BIRDDOG

This is how idolatry and false deity worship ends.... Allah can't even direct his own people to take care of their own. The world is seeing Islam for what it really is through this Iraq "experiment", a cruel and inhumane people who selfishly impose themselves on the world with no honor. No wonder the Babylonian Empire fell..... I'm still trying to figure out what they have to be proud of. Let's remember all that we have to be thankful for as we are with family this year and the grace and peace given to us as a free gift from the one true God Yahwe elohim!!! Thank you almighty God for your numerous blessings and the Hope You have given us as a free gift through Your death and resurrection while we were and are so sinful!!! BD

Saturday, Nov 20, 2010 Analysts say global uncertainties will reflect in this week’s trading Abu Dhabi Resuming trade after the Eid holidays, regional markets are expected to move sideways and take their direction from the developments on global fin-ancial markets in the week ahead, market analysts told Gulf News yesterday. “The markets are expected to go sideways. The prices in these markets reflect the global uncertainties and have factored in the negative news. People will wait for news...the markets need a driver,” said Amro Diab, head of GCC institutional sales at EFG-Hermes. “The markets will likely move in a tight range, with movements more on the downside than on the upside,” said Mohammad Ali Yasin, chief executive officer of Shuaa Securities. Damping the bullishness on global financial markets is the report that China may impose temporary price controls to counter the fastest inflation in two years, the government said on Wednesday. Price caps on “important daily necessities” and production materials will be used if necessary, the State Council said on its website. As well, there are fears the People’s Bank of China may raise borrowing costs as efforts to cool inflation with subsidies, sales of food reserves and price controls are likely to prove insufficient. Last week US stocks avoided a second straight weekly drop as higher-than-expected corporate profits and Caterpillar’s acquisition of Bucyrus International outweighed concerns about China’s decision to cool inflation. http://ae.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidGN_20112010_211141/Regional%20markets%20likely%20to%20move%20sideways%20after%20Eid

Marrakech, Morocco, 25 October 2010 - The Arab World Competitiveness Review 2010 finds that the global economic crisis has further widened the competitiveness gap between the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the rest of the Arab world region. The review, published ahead of the 2010 World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa, sees Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait outperforming other economies at a similar level of development in terms of competitiveness. In the overall ranking of 139 economies, they place 17th, 21st and 35th. United Arab Emirates is the only economy from the region that has reached the most advanced innovation-driven stage of development because of its diversified structure. It places 23rd within this group and 25th overall. Kuwait places second among the factor-driven economies (lowest stage of development). Tunisia and Morocco (efficiency-driven) rank 32nd and 75th in the overall ranking and outperform Egypt (81), Algeria (86) and Libya (100), which remain in the factor-driven stage of development. The Arab world's competitive strengths lie in sound and transparent institutions, macroeconomic stability and business sophistication. Countries will need to accelerate efforts in raising the efficiency of their labour markets, furthering the development and stability of financial markets, and reforming education. GCC countries have reached OECD levels on a number of categories of the index, such as institutions, infrastructure, as well as efficiency of goods, labour and financial markets. North Africa outperforms the