bostonangler

Are you interested in AI? https://www.technologyreview.com/s/604087/the-dark-secret-at-the-heart-of-ai/

We have that here and it has a nice ring to it... What it really means is a company can end your employment without reason. American workers don't seem to want any rights. The company mantra, "if you don't like it there's the door" is the new way of life for American workers. Lower wages, less hours and no rights.... Strange days indeed. B/A

But sadly there are many jobs AI will take. You know that imported beer company Budweiser is looking at self-driving tractor trailers? Have you been in an auto plant in the last 5 years? I have been in the new Volkswagen plant and most of it is robotic. I even read where a giant ad agency in Japan tested a script writing program against one of their best creative people and the computer generated creative was the winner... Of course all machines will need someone to repair them, but the average blue collar worker is not up on such skills. The average truck driver is not a plumber or carpenter. Many jobs will have to be done by humans, but how many humans such as taxi drivers, school bus drivers, welders, doctors, cashiers and countless others will be left in a tough situation? Maybe we need to spend tax dollars on education instead of building more bombs... JMHO B/A

I wasn't really bashing him, I just think he is inconsistent. The goat is consistently optimistic. I'm not saying she is right but she does remain interesting. Of course neither is even close to being as entertaining as our resident clown!!!! JMHO. B/A

Yuan, Yuan, everywhere a Yuan... Looks like the Yuan is quickly becoming a player in the reserve game. B/A

(Reuters) - Facebook Inc (FB.O) said on Tuesday it will ban ads promoting financial products and services tied to cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings. "We've created a new policy that prohibits ads that promote financial products and services that are frequently associated with misleading or deceptive promotional practices, such as binary options, initial coin offerings and cryptocurrency," Facebook's product management director, Rob Leathern, said. The new policy will be implemented across its platforms, including Facebook, Audience Network and Instagram, the company said. http://bit.ly/2FuwawS

I like this part a bunch. B/A

I hear that, but there is some great stuff in there.... If it is accurate, which of course we will find out SOON!!!! B/A

