Pam&Brian

Those of you who are high rollers and have diamond/7star/chairman status at the casinos in Vegas may get a plane ride and free rooms, but the rest of you, forget it!!!!!!!!!!! I know because I work at one of the biggest casinos on the Strip in Vegas. If you are a regular gambler and have built up some points, then yes, you'll be rewarded in some way for your loyalty because the Customer is King on the Strip. However, the planes and the expensive suites belong the guys with a history of spending BIG $$$$$. A large group reservation could negotiate a fairly decent price in the current market but remember, the casinos have to make a profit so they will not just give away everything if they know they won't turn a profit from other revenue streams as a result of the promo giveaways.

I'm so glad BL does the research, saves me a bunch of time! Thanks BL! Anyone with time on their hands and a little intelligence can come up with the same information and make their own assumptions but in the end, no-one knows when this will RV - as Adam said, Iraq can last for a LONG long time without RV'ing..... I think we still have to wait for a while.... a long while...... then we'll see a low rate and it will float on the global forex market. If the demand for IQD is high, the price will rise, if the demand is low, it will just bump along at a low rate. It is what it is... a risk. Patience, friends, patience!

It's not going to happen before June, if that early. However, you never know with Iraq - they may surprize us!

it's "Bizarre"...... not "Bazaar"...... lol! A Bazaar is a street lined with shops and malls.... Bizarre means strikingly unconventional and far fetched in style or appearance!! So yes.... this is a "bizarre" post but it fits in well with everything else!!

OK... so a LOP is possible after all the hype and yelling that it wouldn't happen. I hate to be a negative nancy but this is starting to look like it was all too good to be true and we will end up with a loss. Well, I guess that's the chance we took when we invested originally. You win some, you lose some..... please believe I am just venting my personal frustration, not bashing anyone on this site at all - they are all good folks, in my opinion.

OK - so its the 8th today and nothing announced that I know of....... I guess that debunks all of the above!

MED has finally lost mind... finished!

yeah right! What about full WTO membership? What about ratified government? What about budget approval and proof of the rate the budget is based on? What about the 24 month term of the latest SBA approved for Iraq which only expires in February 2012? All these things and many more have to happen before we will see an RV. Patience my friends, patience.

I agree with Sonny1 because there are too many things still not done. Gov not officially ratified, no budget approval, waiting on full WTO membership, still in external and fiscal deficit and probably will be till 2012, Kuwait debt outstanding...... need I say more? All the rumors we hear are "HEARSAY"..... nothing more nothing less. Be patient for a few more months, at least.

Ok, listen up! The smart cards have been in the process of being "loaded" for months now... nothings changed, still no RV and still a bunch of work to be done before we see an RV... patience, friends, patience..... go back to work and forget about the dinar, it will give you a nice surprize one morning when you least expect it!! Happy New Year!

Special Drawing Right. An artificial currency unit based upon several national currencies. The Special Drawing Right serves as the official monetary unit of several international organizations including the International Monetary Fund, and acts as a supplemental reserve for national banking systems. For members of the IMF, the Special Drawing Rights can be used to settle trade balances between countries and to repay the IMF. An IMF member country has to supply its own currency to another member country in exchange for SDRs, unless that country already holds a certain specified amount of SDRs. Read more: http://www.investorwords.com/5779/SDR.html#ixzz19kSpOqpy

Has anyone wondered why the CBI only has two denominations on their website that are not in circulation? The 25 and 100 dinar coins. If they plan an RV at 1:1 (example only!!) they would need at least some small change and 1, 5 & 10 dinar notes, wouldn't you think? Makes me wonder..... that doesn't bode well for an RV with a decent rate. If for example, $1.00=25IQD then the rate would be 0.04; if $0.50=25IQD then the rate would be 0.02 and if $0.25=25IQD then the rate would be 0.01 Food for thought.......

Well said! I have been preaching patience forever..... and I think we need a little more till next year!

The same information was reported on FOX NEWS CHANNEL on TV tonight.