Levant region in terms of infrastructure, macroeconomic stability, market size and innovation. The Levant region outperforms North Africa in terms of education, efficiency of goods, labour and financial markets, and business sophistication. As the special focus highlights, while the access to education has improved greatly, the quality lags behind best practice in OECD members in most countries. Reforms in the GCC economies have significantly improved the quality of education over the past years, while North Africa and the Levant stagnated. Over the past five years, efforts on average have improved the region's competitiveness and yielded better results in key areas such as health and primary education, higher education and training, and technological readiness. "Uncertainty and the shifting balance of economic activity towards the developing world will require strategic responses from policy-makers across the Arab world to best place the region's economies on a sustainable economic footing going forward," said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum. "In such a global economic environment, it is more important than ever for countries to put into place the fundamentals underpinning economic growth and development." Masood Ahmed, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund, said, "Enhancing MENA's competitiveness will be key for the region's ability to grow faster, create more jobs and fully reap the benefits of globalization. This will imply improving the quality of education, developing a more favourable business environment, as well as deepening and diversifying trade flows." "Education is the key to the future competitiveness of all Arab countries, but although access to primary education is as good as in OECD countries, tertiary education remains elusive to the vast majority of young people and the progress has been slow with respect to the quality of education," said Margareta Drzeniek Hanouz, Senior Economist and Director, Centre for Global Competitiveness and Performance, World Economic Forum and co-author of the review. "On a positive note, the education gap between boys and girls has been closed, although this does not yet translate into higher labour market participation for women." The Arab World Competitiveness Review's competitiveness analysis is based on the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) developed for the World Economic Forum by Xavier Sala-i-Martin and introduced in 2004. The GCI, core methodology of The Global Competitiveness Report is based on 12 pillars of competitiveness, providing a comprehensive picture of the competitiveness landscape in countries around the world at all stages of development. The pillars are institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, health and primary education, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labour market efficiency, financial market development, technological readiness, market size, business sophistication and innovation. The rankings are calculated from both publicly available data and the Executive Opinion Survey, a comprehensive annual survey conducted by the World Economic Forum together with its network of Partner Institutes (leading research institutes and business organizations) in the countries covered by the study. This year over 13,500 business leaders were polled in 139 economies. The survey is designed to capture a broad range of factors affecting an economy's business climate. The review also includes comprehensive listings of the main strengths and weaknesses of countries, making it possible to identify key priorities for policy reform. The review contains an extensive data section with a detailed profile for each of the 14 economies featured in the study, providing a comprehensive summary of the overall position in the rankings. http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20101025115137/Rising%20Competitiveness%20Gap%20between%20Gulf%20Economies%20and%20the%20Rest%20of%20the%20Arab%20World