Where are we right now in this RV process? I will attempt to describe the process now underway using examples. I will also use a question and answer technique to help with anticipated questions. I hope I am clear enough. So let’s begin: I have been telling everyone for years about the RV process. What did I tell you? Let me review this with you again today and then we will see where we are in this process. The process is moving so quickly. Sometimes I still think Iraq is trying to buy time, as we are seeing repeat articles once again on the paying of some salaries. These have fresh dates on them but we know they are old and this business is already taken care of. So this is one concern I have. The other concern is the passing of the 2018 budget and the Article 140. We know that the ultimate goal to manage the Kurdistan “region” is to simply break it apart and administer it solely but the GOI government and eliminate the KRG. No more “Kurdistan region”. Instead these separated provinces will have their own local governments like the other provinces. The Sept 2017 referendum for liberation from the GOI was a wakeup call for the GOI and it is now time to move ahead to “decentralize” the KRG as it is today. The constitution clearly states this must be done. The budget is yet another one I am trying to figure out. I think perhaps the stalling for time is related to this issue. If you notice it seems to track together with last phase we are witnessing in the process to delete the zeros. In the past I told you that when the re-instatement occurs it will happen first in Iraq. Iraq will go to 1:1 and Iraqi citizens will not get rich. A 25,000 dinar note worth under the program rate is $25 USD. Under the new 1:1 rate the new $25 note categories will be worth $25. This is simple conversion for within Iraq. Did I say within Iraq? Yes, I said ONLY within Iraq. They are not lopping the zeros off for currency outside of Iraq. If you are inside Iraq and have a 25,000 note it would then be worth $25,000. I know this is very difficult for many to grasp the concept but relax. You are not living in Iraq and will not have to deal with it. Remember this – “a dinar is still a dinar”. Iraq is not going to exchange to dinar for dollars on every purchase. We are living outside Iraq and will exchange our dinar for a global currency exchange rate such as on FOREX. They are living in Iraq and will NOT be exchanging but “adjusting” to the new category notes. The operative word here is “adjust” and I will use this a lot in my review next of what is going on. I will explain this in much more detail below as I go thru my examples. The CBI told us the “rollout” will be “gradual and slow”. They told us they will use the ATMs to launch the new lower category notes. Remember no bank is going to give out FREE money so they will have their salaries in newly set up bank accounts with deposited salaries in the account to pay for the new category notes coming out of the ATM. Thus the rate also on their electronic deposit amount must also reflect the new re-instatement rate or they will get rich pulling notes out of the ATM. Get it? Everything had to first be synced up. This is why I was so excited when I began to see these parts to the process emerge slow over the last year. Get my excitement now? I have known of the process so it was easy for me to see it all playing out right in front of our noses. So in late December they requested the re-instatement and it was approved and began moving forward. However, this was conditional upon fulfilling mandates agreed to as part of the SDA (stand by agreement) which has ties to the periodic SDR loans. ( I will not get into detail on all this as you should all be VERY familiar with what took place with the last SDA and the loans tied to it). Part of the mandates was to pay all outstanding debts. This was completed last week for worker’s salaries but not for retirees and pensions. This is now the last piece to the puzzle. I suspect one of the major banks will be paying these out this week. So now we see the CBI is slowly adjusting to a new rate as they slowly complete the payrolls to the citizens. Note I did not say Iraq is rolling out a new rate. So don’t put words in my mouth. I know this is tricky to understand how they are doing this process and many will want to compare this to the re-instatement of the Kuwaiti dinar. You can’t compare apples and oranges and so don’t even try. Two completely different situations. If you go back and read or re-read my Dec 8th Special Edition on the history of the dinar you will see why I am saying this. It is all explained in that post. I will not repeat myself for those who are too lazy to read it. Question: A new rate how can this be? We have not yet seen it on FOREX? Answer: Relax folks. I told you in the past many times the re-instatement is a process and could take as long as weeks. This are just adjustment rates being used in the process. Eventually it will equate to a rate on FOREX. Did I not say this could take 3-4 weeks for the process to run its course? Question: So Iraq had an in-country RV then? Answer: NO! STOP this thinking and listen to me. There has been no in-country RV. Instead Iraq is going through the process of re-instating their currency. The CBI must slowly change the rate at the currency auctions to adjust slowly to avoid massive inflation in the process. In order to do this, they also have to slowly raise the rate on the payrolls and pensions files to coincide. Then the merchants because they can buy more imports for less they can lower their prices. Everything has to be synced up properly. They also have to let it all play out for a period of time to properly adjust it. Ramped inflation is their worst enemy and so this is the main reason why the process takes so long and they are being cautious. Please STOP any hype or hysteria and just relax and listen to me. I am going to guide you thru the entire process if you just would listen to me. Remember 95% of the citizens are still on some kind of government payroll either salary or retirement. So, it not a silver bullet approach like pulling a trigger to this conversion process. This is not a quick re-instatement like with Kuwait. Instead it is a slow, methodical process taking each ministry then by each providence, first worker salaries then pensions and retirements. Question: