ametad

Ok, eggs are at a price of $4 USD per layer; not sure if that’s 12, 18 or 24 eggs. And I’m uncertain how much flour costs per pound. It would be interesting to see how much food staples cost adjusted for exchange rate compared to the USA. Perhaps the cost of living is comparable as things are now; Iraq to the USA. Where is the poverty line? How much can a person afford in Iraq with $35,000 USD annually? $35,000 USD is the median wage in the USA. How close is 43.75 million IQD ($35,000 USD) annual income, to the actual median annual income of the Iraq people.

This is sounding like lasting progress.

Here we go, this is good news!

Good News, good show of voice without casualties. I like what I’m seeing.

Sounds like a good and comprehensive plan. I like that they refer to electricity as fuel, interesting things happen when the energy sector is comparable electricity-oil. And the recovery of smuggled money is an interesting thought. Holding tight, waiting for all expectations to suddenly collapse.

What I’m gathering here is that in parallel, one, Iraq is bankrupt and unable to sustain operations while two, the political power players are under investigation for corruption. The powers that be have let this go as far as to let those corrupt individuals make their own beds as reflected by their actions. Time will tell if anyone is actually convicted outside the tribal customary norms in accordance with federal laws. Meanwhile, as we shift from a regional perspective to an international one the embassy in Baghdad is threatened to be closed and potentially being replaced with a consulate in Erbil, this effectively shifting international power in cooperation with the USA from Iraq to the Kurdistan region. And all in all supporting a position as promised after WWI with respect to the international boundaries in favor of an autonomous Kurdish region. This in an effort to be at a net neutral position in the current political landscape (ie. post desert storm) and move from liberator to diplomat after a war that was waged due to the possession of a “WMD” that was trading oil in the euro and outside the established petro dollar of the USD. How can you break into someone’s house beat some people up and then expect to be an esteemed guest at dinner? Reminds me of the song “Gimme Three Steps” by Lynard Skynyrd; found yourself somewhere we’d rather not have been put in. My heart goes out to my buddies that came back with PTSD from Iraq outta high school thinking they were really going to help the world when they signed up.

AI (Artificial Intelligence)

I think BTC is the next world reserve currency. BTC is pure mathematics, thus removing the emotions of human nature. However, there is the Mt. Gox problem. So, we need a AI Gaurd Dog named GOD that protects Mt. Gox. That Gaurd Dog would respond to Love and Love alone regardless of human body type. This is an Agnostic view with a base in IDIQ (Intelligent Design Intelligent Questions) as a foundation. TIMELESS AMERICA Pete

Looks like the second quarter is wrapped up. Now if they can get the last month of July accounted for then the currency auctions will be caught up. Hopefully, they can get it done before the end of August. Then by September the accountants will be happy. If that happens the show that must go on will be flush and they can stop the auctions. AS IF, this was the magical search for the golden crucible to unlock Mt. Gox. obolisk P.S. This follows the 28 day moon cycle of the natural order of the world.

Good thing that the god ol’ USA knows the perfect union of Agnostic Religion and State; therefore they can play the role of “Team America World Police”. obolisk

The Toman and the Riyal are the two step link to peg the Iranian currency to Gold. hmm... It would appear that Fiat Currency has overpowered the long standing currency ultimately based on gold. This is fascinating because this overturned idea transcends through WWI, WWII & the redesign of international country boundaries enforced by the empires in power. I think this is a clear indicator that the Global Economy is melting down. Just like the water receding before a tsunami. I do not believe any economic system built on soft money (fiat) can withstand the vices of human nature, primarily greed presented through corruption.

Let’s step back and see that this market is so volatile that a tweet jumped the oil market by 20%. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! There is so much fear that the people in the market can’t even wait and cross check and verify this information with production numbers. This is nothing but noise as the world enters the first global depression of the 21st century. The US never should have left the gold standard in ‘71, lost tremendous amount t of trust when the global reserve currency couldn’t be used as an intermediary to peg to gold. That was the agreement after WWII. Anyways, very volatile market and I won’t believe the hype until I see production numbers of oil to correspond.

Maybe there’s something to all of this. The news thread is starting to read a lot like the rumors section when I began this ride a decade ago. It’s a crazy storm, that’s for sure!

Next Monday, a step of forward progress. I’m happy to see it. Does anyone know what the timeline would be for early elections?

Good progress, waiting to hear when they schedule the extraordinary session for the vote of confidence.

Thanks Thug, you’re on top of it.

That’s good news!

Funny how I get a negative for simply posting an article. No commentary or personal opinion. I guess someone is upset with the reality of congressional matters.

Adam, I would like to know what your thoughts are on the coincidental timing and interconnectedness of both the formation of a new GOI in Iraq and the Senate War Powers Act to limit Trumps authority in the Middle East?

