Iraq’s Inconvenient Truth

Thursday, 24 July 2008 By ~  Army Staff Sgt. Michel Sauret
Multi-National Division - Center Public Affairs

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki waved to cheering crowds July 20 as he stepped off the first plane landing at Najaf International Airport.

The celebration marked the opening of a new airport that will facilitate travel, boost business opportunities and increase tourism.

“The Najaf airport is a starting point for competition among provinces and local governments to make extraordinary progress toward reconstruction. … We were determined to face the terrorism that was about to destroy Iraq,” Maliki said. “The strong will of the federal government has fought and defeated it in all of its forms.”

Iraqi Soldiers and police officers maintained control over the mass of media and photographers who came to record the historic event. Children laughed and waved Iraqi flags. Men and women posed for pictures, hugging one another, kissing cheek-to-cheek with greetings. Musicians played enchanting melodies, and singers sang with spirit.

Najaf is one of the holiest cities for Shiia Muslims. The city is renowned as the site of the tomb of Imam Ali Talib, whom Shiias consider the prophet Muhammad’s heir. The site is believed to be the third-most-popular destination for Islamic pilgrimages, after the Saudi Arabian cities of Mecca and Medina.

The airport will employ hundreds of people, from security guards to customer service representatives. The airport also will create new opportunities in the economy for hotels and restaurants, travel agencies, banks, currency exchange, and even agricultural processing to feed Najaf’s new visitors. Officials hope the airport will attract businesses and investors.

“The benefits of this facility will ripple throughout the local, provincial, regional and national economy,” said Angus Simmons, team leader for the Najaf Provincial Reconstruction . The PRT helped to facilitate construction contracts and linked airport officials with a U.S. transportation advisor who specializes in airport management.

The new airport is part of a multi-billion dollar project led by the investment firm Al-Aqeelah, based in Kuwait. The firm plans to build thousands of new homes and hotels in the city. A total of $80 million has been committed to the airport’s construction, $50 million of it already invested in the project.

“I would say the Najaf people and the leadership here at the provincial level have a very national viewpoint on what this airport does for Iraq,” said Army Col. Jefforey Smith, deputy commanding general for support for Multi-National Division - Center and the 10th Mountain Division.

“About the only other way you could have gotten into this part of the country previously was by vehicle. There’s no train system that comes through here,” Smith said. “So this airport is going to be huge, not only for Najaf, but … it will affect the other major cities in the province of Karbala [and others] north and west of here.”

The airport will help not only the province of Najaf to prosper, but also will benefit the neighboring provinces of Karbala, Babil and Qadasiyah. Before now, the closest airport was in Baghdad, hundreds of miles north of these areas.

“I think it’s a positive time — it’s a good time — to open this airport,” Smith said.

Tuesday, 22 July 2008 By ~  Staff Sgt. Michel Sauret
MND-C PAO

BAGHDAD — During a visit to the area July 19, Brig. Gen. Jeffery Buchanan, deputy commanding general for operations for Multi-National Division – Center, met with Brig. Gen. Jabbar Nama, deputy commander for the 10th Iraqi Army Division, to discuss operations and the future well-being of Maysan Province.

In the four weeks since Operation First Signs of Peace began in Maysan Province, the Iraqi Security Forces are successfully maintaining just that - peace.

During their month-long presence in al-Amarah, battalions from the 10th IA Div. have not seen a single gunfight, not one improvised explosive device attack, nor received any indirect fire. They continue searching for caches and criminals in the area with support from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

“The most important thing out here is to cut off or interdict the flow of munitions that flow in from Iran up to Baghdad. And for one thing, with the ISF we can do that pretty well,” said Lt. Col. Edward Bohnemann, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th BCT.

Buchanan wants to help the 10th IA Div. by improving senior leadership who can mentor, teach and support their fighting forces. He also discussed bringing Military Transition Teams down to Camp Sparrowhawk to train with Jabbar’s men.

Operations in al-Amarah began June 19. In a matter of days, IA and Iraqi Police detained approximately 200 criminals and collected more than 220 weapon caches. ISF found the caches in homes, businesses and public areas throughout the city of Amarah, containing 2,262 mortar rounds, 1,034 mines, 971 artillery rounds, 749 rocket-propelled grenades, 598 rockets, 259 missile launchers, 176 improvised explosive devices, 259 grenades, 43 DSHKA barrels, 141 explosively formed penetrators and 22 missiles.

All of this without a single shot fired.

The Government of Iraq offered Shiite extremists and local citizens an amnesty period prior to the operation. Citizens who turned over weapon caches to ISF would not be arrested. The Iraqi Government also gave extremist forces the option to turn themselves in peacefully. Military leaders visited with Tribal Sheikhs of the area and encouraged them to enforce tribal laws that would maintain peace.

Throughout the operation, ISF took the initiative in planning and executing the mission. Now, six battalions under the 10th IA Div. maintain stability in Maysan by manning checkpoints, performing ground reconnaissance and conducting other security measures.

Wednesday, 23 July 2008 By: Norris Jones
Gulf Region South district

AN NAJAF — Provincial and local officials hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony July 19 to open a new Primary Healthcare Center in Sooq-sha’lan.

An Najaf Deputy Governor Hassan Abtan pointed out that, prior to the PHC’s opening, residents traveled for an hour to get medical care. “Now it’s just 5 to 10 minutes away,” he added.

He praised the quality of the construction, said the Iraqi crew who built it should be proud, and also complimented the partnering effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and provincial officials to ensure the project’s successful completion.

Those attending included Abtan, Dr. Radhwan, director general for An Najaf’s Health Directorate, Dr. Enaas, the PHC’s administrator, and Mayor Farooq. An Najaf is a province located south of Baghdad.

The new facility is expected to serve 200 patients a day and, at 2,200 square meters, is the largest PHC being built in Iraq. It offers basic health care, dental exam, x-ray room, laboratory for blood work, pharmacy, treatment rooms, emergency trauma services, inpatient and maternity care (pre-natal and birthing).

“The project is designed to make health care service more accessible to the people of An Najaf,” said Gulf Region South district construction representative Ken Lloyd. “This modern one-story structure is equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, furnishings, and consumables. It has a back-up generator, water treatment system, fire-alarm system, a telecommunications room and intercom system. It’s an important step in Najaf’s quest to improve neighborhood healthcare,” he added.