What do you mean by “taking each ministry then by each providence”? Answer: I mean to say they are paying out govt salaries and pensions gradually throughout Iraq. The CBI is not doing all on one shot but a taking their time gradually paying out to the country and allowing the merchants (the economy) to slowly adjust to it. Back to the story: As they progress, the rate is slowly rising as the demand is rising inside Iraq for the currency. Markets are slowly adjusting as people only now have a smaller and smaller amounts in their accounts as the value rises. The markets must adjust to allow them to buy the same amount of food, goods and services as before, but now at first for the same amount of money and then slowly for less and less. Example – a typical Iraqi is on the payroll and got paid $1,500 USD per month before the process began. This was equivalent to 1,500,000 million dinars (assuming program rate of 1182ish). So far so good? So now when they are paying them on the new electronic payroll files they are paying first 1:1 then gradually increasing the rate as they continue to payout. So in my example someone will now get only 1,500 dinars in their electronic paycheck instead of 1,500,000. This was the first giant leap. They deleted the 3 zeros. Get it? Again this is ONLY for within Iraq, for the process of “deletion of the zeroes” only so don’t worry. Then other provinces are paid out as they increased the rate slowly to 3.71 then the same citizen would still gets 1,500 dinars but the purchasing power increased almost 3 times. So with the same 1,500 dinars they are able to buy much more of food, goods and services. WOW! It’s like a massive deflation in prices because now the merchants can buy the goods for much less too from their importers. Question: Oh – but wait! Right now the dinar is not international so how can the merchants buy goods much cheaper on foreign markets. As far as the international community is concerned they are still at the 1182 program rate? Right? Answer: Correct but here is the tricky part to understand so read carefully! This is why the currency auctions can NOT go away until they complete the process. Foreign importers don’t give a damned about the dinar rate since they are still selling to Iraq and getting paid in dollars. Right? The currency auctions are still underway. Only the merchants now have more dollars since the rate went up. Get it? They can not buy more with more dollars. This is a “very slow” rollout. They are still converting the dinar to dollars using the currency auctions. So the merchants still go to the CBI currency window to convert dinars to dollars to pay for imports only the currency auction is not running off a rate that is slowly rising. This is why they can not yet shut down the auctions until this process is completed. I do not want to call it a “float” as the CBI said they are not going to float the dinar within Iraq at the program rate. They aren’t either since this is not a float but a rate adjustment for the re-instatement process. Get it? So in my example the CBI currency auction rate started at around 1 dinar to 1 US dollars. Just as I told you way back when I gave you the time line and the CBI’s next move. Go look back at the diagram I prepared for you. It is in my pictures section. Do you remember my timeline? It’s all there. It is all working out exactly as I told you. I have included the timeline again with today’s newsletter. Question: But when do we see the RV at the banks? Answer: Be patient I am going to tell you later in this newsletter. So back to my example – They paid out the first sets of salaries. So the merchants were able to buy more for less dinars, as they got more dollars for each dinar they went out and bought goods for less thus are selling them for less. But we are not done yet. Question: So the emphasis is more on the merchants in converting to USD and not the citizens? How do they prevent the merchants from taking advantage of the system and getting filthy rich? Answer: Yes you are correct there is the possibility this could happen. However, if you remember that merchants must produce documentation and receipts to importers in order to get the dollar at the auctions. So they too are limited on the amount of dollars they can get. There is a legal limit of dollars set by law. The CBI has this covered from all the angles … lol .. lol .. This is why it has taken so long to put this process in place and they needed the right time and conditions to execute it. They wanted to do this in EARLY 2017 remember? So back to my example – again the CBI currency auction rate “adjusted” (not floated) to around 1 dinar = 2.50 US dollars. They paid out the second set of salaries. So the merchants were able to buy even more for less dinars, as they got even more dollars for each dinar they went out and bought cheaper goods for less thus are selling them for even less. But we are not done yet. So back to my example – again the CBI currency auction rate adjusted (not floated) to around 1 dinar = 3.71 US dollars. They paid out the third set of salaries. So the merchants were able to buy even more for less dinars, as they got even more dollars for each dinar they went out and bought cheaper goods for less thus are selling them for even less. But we are not done yet. So back to my example – again the CBI currency auction rate adjusted (not floated) to around 1 dinar = 4.10 US dollars. They paid out the fourth set of salaries. So the merchants were able to buy even more for less dinars, as they got even more dollars for each dinar they went out and bought cheaper goods for less thus are selling them for even less. But we are not done yet. So back to my example – again the CBI currency auction rate adjusted (not floated) to around 1 dinar = 4.78 US dollars. They paid out the fifth set of salaries. So the merchants were able to buy even more for less dinars, as they got even more dollars for each dinar they went out and bought cheaper goods for less thus are selling them for even less. But we are not done yet since they still have to go through the payouts on pensions and retirements. This is coming very soon. Question: Did you use real rates in your examples? Answer: Yes, these rates are real rates that we have seen within the auctions. The citizens couldn’t care less what the conversion is to dollars as long as they can buy