KTFA Members "News and Views" Saturday AM 10-19-19
KTFA:
Samson: US Secretary of Defense heads to the Middle East .. and likely to visit Baghdad
2019/10/18 22:05
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he would travel to the Middle East on Saturday to learn about the latest developments in the region.
"Tomorrow I will go to the Middle East to visit our forces and international partners, and to take stock of the latest developments in other important operations in the region. Our campaign against ISIS."
"I look forward to meeting with my Turkish counterpart and other counterparts in Brussels to strengthen the importance of ensuring a lasting political solution to the situation in Syria," Isber said. LINK
********************
Don961: Iraqi Finance Minister succeeds in raising the amount of US funding for the reconstruction of liberated areas to $ 5 billion
Washington:
The US Export-Import Bank (EXIM) signed on Thursday a memorandum of understanding with the Iraqi Ministry of Finance, focusing on the reconstruction of liberated areas and the promotion of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Memorandum signed by the Iraqi side Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance d. Fouad Hussein, the result of extensive efforts because the Iraqi official has close relations and understandings with decision-making centers in Washington, will lead to increase the total amount of funding from the Export-Import Bank of America from three billion dollars to a total of five billion.
The US Embassy in Baghdad commented, “We are proud to partner in areas that will promote job creation in Iraq and strengthen the relationship between our two countries.” link
Iggy: imo...i find the historical exchange rate interesting to study...major changes can be seen easily along with the months and years the changes started...looks like rates seem to fluctuate drastically the month before both revaluing and devaluing in the past...
********************
OldDaddy: Raise the rate Iraq and turn the consumers loose to boost the economy. Trump is going to insist on this because he and they both know, keeping the citizens suppressed economically is working against growing the economy.
The die-hard pro Iranians in the GOI better awaken to the reality of the situation. Consumer spending through the raising their buying power is the key to unleash the economy because oil revenue although critical will not get er' done because the demand for oil is down, which is the driver of the price of a barrel of oil. While it is true there is much untapped potential to increase the production what good will it be measuring cost and effect if the demand and prices fall to the point producing more oil and gas will not be feasible?
Also, if Iraq cares more about growing their economy than their allegiance to Iran and the religion of Shiite Islam, then this is a part of the solution. Foreign investment is poised but not at 1190. Look for Trump to make major moves to boost the economy of Iraq and they know he can because of what he has done to the American economy, so the example is there for them to digest.
Trump has boosted to 8 billion aid to Iraq and this is key to bolster his voice about the Iraqi economy and his threat to put sanctions is his way IMO of calling out the pro-Iranian forces in the GOI the citizens are acknowledging they know is holding back the progress of growing the Iraqi economy.
Iran for the first time is experiencing much difficulty in controlling the flow of capital into their coffers and this is their effort to gain back control using Mahdi as their vehicle or their voice.
Recall, the current GOI was to be a temporary setup for a year but the GOI doesn't want to give up their positions of power. so the result will IMO end with them succumbing to the citizen's demand or else they will be thrown out of government with protest that can and most likely turn to violence if they resist the people, which is a much younger generation of Iraqi's.
**********************
Don961: Conspiracy… Address of some partners of the political process in Iraq
- One Minute Has Passed
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi was an opportunity to restore his internal and external conditions to a political system based on sectarian and national quotas, which is one of the fundamental dilemmas. This quota, in turn, established the so-called partners of the political process in Iraq. , That some of them offer special interests partisan and sectarian and nationalism at the expense of the Iraqi state, instead of being a national way to help him in the success of his national reform project, they accepted themselves to be a tool to conspire against him, and his project aimed at ridding Iraq of crises Multi-dimensional.
