Current Conditions in the Iraq War
Brown discusses with deputy premier means of fostering economic cooperation Baghdad, 02 October2007 (Voices of Iraq) British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Tuesday discussed with Iraqi Deputy Premier Burham Saleh means of bolstering the economic cooperation between the two countries as well as the latest developments in Iraq.
“The Iraqi government dedicated $310 million for investments in Basra, in addition to $50 million to finance some loans,” it added. “The government will also dedicate another $40 million from the 2008 budget for the rehabilitation of the Basra International Airport,” the statement noted. Brown arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday in an unannounced visit. He met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Rehabilitating power grid in Diyala Baghdad, 02 October 2007 (Al-Sabaah) Technical cadres in Electricity Ministry rehabilitated the power grid in Diyala province and providing the power for all province areas after cleansing many parts of this province by security forces from terrorists, while the Ministry confirmed that rehabilitation of Quds power station is undergoing. The Ministry seeks to overcome lack of fuel which feeds the stations through activating Kuwaiti contract to provide the fuel, authorized source in the Ministry said. It is worth mentioning that some units do not work in the Quds, Dora, Museib, Mosul and Naseriea’s stations.
Babil Citizens to Vouch For Building 43 Primary School Hilla, 02 October 2007 (Al-Sabaah) Number of Babil citizens was to vouch for building 43 primary schools at their private finance to fulfill of some rural need from the schools. A source at education committee member in the province council said that, the established schools in different areas were build by primitive matters such as blocks and barns, while Babylon education directorate to vouch for preparing the educational staff besides the wanted study equipments, pointing that the schools contains 6 classes in addition to administration rooms, healthy buildings and water tankers. On the other hand, he declared that Babil education was received 1500 desks out of 2500 that were contracted about it with Hamorabi Company.
Plan to accelerate carrying out reconstruction projects Baghdad, 02 October 2007 (Al-Sabaah The Minister of Housing and Reconstruction Bayen Darzeh Yee has formed several committees to accelerate and direct supervision of implementing the investment projects for the current year. Darzeh Yee confirmed the necessity of offering all facilities by the ministry companies and solve obstacles face the workers. The minister held, also, a meeting include cadres specialized in the campaign of building schools.
Iraq Defence, Security & Communications Summit confirmed 02 October 2007 (AME Info FZ LLC) The Iraq Development Program (IDP) is proud to announce confirmation of the Iraq Defence, Security & Communications Summit for 16-17 February 2008, Dubai, UAE. H.E. Shirwan Al-Waili, Iraqi Minister for National Security Affairs has confirmed he will lead the government delegation that will also include ministers, deputies and director generals from:
• Ministry of Defence
• Ministry of Interior
• Ministry of Communications
• Ministry of Science & Technology
• KRG Ministry of Interior
• KRG Ministry for Peshmerga Affairs
The two-day summit will include detailed presentations of all ministerial requirements plus dedicated roundtables to allow for private one-to-one meetings between delegates and ministers. Quite simply, the summit will allow for best in breed contractors to meet over 40 decision-making government officials under one roof, providing incomparable reach and return on investment. A substantial part of the summit will be devoted to US Department of Defence procurement for Iraq and accordingly will include the most appropriate and senior officials. IDP now has an exemplary track record in organising high-level meetings-based events in partnership with the Iraqi Government. The first Iraq Security was held in September 2006 and led to outstanding testimonials from companies who achieved tangible commercial returns:
‘The Summit allowed us to personally meet various Government and Military Officials in one venue which would have taken countless hours had we not attended. We have been pleased with the responses so far and we are looking forward to the next Summit,’ according to Streit Manufacturing. “It allows all delegates to understand and to be understood, as well as offer the foundation for lasting and trusted friendships and partnerships,” said Raytheon.
Iraq makes Jordan delivery Jordan, 02 October 2007 (AME Info FZ LLC) Iraq has made its first delivery of oil to Jordan after a four year gap due to the US led invasion of Iraq in 2003, reported the AFP. Eight Iraqi tankers have so far crossed the border into Jordan, while a further 166 are on their way from Kirkuk. It is hoped Iraq will eventually provide around 100,000 barrels per day at preferential prices, thought to be $18 below market rates.
Reactions to Congress resolution to divide Iraq dominate press Baghdad, 02 October 2007 (Voices of Iraq) Iraqi newspapers on Tuesday highlighted reactions to the “non-binding” resolution approved by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday calling for dividing Iraq into federal regions.
In its editorial the government-funded al-Sabah newspaper criticized the resolution and Senator Joseph Biden, a Democratic presidential candidate and a primary sponsor of the resolution. Praising several Iraqi factions for their unified stance against the U.S. project, the editorial called on Iraqi politicians and leaders to put their differences aside and concentrate their efforts on building a strong and modern state.