more. It’s the merchants that care. Question: Doesn’t this open up the currency auctions to yet tremendous liability for corruption at these higher rates while this process takes place? Answer; Yes, and this is why we read so much about not going on a float and all the currency auction corruption just prior to them beginning this process. This is also why they had to take down a lot of the corruption prior to doing this RV process. This is why this RV process will not last long and I told you this process within the country would only take a few weeks maybe even 3-4 weeks depending of factors. We are already in week 4. Do you now connect the dots and see how it is all tied together? How could I have explained this all to you years ago. You had to see this all play out to understand the process. Question: Oh – but wait a second the lower category notes are not yet out so how can these new rates be used? Answer: This is only the adjustment process. It is a short period of time designed to put pressure on the economy to get the people requesting/demanding the newer notes and the necessity for them. Also remember they are using their debit cards at the marketplace with POS systems so the demand for cash is much, much less. But there will be a “breaking point” and all of a sudden, they will move the new rate out to FOREX and all hell will break lose. The dam will bust wide open. The ATMs will then disperse the new category notes and the crossover or conversion will be completed. Then away to the banks we go….bada boom..bada boom! Question: Some have told me that they have seen the new category notes out already in Iraq. Is this true? Answer: Officially the lower notes have not yet been launched. Of course some banks may have already sold some of them in the cash shortages in Iraq but they are worthless and they are telling the citizens now in the education process to hold on to them, they will be worth something soon. I liked that statement! Question: You said they had to adjust for inflation first and this is why they had to go through this long “adjustment” process. Is this still true? Answer: Yes! This entire process is to avoid extreme inflation and very susceptible to it if the process is not controlled properly. The CBI and the IMF has told us this over and over again. Question: So how much higher will the rate go? We see it is already at $4.78. Answer: I do not know. I do know they still have to pay out the pensions and retirements and so there is potential to go even higher. Personally, I do not see going much higher and will probably settle downwards before they release it. The CBI can control it NOW easily since it is not on the international “one markets” yet. Some say they already saw a $5.00 rate and I can believe it. What will it come out at? Question: So when will we see the rate on FOREX? Answer: Good question. This is not now possible since thru this “adjustment” process they are determining the rate the economy can initially withstand. Once this is determined AND they completed all other mandatory tasks they will move the rate to FOREX. By they I mean the US Treasury who has control over this system. Question: We were told they already determined the rate and a date. Answer: Yes they do have a target date in mind to complete the process but the rate is yet not finalized. Yes, they do have a general ball park figure but until it comes out and they finish with this process, I don’t even think they know. So I don’t know who told you this or why they would say this to you. I guess just more of the guru talk. We have to wait and see. The important part is this process is VERY, VERY near completion and we are very close to the conversion completion and the lower category notes being launched. Once they do this there is no turning back. What to expect next? We know that the CBI told us that when they are getting ready to pull the final trigger to move international (FOREX and other exchanges) they would educate the citizens thru the news media. They are now beginning to do this as the CBI is now presenting short lessons on the new category notes. It is all over Iraqi TV and on bill boards. I will try to present photos of the new category notes in one of my next newsletters. NOTE: Have you noticed that there is currently literally NO published written news in the Iraqi news media about this process? This is intentional for now but I assure you the flood gates will open very soon and we will have tons of articles to read about this process. But this will happen only AFTER THE FACT or right about at the end. I know many of you may be thinking of doubts in what I am telling you. I fully understand your opinions as there has been so much confusion put into the mix with all this crap about Nesara, Gesara, GCR (or whatever they are calling it today, as the hold up. It is NOT. I can assure you the ACTUAL re-instatement process is NOW underway and is moving forward. It has been underway now for almost 3 weeks now on our 4th week. It is now only a couple days remaining in January. I was told we would see this in January and I am still sticking to this until they tell me otherwise. We have to be mentally prepared for this possibly to extend out a few more days or even a week if Iraq does not rollout everything on time, as the process dictates. You know Iraq they hardly every complete anything on time….lol…lol… We also know the Finance Ministry wants this by the end of January in order to start the new fiscal year with the new rate and then move into the new accounting procedures that allow for periodic market adjustments. Yes- they have a brand new automated electronic computer based system for this purpose. It is all tied into tracking the budget expenditures – budgeted to actuals. As of yesterday, I was told they are still on target. So I want to refocus and concentrate on our PRIZE at the end of this very long journey. The PRIZE is the revalued IQD not some global “New World Order”. More news…. From https://cbi.iq/videos/section/78 Recently a video section went under construction on the CBI web site which I have been told will be an educational site for the newer category notes. It will be everything needed for information in the handling of these newer category notes such as security features, denominations, ATMs, etc. ************************************************************* Formal