Wednesday, 23 July 2008

BAGHDAD — Coalition forces captured two wanted men and detained two additional suspects during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq’s financial infrastructure around Baghdad July 22-23.

An alleged AQI financier was detained with one additional suspect during an operation near Samarra, 110 kilometers north of Baghdad. The man is assessed to be involved with known terrorists, including one killed during an operation May 6.

Wednesday, Coalition forces captured a suspected member of a kidnapping cell during a precision operation in Baghdad. Another man was detained in the city for his alleged ties to AQI leaders in Iraq and other countries.

“By targeting these networks, Iraqi and Coalition forces are continuing to chip away at AQI’s ability to conduct acts of indiscriminate violence or to impose an extremist ideology upon the people of Iraq,” said Cmdr. Scott Rye, MNF-I spokesman.

Monday, 21 July 2008 ~  By Spc. Grant Okubo
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RUSTAMIYAH — National Policeman and their U.S. National Police Transition Team partners took to the streets of eastern Baghdad to enforce a weapons-free zone in and around Al Amin, July 13.

Policemen from 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st National Police Division, led a clearing operation of the Al Amin power station and the surrounding area. Capt. Arthur Benson, an intelligence advisor with the 1st Bn., 4th Bde. 1st NP Div. NPTT explained that the Government of Iraq declared Al Amin an area where no weapons are allowed.

“Any household that had an AK-47 now does not,” said Benson, a Mount Hope, Kan. native assigned to 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, which is attached to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Multi-National Division- Baghdad.

U.S. Forces working with National Policemen gathered the intelligence that prompted the mission. Their intelligence indicated possible caches and Special Groups leaders living in the area, said Benson.

In a continuing positive trend, National Policemen took the lead as U.S. Soldiers supported them through coaching, teaching and mentoring during the mission, explained Benson. In addition, the NPTT Soldiers were there to provide backup and a little more firepower if mission conditions called for it, he said, commenting that the National Police performed superbly.

“They’ve got great officers and (are) also developing a great non-commissioned officer corps,” said Benson.

Hakeem Jabar, an intelligence official with 1st Bn., 4th Bde., 1st NP Div., said he is proud of the work the National Police are doing as they improve the overall security for the people of Iraq.

The National Police has come a long way since Benson arrived as the NPTT intelligence advisor, he said. They have formed individual companies, 1st through 4th, and a Special Weapons and Tactics platoon, he cited as examples.

“They (National Police) got the mission late last night, prepared quite well and did their pre-combat checks and pre-combat inspections,” explained Benson. Once NPTT Soldiers met with their National Police counterparts that morning, the policemen were ready to roll out and conduct the mission without any problems, he said.

Overall, National Police intelligence has improved from the very basic alerting of an improvised explosive device to now knowing specific information about the names and locations of IED makers, explained Benson.

Monday, 21 July 2008 ~  By Sgt. David Turner
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ECHO — The governor of Qadasiyah province assumed security responsibility from Multi-National Force - Iraq during a ceremony in the provincial capital of ad-Diwaniyah, July 16.

Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin, commander of Multi-National Corps - Iraq, signed an agreement with Provincial Governor Hamed al-Khoudari, which gives responsibility of providing security to the people of Qadisiyah and the Government of Iraq.

Austin thanked Maj. Gen. Andrjez Malinowski, Polish Army commander in charge of Coalition forces in the province, for helping to keep the area safe for the past five years, but gave credit for the transfer of security responsibility to the performance of the Iraqi Security Forces in the area.

“The ISF have done a tremendous job in providing security for the population,” said Austin, in his remarks during the ceremony. “They have fought hard, and the freedom to celebrate today is the result of their efforts.”

Austin said that MNC-I would continue to support the ISF, as well as the Government of Iraq and provincial government to provide “sustainable security” for the people of Qadasiyah province.

Qadasiyah is the 10th of Iraq’s 18 provinces to transfer security responsibility to the local government. The Joint Commission, which includes members of the GoI and MNF-I, decided to transfer security responsibility. The commission based their decision on the capabilities of local governance and the readiness of ISF in the area, among other factors.

The recent decrease in violence in the area contributed to the decision, said Lt. Col. Andrjez Tomanek, planning officer with the Polish contingent of Coalition forces, stationed near ad-Diwaniyah. He cited operations carried out by ISF in March as proof that local police and Iraqi Army can keep the area secure in the future.

“Compared with our last rotation, the security situation has improved,” said Tomanek. “All of our activities are coordinated with the ISF. [They] are the basic elements to [maintain] security in this province; we only support them.”

Referring to the clashes between the ISF and criminal groups in the area in March, Tomanek said, “[They] passed the exam.”

Before the official signing of the agreement, local officials spoke to the crowd and Iraqi police, IA and other groups, including Iraqi children participated in a parade. An Iraqi SWAT team demonstrated its counterterrorism capabilities as part of the parade.

Monday, 21 July 2008 ~  By Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson
41st Fires Brigade

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA — The people of al Kut are receiving more reliable electricity, thanks to the upgrade of the Old al Kut substation 33kV switch gear, which increases the availability of power for transmission and distribution.

Two sections of the antiquated substation were replaced and came online approximately two weeks ago. Government officials celebrated its completion during a ribbon cutting ceremony, July 16.

“The people of al Kut have noticed a significant increase in the power available,” said Staff Sgt. David McFate, a team leader with 411th Civil Affairs Team. “One person told us that they went from having just minutes of electricity a day to several hours.”

Most significantly, the improvements to the substation increased the reliability of power distributed to approximately 300,000 people in al Kut, nearly half of the population.

“The new switchgear was a one-for-one swap with the original equipment that was installed in 1973,” said Kevin Olsen, United States Army Corps of Engineers, and Project Manager for the al Kut substation. “The new equipment provides quicker power on for the three substations the circuit breakers feed.”

Modernizing the substation equipment helps speed up the process of troubleshooting when the power goes out.

“Now the substation switches are easy to check and reset, and much more reliable,” said Maj. David Fedroff, USACE Wasit resident engineer.

The one-year project is just one of a number of projects USACE, the people of al Kut and Wasit province, the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team, Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces have accomplished together.

“The PRT continues to help the people of Wasit and work with the people of Wasit to get their essential services established or restored,” said Bob Kagler, Wasit PRT leader. “We look forward (to) working with the Iraqi and local government in tackling these challenges together.”

