Highlights/Thoughts
Click on the title of this posting to get the details of this article
1. A source an the Iraqi Council of Representatives said that Nufaifi adjourned the meeting until next Monday after an altercation between 2 deputies from the List
2. The altercation involved insults and verbal abuse between the spokesperson on behalf of the List and the representative of a cluster solution with the Iraqi Ahmed Oraibi
3. The source said the quarrel occurred due to the vote on the report of the fact-finding commission on the subject of the closure of the Baghdadiya channel offices
4. It was noted that this is the 4th incident between the two deputies in Parliament within the last two days
This article says Nujaifi instructed the members of parliament to get out and talk to the people and listen to their demands over the next week
Monday, February 21, 2011
2-21-11 Frank26 Post: KTFM 2/20/11
Highlights/Thoughts
PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ RUMOR
Click on the title of this posting to get the details of this posting on DD
1. The budget is 96 tril IQD and that is the equivalent of $82.6 bil USD
2. If you take the 86 bil and multiply it by the IQD rate of 1170, you get 96 tril
3. Frank says Iraq needs to increase the IQD between 3 and 4 dollars to accomplish this budget
4. GOI doesn't pass laws--Parliament does
5. Maliki did not turn in the 3 ministers yesterday. Therefore, no fully formed GOI
6. Parliament approved the budget by law anyway
7. Frank's team will be looking into why Maliki didn't turn in the 3 ministers
8. He is wondering if Maliki is the cause of the delay, or "the plan USA"
9. He noted that the president of Tunisia died and is wondering about Mubarak. He sees a pattern
10. He noted that the people in Iraq will not wait until the 25th
PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ RUMOR
Click on the title of this posting to get the details of this posting on DD
1. The budget is 96 tril IQD and that is the equivalent of $82.6 bil USD
2. If you take the 86 bil and multiply it by the IQD rate of 1170, you get 96 tril
3. Frank says Iraq needs to increase the IQD between 3 and 4 dollars to accomplish this budget
4. GOI doesn't pass laws--Parliament does
5. Maliki did not turn in the 3 ministers yesterday. Therefore, no fully formed GOI
6. Parliament approved the budget by law anyway
7. Frank's team will be looking into why Maliki didn't turn in the 3 ministers
8. He is wondering if Maliki is the cause of the delay, or "the plan USA"
9. He noted that the president of Tunisia died and is wondering about Mubarak. He sees a pattern
10. He noted that the people in Iraq will not wait until the 25th
2-21-11 The National Council of Strategic Policies and Completion of Security Ministries Will be "Soon"
Highlights/Thoughts
Click on the title of this posting to get the details of this posting on 1 Dinar (membership required)
1. An MP from the National Alliance said that there is a sub-committee of political blocs setup to resolve the disputes in the Political Council
2. He said there that the National Council of the policies will soon be the subject followed by completion of the security ministries
3. He added that there are political, technical, and legal problems in the National Council and they have to solve them
4. He explained that the National Alliance has no intention of changing the agreement, but there are things that must be placed in the legal language
5. Regarding the dispute about the drafting of the law, he said that this Council has legislative and legal powers and therefore needs to be developed within the constitution
6. He said there will be no appeal against the decisions of this Council
Click on the title of this posting to get the details of this posting on 1 Dinar (membership required)
1. An MP from the National Alliance said that there is a sub-committee of political blocs setup to resolve the disputes in the Political Council
2. He said there that the National Council of the policies will soon be the subject followed by completion of the security ministries
3. He added that there are political, technical, and legal problems in the National Council and they have to solve them
4. He explained that the National Alliance has no intention of changing the agreement, but there are things that must be placed in the legal language
5. Regarding the dispute about the drafting of the law, he said that this Council has legislative and legal powers and therefore needs to be developed within the constitution
6. He said there will be no appeal against the decisions of this Council
2-21-11 CBI auction results
Currency Auctions
Announcement No. (1839)
The latest daily currency auction was held in the Central Bank of Iraq on the 21-FEB-2011. The results were as follows:| DETAILS | NOTES |
| Number of banks | 17 |
| Auction price selling dinar / US$ | 1170 |
| Auction price buying dinar / US$ | ----- |
| Amount sold at auction price (US$) | 201,472,000 |
| Amount purchased at Auction price (US$) | ----- |
| Total offers for buying (US$) | 201,472,000 |
| Total offers for selling (US$) | ----- |
Dollar's exchange rates / in Baghdad markets
Sunday, February 20, 2011
2-20-11 Recap of the day's events/postings
Facts:
3. Finance Committee: the federal budget does not include financial allocations for the Policy Board
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):
The Rest (doesn’t mean these are not happening):
Where Are We At?
1. Of course, the big news of today is that Parliament approved the budget! There were plenty of articles today that referenced the budget and its details, but the most important thing for us is that it was approved and that’s all I want to say about the budget!