Articles are below. Due to FACEBOOK limitations they do not print my RED colored fonts or italics, so my comments are in brackets ( ) throughout the articles. I will preface my comments with “mnt Goat” so you know I am jumping in with observations. Also, I separated the articles with asterisks. ************************************************************* Articles Begin ABADI’S WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION MUST BEGIN WITH MALIKI AND HIS HENCHMEN Corruption IS THE MOST DANGEROUS OBSTACLE AGAINST IRAQ’S DEVELOPMENT. As the country enjoys many natural resources like minerals and oil, the international community is concerned with Iraq’s high level of corruption. Corruption in Iraq has caused severe poverty in Iraq, which led to civil and sectarian strife that caused the extreme damages to the country’s infrastructure. Shia parties lead corruption After the US invasion to Iraq in 2003, Shia parties seized all the important posts in the government and led a widespread corruption campaign, which analysts assert that IRAQ’S LOSSES HAVE REACHED OVER 1,000 BILLION DOLLARS DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS. (Mnt Goat – and they continue to have a deficit of over 25 billion? Why? There is plenty of money but it is being stolen by the politicians) The most prominent entity that led this campaign was the ruling Dawa party, led by the former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, who was described by experts as the “Godfather of Corruption” as he is implicit in numerous corruption, graft and embezzlement cases. Recently, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi launched a campaign against corruption in Iraq, but analysts told The Baghdad Post THAT UNTIL NOW ABADI DIDN’T DARE TO PRESS ANY CHARGES AGAINST MALIKI. They added that as Abadi’s popularity increased after the victory against ISIS, the prime minister seeks to increase his popularity ahead of the elections by pretending to fight corruption, describing this campaign as an “electoral propaganda”. Politicians are also skeptical from Abadi’s actions, after Abadi extradited the former trade minister Abdul Falah al-Sudany from Lebanon after cooperating with the Interpol, and the son of the Luai al-Yasiri the governor of Najaf in a drug trafficking case. They fear that these actions are just a show ahead of the elections and the Iraq’s reconstruction conference that will be held in Kuwait in February. His actions just aim at ensuring investors that their donations and investments won’t be embezzled by corrupt officials and politicians. The Iraqi people wish to see the anti-corruption slogans practiced on the ground, away from the occasion of elections or the upcoming Kuwait conference, and away from personal and electoral gains TO INCLUDE ALL CORRUPT POLITICIANS NO MATTER HOW STRONG OR INFLUENTIAL THEY ARE. (Mnt Goat – can we apply this same procedure on corruption the US Govt too. Its time to drain the swamp. ) Analysts say, during his tenure from 2006 to 2014, Maliki accumulated power and influence that surpassed the incumbent Abadi, STRESSING THAT THIS IS THE REASON WHY THE PM CAN’T HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS CRIMES THAT LED TO THE BANKRUPTCY OF IRAQ AFTER HIS EMBEZZLEMENT OF IRAQ’S OIL PROFITS AND THE COUNTRY’S DESTRUCTION IN THE WAR AGAINST ISIS. They added that If Abadi is serious in his war against corruption then he must begin with Maliki and his henchmen. ************************************************************* RECEIPT OF THE RETIREE MONTHLY SALARY BY ELECTRONIC PAYMENT TOOLS Al-Rafidain Bank announced on Saturday 1/26 that it used a modern technology to adopt the retiree’s fingerprint in granting the advance instead of the guarantor. The bank said in a press statement that “the deduction of the amount of pension advance of three million dinars is through the RECEIPT OF THE RETIREE MONTHLY SALARY BY ELECTRONIC PAYMENT TOOLS.” He pointed out that “the use of this modern technology to adopt the fingerprint of the retiree in granting the advance instead of the sponsor,” noting that “the implementation of this electronic mechanism and not manually, has led to a breakthrough quality and modern development and reduced the risk in the work of the bank.” (Mnt Goat – this article came out on Saturday and they a follow-up article [see article second to last] came out on Monday that these retirement salaries are going to be paid out, however some are to be paid in cash. This they do not like to do at this point in time as they told us “not manually”. I suspect this may change later, lets watch for this in the news.) ************************************************************ THE CENTRAL BANK OBLIGATES BROKERAGE COMPANIES TO DEPOSIT FINANCIAL GUARANTEES FOR THE CONTINUATION OF CURRENCY SALES The Euphrates – The Central Bank of Iraq announced on Sunday that it is obliged to mediate between the two companies to buy and sell the dollar. The bank said in a statement that on the basis of the decision of the board of directors of this bank decided to choose the companies to mediate in providing letters of guarantee to the bank not to abuse the use of the privilege granted to them, according to two things must be adhered to. He added that: 1) the first is to provide the bank with a letter of guarantee of 50% of the capital of the company issued by one of the banks approved by the Central Bank, and 2) the second is to deposit the amount of 100 million dinars in the deposit account with this bank by depositing in a bank authorized by this the bank. (Mnt Goat – announced on Sunday? This is very old news, at least 3 weeks old already. Why are they bringing this news out again? ) ********************************************************************** AL-RAFIDAIN BANK ANNOUNCED THE ACTIVATION OF THE SERVICE OF TRANSFERRING FUNDS Baghdad / SNG – Al-Rafidain Bank announced the activation of the service of transferring funds to citizens electronically between the branches of the State Bank on the one hand and private banks on the other in Baghdad and the provinces. The bank’s information office said in a statement received by the SNG agency, a copy of it that “it was decided to apply the system of remittances electronically and a citizen who has funds in the banks of civil governorates can transfer his assets to Rafidain Bank in any province quickly. “This step