Although the new switchgear improves the reliability of the electricity to the city, the electrical infrastructure still poses many challenges.

“Unfortunately, the distribution network still needs a lot of work,” Fedroff said. “You can see that driving around town, with the wires hanging from every pole in every direction.”

These essential service projects would not be possible without the improved security situation in al Kut and the cooperation with the ISF, said Lt. Col. Timothy Bush, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment commander.

“The best projects are the ones that are decided by the people and enabled by security that is provided by the people,” Bush said.

The situation continues to improve for the people of Wasit, one project at a time.

We receive many emails asking us for a list of banks participating in Sharia finance. We urge you to visit this website. It lists financial institutions here and around the world and the latest information on Shariah finance.

http://shariahfinancewatch.wordpress.com/shariah-compliant-banks/

Shariah Compliant Banks

Alpha Natural ResourcesAsset Acceptance Capital Corporation

Aviva Plc

AXA

Barclays PLC

BNP Paribas Group

Citibank, N.A.

Credit Agricole, S.A.

Deutsche Bank AG

Dow Jones & Company Inc.

Equity Insurance Group Limited

Goldman Sachs Group

HBOS plc

HSBC Holdings plc

INVESCO Perpetual

Julius Baer Group

Maersk Logistics

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

Morgan Stanley

NYSE Euronext

Silicon Graphics, Inc.

Singapore Power

National Security and Financial Risks: Islamists are attempting to impose Shariah Compliant Finance (SCF) on Western institutions to use our own financial strengths against us. The most serious problem with SCF is that it legitimates and institutionalizes Shariah law (i.e., Islamic law), a theo-political- legal doctrine violently opposed to Western values. With $1 -$2 trillion petrodollars annually looking for an investment home, blind exuberance is driving financial institutions to adopt SCF, without even a minimal baseline for legal compliance. This willful blindness, and lack of both transparency and due diligence may cause SCF to be the next sub-prime crisis, but this time with deadly consequences.

Legal Risks: Western financial institutions which adopt SCF may have criminal and civil exposure to claims of aiding and abetting sedition and the material support of terrorism, securities fraud, consumer fraud, racketeering, and antitrust violations, as well as exposure to tort claims for sedition and terrorism, and for the violation of internationally recognized norms of the law of nations.

Terror Financing Mechanism: SCF as monitored by paid Shariah law advisors to U.S. banking institutions must “purify” certain return on investment (ROI) dollars that do not meet Shariah law standards. This money must be donated to Islamic charities - including some that promote Jihad and support suicide bombing. Investment disclosures state that these profits can be as high as 6% of profits of investments. With $800 billion already in SCF assets, the potential for billions of dollars to be siphoned off for terrorism is real. This would be a serious criminal violation of U.S. law.

Consider this example: Shariah Mutual Funds promote themselves as “ethical funds.” To be Shariah-compliant, they donate “tainted” revenues to Shariah-compliant “charities.” A post 9-11 U.S. investor in a Shariah-compliant “ethical investment” is not told that Shariah law also requires imposing Shariah as U.S. law, execution of gays and female apartheid. Is he a victim of consumer fraud? Is this same post 9-11 investor unwittingly funding terror? The government has shut down the three largest Shariah-compliant charities in the U.S. - the Holy Land Foundation, Benevolence International Foundation, and the Global Relief Foundation - after proving they funded terrorist organizations. The American taxpayer deserves answers to these questions. The Center for Security Policy (CSP) is meeting directly with members of Congress, U.S. regulatory agencies and Wall Street financial institutions in order to ensure the enforcement of existing U.S. laws on sedition, disclosure, material support of terrorism, and money-laundering. CSP is committed to revealing the civil liability and criminal exposure of Shariah law and Shariah-compliant finance.

WHAT IS SHARIAH LAW?
Understanding Shariah law is integral to understanding the dangers of Shariah-compliant finance. Shariah law is Islamic law dating back to the 7th century and is today the law of the land in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan and the law under which the Taliban operates. Recent polls reveal that only 10-15% of Muslims worldwide want to live under this all-encompassing system of Islamic jurisprudence that covers all aspects of a Muslim’s life including religious, social, political, and military obligations. However, with a current population of 1.5 billion Muslims, this translates to a huge pool of Jihadist recruits and supporters - a base of approximately 150 - 225 million Muslims. Shariah law authorities, some of whom are now being paid handsomely by Barclays, Dow Jones, Standard & Poors, HSBC, Citibank, Merrill Lynch, Deutschebank, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, UBS, Credit Suisse and others have the power to dictate Shariah compliance as deemed by “scholarly consensus” on matters of finance, family, penal law, apostasy, and war. Examples of authoritarian Shariah law include: requirement of women to obtain permission from husbands for daily freedoms; beating of disobedient woman and girls; execution of homosexuals; engagement of polygamy and forced child marriages; the testimony of four male witnesses to prove rape; honor killings of those, principally women, who have dishonored the family; death to apostate Muslims who chose to leave Islam; inferior status of non-Muslims, and capital punishment for those “slander Islam.”

Room with a View

A Soldier assigned to the 41st Fires Brigade overlooks the courtyard and get a bird’s eye view during the opening of the al Kut Youth Center, at Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, July 9, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson.

Taji Qada Patrol

U.S. Army Spc. Adam Brown patrols through a neighborhood in the Taji Qada, northwest of Baghdad, July 9, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. J.B. Jaso III.

Weapons Tactics

An Iraqi Police officer conducts weapons training in the Muthanna Province, July 12, 2008. The training with U.S. Army Soldiers is designed to better prepare the Police in weapons tactics for their duties. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Lester Colley.

To the Hoop

A young Iraqi girl practices her basketball shot while her team watches from behind her, July 16, 2008, at Al-Manhel High School for Girls in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad. Photo by Spc. David Hodge, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs.

Baghdad, 20 July 2008 (Voices of Iraq) ~

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met on Sunday with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the holy Shiite city of Najaf, according to the state-owned TV al-Iraqiya.

The Iraqi premier had arrived earlier in the day in Najaf to inaugurate an airport, the semi-official broadcaster said, giving no more details.

Maliki said that the inauguration of the Najaf International Airport is an indicator of the new Iraq, noting that the former regime’s marginalization of the city “has gone for good.”

“The inauguration of the airport is a clear message about the building of the new Iraq,” Maliki said in a speech he delivered during the inauguration ceremony.