22 November 2010 TEHRAN - Iranian Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi says that power is shifting from the West to the East. Safavi, who is the former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, made the remarks at a ceremony held in Tehran on Sunday to commemorate Basij Week, which started on November 20. "I clearly say that power is moving from the West of the world to the East of the world and in the current century, global power will be concentrated in the East of the world," Safavi stated. Elsewhere in his remarks, he said, "The countries that are strong in both hard and soft warfare try to make use of the world's economic, political, cultural, and security opportunities in a way which serves their colonial interests in the current century." For the countries which are strong in only one of those areas, global issues could serve as threats as well as opportunities, Safavi added. The Islamic Republic of Iran has great capabilities in the area of soft warfare, Safavi noted, adding that the Basij (volunteer) forces play a key and influential role in the field of soft warfare. He also said some of the sources of Iran's power in soft warfare are the late Imam Khomeini's ideology, velayat-e faqih (rule of the supreme jurisprudent), the population of 73 million, the country's national coherence and resolve, and its influence on regional equations in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine © Tehran Times 2010 http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20101122053644/Power%20is%20shifting%20from%20West%20to%20East%3A%20general

After hearing about the Harvard meetings (conference) sponsored by the Harvard Arab Alumni and MENA afiliates i started looking at what else may be going on and ran across a few articles..... some old and some new but definately suggests that there is way more going on with the world powers and ME powers. Check this out, just some food for thought. Dubai - 18th May 2010: With its latest deal, MerchantBridgeMerchantBridgeMerchantBridge and Co MerchantBridge Region-wide | Financial Services News | Profile | Officers , a direct investment and private equity company focused on Middle East investments, has now invested and managed in excess of US$1.5bn in debt and equity in Iraq. MerchantBridgeMerchantBridgeMerchantBridge and Co MerchantBridge Region-wide | Financial Services News | Profile | Officers has recently been awarded an existing cement plant contract under a 15-year lease in the Kerbala Governerate, 80 miles south west of the capital Baghdad. The contract was awarded by the Government of Iraq's Ministry of Industry and Minerals. This transaction marks the largest privatization and debt arrangement in Iraq (outside oil and gas), as well as the largest contract in the Middle East region so far this year. The plant will go through a complete rehabilitation program via an investment of US$200m and it is expected the facility will achieve production in excess of 1.8million tons per year. By 2013 the rehabilitated plant could contribute approximately 10% of the total cement market in Iraq. Lafarge, the world leader in cement production, is joint partner and will be operating the plant. The plant has been damaged by years of underinvestment and lack of spare parts and is operating at 300,000 tons per year, which is well below capacity. Domestic production currently meets around half of the local demand, a trend which is expected to continue for the coming decade. The current Kerbala project has already attracted investment interest from foreign direct investors, including the International Finance Corporation ("IFC"), the private arm of the World Bank, and France's Proparco, which is 67% owned by the French Development Agency ("AFD"). MerchantBridgeMerchantBridgeMerchantBridge and Co MerchantBridge Region-wide | Financial Services News | Profile | Officers is now embarking on a targeted campaign in the GCC to highlight the opportunities Iraq offers and actively encourage investment in what it considers the first 'live' opportunity for regional investors in the country. Mr. Basil Al-Rahim, MerchantBridgeMerchantBridgeMerchantBridge and Co MerchantBridge Region-wide | Financial Services News | Profile | Officers 's Chief Executive Officer, confirms: "Our strategy is to engage GCC and MENA investors and partner them on entering the Iraq market. The potential there is huge. With projects such as the Kerbala plant, MerchantBridgeMerchantBridgeMerchantBridge and Co MerchantBridge Region-wide | Financial Services News | Profile | Officers is at the forefront of creating unique investment opportunities, from their inception, identification of partners, deal development and on right through to the end. " MerchantBridgeMerchantBridgeMerchantBridge and Co MerchantBridge Region-wide | Financial Services News | Profile | Officers with its extensive experience and knowledge of Iraq, has generated substantial returns for its investors, as well as establishing a number of partnerships with international companies in Iraq. In 2003 and 2004, it advised the Iraqi government on the leasing of 35 state-owned enterprises in several economic sectors. Mr. Ameen Killidar, Managing Director, explains: "Iraq represents a unique opportunity for early investors given the expected economic growth to be generated by the massive investments announced by the IOCs and the large government reconstruction plan" The Iraqi government has estimated US$180bn of investment is needed