coorslite21

Vintage Appreciate the post.....your evaluation and thoughts on the subject are just as valid as anyones........hope you have the resources and time to enjoy those Grandbabies soon.......

KIRKUK, Iraq - A suicide bomber driving a car and gunmen disguised in police uniforms killed at least 33 people in the Iraqi city Kirkuk on Sunday when they tried to storm the police headquarters. It was the third major attack in several weeks in or near the northern city, an ethnically mixed area of Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen at the heart of a dispute over oil and land between Baghdad's central government and the autonomous Kurdistan region. My link It would not surprise me if they eventually split into 3 states.......not the best for us......but until they learn to live together a very real possibility.

not sure about the bashing.......I do know from what I've seen in the past years she works hard to figure it out.....and she's willing to share her thoughts.....so for you Bond Lady....Thank you...!!! keep up the great work......!!!!

The following quotes by the authors of the Second Amendment, their contemporaries, various state and federal courts, and others should be useful in the debate over whether that amendment protects a right of individuals or only the military. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Second Amendment states: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "On every question of construction (of the Constitution) let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed." (Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Johnson, June 12, 1823, The Complete Jefferson, p. 322) "The whole of the Bill (of Rights) is a declaration of the right of the people at large or considered as individuals.... It establishes some rights of the individual as unalienable and which consequently, no majority has a right to deprive them of." (Albert Gallatin of the New York Historical Society, October 7, 1789) "The right of the people to keep and bear arms has been recognized by the General Government; but the best security of that right after all is, the military spirit, that taste for martial exercises, which has always distinguished the free citizens of these States....Such men form the best barrier to the liberties of America" - (Gazette of the United States, October 14, 1789.) "No Free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." (Thomas Jefferson, Proposal Virginia Constitution, 1 T. Jefferson Papers, 334,[C.J.Boyd, Ed., 1950]) "The right of the people to keep and bear...arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country..." (James Madison, I Annals of Congress 434 [June 8, 1789]) "A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves...and include all men capable of bearing arms." (Richard Henry Lee, Additional Letters from the Federal Farmer (1788) at 169) "What, Sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty.... Whenever Governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins." (Rep. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, spoken during floor debate over the Second Amendment [ I Annals of Congress at 750 {August 17, 1789}]) "...to disarm the people - that was the best and most effectual way to enslave them." (George Mason, 3 Elliot, Debates at 380) "Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." (James Madison, The Federalist Papers #46 at 243-244) "the ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone," (James Madison, author of the Bill of Rights, in Federalist Paper #46.) "Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States" (Noah Webster in `An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution', 1787, a pamphlet aimed at swaying Pennsylvania toward ratification, in Paul Ford, ed., Pamphlets on the Constitution of the United States, at 56(New York, 1888)) "...if raised, whether they could subdue a Nation of freemen, who know how to prize liberty, and who have arms in their hands?" (Delegate Sedgwick, during the Massachusetts Convention, rhetorically asking if an oppressive standing army could prevail, Johnathan Elliot, ed., Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, Vol.2 at 97 (2d ed., 1888)) "...but if circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude, that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people, while there is a large body of citizens, little if at all inferior to them in discipline and use of arms, who stand ready to defend their rights..." (Alexander Hamilton speaking of standing armies in Federalist 29.) "Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation. . . Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." (James Madison, author of the Bill of Rights, in Federalist Paper No. 46.) "As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow citizens, the people are confirmed by the article in their right to keep and bear their private arms." (Tench Coxe in `Remarks on the First Part of the Amendments to the Federal Constitution' under the Pseudonym `A Pennsylvanian' in the Philadelphia Federal Gazette, June 18, 1789 at 2 col. 1) "Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American... The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state government, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people" (Tench Coxe, Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788) "The prohibition is general. No clause in the Constitution could by any rule of construction be conceived to give to Congress a power to disarm the people. Such a flagitious attempt could only be made under some general pretense by a state legislature. But if in any blind pursuit of inordinate power, either should attempt it, this amendment may be appealed to as a restraint on both." [William Rawle, A View of the Constitution 125-6 (2nd ed. 1829) "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for