The airport inauguration ceremony was attended by Najaf Governor Asaad Abu Kalal, the minister of interior, Jawad al-Bulani, and other officials.

Speaking to Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI) yesterday, Deputy Governor Abdelhussein Abtan said that the airport will mark a turning point in the Iraqi economy and will help boost tourism and trade in the country.

The ceremony was also attended by the head of the Shahid al-Mihrab Foundation, Ammar al-Hakim; the Iraqi minister of oil, Hussein al-Shahrestani; the minister of electricity, Kareem Waheed; and the minister of national security, Shirwan al-Waili.

Najaf, Iraq’s holiest Shiite city, lies 160 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. Najaf is renowned as the site of the tomb of Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (also known as “Imam Ali”), whom Shiites consider to be the righteous caliph and first imam. The city is now a great center of pilgrimage from throughout the Shiite Islamic world. It is estimated that only Mecca and Medina receive more Muslim pilgrims. The Imam Ali Mosque is housed in a grand structure with a gilded dome and many precious objects in its walls.

Baghdad, 19 July 2008 (Voices of Iraq)

The Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) in a press conference on Saturday described its return to the government as an advanced national step, stressing that the Planning Ministry still belongs to the IAF.

“The Planning Ministry was discussed, and a consensus has been reached within the IAF and with Premier Nouri al-Maliki, and we leave this issue to future and events,” lawmaker Saleem Abdullah, the IAF’s spokesperson, said in a press conference for the front after Parliament’s voting session on the IAF’s ministerial nominees.

“The important and constant issue is that the Planning Ministry belongs to the IAF, and is part of its program to the public,” he added.

The IAF(Sunni bloc) which holds 40 out of 275 parliamentary seats, withdrew its five ministers and deputy premier from al-Maliki’s cabinet in August 2007, demanding more participation in security and political decision making.

At that time, the planning minister Ali Baban had refused the IAF’s withdrawal decision, preferring to keep his position and announcing his withdrawal from the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP, an IAF entity).

The IAF insisted on replacing Baban, and this issue delayed restoring the IAF in the cabinet until recently.

Earlier today, the Iraqi Parliament approved, with 165 lawmakers present, the appointment of a deputy premier and nine ministers to fill vacant posts in the new ministerial line-up.

“Meetings between Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi (IAF) and Premier Nouri al-Maliki were not limited to naming ministers and specifying ministries, but there was an agreement of mutual commitments between the IAF and cabinet,” he noted.

“The IAF is committed to supporting the national unity government, as long as it moves in the right direction, and the government in return is committed to giving the IAF a real active participation,” he explained.

“Our presence in the cabinet will not prevent us from criticizing it, even criticizing the IAF’s ministers themselves if they deviate from the path drawn to them to stabilize the national unity government,” he explained.

From his side, lawmaker Alaa Makee of the IAF told the press, “The IAF had withdrew from the government due to lack of consensus, but now political entities are in consensus, everyone has his political, economic, and security roles, and the executive council is currently active.”

“The intention now is to expand to all the Iraqi political entities; hence why the IAF perceived it to be suitable to rejoin the cabinet,” he said.

“It would be an active rejoin,” he added.

Concerning the parliament’s voting session on the ministerial nominees; lawmaker Taha al-Lehaibi (IAF) told the press during the same press conference “The appointed ministers got the majority of legislatures’ votes who were present, including those who had objections on the nominees.”

“Lawmaker Khalaf al-Elayian had a point of view, but when he found that most of the IAF’s nominees are independent, the picture became clear to him, and he voted for the nominees,” he said.

“The issue of nomination was subjected to studying and discussion within the IAF,” he added.

“A committee that was formed by the IAF studied the nominations, which were arranged and submitted to the IAF’s leaders, who added their signatures, before admitting the final list of nominees to the premier,” he explained.

“Parliament voted on this list today,” he noted.

“The nominees stressed that they put Iraq’s priorities at the highest consideration, and their affiliations would be melted for the sake of Iraqi people’s interests,” he asserted.

Arbil, 20 July 2008 (Voices of Iraq)

U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker on Sunday arrived at Salah al-Din’s summer resort, Arbil city, and met with Iraq’s Kurdistan President Massoud al-Barazani, according to a correspondent for Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI), who is currently there.

Barazani today received Crocker and held a closed meeting with him, the correspondent noted.
VOI has made every effort to contact informed sources, but to no avail.

Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), lies 349 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. In 2005, its estimated population was 990,000 inhabitants.

U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker on Sunday arrived at Salah al-Din’s summer resort, Arbil city, and met with Iraq’s Kurdistan President Massoud al-Barazani, according to a correspondent for Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI), who is currently there.

Barazani today received Crocker and held a closed meeting with him, the correspondent noted.

VOI has made every effort to contact informed sources, but to no avail.

Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), lies 349 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. In 2005, its estimated population was 990,000 inhabitants.

Baghdad, 20 July 2008 (Voices of Iraq)

The Iraqi Stock Exchange (ISX) opened its session on Sunday, the first this week, with two contracts, totaling nearly 7 million shares.

The first contract was concluded by an Iraqi company, which bought 500,000 shares from al-Shamal (North) Bank at a value of 3 Iraqi dinars (1 U.S. dollar = 1,221 Iraqi dinars) per share; while the second was concluded by a foreign company, which bought 6.512 million shares from al-Mosul Bank at a value of 1.15 Iraqi dinars per share.

The Iraqi Stock Exchange, established under Law No. 74 of the year 2004, held its first session on June 24, 2004. The stock market holds three sessions a week: Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Baghdad, 20 July 2008 (Voices of Iraq)

raq’s national security council expressed support for the Iraqi delegation negotiating a long-term security agreement with the United States, according to a presidential statement on Sunday.

“The Political Council for National Security had met at Iraqi President Jalal Talabani’s office on Saturday to discuss recent developments on the track of negotiations currently taking place between the Iraqi and U.S. sides to broker a long-term strategic agreement,” read the statement received by Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

A declaration of principles had been signed by U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in December 2007. The declaration was planned to be ratified on July 31, 2008, to be effective as of January 1, 2009.

The agreement should govern the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq after the year 2008. This presence is currently depending on a mandate by the UN, renewed annually upon the request of the Iraqi government.

The deal should not be effective before a 275-member Iraqi parliament approves it.