Updated 2:26 PM EST February 13, 2020 Washington The Senate passed an Iran War Powers resolution on Thursday, a rare measure that was approved with bipartisan support despite the fact that it has been opposed by President Donald Trump and aims to rein in his ability to use military action against Iran without congressional approval. The vote was 55-45. Eight Republicans voted in favor of it: Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Todd Young of Indiana, Mike Lee of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Jerry Moran of Kansas. The President warned the Senate not to green-light the measure on Wednesday, tweeting that "it is very important for our country's security that the United States Senate not vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution," and adding, "If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day." The White House has also issued a veto threat against it. Despite that, the resolution, chiefly authored by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, won bipartisan support. Several Republican senators, including Lee, Paul and Collins, signed on as co-sponsors. Earlier on Thursday, potential problems threatened to derail the resolution ahead of an the final vote, with Senate Democrats warning that an amendment filed late Wednesday by GOP Sen. Tom Cotton -- that Democrats described as a poison pill -- could draw enough support to pass and possibly make it difficult for the underlying bipartisan War Powers Resolution to maintain majority support. Ultimately, however, the Senate defeated the controversial amendment, clearing the way for final passage. The Senate voted to table -- or kill -- the amendment. The resolution "directs the President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces for hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran." It includes a provision stating that no part of the resolution "shall be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack." Despite some Republican support in the Senate, however, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has strongly opposed the measure, which is unlikely to win enough votes for a veto-proof majority. Lee argued during a news conference on Wednesday that the resolution is not at odds with the President's foreign policy agenda and objectives. "I support what the President is doing with our foreign policy," Lee said, adding, "For me, this is about supporting President Trump in his foreign policy, in his effort to make sure that we don't get involved too easily, too quickly, in an unconstitutional way, in any war. This is entirely consistent with his policy." Kaine argued Wednesday that the resolution is "not directed toward President Trump, it would apply equally to any President," adding, "It's fundamentally about Congress owning up to and taking responsibility for the most significant decision that we should ever have to make." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, however, argued on Tuesday that passage in the House and Senate will send a warning to the White House, even if the President vetoes the measure. "It sends a shot across his bow that the majority of the Senate and the majority of the House do not want the President waging war without congressional approval," he said. Debate on the Iran war powers resolution comes in the wake of a divisive impeachment trial in the Senate, which temporarily put consideration of the measure on hold as it stalled other legislative business while the proceedings -- which ended in acquittal of the President -- played out. Kaine introduced the war powers resolution last month following the President's decision to order a strike that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani. The House passed a similar resolution last month, but since the structure and text of the Senate resolution is not identical, the War Powers resolution introduced by Kaine would need to be voted on by the House after it gets a Senate vote before going to the President's desk. This story has been updated with additional developments Thursday. https://apple.news/A_GGcv7dHQHaPsoQ6cfzBdA

Wonder what effect the rocket attack in Kirkuk will have on the three seats for the Kurds? Man, hardline politics in Iraq is intense! Now we will see if cooler heads can prevail for the greater good of many, or corruption as normal.

KIRKUK, Iraq — A rocket slammed into an Iraqi base where American troops are stationed in the remote province of Kirkuk, Iraq's military and a US security source told AFP on Thursday night. It was the latest in a string of nearly 20 rocket attacks since late October on US troops stationed across the country as well as on the American embassy in Baghdad. According to three separate Iraqi security sources, the Katyusha rocket hit an open area on the K1 base at around 8:45pm local time (1745 GMT). Both US troops and Iraqi federal police forces are stationed there but neither sustained casualties, according to a statement from Iraq's military. It said security forces found the launch pad from which the rocket was fired, with 11 more rockets still inside, but the perpetrators were on the run. An Iraqi security source told AFP that the launch pad was found about five kilometres (three miles) from the base, in a multi-ethnic area. It was the first attack on K1 since December 27, when a volley of around 30 rockets killed a US contractor there and unleashed a dramatic escalation. Washington blamed the rockets on Kataeb Hezbollah, a hardline Iraqi military faction close to Iran, and conducted retaliatory strikes that killed 25 of the group's fighters. Supporters of the group then surrounded the US embassy in Baghdad, breaking through its outer perimeter in an unprecedented breach. Days later, a US drone strike at Baghdad airport killed Iran's pointman on Iraqi affairs Qasem Soleimani and his right-hand man, Kataeb Hezbollah co-founder Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. In outrage, Iraq's parliament voted to oust all foreign forces from the country, including around 5,200 US troops deployed to help local forces beat back remnants of the Islamic State group. Iran carried out in own strikes in response to Soleimani's killing, firing a barrage of ballistic missiles at the sprawling Ain al-Asad base in western Iraq on January 8. The troops had prior warning and none were killed, but more than 100 have since been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/rocket-attack-hits-north-iraq-base-hosting-us-troops-security-sources/ar-BBZYmLz?li=BBnb7Kz

With the all the unrest from the Shia in the south here comes a Sunni curve from the Kurds in the north. And it’s about a finance minister, fascinating. It it will be interesting to watch and see how this unfolds, incumbents and corruption mixed with protesters in the street. And a cleric that holds both the militia force and a majority in the parliament stuck in the middle. No wonder he flip flopping, he’s caught in the crossfire. Furthermore, the generation gaps between the youthful protesters, clerics in power in parliament and ayatollahs in religious power traversing national borders is binding. It’s like I’ve got a dozen pieces of Swiss Cheese here and need to stack them up so that I can put a stick in from the top and another one in from the side without touching any cheese.

It’s an Omen, wonder what is gonna happen next...

NY Times Article click the link above! A beautiful article about artistic expression in Iraq. Wonderful to see this side of the people.