few public officials." (George Mason, 3 Elliot, Debates at 425-426) "The Constitution shall never be construed....to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms" (Samuel Adams, Debates and Proceedings in the Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 86-87) "To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms, and be taught alike especially when young, how to use them." (Richard Henry Lee, 1788, Initiator of the Declaration of Independence, and member of the first Senate, which passed the Bill of Rights, Walter Bennett, ed., Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican, at 21,22,124 (Univ. of Alabama Press,1975)..) "The great object is that every man be armed" and "everyone who is able may have a gun." (Patrick Henry, in the Virginia Convention on the ratification of the Constitution. Debates and other Proceedings of the Convention of Virginia,...taken in shorthand by David Robertson of Petersburg, at 271, 275 2d ed. Richmond, 1805. Also 3 Elliot, Debates at 386) "The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them." (Zachariah Johnson, 3 Elliot, Debates at 646) "Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?" (Patrick Henry, 3 J. Elliot, Debates in the Several State Conventions 45, 2d ed. Philadelphia, 1836) "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." (Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers at 184-8) "That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of The United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms..." (Samuel Adams, Debates and Proceedings in the Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at 86-87 (Peirce & Hale, eds., Boston, 1850)) "And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms....The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants" (Thomas Jefferson in a letter to William S. Smith in 1787. Taken from Jefferson, On Democracy 20, S. Padover ed., 1939) "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined" (Patrick Henry, 3 J. Elliot, Debates in the Several State Conventions 45, 2d ed. Philadelphia, 1836) "The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." -- (Thomas Jefferson) "Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence ... From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable . . . the very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that is good" (George Washington) "A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks. (Thomas Jefferson, Encyclopedia of T. Jefferson, 318 [Foley, Ed., reissued 1967]) "The supposed quietude of a good mans allures the ruffian; while on the other hand, arms like laws discourage and keep the invader and the plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside...Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world deprived of the use of them..." (Thomas Paine, I Writings of Thomas Paine at 56 [1894]) "...the people are confirmed by the next article in their right to keep and bear their private arms" (from article in the Philadelphia Federal Gazette June 18, 1789 at 2, col.2,) "Those, who have the command of the arms in a country are masters of the state, and have it in their power to make what revolutions they please. [Thus,] there is no end to observations on the difference between the measures likely to be pursued by a minister backed by a standing army, and those of a court awed by the fear of an armed people." (Aristotle, as quoted by John Trenchard and Water Moyle, An Argument Shewing, That a Standing Army Is Inconsistent with a Free Government, and Absolutely Destructive to the Constitution of the English Monarchy [London, 1697]) "No kingdom can be secured otherwise than by arming the people. The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave. He, who has nothing, and who himself belongs to another, must be defended by him, whose property he is, and needs no arms. But he, who thinks he is his own master, and has what he can call his own, ought to have arms to defend himself, and what he possesses; else he lives precariously, and at discretion." (James Burgh, Political Disquisitions: Or, an Enquiry into Public Errors, Defects, and Abuses [London, 1774-1775]) "Men that are above all Fear, soon grow above all Shame." (John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon, Cato's Letters: Or, Essays on Liberty, Civil and Religious, and Other Important Subjects [London, 1755]) "The difficulty here has been to persuade the citizens to keep arms, not to prevent them from being employed for violent purposes." (Dwight, Travels in New-England) "What country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms." (Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, Dec. 20, 1787, in Papers of Jefferson, ed. Boyd et al.) (The American Colonies were) "all democratic governments, where the power is in the hands of the people and where there is not the least difficulty or jealousy about putting arms into the hands of every man in the country. (European countries should not) be ignorant of the strength and the force of such a form of government and how strenuously and almost wonderfully people living under one have sometimes exerted themselves in defence of their rights and liberties and how fatally it has ended with many a man and many a state who have entered into quarrels, wars and contests with them." [George Mason, "Remarks on Annual Elections for the Fairfax Independent Company" in The Papers of George Mason, 1725-1792, ed Robert A. Rutland (Chapel Hill, 1970)] "To trust arms in the hands of the people at large has, in Europe, been believed...to be an experiment fraught only with danger. Here by a long trial it has been proved to be perfectly harmless...If the government be equitable; if it be reasonable in its exactions; if proper attention be paid to the education of children in knowledge and religion, few men will be disposed to use