The statement quoted Nusseir al-Aani, the chief of the presidential cabinet, as saying that the council agreed the Iraqi delegation continue negotiations to reach the best possible results guaranteeing the Iraqi people’s interests and maintain the country’s sovereignty.

“Representatives of all parliamentary blocs and political powers exchanged views on the deal during the two-hour meeting held under President Talabani,” said Aani.

The meeting was attended by Premier Maliki, Vice President Tareq al-Hashimi, Deputy Premier Burham Ahmed Saleh, Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and figures representing other parliamentary blocs.

Baghdad, 20 July 2008 (Voices of Iraq)

The Iraqi Parliament on Saturday approved the appointment of a deputy premier and nine ministers to fill vacant posts in the new ministerial line-up, a parliamentary source said.

“Today the Parliament approved the list of candidates for vacant portfolios in the Iraqi government, which included a deputy prime minister, Rafe’ al-Isawi, in addition to nine ministers, including five from the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) and four from the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC),” MP Taha Dara al-Saadi from the Shiite coalition told Aswat al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI).

The IAF list included Abd Thiyab al-Ajeeli as the minister of higher education and scientific research, Mahir Dali Ibrahim al-Hadithi as the minister of culture, Farouq Abdelqadir Abdelrahman as the minister of communications, Mohammed Munajid Aifan al-Dulaimi as the minister of state for foreign affairs, and Nawal Majeed Hameed as the minister of state for women’s affairs, al-Saadi noted.

Meanwhile, the UIC ministers are Aamer Abdeljabbar Ismail as the minister of transport, Ahtan Abbas No’man as the minister of state for tourism and antiquities affairs, Kholoud Sami Azaza as the minister of state for provincial affairs, and Thamir Jaafar al-Zubeidi as the minister of state for civil society affairs, he added.

According to the Iraqi Parliament’s rapporteur, Abdelahad Afram, a total of 165 parliamentarians gave the vote of confidence to the new ministers.

Earlier today, a parliamentary source told VOI that the Iraqi Parliament held its regular session to vote on candidates for vacant ministerial posts and to ratify its budget.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the Iraqi government, Ali al-Dabbagh, told VOI that the government had submitted to the Parliament names of 10 candidates for vacant portfolios in the new ministerial line-up.
In early August 2007, the IAF, 40 seats, withdrew its five ministers and a deputy premier, Sallam al-Zawbaie, from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government in protest of what it described as the non-participation in the political and security decision-making process.

The Sadrist bloc (30 seats), or Iraqis loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, withdrew its six ministers from the cabinet in April 2007; while the Iraqi National List (INL) withdrew its five ministers in August of the same year. Iraq Updates

Sunday, 20 July 2008

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Police continue to make positive steps toward becoming self-sufficient through the vigorus training of the ‘Police Train-the-Trainer Academy Program’ in the Karkh District of Baghdad.

Currently being ran by the 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, the training program focuses on training Karkh Security District policemen on rifle marksmanship, dismounted patrolling, tactical checkpoint operations, first aid, Iraqi law, crime scene management, improvised explosive device identification and reaction, and building clearing and searching procedures.

A few months ago, the field artillery troops trained five policemen to become trainers at the academy.

Now, under the supervision of Coalition forces, these trainers are putting their training into action through a comprehensive one-week training course focused on giving instruction to Iraqi policemen in the Karkh Security District.

“The Iraqi Police Training Team did an outstanding job facilitating training for the Iraqi Police,” 1st Lt. Kevin Smith, Company A, 4th Battalion, 42nd Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

Staff Sgt. Christopher Garza, a coalition trainer facilitates the policeman’s training by providing first-hand mentorship to the trainees.

“I believe the academy is a great program for these policemen,” said Garza. “It’s a part of helping Iraq grow stronger as a nation by constantly developing their security forces.”

(2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne)

Sunday, 20 July 2008By Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield ~
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

CAMP TAJI — The Fertile Crescent portion of Iraq is notorious for its strong agricultural heritage throughout history. It has long blessed residents and their livestock with a plethora food.

Unfortunately, in recent history investments and resources were diverted away from farming and food production, leaving Iraq’s agricultural resources in utter despair.

Efforts to replant fertile areas in the Taji Qada, northwest of Baghdad are now underway. The Abernisha Village recently received two tons of hybrid maize seed to help start a new history of food production in the area.

Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team “Warrior,” Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, accompanied Daniel Skotnick agriculture advisor, and Abdullah Al Asoum, economic bi- lingual, bi-cultural advisor with embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team Baghdad-5, visited a farm in Abernisha Village to monitor the progress of the delivered seed, July 13.

The seed, donated by Inma, a company sponsored by United States Agency International Development, is going to be used for growth of high quality feed for livestock. The organization is working to revitalize agriculture production along with rebuilding the infrastructure of Iraq.

“The maize program is the first step in establishing hybrid maize production in Iraq,” said Asoum. “Hybrid strains are cultivated for specific characteristics, such as drought resistance. When cross-pollinated the resulting hybrid exhibits the desired characteristics.”

This program will offer job opportunities to hundreds of farmers in Baghdad’s neighboring provinces, he added.

Sunday, 20 July 2008FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers operating in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad detained five suspected criminals, July 17 – 19, while conducting combat operations.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, MND-B, arrested two insurgent cell members July 17, in the Shurta community.

On July 19, Soldiers from Company A, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regt., attached to the 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, detained a suspected criminal in the Saydiyah neighborhood.

Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, also arrested two suspected Al Qaida in Iraq terrorists during an early morning operation in the Zubaida neighborhood July 19.

“The 1st BCT, ‘Raider’ Brigade remains steadfast in its effort to rid the Rashid District of criminals,” said Maj. Dave Olson, 1st BCT spokesman, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B. “Combined patrols with Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces continue on a daily basis and provide a safe and secure environment for the Iraqi people.”

(1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division)

Sunday, 20 July 2008 ~ By Sgt. Daniel T. West
41st Fires Brigade

Editor’s Note: The names of individuals interviewed for this article could not be published due to the nature of the unit’s mission.

An Iraqi Army scout fires from cover during a live-fire exercise designed to simulate a raid and pursuit of a terrorist target in an urban environment on Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, July 15. Photo by Sgt. Daniel West.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA — A platoon of Iraqi Army scouts took part in a live-fire exercise last week designed to simulate a raid and pursuit of a terrorist target in an urban environment.