We do not reveal a secret when we say that among the partners of the political process in Iraq, those who have the ambition to become prime minister of Iraq, and the stock exchange of candidates is crammed with names, and the embassies of regional and international countries operating in Iraq send messages to reassure those who are to be counted in the political process in Iraq, that he is Candidate for Prime Minister !! However, the aspirants of that position may have lost sight of. The direct result of the fall or fall of Adel Abdul Mahdi's government is the collapse of the entire Iraqi political system.
Constitutionally, the post of prime minister is a constitutional entitlement. A political person who receives “half +1” of members of the Iraqi Council of Representatives can form the Iraqi government, but politically according to the political custom that Iraq is used to in post-2003, there are several considerations Political and religious considerations in the selection of the Prime Minister of Iraq, including: the approval of the highest religious authority in Najaf on that choice, and Ali Khamenei, the guide of the Iranian revolution, and the United States of America.
After the US withdrawal from Syria, the Trump administration will focus on Iraq, which means that if an Iraqi political figure is chosen to serve as prime minister without the approval of the US administration, this will have economic and military-security consequences that Iraq cannot afford, economically: The administration of US President Donald Trump, through the US Treasury Department, has imposed harsh multilateral measures. For example, all Iraqi money will be subject to prosecution. It is now protected by presidential decree based on the Iraq-US security agreement. The case of cancellation will reopen the file of compensation, as well as accusations of Iraq of supporting terrorism, and losses of US companies before 2003, and will book the Iraqi money until the resolution of lawsuits.
Not to mention the suspension of sending the dollar currency to Iraq, which will stop many of the obligations, and stop the work of the financial system “DFI” and stop the flow of $ 16 billion, which leads to a financial deficit in Iraq prevents him from paying the salaries of his employees, especially employees of embassies abroad and at home means “bankruptcy of the state” Iraq will be in a state of complete paralysis, similar to the days of the siege of the 1990s, with little difference.
Taking such a step is playing with fire, undue risk, and in the context of stressing Iraq. Concerning his positions on the PKK Tani Turkish and "intentionally" may instruct Washington to Turkey to stop his water supply, and will ask its allies from the Arab countries to tighten economic and political stranglehold on Iraq.
Militarily, the United States and its allies from the International Coalition and NATO have withdrawn their forces from Iraq irreversibly.These forces, especially the air force, have played a prominent role in eliminating ISIS, which may return to its terrorist activity and threaten Iraq's security and stability.
The political class of all spectrums in Iraq must realize that the selection mechanism of the Iraqi Prime Minister is very sensitive for the United States of America, which is chosen in the context of the great game at the regional level, and not at the very, very simple level, as in meetings. Babylon Hotel ”in Baghdad, or meetings of elders and gentlemen, it is a bigger game than you think and think!
The political class in Iraq should stand with the prime minister of Iraq, Adel Abdul Mahdi, and not depend on the narrow interests represented by some parties and militias, it was not acceptable to some or most of that class left reformist warrior Adel Abdul Mahdi to face protests alone, As if the tongue says "face your fate yourself," not to mention the negative attitudes that have been issued by some of them.
Iraq and its people, who have the fourth largest oil reserves in the world, and the people of the majority of them are young people, are not entitled to suffer from the fires of unemployment, and a large part of it lives below the poverty line.
At this moment, Iraq is looking for itself and its future, and the failure of reform and promises will pave the way for the collapse of the Iraqi political system.
Iraq is at a crossroads between a political system that has lost the state project, and a society and a younger generation that can no longer wait. It seeks to reformulate the Iraqi state project on new foundations, taking into account the achievement of a prosperous and democratic Iraq.
Iraqi Studies Unit
Links Center for Research and Strategic Studies LINK
JAY: This truly is a grrrrrreat article. UUUUUUUUUGE....!!! I ALLLL imo.
TRUMP IS FED UP....... Allllll Imo. DON. Thank you for this.
The art of the deal is beautiful. Trump always does things with a PURPOSE. <--- sound familiar???
