financial safety while fostering innovation.
• Institutional banking voices are now shaping digital asset rules.

This represents a notable shift from earlier years when crypto operated largely outside traditional banking consensus.

Why It Matters

Regulatory clarity determines whether digital assets integrate into the financial core — or remain on the margins.

By engaging policymakers:

• Banks are signaling willingness to participate in digital finance.
• Regulators are acknowledging crypto as part of systemic finance.
• Collaboration reduces the likelihood of fragmented or reactionary rulemaking.
• The groundwork is being laid for structured digital asset integration.

This is no longer a fringe conversation — it is structural financial policy.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• Regulatory certainty reduces volatility in digital markets.
• Integration of crypto rails into banking strengthens systemic stability.
• Clear frameworks encourage institutional capital participation.
• Stable digital settlement infrastructure can influence global liquidity flows.

Monetary transformation without regulation creates chaos. Regulation without innovation creates stagnation. This meeting signals an attempt to balance both.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Institutional Legitimization

Crypto is moving inside the policy tent rather than operating outside it.

Pillar 2: Controlled Digital Transition

Regulated integration ensures that traditional banks remain central to monetary infrastructure even as digital rails expand.

Financial resets occur when rules, rails, and institutions realign. This is part of that alignment.

This is not just a meeting — it is digital finance entering formal governance.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• ICBA Statement – Banking Trades on White House Crypto Market Structure Meeting

• Crypto Valley Journal -- White House Mediates CLARITY Act Yield Dispute Without Result

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BRICS Moves Toward Independent Metals Exchange and Gold-Backed Trade System

Special Economic Zones to Anchor New Pricing Power Outside Western Financial Control

Overview

The BRICS bloc is accelerating plans to launch a dedicated Precious Metals Exchange, marking another strategic step toward financial independence from Western-dominated systems.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov confirmed on February 14, 2026, that the exchange will operate within special economic zones across member nations. The initiative will function alongside a BRICS gold currency pilot and a proposed grain exchange.

The objective is clear: establish independent pricing mechanisms and reduce exposure to sanctions, tariffs, and volatility tied to Western financial infrastructure.

Key Developments

• The BRICS Precious Metals Exchange has been designated a priority initiative by Russian officials.
• The platform will operate through special economic zones present across most BRICS nations.
• A grain exchange is also under development as part of the broader commodity strategy.
• The initiative builds upon agreements endorsed at the 2024 Kazan Summit.

Ryabkov stated that the exchange would be “a very important initiative” and emphasized its strategic relevance amid sanctions pressure.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov added that creating a metals trading mechanism within BRICS would foster “fair and equitable competition based on exchange principles.”

BRICS Gold Developments and Pricing Independence

The metals exchange aligns with broader gold initiatives already underway.

The bloc launched a gold-backed settlement pilot known as the “Unit” on October 31, 2025. The structure reportedly consists of 40% gold backing and 60% member currencies.

BRICS gold prices surged above $5,600 per ounce in January 2026 before stabilizing within projected ranges between $4,500 and $5,500. Officials are positioning the exchange as a vehicle to:

• Reduce dependence on SWIFT messaging systems
• Limit exposure to Western commodities exchanges such as the London Metal Exchange
• Enable settlement in national currencies
• Strengthen autonomy in cross-border trade

Ryabkov stated that while American sanctions and tariffs pose risks, member nations are not prepared to “succumb to pressure.”

The metals exchange is expected to include gold, platinum, diamonds, rare earth minerals, and potentially other strategic commodities.

Implementation Timeline

Officials have not announced a firm launch date. However, Russian statements indicate a target of reaching operational status by 2030.

The initiative is part of a broader architecture shift endorsed during the 2024 BRICS summit in Kazan, which included:

• Alternative payment platforms
• Settlement systems in national currencies
• Reinsurance mechanisms for intra-bloc trade

Together, these components represent a coordinated effort to reshape commodity pricing power and settlement infrastructure.

Why It Matters

Commodity exchanges determine global pricing benchmarks.

If BRICS establishes a functional, liquid metals exchange operating outside Western systems, it could:

• Influence global gold pricing dynamics
• Shift settlement patterns away from dollar-denominated trade
• Increase leverage for commodity-producing nations
• Reduce sanctions vulnerability

Pricing power is financial power.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

• A gold-linked settlement framework alters reserve dynamics.
• Independent pricing benchmarks could challenge London- and New York-based exchanges.
• Commodity-backed trade corridors strengthen non-dollar settlement ecosystems.
• Gradual infrastructure rollout reduces sudden market shock while preparing structural change.

This is not merely about metals trading — it is about control over valuation mechanisms.

Implications for the Global Reset

Pillar 1: Commodity Pricing Sovereignty

A BRICS exchange introduces alternative benchmark formation outside Western exchanges.

Pillar 2: Settlement Diversification

Gold-linked instruments and national currency settlement reduce reliance on dollar-based clearing systems.

Financial resets begin when pricing systems shift. Commodity markets are foundational to that structure.