arms, unless for their amusement, and for the defence of themselves and their country." (Timothy Dwight, Travels in New England and NewYork [London 1823] "It is not certain that with this aid alone [possession of arms], they would not be able to shake off their yokes. But were the people to posses the additional advantages of local governments chosen by themselves, who could collect the national will, and direct the national force; and of officers appointed out of the militia, by these governments and attached both to them and to the militia, it may be affirmed with the greatest assurance, that the throne of every tyranny in Europe would be speedily overturned, in spite of the legions which surround it." (James Madison, "Federalist No. 46") "The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them. And yet, though this truth would seem so clear, and the importance of a well regulated militia would seem so undeniable, it cannot be disguised, that among the American people there is a growing indifference to any system of militia discipline, and a strong disposition, from a sense of its burthens, to be rid of all regulations. How it is practicable to keep the people duly armed without some organization, it is difficult to see. There is certainly no small danger, that indifference may lead to disgust, and disgust to contempt; and thus gradually undermine all the protection intended by this clause of our national bill of rights." (Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States; With a Preliminary Review of the Constitutional History of the Colonies and States before the Adoption of the Constitution [boston, 1833]) "The tank, the B-52, the fighter-bomber, the state-controlled police and military are the weapons of dictatorship. The rifle is the weapon of democracy. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military. The hired servants of our rulers. Only the government-and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws." (Edward Abbey, "The Right to Arms," Abbey's Road [New York, 1979]) "You are bound to meet misfortune if you are unarmed because, among other reasons, people despise you....There is simply no comparison between a man who is armed and one who is not. It is unreasonable to expect that an armed man should obey one who is unarmed, or that an unarmed man should remain safe and secure when his servants are armed. In the latter case, there will be suspicion on the one hand and contempt on the other, making cooperation impossible." (Niccolo Machiavelli in "The Prince") "You must understand, therefore, that there are two ways of fighting: by law or by force. The first way is natural to men, and the second to beasts. But as the first way often proves inadequate one must needs have recourse to the second." (Niccolo Machiavelli in "The Prince") "As much as I oppose the average person's having a gun, I recognize that some people have a legitimate need to own one. A wealthy corporate executive who fears his family might get kidnapped is one such person. A Hollywood celebrity who has to protect himself from kooks is another. If Sharon Tate had had access to a gun during the Manson killings, some innocent lives might have been saved." [Joseph D. McNamara (San Jose, CA Police Chief), in his book, Safe and Sane, © 1984, p. 71-72.] "To prohibit a citizen from wearing or carrying a war arm . . . is an unwarranted restriction upon the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of constitutional privilege." [Wilson v. State, 33 Ark. 557, at 560, 34 Am. Rep. 52, at 54 (1878)] For, in principle, there is no difference between a law prohibiting the wearing of concealed arms, and a law forbidding the wearing such as are exposed; and if the former be unconstitutional, the latter must be so likewise. But it should not be forgotten, that it is not only a part of the right that is secured by the constitution; it is the right entire and complete, as it existed at the adoption of the constitution; and if any portion of that right be impaired, immaterial how small the part may be, and immaterial the order of time at which it be done, it is equally forbidden by the constitution." [bliss vs. Commonwealth, 12 Ky. (2 Litt.) 90, at 92, and 93, 13 Am. Dec. 251 (1822)] " `The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.' The right of the whole people, old and young, men, women and boys, and not militia only, to keep and bear arms of every description, and not such merely as are used by the milita, shall not be infringed, curtailed, or broken in upon, in the smallest degree; and all this for the important end to be attained: the rearing up and qualifying a well-regulated militia, so vitally necessary to the security of a free State. Our opinion is that any law, State or Federal, is repugnant to the Constitution, and void, which contravenes this right." [Nunn vs. State, 1 Ga. (1 Kel.) 243, at 251 (1846)] "The provision in the Constitution granting the right to all persons to bear arms is a limitation upon the power of the Legislature to enact any law to the contrary. The exercise of a right guaranteed by the Constitution cannot be made subject to the will of the sheriff." [People vs. Zerillo, 219 Mich. 635, 189 N.W. 927, at 928 (1922)] "The maintenance of the right to bear arms is a most essential one to every free people and should not be whittled down by technical constructions." [state vs. Kerner, 181 N.C. 574, 107 S.E. 222, at 224 (1921)] "The right of a citizen to bear arms, in lawful defense of himself or the State, is absolute. He does not derive it from the State government. It is one of the "high powers" delegated directly to the citizen, and `is excepted out of the general powers of government.' A law cannot be passed to infringe upon or impair it, because it is above the law, and independent of the lawmaking power." [Cockrum v. State, 24 Tex. 394, at 401-402 (1859)]

