“Tidbits From TNT” Wednesday Morning 1-21-2026

TNT:

Tishwash:  Iraq attracts investments exceeding $100 billion in 3 years

The National Investment Commission announced on Tuesday that it had achieved investment accomplishments exceeding $100 billion in Iraq during the past three years, noting that it had dealt with more than 850 investment requests for various projects during the past year .

The spokesperson for the authority, Hanan Jassim, said in a statement to the official agency, which was followed by the “Al-Sa’a” network, that “the volume of investments achieved during the past three years amounted to more than 102 billion US dollars, in an indication of rising investor confidence, which paves the way for achieving higher figures during 2026. ”

She noted that “during 2025, the Authority dealt with more than 850 investment applications for various projects in the energy, housing, health, education, transportation, and services sectors, which were audited and studied in accordance with the provisions of the applicable investment law and in coordination with the relevant sectoral authorities to obtain the necessary approvals .”

She explained that "the Authority issued and amended about 40 investment licenses for strategic projects that included power generation stations, smart electricity billing projects in Baghdad and a number of governorates, residential complexes, commercial centers, airports, and service projects, in addition to participating in about 30 joint technical and legal committees to address obstacles and expedite the completion of transactions link

Tishwashs: Iraq discusses with the World Bank ways to enhance transparency and combat corruption

The head of the Integrity Commission, Mohammed Al-Lami, discussed with a delegation from the World Bank mission in Iraq on Tuesday ways to enhance transparency standards in contracts and projects funded by the World Bank, stressing Iraq’s openness and its joining all international and regional initiatives aimed at confronting and reducing corruption.

The delegation expressed the mission’s desire to conclude a memorandum of understanding with the commission in a way that contributes to strengthening the integrity system and good governance.

The Integrity Commission stated in a statement received by Network 964 that “the head of the Federal Integrity Commission, Dr. (Mohammed Ali Al-Lami), met with a delegation from the World Bank mission in Iraq to discuss ways to enhance joint cooperation in the areas of integrity, transparency and combating corruption, especially in contracts and national projects funded by the Bank.”

The statement added that “Dr. Al-Lami affirmed, during his meeting with Mr. Alan Bacaris, Director of the Integrity Unit at the World Bank, and Mr. Emmanuel Salinas, Special Representative of the World Bank Mission in Iraq and their accompanying delegation, that Iraq welcomes all international and regional initiatives aimed at confronting corruption and reducing its avenues and has taken the initiative to join them,” praising “the areas of cooperation with the World Bank Mission, especially in the field of promoting transparency and preventing and combating corruption.”

For his part, Alan Bacaris, Director of the Integrity Unit at the World Bank, and his accompanying delegation, expressed “his mission’s desire to conclude a memorandum of understanding with the Commission,” praising “the Commission’s steps in the programs implemented by the Iraqi Academy for Combating Corruption, and the benefit to international bodies from the Academy’s experience, commending the endeavor to automate and digitize anti-corruption procedures.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, the head of the commission stressed “the importance of preparing the final draft of the memorandum of understanding and concluding it between the two parties, noting the technical support provided by international organizations, including the World Bank mission and the UNDP

Which contributes to strengthening the integrity and good governance system and supports national efforts aimed at preventing and combating corruption in accordance with best international practices,” pointing out that “one of the commission’s main objectives is to prevent corruption before it occurs and to support investors and protect them from extortion.” link

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

Tishwash:  US Envoy to Iraq Calls Corruption the “Disease” Undermining Stability

Mark Savaya says dismantling corruption networks is essential to restoring Iraqi sovereignty and weakening militias.

Mark Savaya, the United States president’s special envoy to Iraq, said on Wednesday that corruption lies at the core of Iraq’s instability and must be confronted decisively if the country is to be stabilized and militias dismantled.

In a statement posted on his official X account, Savaya argued that while militias are often treated as the central problem, they are in fact a byproduct of a deeper and more entrenched system of corruption.

“Militias are a symptom. Corruption is the disease,” he said, stressing that meaningful reform must begin with targeting illicit financial networks.

Savaya said he has detailed knowledge of how corrupt money is channeled through complex structures that extend beyond senior officials.

According to him, illicit funds frequently move through layers of lower-level actors, including family members, friends, guards, drivers, and intermediaries, a system designed to provide insulation and plausible deniability while remaining fully functional.

He described the corruption apparatus as a highly sophisticated and deliberately constructed network that has been active for more than two decades. Savaya said the system has repeatedly bypassed regulations, compliance mechanisms, and international auditing frameworks, allowing it to operate with relative impunity.

According to the US envoy, these corruption networks have played a critical role in financially empowering, protecting, and sustaining Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq.

He warned that without dismantling these financial lifelines, efforts to restore Iraqi sovereignty and weaken armed groups would remain ineffective.

Savaya emphasized that any serious attempt to stabilize Iraq must focus on shutting down major sources of corrupt funding, including fake payrolls, fraudulent loans, and fictitious assets.

“Without that,” he said, “every other effort will fail.”

His comments come amid ongoing debates within Iraq and among international partners over governance reform, state authority, and the long-term challenge posed by militias and entrenched corruption.

The Twitter post 

 https://x.com/Mark_Savaya/status/2013841906837364863?s=20

If Iraq is to be fixed, corruption must be confronted first and decisively. Militias are a symptom. Corruption is the disease.

I know in detail how illicit money is channeled. It does not flow only through senior principals. More importantly, it moves through layers of lower level actors such as family members, friends, guards, drivers, and intermediaries.

This structure creates insulation and deniability while keeping the system fully operational. This is a highly complex and deliberately constructed network that has been active for more than two decades. It has successfully bypassed regulations, compliance frameworks, and international auditing mechanisms.

Through this system, Iranian backed militia groups have been financially empowered, protected, and sustained. Any serious effort to stabilize Iraq, restore sovereignty, and dismantle militias must begin with dismantling the corruption networks that finance and protect them.

The sources of massive corrupt money such as fake payrolls, fake loans, and fictitious assets must stop. Without that, every other effort will fail.  link

Mot: Apparently -- This Really Might Beeeeee the Week!!!! 

Mot:   Heres One fir Ya!!! ... hmmmmmmm