over four years to fulfil its reconstruction and infrastructure programme, targeting sectors that will create a heavy demand for cement. Mr. Killidar added: "The Kerbala cement plant is strategically located to serve the needs of the entire south of Iraq and is one of the few plants which can produce specialised cement for dams, bridges, ports, airports, oil installations and any other construction where ordinary cement cannot be used. Our market potential is enormous, especially when you consider the needs of the international oil companies which have recently signed contracts with Iraq. The plant is already operating albeit at a much reduced rate due to lack of investments since the early 1990's. The qualified workforce is already present and the new capital will ensure that the plant is brought up to the latest standards." Construction and infrastructure are expected to remain the driving force in Iraq over the coming decade, with over US$140bn of projects already announced, of which US$60bn is from GCC investors. MerchantBridgeMerchantBridgeMerchantBridge and Co MerchantBridge Region-wide | Financial Services News | Profile | Officers in Iraq: MerchantBridgeMerchantBridgeMerchantBridge and Co MerchantBridge Region-wide | Financial Services News | Profile | Officers is amongst the largest private sector investor in Iraq, with the following track record: Mesopotamia Fund: launched a US$50 million fund, the first fund to invest in the Iraq Stock Exchange, which has a market capitalisation of US$3.3 billion. Mansour Bank: one of the largest capitalized bank in Iraq. Asiacell: 2nd largest GSM Operator with over 7.5 million subscribers. Oil and Petrochemical Sector: Formed a joint venture with Dalma Energy to provide drilling and other oil field services. Government: In 2003 and 2004, advised the Ministry of Industry and Minerals on the leasing of 35 factories in a number of economic sectors. Cement: Received a Greenfield license to build a 2 million tonnes cement factory in Kerbala (15km from the rehabilitation project). The project is currently in its inception phase. Iraq the Big Picture: With an improved security situation and the high price of oil, Iraq's economy is quickly rebounding and is expected to have real GDP growth of 6.1% pa over the next five years. The positive outlook for Iraq is supported by: The second largest proved oil revisers with 115 million barrels of high quality and easily extractable oil and 220 billion of probable and possible reserves. The tenth largest gas reserves in the world. The country is water abundant with two major rivers and large arable land area. Tremendous tourism potential with major archaeological and religious sites throughout the country. A young well educated population of 31 million. All sectors of the economy are expected to benefit from government development programmes as well as private sector investment. -Ends- About MerchantBridgeMerchantBridgeMerchantBridge and Co MerchantBridge Region-wide | Financial Services News | Profile | Officers : MerchantBridgeMerchantBridgeMerchantBridge and Co MerchantBridge Region-wide | Financial Services News | Profile | Officers is a direct investment and private equity group established over a decade ago by a group of industry veterans focused on the Middle East and Europe regions. It is authorised and regulated by the FSA in London and also has offices in Dubai, Baghdad, Basra and Riyadh. MerchantBridgeMerchantBridgeMerchantBridge and Co MerchantBridge Region-wide | Financial Services News | Profile | Officers also offers corporate finance advisory services in select situations to multinational corporations and governments including having been the advisor to the UK Ministry of Defence on their offset program in Saudi Arabia. It specialises in identifying opportunities across the MENA region and Europe and executing on complex, cross-border opportunities. It completed eight private equity transactions in Europe and the Middle East over the past few years with US$400 million in committed capital and investments with Enterprise Value of over US$$3 billion. In Iraq, MerchantBridgeMerchantBridgeMerchantBridge and Co MerchantBridge Region-wide | Financial Services News | Profile | Officers is already engaged in telecommunications ("Asiacell"), commercial banking ("Mansour Bank") and oil and gas services. www.merchant-bridge.com For more information please contact: Bassam Al Naimi SAHARA Communications Dubai Cell: +971 50 956 6829 Doha Cell: +974 327 6789 Email: bassam@saharagcc.com WWW.SaharaGCC.COM © Press Release 2010 http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100518081356?q=mena iraq 22 November 2010 RIYADH: The close cooperation of consultative councils in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states will reinforce the process of integration between countries in the region, said Chairman of the Shoura Council Abdullah Al-Asheikh on Sunday in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency. "The strong bonds of relationship between people in the GCCGCC countries, thanks to their common features, is a factor that makes them distinct from other regional groupings. The common features also serve as the driving force to unite Gulf people on governmental and people's levels," said Al-Asheikh, who is heading the Saudi delegation to a two-day meeting of Shoura councils and national assemblies in the United Arab Emirates that begins Monday. "This relationship will reinforce our efforts to put together