also includes a citizen who does not have an account at the bank who can also transfer his money wherever he is,” the statement said. ************************************************************* IRAQ HAS BEEN PAYING THE REST OF THE MONTH JANUARY FOR THE RESTITUTION OF THE SO-CALLED “FINANCIAL COMPENSATION” FOR THE INVASION OF KUWAIT BY SADDAM HUSSEIN’S REGIME IN 1991 KUWAIT (Reuters) – Iraq’s foreign minister, Khalid al-Jarallah, said on Saturday that Iraq has been paying the rest of the month for the restitution of the so-called “financial compensation” for the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein’s regime in 1991. According to the Middle East Monitor , which reported the news, he stressed that Iraq has once again to pay compensation to Kuwait in financial terms, instead of the prior agreement that allowed Iraq to pay Kuwait gas instead of currency, stressing that the payments will continue from Iraq until 2021. The newspaper also quoted Jarallah as saying that the Kuwaiti government is conducting ongoing discussions with its Iraqi counterpart on the funds and properties confiscated by the former regime belonging to Kuwaiti citizens during the 1990s in order to transfer their ownership to them or replace them with funds paid by the Iraqi government. (Mnt Goat – to me this is WoW news and going right in line with what we should be seeing at this time since we know that, under the SDA, Iraq has agreed to catch up and pay all it re-occurring, outstanding debts prior to the re-instatement as a condition of it. This is why too getting out of Chapter VII proved to us this was taken care of. But remember this “gas deal” does not kick in until 2018 and do they had to complete the last quarter payments of 2017 to Kuwait as part of the deal. This is what we are seeing in this article. That is all it is. But the timing if perfect…. So now we see that they have caught up to the last of the cash payments to Kuwait. We now know that they came to an agreement with Kuwait that they would complete the repayment of these war reparations in a gas deal. They are now even constructing a gas pipeline to Kuwait for this purpose. Iraq is rich in natural gas and propane gas. They are not also making deals with Russia for the same. ) ************************************************************* PAYMENT OF THE SALARIES OF THE INSURED FOR RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY FOR WORKERS Baghdad / Al-Ghad Press: The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs announced on Monday that February 1 will set the date for the payment of the salaries of the insured workers and their successor to the categories of hand and smart card holders for the months of January and February 2018 in Baghdad and the governorates. The director of the Department of Retirement and Social Security for workers, Ali Jaafar al-Hilu, said that “the Department has set the first of next February as a date for the payment of salaries of workers secured for categories (MANUAL EXCHANGE and smart card holders) after completing all the necessary procedures for the distribution of salaries in coordination with the General Administration of Rafidain Bank, Who are entitled to exclusive agents to “the need to review the departments of the department for the purpose of issuing life certificates to them in Baghdad and the provinces.” (Mnt Goat – What does “manual exchange” mean? This means to pay in cash. Are the going to wait a bit on this to pay out in the new category notes of lower denominations? We wait to hear the news. This could also be the source of seeing some these newer notes now on the streets.) (Mnt Goat – this falls in line with what I am being told. They wanted to first pay out all debt to salaries and pensions of workers throughout Iraq for the month of January and catch up on any other previous months. Rafidain bank has the exclusive from the CBI in doing this effort. So now we see pensions being paid out. We should expect any RV until after this is completed along with the budget. Then what pops out in the news too – see next article- WOW is all I can say….This is going to be a busy week…) ************************************************************* BUDGET LAW ON THE AGENDA FOR MONDAY’S SESSION Baghdad / SNG – The House voted on Monday to include the budget law on the agenda of today’s session. “The House of Representatives voted to include the budget law on the agenda of today’s session,” the source told SNG. The House of Representatives held on Monday its eighth regular session of the last legislative term under the chairmanship of its president Salim al-Jubouri. (Mnt Goat – Ok, so here we go folks. Remember we are watching for this 2018 budget law going before parliament just before the re-instatement process in Iraq moves to the next level. I hate to say but “I told you so”. Here it is in the news, their words not mine. We are sitting on Jan 29th and we are told the RV will happen still in the month of Jan as a feasible target tmeframe. Can they pass the budget this week? Like I said before be ready to maybe wait another week worst case. Coincidental they are bringing the budget up for a vote today? I don’t believe in coincidences, do you?) ************************************************************* Articles End Their words not mine…..No Rumors, No Hype, No Opinions ,,,,, Just the FACTS! Disclaimer: All information in this newsletter is not intended for investment decisions / purposes. Mnt Goat is not a financial analyst, planner, banker, attorney or associated in any role with giving out professional investment advice. In ending I want everyone to know your constant prayers in the fight against evil (ISIS) in Iraq have worked. God has guided these young men and women on the battle field. Let us all now also keep praying. I have composed a prayer maybe we can all pray today in our own way and until the revaluation occurs. PRAYER “For the prime minister and all his cabinet members, and parliament that they may be anointed by the Holy Spirit to do God’s will and bring the free Republic of Iraq to the much-deserved prosperity and abundance thru justice and freedom from oppression and corruption”. That they may be a shining example for the rest of the middle east and the world to follow. In the name of Jesus Christ our King and Savior, Amen” Auf Wiedersehen Much love to ya all, Mnt Goat