This is not just trade policy — it is a strategic rebalancing of global financial infrastructure.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Watcher Guru -- "BRICS Precious Metals Exchange: Member Nations Move Toward Launch"

• TASS -- "BRICS countries discuss creation of precious metals exchange and grain platform"

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🌱 A Message to Our Currency Holders🌱

If you’ve been holding foreign currency for many years, you were not foolish.
You were not wrong to believe the global financial system would change.

What failed was not your patience — it was the information you were given.

For years, dates, rumors, and personalities replaced facts, structure, and proof. “This week” predictions created cycles of hope and disappointment that were never based on how currencies actually change.

That is not your failure.

Our mission here is different:   • No dates • No rates • No hype • No gurus

Instead, we focus on:
• Verifiable developments • Institutional evidence
• Global financial structure • Where countries actually sit in the process

Currency value changes only come after sovereignty, trade, banking, settlement systems, and fiscal coordination are in place. History and institutions confirm this sequence.

You will see silence. You will see denials. That is not delay — that is discipline.

Protect your identity. Organize your documents.    Verify everything.
Never hand your discernment to anyone who cannot show proof.

You deserve truth — not timelines.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News

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Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Monday Morning 2-16-26

Nouri Al-Maliki’s New Doctrine For Power: Pragmatism Over Defiance?

2026-02-14    Shafaq News  On January 24, 2026, the Shiite Coordination Framework (CF), currently the largest bloc in Iraq’s parliament, named former Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki as its nominee for the country’s next premier, reopening one of Iraq’s most consequential political debates. The response was immediate. Debate intensified in Baghdad, regional capitals recalculated their positions, and Washington issued warnings.

Iraq once again stands at a familiar crossroads, this time under heavier internal strain and sharper external scrutiny. The question is not simply whether Al-Maliki is returning, but whether he returns unchanged or as a political figure reshaped by conflict, experience, and years outside executive office.

Pragmatism over Pride

Sovereignty once defined Al-Maliki’s political vocabulary. During his two terms between 2006 and 2014, he projected a sharp, defiant posture, frequently framing his leadership as resistance to foreign interference, particularly from the United States. His second term (2010–2014) in particular unfolded amid visible tension with Washington, reinforcing the image of a leader intent on consolidating national authority despite mounting political costs.

The environment in 2026 differs markedly. US President Donald Trump has openly warned against Al-Maliki’s return, signaling the possibility of severe measures. Speaking to Shafaq News, political analyst Ahmed Youssef referred to Washington’s explicit objection, noting that Trump described Al-Maliki’s reappointment as a path that could return Iraq to “poverty and comprehensive chaos,” invoking the period when ISIS seized major provinces before Iraq declared victory in 2017.

The implications extend beyond rhetoric as Iraq’s economy remains structurally vulnerable. Its banking channels, oil revenue mechanisms, and access to international financial systems remain deeply intertwined with global institutions.

Any US sanctions or reduction in support would carry tangible domestic consequences, affecting currency stability, military cooperation, and reconstruction financing. “A confrontation with Washington today would not be confined to speeches; it would seep into Iraqi daily life,” Youssef warned.

Inside Iraq, reactions have been defensive. Aref Al-Hammami, a senior figure in the State of Law Coalition (SLC) headed by Al-Maliki, described any retreat from the candidacy under foreign pressure as “a political setback affecting all components of the country,” underscoring that Iraq is a sovereign state. The message was direct: external objections should not determine internal political decisions.

The caution, however, is more visible across the broader political arena. Abdulrahman Al-Jazaeri, head of the political bureau of the Tribal Movement in Iraq, pointed to a subtle but important shift within the CF. The next prime minister, he argued, should enjoy “regional acceptability,” citing reservations expressed by major figures within the Framework, including the Al-Hikma Movement led by Ammar Al-Hakim and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq headed by Qais Al-Khazali.

Al-Maliki’s own rhetoric reflects that recalibration. Faced with Trump’s warnings, he has avoided confrontation. Rather than revive the language of resistance, he has focused on “stability,” “investment,” “job opportunities,” and “completing reconstruction.” The shift appears calculated —an effort, as Ahmed Youssef assessed, to reassure external actors while navigating domestic contestation.

‘’Al-Maliki still represents a period rejected by segments of both the Iraqi public and parts of the international community,’’ he observed, noting that even though the language may be softer, the structural constraints remain.

Arming the State

If sovereignty defines one axis of scrutiny, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) —inseparable from Al-Maliki’s political legacy— define another.

Formed in 2014 following a fatwa by top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani amid an unprecedented security collapse, the PMF played a decisive role in confronting ISIS. Its membership stands at around 200,000, comprising about 70 factions from various religious and ethnic backgrounds, though it remains predominantly Shiite. The Iraqi parliament later formalized these factions under the PMF Law, designating the force as a supporting body alongside the Iraqi Armed Forces, both under the authority of the prime minister as commander-in-chief.