U.S. Soldiers from Operational Detachment Alpha 7236 trained the IA scouts and supervised the exercise.

“In six years of training with (American) Special Forces, we have never done training like we did today,” said the commander of the Scout Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division.

The training exercised the movement techniques the scouts have learned and updated their skills with the newest training, he added.

“They did fairly well,” said the U.S. Advisor from ODA 7236 in charge of the training. “This is what we built up to with two months of training, and I’m very pleased. They have improved a million times over.

“We’ve instilled the idea of being special,” he added. “They want to be here and are very motivated and ready to train.”

The IA Scouts’ mission is to pursue terrorist and criminal elements, said their commander. “We raid the locations of elements that target Iraqi citizens, Iraqi Security Forces and the Multi-National Force,” he said.

In pursuit of that mission, the scouts have worked side-by-side with Multi-National Force - Iraq and ODA teams for several years.

American forces hand-picked the team members from IA training; they were named scouts after a three-month selection course during which more than a third of the candidates dropped out, said a U.S. advisor.

Their effectiveness has not received much publicity, but the responses of the terrorist elements they target may be a better measure.

The previous commander and three of their Soldiers were killed by terrorists while home on leave, but the scouts “did not give up,” said their commander.

The current commander continues to receive threats and has had three assassination attempts against him. Their resolve remains strong.

“We’re here to keep Wasit and al Kut safe, to help make Iraq a safe place for families and children,” he said. “They are here for [a short time] training us, but it’s our country. We’ll be staying. We need to train, so we thank the Soldiers for passing the training along. As warriors, we are motivated to always do better.”

Their motivation and effectiveness has not gone unnoticed among the teams that train them, either.

“They do large operations, and no one ever knows about them,” said a warrant officer of ODA 7236. “They’re quiet professionals. They don’t need credit; they just want to accomplish the mission.”

Saturday, 19 July 2008 ~ By Army Pfc. Michael Schuch
2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

Army Cpl. John Wilson, of New York City, enjoys a letter from home, July 12, 2008. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Michael Schuch, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.

FOB HAMMER — When Patton’s tanks rolled across North African desert sands, letters of encouragement, love and support from family back home connected 1st Armored Division Soldiers to loved ones left behind.

Today, in the heat of Iraq’s deserts, mail continues to bridge the distance between “Iron Soldiers” and their families. Even in today’s age of advanced technological communications, nothing compares to being able to hold a letter or open a package pieced together with affection by someone at home.

“Even though my wife and I are able to communicate almost daily via the internet, it still brightens my day to open a package from her,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Donald Johnson, deployed from Baumholder, Germany. “To know that her hands held this just days ago makes me feel that we are not so far apart.”

It takes hours of work and numerous Soldiers to get the mail from its origin to Soldiers of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.

“On an average day, we bring in roughly 8,000 pounds of mail, sending out nearly 1,000 pounds from the Soldiers,” said Army Sgt. Lamond Jackson, of Los Angeles.

Soldiers serving in war zones are able to send letters to the U.S. free of charge.

Once a piece of mail is shipped to Iraq from anywhere in the United States, it is sent to a central facility in New York. Mail is next received and sorted by Soldiers working at Baghdad International Airport. These Soldiers then arrange for the mail to be and shipped by convoy to the appropriate base.

Every letter, parcel and package received by the mail handlers of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, is sorted into individual units, then, the office or group of each Soldier, and finally, by the Soldier’s name. It takes each piece of mail an average of five to 10 days to travel from origin to destination, passing through several checkpoints and countless Soldiers along the way.

Before the mail passes into the hands of its intended Soldier, it goes through the final link in the chain, the unit mail clerk. The unit mail clerk is solely responsible for ensuring that each package is intact, protected and delivered to the correct Soldier.

“Being the mail clerk is a big responsibility, because mail is really important for our Soldiers,” said Army Pfc. Courtney Flaherty, of Pacific, Mass. “I really enjoy being able to perform this job.”

No matter what Soldiers may encounter during any given day, a little piece of home provides meaning to the sacrifices they make.

“Mail is the sole thing I look forward to each day. I love it,” said Army Cpl. John Wilson, of New York City. “Just knowing that someone special took the time and effort to write to me makes all this worthwhile.”

Saturday, 19 July 2008 ~  By Cpl. Ryan Tomlinson
Regimental Combat Team 5

RUTBAH — A man of faith gave blessings to more than 10 families without fathers recently.

Navy Lt. Raymond Rivers, a chaplain with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, and Marines with Security Platoon, 2nd LAR packed up and delivered food and supplies to widows, July 16.

“I’m very happy with this project and helping the widows of this city,” said Rivers, 43, from Anderson, S.C. “It’s an outstanding opportunity to help them establish themselves.”

During the mission, the Marines loaded a group of Iraqi Police trucks with supplies for transportation to the city council building here. Upon arrival at the building, Iraqi Policemen and the members of the Security Platoon emptied the supplies for future distribution to more than 10 families that have been raised by widows.

“I would like to say thanks for helping them,” said Imam Mahmud Ahmid Modhen, 65, Islam leader of Rutbah. “Family is very important to these women, and it’s hard to raise them without a husband.”

The event brought hope and happiness to the city council because of the selfless promise and execution by Rivers. It served as another bonding element between the people of Rutbah and Coalition forces.

“My logic is to treat people the way you want to be treated,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Greg S. Bennett, 29, religious program specialist, 2nd LAR, from Decatur, Ga. “If I was on the other side of the fence, I would want somebody to help me.”

Rivers and the imam met after the event to schedule more operations to benefit the families.

According to Rivers, it has been a breakthrough to combine minds with a region’s leader of a different religion

“This has been one of the highlights for me and (Petty Officer 2nd Class) Bennett’s time out here,” said Rivers. “We want the best for the people and it’s great to help them.”

Saturday, 19 July 2008  ~  By Multi-National Division – Baghdad Public Affairs Office

FOB FALCON — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers discovered a large weapons cache and detained a suspected special groups criminal during ‘Operation Raider Nor’easter’ in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad, July 15.

Based on an Iraqi citizen’s tip, Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, discovered a large weapons cache while conducting a security operation in the Abu T’shir neighborhood at approximately 4:15 p.m.

The cache consisted of (45) 107 mm rockets, (46) 120 mm mortar rounds, (152) 81 mm mortar rounds, (139) 60 mm mortar rounds, and four 40 mm PG-7-A2 rounds, all Iranian-manufactured.