2. In government formation news, a parliamentary source said that Allawi refused to take the Presidency of the Council position after the political blocs decided to convert the vote on the policy board to one that is outside of parliament. The source said Allawi hadn’t yet released a formal announcement. Lastly, the List invited the GOI to implement its government after the budget is ratified
3. In other news, Barzani said the delays in the implementation of Article 140 may expose the social ladder to danger and cause extensive damage to the people of the areas. He said there are opportunistic terrorist parties who seized the opportunity to not solve the outstanding political problems in the areas in order to create chaos and spread fear. Regarding Kuwait, a member of the International Red Cross said the Kuwait government made a deal with Maliki during his visit to their country. He said the deal was to bring down the Iraqi debt to Kuwait in exchange for the inclusion of the stateless Iraqis to the Iraqi people.
4. Regarding rumors, Okie said that he was told Shabibi would adjust the exchange rate to reflect the new budget numbers. Ray’s contact told him that they will vote on the 3 ministries tomorrow. Steve said Ray’s contact was in the meeting with the Treasury and MOF. In the meeting, it was said that if the budget was passed and the 3 security positions were filled and voted on, the MOF would be authorized to activate the RV within 24-48 hours. Viper said that Maliki put out a statement saying all non-diplomats are not allowed to come back into Iraq. This applied not only to DOD workers but the oil industry workers as well. He said that top level people from a company and congress have been in talks with the Ambassador and Vice Ambassador for the past 2 days trying to work this out. More information will be forthcoming
What’s left?
1. Vote on budget - Done!
2. Closure on Security positions (3 in total)
3. Formal announcement of government
5. Lifting of remaining Chapter 7 sanctions (Kuwait related)
6. RV/RI
7. HCL
Important Dates
1. February 17 – GCC Meeting (no news of this yet)
2. February 20 – Vote on budget : Done!
3. February (but sometime after the budget is voted on) – Parliament votes on the National Council of Supreme policies
4. February 28 – Constitutional deadline to form government
5. February 25 -- Large demonstration online
6. March 29-30 – Arab Summit
7. May 1 – CBI must be ready to transfer DFI monies
8. May 22 – Presidential order 13303 expires
9. June 30 – DFI expires
What’s It All Mean?
1. Beginning with the government formation information, if Allawi truly does resign, it could slow things down for us as there would need to be a pretty big shuffle in the cabinet as well as the political blocs. On the other hand, Night has suggested that something like this may help speed things up. That said, we appear to be very close. So, a shakeup like this could only delay it further in my opinion. Let’s hope that the rumors about Maliki and Allawi being in agreement is true
2. In terms of rumors, it’s interesting that Okie received the information about Shabibi adjusting the exchange rate. That is exactly what Shabibi said he would do in a recent article. Concerning Ray’s information, we’ll see shortly whether his source is correct on the vote for the 3 security ministries. Recall from yesterday’s news that Allawi was not happy about the possibility of Maliki not accepting his candidate for the Defense Ministry. So, we’ll have to see how the events unfold tomorrow as it relates to the 3 security ministries. I’m not sure what to make of Viper’s information. The timeframe of 24-48 hours is a pretty tight window to get the 3 ministries voted on and to give a minimum of 24 hours for the MOF to RV. Iraq, as we know, isn’t good at doing things quickly. But, I suppose there’s always a first time! Let’s hope!
2-20-11 Athena Update 2/20/11
Highlights/Thoughts
Click on the title of this posting to get the details of this posting on DD
1. Athena was told there were amendments to the budget that were passed an this will show the rate and date
2. This could show when Forex opens and the most likely time for this is Tuesday
3. The rate he was given is just under $5
4. He was told that Maliki and Allawi are in full agreement on everything
5. He says the ministers are voted and approved and we now need to just wait until Tuesday
Click on the title of this posting to get the details of this posting on DD
1. Athena was told there were amendments to the budget that were passed an this will show the rate and date
2. This could show when Forex opens and the most likely time for this is Tuesday
3. The rate he was given is just under $5
4. He was told that Maliki and Allawi are in full agreement on everything
5. He says the ministers are voted and approved and we now need to just wait until Tuesday
2-20-11 Iraq List Invites the Government to Implement Its Government After Ratification of the Budget
Highlights/Thoughts
Click on the title of this posting to get the details of this posting on DD
1. The List said the budget had to include many social welfare programs, and invited the government to implement its government after ratification of the budget
2. The spokesman for the List proclaimed that the abolition of social benefits and salary reductions for the 3 presidencies was one of the main demands of the people
3. The remainder of the article covered the events leading up to the budget being voted on and approved
4. It also covers some of the details of the budget
Click on the title of this posting to get the details of this posting on DD
1. The List said the budget had to include many social welfare programs, and invited the government to implement its government after ratification of the budget
2. The spokesman for the List proclaimed that the abolition of social benefits and salary reductions for the 3 presidencies was one of the main demands of the people
3. The remainder of the article covered the events leading up to the budget being voted on and approved
4. It also covers some of the details of the budget
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