++++ I am not a fan of IPO's anywhere......however seeing that you jumped in, you might find this article interesting....there or 3 cell carriers in Iraq......and, perhaps Zain will be taking a hit in the near future.....which might be of some benefit to you. http://alliraqnews.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27271:nusayif-urges-to-clear-kuwaiti-stocks-within-zain-telecommunications-firm&catid=35:political&Itemid=2

SW.....thanks.......well thought out and written..........very comfortable with either you, or Zeppelin "Rambling On"...

so much to ponder about this possible RV.....I wonder how this will all be affected in March when Isreal and Iran go at it....????

Every morning for 7 years I have said to myself when I awake......."Self,....it ain't gonna happen today!".........so I gues that makes me 2555 outta 2555 in my GURU projections.......even better than OKIE...!!!!!

Hey go to this link......post #2.....click on that link......... http://dinarvets.com/forums/index.php?/topic/134012-has-anybody-seen-this-warning-when-trying-to-access-their-e-banking-account/

Adlon...............my guess to the answer of why .27 cents would be that the Saudi Riyal is pegged to the USD at that amount..... Now I have never understood the desparity between the Saudi's being at .27 cents......and Kuwait at at $3.54........really.......both ME countries that are so similar by the numbers..... As for prediction of the 10th by this lady........the clock is ticking..........her 15 minutes of fame are starting to fade........ of course she could play the "early" OKIE card...........he has been saying for years when he called an RV, (multiple tines)... and then it didn't happen...... that his info is so good he was just "early"........ and with that let me make my bold prediction..........it will RV "sometime".......!

OKIE mentioned that it was not the "Green Christmas" that he had predicted.......I'll second that....!!!! 64.9% of the USA was snow covered........wish he would get it right one of these times... ! http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa/

I realize it is only 1-1-2013.......and that Warka was to have made some payments by 12-31-2012... or they would be shut down....... well.....website is still up......and still able to access personal banking ..........also.....the semi annual interst on the accounts were paid on 12-30-2012...... perhaps they will shut down.......but I doubt it.....seems to be business as usual at this time....!!!!.....JMO Happy New Year Everyone......

Some of you might want to research this. Many uses.......this could revolutionize many sectors in the business world. http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread791628/pg1

Interesting link........Do you read and speak Arabic???? JMO.......Warka will not be liquidated........Iraq is never going to screw the foreign investment world that way and then ask them to invest in Iraq after an RV....... of course...I guess if there is an RV before the 31st.....that would fix this problem as well........ just now listening to that radio link you supplied......music isn't bad........not bad at all........Merry Christmas to you...

Agreed.......Delta is just as good, if not better than the next guy.......he is on my short list of people providing good information........is he perfect.....always right???? Nope.........

+++ You have commented on this very well......Thank you for your thoughts........ I look at this as a 3 pronged investment...... 1. Have physical IQD in my possesion....... 2. Have funds in Warka...which as you stated is the only hedge against an in country only RV.......... 3. and own stocks listed on the ISX........ and....... only have funds that you are willing to lose in these investments......that way you won't be hurt...... Merry Christmas everyone..... Merry Christmas to you Ski....... Warka is a hedge against an "In Country only RV"...........At the time I got involved with them they were not having any difficulties....... My belief is that because they are the only Bank that has this type of arrangement .......allowing foreign investors to participate...... they will not want to screw us by closing the bank.......... as this would not send a very good message to the many investors that they hope will invest in Iraq in the near future.... So, we will see........take care...

Yes......it works in Texas and in 24 States over-all........and each those states is in far better shape economically than Michigan......

+++++++ My Friend Umbertino, It is only logical for President Obama to express his thoughts this way........The Unions helped him in the past 2 elections so he owes them.....reality is...look at what Detroit has become...... and yes.....the whole country has suffered.....but not like Detroit and the SE part of Michigan........the difference between the rest of the country and Detroit..........The Unions......