Also found were a 60 mm mortar tube, a 120 mm mortar tube with base plate, (27) brand new AK-47 assault rifles, (13) rocket propelled grenade launchers, approximately (10,000) rounds of new 7.62 mm ammunition stamped March 2008, (36) rocket fuses and nine optical sights for RPG launchers.

The Soldiers also detained the individual responsible for transporting the cache. The patrol moved the cache and suspect to a nearby Coalition Force base for processing.

“The significance of this cache recovery cannot be overstated,” said Col. Allen Batschelet, chief of staff for MND-B and the 4th Inf. Div. “The cache was recovered based on an Iraqi citizen’s tip. We caught the criminal transporting the munitions and recovered numerous weapons that would undoubtedly have caused an untold number of senseless casualties. This is a good day for the Iraqi people.”

Smoke Screen

Marine Lance Cpl. Randy Aisen provides cover while concealed by smoke as fellow Marines place a breach charge during urban terrain training on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, July 8, 2008. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Holt.

Water Works

U.S. Army Pfc. Holtzhauser squeezes in next to several cases of water bottles in his Bradley Fighting Vehicle in Diyala, Iraq, July 13, 2008. Holtzhauser is assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment’s Troop G, 2nd Battalion. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Paul Seeber.

Baby Face

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kristy Vanlanen holds an Iraqi child at the Civil Military Operations Center at Forward Operating Base Hawk, Iraq, July 13, 2008. Vanlanen is assigned to the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez.

Copy Cats

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Johathan R. Segovia, personnel security detail, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, a ground combat element attached to Multinational Force - West, relaxes with Iraqi children in Sha-ban, Iraq, July 9, 2008. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Taylor J. Schulz.

Thursday, 17 July 2008By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

BAGHDAD — Two U.S.-military sponsored economic reconstruction programs are helping to put thousands of Iraqi citizens into productive jobs while boosting the country’s business activity, a senior U.S. military officer posted in Iraq said July 16.

In March 2007, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, directed his officers to find ways to provide jobs and increased opportunities for economic expansion, entrepreneurship and skills training for the people of Iraq, recalled Army Maj. Gen. Timothy McHale, director of personnel, logistics and resources for Multinational Force Iraq.

The successful Iraqi First LOGCAP and Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone programs are direct results of Petraeus’ directive, McHale said.

“Both of these programs are focused on contributing to Iraq’s economic progress and security,” McHale pointed out.

The Iraqi First LOGCAP program provides a conduit for Iraqi businesses to sell their products and services to coalition customers, McHale explained.

“We are striving to put Iraqis first in purchase decisions,” McHale noted. LOGCAP, he said, is the name of the military logistics contracting and purchasing system.

LOGCAP is the coalition’s largest service contract in Iraq, and is a prime example and one of the programs in which Iraqi First is being applied, the two-star general said.

“We are working to direct more and more jobs supporting this contract to Iraqis,” McHale continued. “In addition, we are directing more purchases of products to Iraqi suppliers. The goal is to have Iraqi workers and Iraqi suppliers to be a significant part of our military logistics support.”

Today, about 3,700 Iraqi citizens are holding jobs as part of the Iraqi First-LOGCAP program, McHale said. At some installations, he noted, Iraqi citizens make up more than 50 percent of the work force.

“We are working every day to open up more jobs on more bases to Iraqi citizens, and we expect to add thousands of jobs over the next several months,” McHale said, noting Iraqis are working in skilled positions such as construction, carpentry, masonry, welding, plumbing, electrical work, well-drilling as well as many types of general-labor positions.

“Iraqis also have a growing presence in both professional and administrative positions,” McHale said. A new initiative, he noted, is exploring ways to hire Iraqis through Iraqi-government-sponsored vocational-technical schools.

The Iraqi First-LOGCAP program is also about buying Iraqi products for use on coalition bases, McHale said, noting the U.S. military in Iraq has bought more than $182 million worth of Iraqi products and services over the past year.

“While these products were available elsewhere, we chose to buy Iraqi goods and services,” McHale said. Buying Iraqi-made products creates new jobs for the people of Iraq, he observed.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone program, called IBIZ, continues to help Iraqi entrepreneurs to do business with the U.S. military, McHale said.

“IBIZ is a program that provides secure locations on or next to coalition-force bases for privately owned, small and medium sized Iraqi businesses employing Iraqi workers,” McHale explained. The program, he said, injects money into the Iraqi economy while boosting social stability by providing jobs to Iraqis so that they can support their families.

IBIZ-affiliated ventures employ more than 1,400 Iraqis with annual salaries totaling more than $10 million, McHale reported. Successful businesses that participate in the IBIZ program include building trades, vehicle-repair, retail shops, cement and asphalt, metal cutting, trucking and generator repair.

The IBIZ program is growing, McHale said, noting it is now being implemented on 11 coalition bases, with plans to expand it to 14 bases this summer.

Iranian bank is to be opened in Suleimaniya city of Iraqi Kurdistan.

By ISNA

The head of Iran-Iraq chamber of commerce Hussein Tizmaghz said on Sunday that an Iranian bank is to be opened in Suleimaniya city of Iraqi Kurdistan, north of Iraq.

Two other Iranian branches are to be inaugurated in the city, he said as meeting the head of Iraqi Kurdistan chamber of commerce and a number of businessmen.

The amount of bilateral commercial exchanges has reached over 2.8 billion dollars in 2007.

He also said establishing joint transportation companies and expanding tourism are among ways to raise cooperation between Iran and Iraqi autonomous region of Kurdistan.

Also his Kurdish counterpart said Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan have signed an agreement worth 20 million dollars in industry field.

Suleimaniya city, Kurdistan’s cultural capital, is the cultural city and an important economic centre for Iraqi Kurdistan, 364 kilometers north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

16 July 2008 (Iraq Directory)

The Minister of Industry and Minerals Fawzi Hariri said that Iraq hoped at the end of this year to conclude a product sharing agreements with foreign companies, for the rehabilitation of thirty-five major industry state-owned.

He stressed that improved security situation in the country, attracting more than one hundred and twenty companies and group of companies all aspire to compete on common projects for ten years to fifteen years, with the aim of renewing dilapidated industrial companies under the privatization plan valued at billions of dollars.