His news of no more forever wars was IMO to set up for this press release above. To put in motion ^^^ THIS press release's. Its intended actions. BRILLIANT. Now DJT can FOCUS ALL his intentions on IRAQ's RI. imo.
This is one of the biggest articles we have seen that tells us what DJT's plan and ((( NEXT ))) course of action(s) will be with Iraq/ AGAINST Iraq if they do not pull this thing over the finish line.
I was just saying to Doodles 4 or 5 days ago that if Iraq keeps sand bagging they (Iraq) are going to make Trump mad and he will impose sanctions on THEM. Like Frank said, iho a few months ago. Well NOW we have it in ink that DJT is close to doing just that .imo
W A T C H W H A T T H E Y D O. Not what they say. This just makes what Frank and Teams are showing us THAT MUCH better.
Doodlebug: WOW, great article here. Not going to send USD? hahaha what would the CBI have to auction off then? Is DJT threatening Iraq to stop the auctions? WOW WOW... DJT telling the world "handle your own stuff" while I focus ALL MY ATTENTION on Iraq! Nice. Thanks Don, you just made my morning!
GodsServant: DB, Dialed in again you are, did DJT just release the hounds? Use your own money Iraq!!!
Don961: Draining the swamp of corruption in Iraq
- Two Hours Have Passed
Violent protests in Iraq's largest city have killed more than 100 people and injured thousands, and may lead to the collapse of the government, according to writer Frank Gunter in an article published by the site "Hill" close to Congress, although the motive of these protests were widespread unemployment Large-scale youth, lack of public services and widespread corruption But the most popular solution to prosecuting more corrupt officials may fail to improve the situation.
The Hill: What is needed is not a drama of suspending officials on lampposts but by reducing Iraq's incomprehensible hostility to the private sector and draining the quagmire of corruption
What is needed, Guntier adds, is not a drama of hanging officials on lampposts, but by reducing Iraq's incomprehensible hostility to the private sector and draining the quagmire of corruption. Anti-corruption initiatives, to the extent that any new official appointed to replace the former official accused of corruption will eventually become corrupt.
What is needed is anti-corruption measures that are not only effective, but can be effectively observed, he said, noting that failure to curb corruption and reduce youth unemployment in the country.
It is estimated that about 80 percent of urban youth are looking for a job. In the words of the writer, drive through the streets of Baghdad at midday on any day to see groups of young men hanging out without work.
When the oil prices were high, the Iraqi government was able to create a large number of government jobs, but lower oil prices meant that the Iraqi government could no longer provide enough jobs. He suffers from a severe hostility.
According to the World Bank, Iraq's work environment in 2018 ranked 171 out of 190 countries surveyed, and operating a business legally is complex, expensive and time-consuming.
What can be done? The writer suggests that Iraq adopts uncomplicated business regulations that facilitate the way for the establishment of new private projects, pointing out that this may contribute to solving the problem of unemployment and the elimination of corruption. Only 4 days in other Arab countries.
Arab Jerusalem link
***********************
Samson: Expectations to return Iraq under Article VII after its removal from the Human Rights Council
19th October, 2019
Legal expert Ali al-Tamimi expected on Friday to return Iraq under Chapter VII after being removed from the United Nations Human Rights Council because of the killing of demonstrators and the suppression of protests and the implementation of arrests without warrants.
Al-Tamimi said today that the Human Rights Council is composed of 47 countries and is linked to the United Nations General Assembly. It follows the human rights in the world. As a result of the abuse of power, the General Assembly has the right to refer the matter to the Security Council for action.
He added that Iraq came out of Chapter VII by resolution 2390 of 2017 and has been converted to Chapter VI to resolve problems with Kuwait, and with these violations due to the demonstration, it is considered a violation of human rights and therefore the Security Council may decide to return Iraq to Chapter VII or original international and threatening peace and human security.
On Thursday, Iraq lost its membership in the UN Human Rights Council in the four-seat Asian Group competition to Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and the Marshall Islands. LINK