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- Former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi indicated Sunday that he will take part in the new Iraqi Cabinet that his rival, incumbent Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, plans to present to parliament Monday, effectively ending a months-long political stalemate. Allawi said in a statement that his al-Iraqiya bloc "will play our role actively, productively and cooperatively, and in a spirit of good faith and trust-building, as long as we find that this spirit is echoed and reciprocated by our partners in the political process." In the March 7 elections, Allawi's bloc won 91 seats, the largest number for any group, and al-Maliki's list trailed with 89. But neither group could come up with the 163 seats needed for a governing coalition. A power-sharing deal forged last month between the major blocs signaled a possible end to the political squabbling. A main condition of the deal is the formation of the National Council for Higher Policies. Although its authority and structure are still being worked out, its creation is said to limit the authority of al-Maliki. Allawi, who edged out al-Maliki in the March vote to gain the most seats, was seen as the man to head the council. His statement confirmed that Sunday. "The aim of this council is not to weaken or undermine the executive, legislative or judiciary authorities but rather to strengthen them by playing the role of a guarantor to push the agreed-upon programs and reforms in areas of higher policies; working to achieve political agreement; and as a vital institution to exercise true national partnership," Allawi said. His confirmation of heading the council and parliament's lifting of a ban Saturday on three politicians remove two major hurdles for the unveiling of the new government Monday. The politicians reinstated Saturday had been barred from participating in Iraqi elections because of a purported link to Saddam Hussein's banned political movement, the Baath Party. The lifting of the ban was a top requirement made by Allawi's bloc. Allawi's bloc is Sunni-backed, and the inclusion of Sunni Arabs in the government has been important to maintain national unity. Sunnis lost their clout after Hussein was toppled, and many became disaffected and supportive of the insurgency. The moves Saturday came as al-Maliki and Allawi met, according to a lawmaker close to al-Maliki who was speaking on state TV. Al-Maliki is expected to present a partial government on Monday for a parliamentary vote, four days before his constitutional deadline to form a government runs out. The government lineup, according to senior politicians, will be missing the three posts of security ministers (interior, defense and national security) who would control the country's army and police. Politicians say more time is needed to nominate candidates for these sensitive posts. http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/12/19/iraq.politics/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

It's obvious to me that people can't take the truth, especially when it's NOT what they want to hear. It's a very distinct possibility that the RV will not happen in 2010, a possibility I am leaning towards, for various reasons. Bottom line, my gut has never let me down and right now it's telling me to sit back be patient and maybe next year we'll all have a good Christmas. This is not negative, just reality.

Firefighter_218546, you are so right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No-one knows outside of a very small group of people who would not leak this this information because they know their lives depend on it. Speculation keeps us going and good deal of faith and economic insight. However, our greatest asset at this time will be patience....... this could happen before Jan 1, 2011 or it could take a few more months. That's just the way it is!!

Well said CHIEF V! It will happen when it happens and our patience will just have to hold until then. Believe me, no-one wants this RV more than I do - I see so many folks out there that need help and I intend to help as many as I can but without the RV I can't do anything.

Hope this roller coaster stops soon......... there's a lot of work to be done when this RV happens!!!!!

New RV date............... some time in 2011! Happy new Year!!!

A link to CBI article that says "they WILL revalue" would give me a some faith in Med's words.....

Lately I’ve lost touch with what’s happening in Iraq and I haven’t read ALL the posts and news feeds so bear with me while I pose some questions. 1. Has anyone done a comparative study between Kuwait’s circumstances before their RV and Iraq’s current circumstances? I know a lot has been said about both but is there any consolidated effort put together that lists the comparisons and comments on them? 2. Does anyone know if there is anything in the traditions of Ramadan that prohibits an event with similar consequences of an RV? 3. Will an RV just put more money in the radical’s pockets which will lead to an escalation of the violence we’ve seen lately in Iraq? 4. They’ve been fighting amongst themselves in the Middle East since BC, what makes you think wealth is going to stop them now? 5. Lastly, and I hate to ask this, but I’m a realist – what if Iraq never RV’s and the rich in Iraq get richer and the poor stay poor? It’s a possibility if they continue on the path they are following right now………. I know I’m not alone with these questions on my mind and my heart goes out to the general population of Iraq, most of whom would give anything for a safe, comfortable life. All I can do is pray that peace comes to them and they get what they deserve.

Economists should stick to what they know - politicians don't do what economists want them to do and we're dealing Iraq here, ladies and gentlemen.... don't get your hopes up just yet..... when the politicians stop bickering among themselves and the government realizes they need to govern, not play games, and they wake up to the reality that they do actually have to comply with UN requirements before chapter VII is lifted among a dozen other things, then maybe, just maybe we'll see some economic change and a possible RV. IMO we will not see an RV this year. I wish DEARLY that I was wrong because I want an RV as much as anyone else but I'm keeping an open mind here and trying very hard to be realistic, as should all of you.

Interesting! i didn't know that US civilians could get a visa for Iraq.

NOTHING will happen during Ramadan... nothing, nothing, nothing. If anything is going to be announced it will be after Ramadan has ended. "Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sexual activities from dawn until sunset. Fasting is intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality. It is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God (Allah) and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. Muslims believe Ramadan to be an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, as well as the month in which the Annunciation of the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary took place." Having quoted the above, I believe they will be spiritually prepared for the major changes about to take place in their country and things will start to fall into place, slowly but surely.