Al-Maliki emerged as one of the PMF’s most prominent political defenders, and his previous tenure became closely associated with its rise as an influential actor within Iraq’s security architecture. After the 2025 parliamentary elections, however, his language shifted. He now refers to “restricting arms to the state” and ensuring “one army comprising all components under the command of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.” At the same time, he rejected reports of dissolving the PMF, maintaining that any development should preserve its strength and reinforce its combat readiness rather than weaken it.

Read more: Nouri Al-Maliki’s return rekindles Iraq’s divisions as Iran and the US pull apart

Speaking to Shafaq News, Aref Al-Hammami portrayed this framing as national and reassuring, arguing that it does not target any specific group. Discussions over weapons held by factions, he added, fall within an “internal, fraternal relationship” that can be addressed domestically.

Meanwhile, political observer Abu Mithaq Al-Massari interpreted the adjustment not as a reversal but as an elevation of state-centered rhetoric suited to a sensitive political phase. Al-Maliki has not distanced himself from the PMF; he has repositioned the discussion.

For international partners, domestic rivals, and an Iraqi public fatigued by overlapping chains of command, the weapons file remains central. Any incoming government will be assessed by its ability to assert coherent security authority. The shift, therefore, is not a retreat from the PMF but an effort to embed it more clearly within the framework of centralized state power.

Realpolitik on Rails

Syria presents another test of tone and approach. In earlier years, Al-Maliki’s position toward Ahmad Al-Sharaa, known as Abu Mohammad Al-Julani when he led Haya’at Tharir Al-Sham, was unequivocal. He labeled him a terrorist, reflecting Iraqi anxieties over Al-Sharaa's previous role within ISIS in Iraq, the cross-border militancy, and the spillover of Syria’s conflict into Iraqi territory.

That stance aligned with a broader security-first posture shaped by the aftermath of 2011 and the rise of armed groups operating across porous borders.

Following the 2025 elections, the tone shifted. Al-Maliki signaled openness toward engagement with regional actors, including Syria. The adjustment does not abandon security concerns. Rather, it reflects recalculation shaped by geography and necessity. The Iraqi–Syrian border remains a zone of vulnerability, where infiltration risks, energy corridors, oil routes, and humanitarian transit converge.

Iraqi officials indicated that Baghdad seeks strategic stability that preserves internal sovereignty while enabling structured dialogue with Damascus based on national interests. The regional environment has also evolved. Some Arab states, particularly Gulf countries, have recalibrated their posture toward Syria, while US priorities shifted during the Trump phase. At home, pressure favors border stabilization over rhetorical confrontation, steering policy from individual labeling toward state-to-state management.

Read more: Nouri Al-Maliki: A name that still divides and tests the politics of memory

Quiet Tehran Ties

Al-Maliki has long been viewed as maintaining close ties with Tehran, particularly during the ISIS occupation of large parts of Iraq, when security coordination intensified.

Iranian officials have signaled support for any candidate agreed upon within the CF without publicly endorsing a specific name, effectively offering political cover without overt sponsorship. As Al-Maliki’s recent public messages concentrate more on institutional stability and state authority —and place less visible emphasis on external alliances— the recalibration appears deliberate.

Openly foregrounding ties with Tehran risks amplifying domestic polarization and complicating relations with Sunni and Kurdish factions, as well as Washington. Strategically, the approach suggests balance rather than rupture. The relationship with Iran remains intact, but it is conveyed with greater discretion.

A Return Shaped by Experience

Al-Maliki is not an emerging political figure testing authority. He governed for eight years and left office during one of the most turbulent chapters in Iraq’s modern history. The collapse of provinces, the war against ISIS, and years of internal polarization defined his tenure.

He now seeks not to consolidate authority for the first time, but to restore political legitimacy —a distinction that carries weight. In his second term, he spoke from the position of incumbent authority. Today, he operates as a candidate navigating objections: domestic fragmentation, Shiite hesitation, American warnings, and speculation about sanctions.

The experience of power and the cost of crisis appear to have reshaped his tone. Confrontation carries consequences. Institutional paralysis carries consequences, and economic rupture definitely carries consequences.

His recent discourse reflects a political actor more attentive to balance than confrontation. This is not a declared ideological revision, but a recalibrated method. Whether that recalibration signals a deeper transformation or merely strategic repositioning remains the defining question.

What is clear is that 2026 is not 2012. Al-Maliki’s path back to power runs not through the vocabulary of his past, but through careful management of Iraq’s present.

Read more: Al-Maliki sounds different this time — the worldis not convinced yet

Written and edited by Shafaq News staff. 

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Report/Nouri-Al-Maliki-s-new-doctrine-for-power-Pragmatism-over-defiance

MilitiaMan and Crew: IQD News Update-CBI INDEPENDENCE- REER is a MONETARY TOOL

MilitiaMan and Crew: IQD News Update-CBI INDEPENDENCE- REER is a MONETARY TOOL

2-15-2026

The Crew:  Samson, PompeyPeter, Petra, Daytrader, Sunkissed, GIGI and Militia Man

Follow MM on X == https://x.com/Slashn

Be sure to listen to full video for all the news……..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvzlGubV08U