our potentials and strengthen our cooperation at a time when all nations in the world are setting up groups of common interest. We can also turn to a closely knit unit of homogeneous parts to achieve the objectives that are aimed at by the founding of the GCCGCC," said Al-Asheikh. The meeting will review a report on the progress of the joint GCCGCC march and discuss the annual coordination plan for parliamentary and diplomatic engagements at international forums. The decision to hold periodic meetings of the Shoura councils in the GCCGCC was made in the 27th GCC summit held in Riyadh in December 2006. Its initial aim was to coordinate the activities of legislative and consultative bodies in the region to boost the cooperation of citizens of GCCGCC countries. "The influence of a country is measured by its membership in regional and geographical blocs these days. Our gathering has won success in the regional and Arab level. Still, we need deeper relations, cooperation and integration in all spheres of life." Al-Asheikh said. He also noted the efforts made by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to achieve the unity and integration of the Gulf countries in various fields. He also commended the efforts of leaders of GCCGCC countries for joint action in economy, politics, security, health, education, environment and sports. The secretary-general of the GCCGCC, Abdul Rahman Al-Atiyyah, will attend the meeting. In 1992, the late King Fahd announced new bylaws for the Consultative Council in the Kingdom. On Dec. 29 1993, King Fahd opened the first meeting of the new Shoura Council, the body was made up of 60 highly qualified Saudi citizens with specializations in all areas, mandated to make recommendations and give advice to the king. In July 1997, when the second term of the Council began, King Fahd expanded its membership to 90, and in 2001 he again increased the number to 120. Currently, there are 150 members in the council. © Arab News 2010 http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20101122040457 Monday, Nov 22, 2010 ABU DHABI (Zawya Dow Jones)--Heads of parliament from the six-member Gulf Cooperation CouncilGulf Cooperation Council, or GCCGCCCooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf AGCC Region-wide | Governmental Institutions News | Profile | Officers » Research , will form a delegation for a diplomatic visit to the European Union and possibly U.S. Congress, in a first joint diplomacy effort on the world stage from the Arab Gulf region. "This will be to explore and explain issues close to the hearts of GCCGCCCooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf AGCC Region-wide | Governmental Institutions News | Profile | Officers » Research nations," Abdulaziz Al Ghurair, speaker of the United Arab Emirate's quasi-parliament the Federal National Council, said at a meeting of GCCGCCCooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf AGCC Region-wide | Governmental Institutions News | Profile | Officers » Research parliamentarians in Abu Dhabi. Though officials haven't set a timeline, they have agreed to visit the EU as a first stop and could extend the diplomatic tour to the United States and Asia, Al Ghurair said. Heads of parliament at the meeting Monday formed a coordinating committee and drafted a framework for discussion of wider GCCGCCCooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf AGCC Region-wide | Governmental Institutions News | Profile | Officers » Research issues. "If our positions aren't unified and common, we will be weaker," Al Ghurair told reporters of making organizing pan-GCCGCCCooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf AGCC Region-wide | Governmental Institutions News | Profile | Officers » Research diplomacy efforts. -By Nour Malas, Dow Jones Newswires; +9715 0 2890223, nour.malas@dowjones.com Copyright © 2010 Dow Jones & Co. (END) Dow Jones Newswires 22-11-10 1134GMT http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZW20101122000056 This was a major concern by the major ME players....... By ARAB NEWS Published: Nov 12, 2010 23:51 Updated: Nov 12, 2010 23:51 AMMAN: Middle East stock markets closed week mixed ahead of a weeklong holiday marking the Eid Al-Adha feast that reaches a climax on Monday with pilgrimage over Mount Arafat, financial analysts said Friday. Investors are expected to keep a close eye on oil prices and reactions of global markets to the outcome of G20 group conference in Seoul and the brewing fiscal problem in Ireland, they added. “I believe what happens on global markets during the Eid holiday will have an impact on Middle East bourses when markets reopen,” an Amman-based portfolio manager told Arab News. “Oil prices will remain a key moving factors for regional markets during the coming weeks,” he said. Saudi shares extended gains last week, receiving support mainly from the petrochemical sector as crude prices climbed to a two-year high of about 88 dollars per barrel this week before easing. The Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) of the Arab world’s largest stock exchange gained 1.57 percent on weekly basis, closing at 6,443.61 points. In addition to the petrochemical firms which climbed 4.37 percent during the week, TASI also drew backing from the telecommunication sector which gained 2.4 percent. The liquidity for the week came in at SR19.12 billion as compared to SR13.76 billion for the past week. On a week-to-week basis, the sector activity was mostly negative with six