Michigan, especially Southeast Michigan, needs this Right to Work law very badly.....Detroit used to have a population of 1.2 million people.........today there are less than 700,000.......much of the auto industry has left.......along with many of the businesses that worked in support of these Auto Companies..........The Unions priced themselves out of jobs.....and jobs were moved........Other Industry has had no interest to move into Detroit, and area, because of the Unions.......These are just the facts.........A once proud Detroit is now a shell of what it once was.......hopefully the Right to Work Act will encourage new business back into the city.... JMO http://thetruthwins.com/archives/detroit-one-of-our-greatest-cities-has-become-a-desolate-wasteland-where-the-lawless-reign

Adam......as always....thanks.......the article listed below discusses the reality that some major US oil companies are opting out of the Iraqi oil grab for various reasons. If China becomes the major foreign player in the Iraq oil industry.... pre RV... do you see this having any potential impact on us as investors? http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/12/05/China-grabs-Mideast-oil-as-US-power-dips/UPI-79421354730140/

++++ Hey Rod......I agree these thoughts and I have heard Adam mention them......Maliki may give us the highest rate...the quickest...... my fear is that with his ties to Iran.....and the dislike he seems to carry for all of the "infidels".....(us)... that he is more likely to try to cut us all out of the deal.......personally I would like to see him go before the RV.......even if it costs us a little time....... Merry Christmas to you and your family......!!!

sorry for the small print and run on words.......something going on with the program.....and by the time I tried to fix them I was locked out....unable to edit....

WW….yes,your conclusion would be right….if that was the link I had wanted to post. Forgive mefor wasting your time reading that…I had my mind on many things last night….Ihad researched that link in regards to historical references to what we call aLOP……and nope….I’m not on the LOP train regarding the IQD. With thatsaid let me add that I believe History is a very good indicator of what mighthappen in the future, as it tends to repeat itself.…an example of this is thatno Fiat currency has ever succeeded…..they all fail…….and the average length oftime is 40 years, or so……The USA moved to a Fiat currency in 1971. The originalposter was right in that in recent history there has never been any occurrencewhere a currency increased in value by a substantial amount like we arepotentially looking at with the IQD, and VND. History does tell us that this type of event hasoccurred, although not recently. TheByzantine Empire was the aftermath of the Roman Empire and encompasses a periodof time from about 324 AD to 1453 AD. There were a number of dynasties during thisperiod of time that became the prominent forces in the region over that periodof time. During much of this time theone consistent currency was the Solidus, a unit of gold, (coins) with anengraving of Jesus Christ on one side and Justinianian II on the flipside. (originally minted in the 560’s+AD)…Throughout this period of time the Byzantine Empire evolved and existed,and prospered throughout Europe and Asia. Constantinople which is now known as Istanbulwas a Central Hub to this Empire during its history. You can learn about the many upwardrevaluations of currency that occurred within this empire for the thousandyears or so that it existed, in a book written by Cyril Mango…. the book is......The OxfordHistory of Byzantium. In additionto the currency information in the book I found it interesting that from 674 AD-678AD much of Constantinople was destroyed by the Arabs during the UmayyadCaliphate which was the second Caliphate….. My point in adding this is that history isstill repeating itself today….we are facing another Caliphate in today’sage…..The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, Arabia, in 570 C.E. and died in632 CE……and the simple fact is that the Islamic sacred traditions are filledwith prophecies foretelling the triumph of Islam over the whole world…. Muhammad said,“I have been ordered to fight the people until they all say: ‘None has theright to be worshiped other than Allah.’” (Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 84,Number 59, Narrated Abu Huraira) The eventual conquest and completeIslamicization of the earth is as natural of an expectation for most Muslims asthe rising of the Sun. Theologically, Muslims have a sense of divineentitlement, believing that complete world domination is their calling anddestiny. Getting backto the currency…at that time, (674AD), the Umayyad taxation and administrativepractices were widely perceived as absolutist, oppressive and unjust, deviatingfrom the precepts of Islam and at this time Syria exercised a re-valuation ,doubling the value of their currency in an effort to alleviate unrest that theyfeared would escalate into civil wars amongst the Muslims…..this efforteventually failed as the Second Muslim Civil war occurred from 680AD – 692AD Apparently raisingthe value of a currency hasn’t always fixed the problems….sometimes it’s just aband aid… A Bit More…… In the year867AD the Macedonian dynasty started………this was started by the accession of Basil I to the throne in 867,This dynasty included some of the most able emperors in Byzantium's history,and the period is one of revival and resurgence. The Empire moved fromdefending against external enemies to re-conquest of territories formerly lost.In addition to a reassertion of Byzantine military power and politicalauthority, the period under the Macedonian dynasty is characterized by acultural revival in spheres such as philosophy and the arts. There was moreovera conscious effort to restore the brilliance of the period before the Arab andSlavic invasions, and the Macedonian era has been dubbed by some scholars as the"Golden Age" of Byzantium. Though the Empire was significantly smallerthan during the reign of Justinian, it had regained significant strength, asthe remaining territories were less geographically dispersed and morepolitically, economically, and culturally integrated. As you mightguess, that leader, Basil 1, led his people to great prosperity, and some ofhow he did it was thru revaluing currency based on resources, he tripled thevalue….and did great things with infrastructure to the country ( this name, Basil, should not be confused with ourcurrent Basel 1 bank reforms issued in 1988…besides being spelled differentlythey have nothing to do with one another) During the period of time, (324AD - 1423AD) and throughout history, there was constantconflict with the Arabs and the rest of the world……and, there always will beconflict like this because of the Islamic Caliphate ideal outlined above…… Basil II wasin power from 976AD -1025AD and he helped bring the dynasty back to greater prominence againthrough various means….Currency manipulation was a small part of this….but mostly a heavyhand as he defeated the Bulgarians after 20 years of war…..it might be a bit ofa stretch…but even then I believe war was good business….. and historically formany years in the past century we have heard that very same thing being said… My point tothe original poster is that there have been substantial RV’s in the history of the world…..although,none recently like we hope to see in the near future with the IQD and VND. For me history can predict much of thefuture……history tells us our Fiat currency will fail….history also tells usthat there are always solutions, new programs and ideas that keep us all movingforward….Forgive me for my previous post with the wrong link…..and also if Icame across as sarcastic in my post, no offense was intended… We arefacing difficult times ahead unlike any I can find in history. It is the magnitude of the entire world beingtied together as one that makes this such a daunting challenge. The powers that be will steer the ship inwhatever direction they chose….I believe the financial issues at hand will beresolved and I believe the IQD is a small part of that solution. Then as history tells us….in the future therewill be other challenges ahead…..and I believe those will be met as well…. Take care…..Tisthe Season..