In another article the newspaper revealed an initial agreement between the Iraqi government and armed groups, which it said was made as part of the national reconciliation project announced by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The initiative aims to include factions which are ready to renounce violence in the Iraqi political process and restore peace and stability to the war-torn country.
Al-Daawa newspaper, issued by the Islamic Daawa Party- Iraq Organization, highlighted statements by the secretary general of al-Mihrab Martyr Foundation, Ammar al-Hakim, who is also the deputy chairman of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC), in which announced his categorical rejection of the U.S. project. Describing it as “interference in Iraq’s interior affairs,” al-Hakim said that the resolution violates the sovereignty of the Iraqi state and is strongly disapproved by many Iraqi political forces.
Tareeq al-Shaab, a daily newspaper issued by the Iraqi Communist Party, published an article under the headline, ‘No to dividing Iraq’ by Muhannad al-Barak and another entitled ‘Does the U.S. Congress have the right to divide Iraq and determine its destiny?’ by Adel Abdul Zahra Shabib.
The independent daily al-Mada newspaper highlighted on its front page a fatwa (Religious edict) issued by the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh in which he said that Saudis should not join jihad outside the kingdom, in reference to Saudis fighting U.S.-led forces in Iraq. “Our youth have become a commodity bought and sold by Eastern and Western agencies … they became tools for conducting heinous acts,” the grand mufti said.
Parliament votes on statement rejecting, condemning U.S. Senate resolution Baghdad, 02 October 2007 (Voices of Iraq) The Iraqi parliament voted on a statement issued by its leadership in which it expressed its categorical rejection and condemnation of a U.S. Senate resolution calling to divide Iraq along ethnic lines. “Iraq is not a U.S. property…The parliament has to show its unity to the whole world,” stated MP Mustafa al-Haiti, who is also a member of the Sunni National Dialogue Front (NDF), adding, “Despite disagreements between political blocs over some articles in the constitution, they can reach a solution that is acceptable to all.”
Meanwhile, Hadi al-Aameri, the secretary general of Badr Organization, one of the components of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC), described the U.S. project as “interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.” “Iraqi parliamentarians are not minors for the U.S. Congress to pass a resolution concerning Iraq,” al-Aameri said. “Baghdad is now being divided along sectarian lines…The solution is to adopt a practical stance and prevent political disputes between political blocs from turning into sectarian divisions,” al-Aameri added.
Meanwhile, MP Abdul Bari Zibari of the Kurdistan Coalition (KC) said in statements to the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) that the U.S. draft resolution suggested “establishing,” not “dividing” Iraqi regions along ethnic lines. “There is a reference to the establishment of Iraqi provinces in article 119 of the Iraqi Constitution, which stipulates that provinces are entitled to set up regions of their own.
This was misinterpreted by some parliamentarians as the coalition’s approval to divide Iraq, which is not true,” Zibari explained. Meanwhile, the Iraqi cabinet announced today during its regular session its rejection of the resolution and of any forms of interference in Iraq’s internal affairs. “The constitution voted upon by the Iraqi people defines a federal system of government for Iraq,” a spokesman for the Iraqi government, Ali al-Dabbagh, said in a press release. “Despite all terrorist challenges that spark sectarian sedition, Iraqis show their adherence to national unity and determination to live in peaceful coexistence,” read the statement.
“We are quite confident that all segments of the Iraqi people will undermine all forms of foreign interference in their internal affairs. Therefore, the Iraqi government categorically rejects the resolution,” the statement concluded. The Senate, at a late hour on Wednesday, approved, with 75 votes for and 23 against, a “non-binding” resolution envisaging the division of Iraq into three Kurdish, Shiite, and Sunni entities, with a federal government in Baghdad undertaking border security and oil proceed management. Initiators of the resolution said that it was the “only solution” to stopping acts of violence that are sweeping the country. _
Court hands down rulings against 6 involved in “terrorism” Wassit, 02 October 2007 (Voices of Iraq) The Wassit Central Criminal Court handed down rulings on Tuesday against six defendants, including three Egyptians, on charges of involvement in “terrorist” crimes, a court source said. “Two of the three Egyptians were sentenced to 10 years in jail while the third to 20 years. The three others were Iraqis and were sentenced to 10-20 years’ imprisonment,” the source, who declined to have his name mentioned, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VO).
The convicts, the source added, confessed before the court and during earlier investigations that they waged “terrorist” armed operations – like kidnapping, pillaging and killing – against innocent civilians and Iraqi security forces in the area of al-Wihda, northern Wassit province. Source:Iraq’s Inconvenient Truth