It's all propaganda... We don't have news anymore, we have radio talk shows with pictures... B/A

I think it will be released... It is up to the president and his lawyers, but what's he got to hide? B/A

No truer statement has been made.... This we see daily and it is getting old. B/A

I agree... Although Luigi just brings rumors over to read where Breitling makes them up... But both are for pure entertainment only. B/A

Good for you... Not many watch this idiot. JMHO B/A

The director of the CIA expects that Russia will target the US mid-term elections later this year. Mike Pompeo told the BBC there had been no significant diminishing of Russian attempts at subversion in Europe and the US. He also said North Korea may have the ability to strike the US with nuclear missiles "in a handful of months". The US intelligence community has said that it believes Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Mr Pompeo, who briefs the president most mornings, dismissed as "drivel" recent claims that US President Donald Trump was not up to the job. The director's conference room on the seventh floor of the CIA's headquarters in Langley, Virginia, is lined with pictures of former directors and the presidents they served. And Mr Pompeo is clear about his vision for the CIA under President Trump. All you need to know about Trump Russia story Mike Pompeo: America's spymaster "We are the world's finest espionage service," he told the BBC. "We are going to go out there and do our damnedest to steal secrets on behalf of the American people. And I wanted to get back on our front foot." A year into the job, Mr Pompeo says his mission has been to unleash and unburden the CIA. It is an agency operating in an unpredictable world - one in which intelligence assessments can be the basis not just for military action, but also political controversy. Even though there has been co-operation in counter-terrorism (the CIA helped stop a plot in St Petersburg last year), Mr Pompeo says he still sees Russia primarily as an adversary, sharing the concerns in many European countries about its subversion. "I haven't seen a significant decrease in their activity," he said. Asked if his concerns extended to the upcoming US mid-term elections in November, he replied: "Of course. I have every expectation that they will continue to try and do that, but I'm confident that America will be able to have a free and fair election [and] that we will push back in a way that is sufficiently robust that the impact they have on our election won't be great." Mr Pompeo says the US is engaged in trying to counter Russian subversion. Some of this work was not the mission of the CIA such as helping people validate sources of information. But the intelligence community was involved in identifying who was behind subversive activity, using technical means to suppress it and trying to deter Russia. The Trump-Russia saga in 200 words Russia-Trump: Who's who in the drama to end all dramas? Mr Trump has been dismissive of claims of Russian interference in sharp contrast to the conclusions of the US intelligence community. So does the CIA director have to walk a fine line? "I don't do fine lines. I do the truth," he responds. "We deliver nearly every day personally to the president the most exquisite truth that we know from the CIA." Mr Pompeo briefs Mr Trump most days when they are both in Washington DC. The briefing covers current events and strategic issues. Ahead of visits abroad or meetings with foreign leaders, the briefings aim to provide the president with what is described as "informational advantage". "He is very focused in the sense that he is curious about the facts that we present. He is curious in the sense he wants to understand why we believe them." Fire and Fury 'drivel' Mr Pompeo is dismissive of the portrait painted in the recent book Fire and Fury which raised questions about Mr Trump's faculties. "It's absurd. I haven't read the book. I don't intend to," he says. (Quote of the day. Simply brilliant) "The claim that the president isn't engaged and doesn't have a grasp on these important issues is dangerous and false, and it saddens me that someone would have taken the time to write such drivel." Mr Trump's use of Twitter and frank language about foreign policy has been unprecedented, including calling Kim Jong-un "rocket man" and boasting about the relative size of his nuclear button. But Mr Pompeo argues such public pronouncements have helped impress upon both the North Korean leader and leaders of other countries the risks of the current situation. "When you see this language that the president chooses to use, there are many audiences for it and... I assure you Kim Jong-un understands the message that America is serious." Mr Pompeo said China was moving on the North Korea issue, as witnessed by recent votes at the UN, but there was still more they could do. North Korea's nuclear programme is high on the agenda. "We talk about him having the ability to deliver nuclear weapons to the United States in a matter of a handful of months," Mr Pompeo says. "Our task is to have provided the intelligence to the president of the United States that will deliver to him a set of options that continue to take down that risk by non-diplomatic means." The president and senior officials were "mindful" of the fact that all-out conflict could lead to massive destruction and loss of life, Mr Pompeo said. When asked if it might be possible to remove Kim Jong-un or prevent him from being able to launch nuclear missiles, he replied: "Many things are possible" - but did not elaborate further on what that might mean. Well it looks like we are hearing their excuses when the big change comes in November. JMHO B/A