+++++ I doubt you will understand this when you read it......but thought I'd post it any way.........first off....to keep it simple......the world situation today is unprecedented....because the whole world is in a financial mess.... throughout history many countries have fallen on hard times....usually causing some sort of hyper-inflation........(and really the key word here is inflation).... +++some of those instances have been covered in previous posts+++..... various methods have been used to curb inflation......and by definition that process is revaluating currency controling inflation so people can aford food without having to take a suitcase full of money to the grocery store to buy a loaf of bread... I believe you are saying that these revaluations haven't happened instantly with huge percentages of appreciation....I understand your line of thought...... but please take a few minutes and read this article.....it might help.......or perhaps it will further confuse you...... my main point here is really that throughout history many countries have faced financial doom.......and throughout history these countries have solved the problems.....and prospered once again......... Iraq's woes were caused by unusual circumstances.......just like Kuwait.......Kuwait has risen from the ashes.....just ike Iraq will.......and neither will have happened over night, instantaniously..... Best wishes to you in the upcoming Christmas season...... Peace love and hope....tis the season....! http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/31/zimbabwe.inflation

I have to admit that I am a lover of nature.....I worry about the planet too......and with that.....last winter in the US was rather warm and there wasn't much snow.......this year from what I hear there isn't much snow yet either....and of course the media is whining about global warming and how the planet is being destroyed by all of us.......(yep.....that would be you and me!) So shouldn't Global Warming be Global?.......last year in Europe and Asia they had one of the coldest, hardest winters on record......BTW...the pictures are great on this link.... http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/jaw-dropping-photos-of-europes-deadly-winter this year already... Russia,... near Moscow, had a 2 day snow storm that had traffic backed up for 120 miles on one road.....(and this wasn't even Siberia..!) http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4678774/120-mile-long-traffic-jam-moscow.html and tonight as we all sit by our hydro carbon smoke producing fire places preparing for Santa to arrive in a few weeks Great Britain and Western Europe is experiencing the latest bout of Global warming.... http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/major-winter-storm-for-uk-nw-e/58760 so......please do honor our Earth........but please use some logic when the talking heads of the news media try to exaggerate reality...... Peace love and hope to all...... tis the season... !