He added to (Al Sumeria) that the evaluation of bids by foreign investors will be on the last day of this month to foreign companies that aspire to six cement factories and a large petrochemical group in Basra, and installation of iron and steel plants for medicine, chemicals, textiles and others. Iraq Updates

Baghdad, 16 July 2008 (Voices of Iraq)

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Wednesday called for a new phase of ties between the central government and provinces, stressing the importance of partnership and building an institutional state.

“The ties between the central government and local authorities must be based on cooperation and partnership to remove the remnants of destruction left by the former regime of Saddam Hussein,” a PM office statement, received by Aswat al-Iraq-Voices of Iraq(VOI), cited al-Maliki as saying.

The PM called to “establish an institutional state based on the rule of law and respect all residents regardless of their political, partisan, or sectarian belongings,” adding “efforts must be exerted to stop the return of dictatorship and one-party state”.
Al-Maliki emphasized the importance of “utilizing all efforts to implement reconstruction and coordinating between provinces in rebuilding and economic fields.”

He cited the improvement of security as a motivation to “open Iraq to domestic and foreign investments in reconstruction projects.”

The PM underlined the importance of “providing job opportunities for academic and university graduates in reconstruction to decrease the levels of unemployment.”

The Iraqi Parliament has been a scene of heated debates on the provincial elections law this week and has not yet legislated any law that determines the shape of the state.

However, the provincial council law specifies the system of government in Iraq, and if applied, a federal system may be established in the country.

The draft law on provincial council elections proposes an open slate system, which gives voters influence over the position of the candidates placed on the party list and allows an individual voting system.

Baghdad, 16 July 2008 (Voices of Iraq)

A commander of the U.S. army in Iraq on Wednesday revealed that 4 billion U.S. dollar have been allocated to encounter violence indirectly, by encouraging skillful projects near Multi National Forces’ (MNF) bases in Iraq.

The plan embraces a wider reliance on local abilities and products to provide those forces’ needs, to improve the national economy, in coordination with the Iraqi government.

“It has been agreed upon with the Iraqi government to execute two big projects, Iraq First and the Iraqi Industrial Area, with a total cost of 4 billion U.S. dollar,” the MNF’s personnel and resources commander in Iraq said in a press conference in Baghdad.

“The two projects aim at encountering terror indirectly, by supporting the economy and absorbing unemployment in Iraq,” he added.

“General David Petraeus, commander of MNF in Iraq, ordered U.S. military commanders to work together with Iraqi citizens who have skills, and to buy goods and products from them,” he explained.

“Many projects will be executed near the U.S. bases after allocating pieces of lands suitable for this purpose,” he noted.

“Work in the two projects practically commenced, and some Iraqi skilled persons established small projects of carpentry and smithy near U.S. bases,” he explained.

“The MNF spent 182 million U.S. dollar to buy Iraqi goods, and participated in refreshing 200 Iraqi plastic factories that were shut-down for the last nine months,” he said.

“Iraqi workers form 50 percent of the total labor-force in the U.S. army sponsored projects,” he added.

“There is an intention to increase this force, and to rely on Iraqi products in a wider way to respond to MNF’s demands in the country,” he noted.

“The U.S. administration is worried with the situation of the Iraqi economy, as both raw materials and unemployed people are present on the other hand,” he proceeded.

“The lands will be specified by the Iraqi government, but they will not be private properties,” he said.

“Lands will be used by project owners for a certain period of time, and then will be returned to the government,” he asserted.

A commander of the U.S. army in Iraq on Wednesday revealed that 4 billion U.S. dollar have been allocated to encounter violence indirectly, by encouraging skillful projects near Multi National Forces’ (MNF) bases in Iraq.

The plan embraces a wider reliance on local abilities and products to provide those forces’ needs, to improve the national economy, in coordination with the Iraqi government.

“It has been agreed upon with the Iraqi government to execute two big projects, Iraq First and the Iraqi Industrial Area, with a total cost of 4 billion U.S. dollar,” the MNF’s personnel and resources commander in Iraq said in a press conference in Baghdad.

“The two projects aim at encountering terror indirectly, by supporting the economy and absorbing unemployment in Iraq,” he added.

“General David Petraeus, commander of MNF in Iraq, ordered U.S. military commanders to work together with Iraqi citizens who have skills, and to buy goods and products from them,” he explained.

“Many projects will be executed near the U.S. bases after allocating pieces of lands suitable for this purpose,” he noted.

“Work in the two projects practically commenced, and some Iraqi skilled persons established small projects of carpentry and smithy near U.S. bases,” he explained.

“The MNF spent 182 million U.S. dollar to buy Iraqi goods, and participated in refreshing 200 Iraqi plastic factories that were shut-down for the last nine months,” he said.

“Iraqi workers form 50 percent of the total labor-force in the U.S. army sponsored projects,” he added.

“There is an intention to increase this force, and to rely on Iraqi products in a wider way to respond to MNF’s demands in the country,” he noted.

“The U.S. administration is worried with the situation of the Iraqi economy, as both raw materials and unemployed people are present on the other hand,” he proceeded.

“The lands will be specified by the Iraqi government, but they will not be private properties,” he said.

“Lands will be used by project owners for a certain period of time, and then will be returned to the government,” he asserted. Iraq Updates

Baghdad, 16 July 2008 (Al-Sabaah)

Finance minister Baqir al-Zubaidi, emphasized that the aims and strategy of budget 2009 would focus on the economic, services and investment after the improved of the security situations.

He declared that the coming period would witness large interest in oil sector, humanity development, re-building infrastructure establishments as transport, health, water, electric, education and housing within less time.

He added that investing in such sectors would create job chances and achieve humanity development by enhancing investments in environment of the private sector. Iraq Updates

The total cost of hospital reaches to $2 m and it is from South Korean Kyoka Company.

The opening of the hospital attended by Director-General of Najaf Health Department, Dr. Radwan al-Kindi and member of Martyrs Caring Council, belonging for Ministers’ council, Dr. Nada Shobar. Iraq Updates

15 July 2008 (Azzaman)

ens of thousands of marines and Iraqi troops are being deployed for yet another massive military operation to subdue the Province of Diyala, of which Baaquba is the capital.

The imminent operation will be the second major offensive in a year.

In July last year, the troops mounted one of their largest military operations in the country ostensibly to flush out gunmen and fighters of al-Qaeda from Diyala.

That operation was reported to have caused massive damage to Baaquba and other towns in the D