Trey Gowdy is a classic example of what is wrong with America... Of course he is just one of many examples mind you. B/A

Thanks for the correction. My bad I had a big typo there or Freudian slip... Still the message remains the same. B/A

Do you know the last time we had a blue red super moon visible in America was in 1866? Andrew Jackson was president... I think God is sending us a message with tomorrow's celestial show... JMHO B/A

Don't forget the pizza joint in D.C.... Seriously, we have huge problem in America, but the conspiracy sites are getting old. Do you realize there are people who actually believe Mrs. Obama is a man? We live in a crazy world. If you think one side or the other in Washington is going to ruin their set-up you are only kidding yourself. Just keep voting for either of the two parties and things will never change. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity... They all need to be voted out. JMHO B/A

Crazy stuff man.... B/A

I find it odd that these guys don't get it... Right or wrong, you don't want to upset our intelligence people. Let's be honest every politician has a skeleton in their closet and they will find it. Why the party of law and order is trying to tear down our law enforcement agencies is really bizarre. JMHO. B/A

President Trump's aides say his first State of the Union address will be "bipartisan and forward looking"—and with a donation of just $35, you can have your name flashed on a screen during a broadcast of it. The Washington Post reports that Trump's campaign website, which will be streaming the address live, offers the name display in return for a donation of up to $2,700. "It's not about just one of us. It’s about ALL of us. Which is why your name deserves to be displayed during Tuesday night's speech," the website states. Trump has also released the full list of his 15 guests, including a blind double-amputee Marine who re-enlisted. The list of Democrats boycotting the speech, meanwhile, now includes at least a dozen lawmakers, all from the House, USA Today reports. Among them is Rep. Maxine Waters of California, a frequent Trump critic who says: "I don't trust him, I don't appreciate him, and I wouldn't waste my time sitting in that House listening to what he has to say." CNN reports that an embarrassing typo slipped through during preparations for the address: Tickets issued to some spouses and guests of members of Congress invited them to the "State of the Uniom" address. The tickets were reprinted and redistributed, though not before Democratic Rep. Raul M. Grijalva tweeted a picture of his, joking that Betsy DeVos must have been in charge of spell-checking the tickets. Have we no shame? Selling ads during a SOTU, maybe we should allow sponsors to put logos on our congressmen's suits... LOL B/A

Are we heading for another developing world debt crisis? Yup... B/A

So Nunes' memo is fake too? B/A

Yup the media is our enemy.... We saw how that worked in the past and we'll see how it works for the newest cry baby to shout it out... B/A