out of 15 sectors closing with gains ranging from 0.08 percent by the cement sector to 4.37 percent by petrochemical industries sector. On the other hand the losses sectors for the week ranged from -0.08 percent by transport sector to -1.51 percent by retail sector and the industrial investment had no change. The top gainers for the week were Saudi Advanced Industries Co. with a gain of 13.93 percent to close at SR13.90 and The Knowledge Economic City with a gain of 7.74 percent to close for the week at SR8.35. The top losers for the week on the other hand were Anaam International Holding Group Co. with a loss of -8.51 percent to close at SR 40.90 and The Zamil Industrial Investment Co. losing -7.39 percent to close at SR35.10, the Financial Transaction House said in its weekly market commentary. Jordanian stocks were volatile last week as the attention of investors focused on the outcome of Tuesday’s parliamentary elections which produced a pro-government lower house. The all-share index of the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) went up 0.8 percent last week, closing at 2,356 points, according to the market’s weekly report. Kuwaiti stocks incurred losses last week, led by the industrial and insurance sectors, which plummeted 5.19 percent and 5.02 percent respectively. Kuwait’s KSE all-share index plunged 2.45 percent, to close week at 6,950 points. United Arab Emirates stocks were mixed last week. The Dubai benchmark shed 2.65 percent on weekly basis, closing at 1,692 points, due to lack of incentives ahead of the Eid holiday, analysts said. The plunge was led by the investment, transport and real estate sectors, they added. The Abu Dhabi all-share index gained 0.28 percent last week, closing at 2,758 points. Egypt’s AGX 30 index, measuring that performance of the market’s 30 most active stocks, edged lower, closing week at 6,763 points. http://arabnews.com/economy/article188444.ece TJI..... Other ME developments Saudi King Hands Over Power Temporarily To Crown Prince Monday, Nov 22, 2010 RIYADH (Zawya Dow Jones)--Saudi Arabia's elderly monarch, who left earlier Monday to the U.S. to seek medical care after being hospitalized late last week, has handed over power temporarily to Crown Prince Sultan. The crown prince, a brother of the king, arrived back in the kingdom Monday after a long break in Morocco and will manage the country's affairs until the return of King Abdullah bin Abdelaziz Al Saud, according to a royal decree announced today. On Sunday, the palace said the king, believed to be 86 years old, will seek treatment in the U.S. following a blood accumulation in the spine that complicated a herniated disc, a relatively routine but painful back ailment that required him to rest. The country's health minister said the king is in stable condition and good health. Limited information about the king's ailment over the weekend fanned speculation of a more serious problem with the health of the ruler of the world's largest oil exporter. The king has in recent days farmed out some of his responsibilities as head of state to key deputies. -By Summer Said, Dow Jones Newswires; +966-546-842373; summer.said@dowjones.com Copyright © 2010 Dow Jones & Co. (END) Dow Jones Newswires 22-11-10 1231GMT http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZW20101122000061/Saudi%20King%20Hands%20Over%20Power%20Temporarily%20To%20Crown%20Prince#ZW20101122000061 Maybe just proceedure, but maybe more to it????? Handing over power just for back surgery???? 15 August 2010 BAGHDAD - The Iraqi Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Mahmoud al-Sheikh Radhi, said that he rejects the notion that Iraq joins the World Trade Organization (WTO). "My ministry examined this issue considering its effects on the levels of labor and unemployment," the minister told Aswat al-Iraq news agency on Sunday. He noted that his ministry has conclusively found that this issue will negatively affect work efficiency in Iraq. © Aswat Aliraq 2010 http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20100816055846?q=wto iraq Maybe just smoke???? (Sorry if already posted) 21 November 2010 BASRA: The Iraq Navy's Command has received the first out of nine military observation boasts it had concluded a 181 million dollar contract for their purchase from the United States, according to a Navy Command source on Sunday. "The boat had been part of 9 boats, manufactured in the United States, according to a contract concluded previously," he said. He continued that the "boats carry the sign: "BB301," used in military observation operations, being supplied with advanced observation facilities. He said that those boats, once they arrive, are expected to contribute in developing the potentials of the Iraqi Naval Command, adding that their total cost would reach 181 million US dollars. Basra, Iraq's main outlet to the sea, is 590 km to the south of Baghdad. © Aswat Aliraq 2010 http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20101122053911/Iraqi%20Navy%20receives%209%20military%20boats%20after%20contract%20with%20US So as you all can see there may be more to all of this as the Guru's are saying. This truely seems to be a major undertaking and who knows..... maybe all these articles are smoke and mirrors, but it sounds like this is geared to unite the ME powers and stabilize all of their economies and global positions...... seems like too much on the line and happening for this to be a pipe dream. Just my opinion. thanks, Arf arf

