1-23-11 Recap of the day's event/posting

Facts:

1.     House of Representatives host the heads of bodies to discuss the final accounts

2.     Iraqi finance minister vowed to insert Kurdish demands in budge

3.     Maliki, Allawi, Jaafari meet periodically to resolve security ministries and Policy Council

4.     Central warns of compromising its independence and calls on the Federal Court to clarify its decision

5.     CBI auction results

6.     Iraq says it will withdraw from the government if they do not constitute Council Policy

7.     United Nations was considering the Federal Court decision on the independent bodies

8.     Custom tariff law will not affect the standard of living of the Iraqi people

9.     Maliki wants to resolve the remaining ministries at once

10. Adoption of the 2011 budget law next week

Rumors:

Of Interest (rumors that I find of particular interest either because of who said it or because of how I think it relates to what is happening right now):

1.   Nighthk11 chat

2.   Med chat

3.   ME countries to RV soon

The Rest (doesn’t mean these are not happening):

1.    RV not imminent

Where Are We At?

1.    The government formation news is pretty much the same as what it was yesterday.  The security positions are still being discussed so that they can be filled.  There is a sense of urgency to get the government completed.  We still see Allawi threaten to not participate in government if things don’t go the way he expects.  We also see Maliki trying to consolidate power by leveraging the Federal Courts decision to move independent bodies away from Parliament and under him.  The Courts decision is concerning to the CBI as they are independent and do not feel that its in the best interest of Iraq to support the Federal Court’s decision.

2.    In terms of the budget, there is movement here as well.  The issues regarding the Kurds and the budget is being discussed and there is an expectation that the budget will be adopted into law next week.  But, they must review last years financial statements prior to the budget being completed.

What’s Left?

1.    Reading of the budget for the first time (due to redraft).

2.    Closure on Security positions (5 in total) and the remaining unfilled positions (4)

3.    Formal announcement of government

4.    Agreement on outstanding Kuwait issues

5.    Lifting of remaining Chapter 7 sanctions (Kuwait related)

6.    RV/RI

7.    HCL

What’s It All Mean?

1.    No change from yesterday.