Well, since you've been warned to stop being a "chicken plucker turd head", either contribute with some kind of educated/ speculative info to back your BS or take a hike sucka......

Syd 18:46 GMT November 16, 2010 DJ Fed's Bullard: Future Of Fed QE Program Depends On Economy - Bloomberg Radio: Reply Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said the amount of bonds the central bank will buy depends on how the economy performs. Everyone seems to be waiting and watching right now........

nyc ws 17:59 GMT November 16, 2010 jpy : Reply stocks are reacting to the forex (and bond) moves and not the other way http://www.global-view.com/forums/forum.html?f=1&id=873984

You are the man!!!!

Iraq Economists call for financial transparency law to be passed in 2011 with the balance ...  04/11/2010 Economists call for financial transparency law passed in 2011 with the balance Baghdad, Economists called the Iraqi government to pass a law of financial transparency with the file offset 2011 in order to reduce the manipulation of public money. And said an economic expert Mikdadi Fatima Ali told the Kurdish news agency (Rn) that "the Iraqi Finance Ministry by the provision of the law of financial transparency with the budget in 2011 to the Iraqi parliament to study it and then passed to the follow-up of funds at its disposal the financial ministries and governmental bodies." She explained that "the international economic system confirms that the budget for 2011 is identical to the terms of the global economic unless accompanied by the law of financial transparency during this year," noting that "the budgets of Iraq in previous years, lacks the foundations of exchange restrictions the financial world as it was not attached to the law of transparency of financial that saves money year manipulations of government officials in it. " The report of the International Partnership Budget called Iraq on 28 October that he "failed to achieve basic standards of transparency and accountability of the national budgets." On the other hand said the financial expert for the full OS Kurdistan News Agency (Rn) "The Iraqi government has to strive to provide accurate protection appropriate to protect the infusion of public money and tampering by government officials which Iraq lost a lot of money." "I imagine that the nature of the financial system in Iraq needs to review the real exchange rate, especially in terms of both its operational budgets, and complementary," noting that "the Ministry of Finance in the deployment strategy of the budget of any paper before preparation of the budget in its final form and presented to the Cabinet." He called the Iraqi Central Bank Board of Supreme Audit systematic scrutiny in the financial budgets for previous years. And usually sees the preparation of budgets, the country's financial and approval delays by the government and the House of Representatives because of the large number of objections and criticisms on some of its clauses, most notably the aspects of exchange and the financial allocations for some government institutions and the presidencies of the three As member of the organization said, "Economists" Sana Jabri's (Rn) "The 2011 budget assumes that government ministries to submit a monthly report to the Council of the Prime Minister on the financial expenses." She pointed out that "the Ministry of Finance in the preparation of the budget and the details is that a government committee on the economy and Graduate membership of the CBI, the Board of financial oversight mechanism to oversee the investment of the funds the budget." She added that "progress the Iraqi economic system based on structural capacity and staffing to offset the country's financial, especially in recent years with the accurate disclosure of the end of each fiscal year for expenses." The Council postponed the prime minister to discuss the budget in 2011 to an undisclosed time, in order to address the problem of the difference between the price of oil and oil ministries of finance ministries. According to the Financial Administration Act, No. 95 of 2004, the government should prepare a budget for the following year, in September of each year, in preparation for discussion at the House of Representatives for approval. The Iraqi Finance Ministry announced last month that the finalization of the draft budget for Iraq in 2011, and the new budget allocates a large share of investment, and to support the government's development strategy that will continue for the next four years. The initial budget for Iraq in 2011 about 86 billion and $ 400 million, assuming the price of oil is $ 70 per barrel, an increase of up to 14 billion dollars in the last budget. Many feel that the delay in adoption of the budget would put the country in the midst of another crisis, will reflect negatively on service projects and investment in the country. Revealed the Ministry of Finance reduced the gap in the cash budget in 2011 by 12% percent of the budget in 2010 Economists expect that the budget of 2011 would not address the inflation suffered by the Iraqi economy because of inflation the purchasing power of goods and imported goods as well as the absence of centralized economic decision in the country. The Central Bank of Iraq announced a low rate of inflation in Iraq to 2.7%, which encouraged the launch of liquidity for banks by 5% of the existing legal cash reserve has, in order to expand lending operations and advancing the development. Known that excessive inflation in the general level of prices and rising incomes in cash or a component of cash income such as wages or profits as well as high costs and excessive in the creation of cash balances. http://translate.goo...com/ar/aknews/3

1.00 US Dollar = 1,167.80 Iraqi Dinars 1 USD = 1167.8 IQD  1 IQD = 0.0009 USD Please note OzForex does not offer transfers from US Dollar to Iraqi Dinar. Mid Market Rates¹ Last Updated: 03/11/2010 @ 02:45 (Syd)

For months now, if you go to OZ FOREX and convert IQD to USD it has shown 1111.1 but if you convert from USD to IQD it has shown 1169 or close to that number. Switch it around and try the conversion and see what happens.

The thing is, I only asked that you back up your info. I have read many of your posts in the past and you come across very unwilling to be questioned. So I questioned you this time and we all saw your response. It just seems like two and two don't add up to four with you yet you scold people for questioning you. In this forum setting that just doesn't seem to fit. I have been questioned and even bashed for mere observations surrounding this speculative investment but have taken it just like everyone else.

If I say it is fact...it is fact....if it is speculation then I say so....and as I said....this is fact. How arrogant can you be.... Spoken like a true Iraqi Banker???

That is not speculation...that is not a rumor...that is 100% historical FACT. Any links or articles to back that up? I think at this point we are all looking for all statements to be back up with proof, too many inconsistencies from common screen names.... Thank you Viper for all you do brother!!!!