doc80904

Reconstruction And Peace To Boost Iraq Growth: Citibank 04 March 2011 Citibank believes Iraq can shrug off its current turmoil to emerge as one of the world's fastest growing economies in the world over the next 40 years Citibank believes Iraq can shrug off its current turmoil to emerge as one of the world's fastest growing economies in the world over the next 40 years. The US bank expects Iraq's economy to grow at a fast clip of 6.1% over the next 40 years to 2050, in its report that looks at the world's most promising economies over the next 40 years. (Read the full report: Regional Dynamos). "The country starts from 53rd place in the real per capita GDP rankings, with $3,538. The population dynamics are eye-watering. According to the UN Population Statistics, Iraq's population is expected to grow from 31.5 million in 2010 to 64.0 million in 2050. Over that period its population of working age is expected to grow a huge 143.4 percent. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Without continued emphasis on education and without radical deregulation of its product markets and labour market, the job growth required to prevent the demographic dividend from turning into a demographic curse may not be forthcoming." "One reason we are optimistic about Iraq's prospects is that its low initial productivity levels are in part the result of a series of wars and civil conflicts over the past 30 years that are unlikely to be repeated during the next 40 years... Postwar reconstruction can occur very rapidly, as the experience of post-World War II continental Europe makes clear, as long as there is political stability, openness to trade and no acute scarcity of foreign exchange. If an enduring political compromise can establish peace and even a measure of trust between the Shia, Kurdish and Sunni communities, a reconstruction dividend-cum-peace dividend would reinforce the normal catch-up and convergence dynamics. If the vast oil and gas resources of the country can be exploited sensibly,resources for infrastructure investment, human capital formation and wider reconstruction efforts ought to be amply available, Citibank notes. Also read about the other Middle East economy Citibank is raving about (Click here No Saudi Arabia in the list? Find out where Citibank places Saudi Arabia in the list of Richest Economies In The World By 2050 Here are the links......read and enjoy; http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20110304032643 http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20110304032131 http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20110304025752

Al-Iraqiya awaits Maliki’s response to security post allocations The al-Iraqiya list led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said on Thursday that it is still waiting for a response from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki over the issue of the unallocated security ministries Al-Iraqiya spokesman Haider al-Mulla told AKnews that his list still hasn't received a response from the prime Minister. Al-Iraqiya has repeatedly complained that there is no logical justification for Maliki to delay naming the three security ministers any longer. "Al-Iraqiya has not noted any seriousness on the part of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki about resolving the issue of the security positions," Mulla said. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki swore in his council of ministers on December 21 after they had received the Iraqi parliament’s vote of confidence. The three security ministries of Defense, the Interior and National Security were left unallocated however, due, Maliki said at the time; to the lack of nominations from the political blocs. Mulla told AKnews on February 10 that security in the country is compromised and further delays in allocating the three security ministries, especially now that the political blocs have named their candidates, are unwarranted. The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki announced last Thursday that he would submit the names of alternative candidates for the security ministries to parliament if there was a failure to reach consensus. Al-Iraqiya maintains that it was agreed upon in the Erbil meeting of political bloc leaders prior to the formation of the government that al-Iraqiya would hold the Ministry of Defense and the National Coalition (NC) would take the Interior Ministry. The al-Iraqiya list have been critical of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government formation to date and accused him several times of contravening the agreements drawn up and signed by the leading political blocs before he was formally nominated to form the new government in December last year. Leaders from the leading political blocs gathered in Erbil in December in order to end the nine-month political deadlock that had frozen the Iraqi political process since the inconclusive March general elections. Under the initiative of the Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani, the blocs agreed on a formula of sovereign post allocation in order to ensure a fair distribution of power in a national partnership government. Meanwhile many observers have connected the escalating acts of insurgency, particularly the assassinations of security and government officials, to the delay in allocating the security ministries.

Well.........if that comment Maliki made about "They have enough money", meaning the ruling elite isn't another Sadam I dont know what is. He is just another want to be that does not have what it takes and does not even realize it. The jerk makes me sick.......he is by far the most stupid wanna be that they have ever had. Why they dont do a no confidence vote on him is beyond me........The battered spouce thing I guess.......all that they have ever known and all that kinda stuff.......

Admins, what happened to Nighthawk11 posting from yesterday, was it moved or removed and what happened to it? Please let me know what was done and why. Thanks

I agree with Medic on this, and I am sure I will be bashed for saying that but is true. I have said for a long time that we need to take a step back and take a long look at what is important. When people like Medic go and look for information, they bring it to us as "information and speculation purposes only". There have been many times that he and his group have been correct and for that I am thankful. However, there are people like TerryK and his group who have a perfect record of being wrong and to a large extent his postings have been subtitled as "For entertainment only". I do have one question to throw out. When will TerryK and his lies be baned from this site as totally counter-productive and distructive as a whole to the purpose of this investment? All that they do is to raise peoples hopes just to smash them on the rocks as they hit the ground. It is a shame that either he or his group is allowed to post anything anywhere on the site as he is held to no degree of accountability in any way. However, yes, I do understand that I do not own the site. I do, however personally go out of my way when posting, not to talk unless I can prove anything and everything that I say. I personally believe that their group should be placed in the rumor catagory if they are not going to be banned as they have never been correct in anything that they have said anywhere. This last posting that they put out brought many peoples hopes way up in the sky and then to find out that the posting was based on merely a test of the exchange site and was quickly disproven by many of those who actually have a clue of what they are saying in the first place. There have been many things I dont like some said by medic and some said by others.

CaptJohn.......Absolutely nothing would make me happier. I only refer to their past track history.........I believe M will form within the given time just not RVd until later.........

There are a few things I would like to say here......First of all remember what happens if M does not form and is removed......Absolutely no one will dispute that and to the same degree no one will dispute that M is a survivor. I have always said that M is a very inteligent person. Arrogant, true enough, self centered, without question but very intelligent. I am sure that he knows very well what will happen, I give you as example when he complained that his reduced position was unacceptable. What happened, he bitched and cried but accepted the position without question when he was told to either shut up or get out. He does not stand a chance, and he knows it without the Kurds votes and the support of the list. So what happens.......not a darned thing, he will fold with this as well when he is put under pressure again by being told to either play ball or be given over to the people of Iraq. I am sure he will do anything to avoid that........he is power hungry but not stupid. Now as for A we cannot loose with him either because, as Medic has said many times, he can seat his gov in three days and that is good enough for me. I for one do not and have not believed an RV would happen this month but very shortly in 2011. The reason is that these people would ***** if they were hung with a new rope and absolutely nothing will make all happy. After working in Iraq for as long as I have I have learned the muslim religion is not happy unless they are fighting, sad as it may be is true all the same. I have seen these people bicker when just going along would have much better results and they knew it at the time. I believe that this will be over in January.......or maybe February at the latest........What with all of their holidays and bickering there is no way for them to do anything that quickly even when they have already agreed as we all know and have known for some time. Everyone please sit back and relax, all that you are doing is going through an emotional roller-coaster and that will do no good for anyone ever. Just sit back and know in your heart and soul that this is done and we are simply waiting for the announcment. Relax and enjoy.......dont let these people get under your skin.......trust me......they just are not worth it........If I have learned nothing else over here it is that.....

There are a few things I would like to say here......First of all remember what happens if M does not form and is removed......Absolutely no one will dispute that and to the same degree no one will dispute that M is a survivor. I have always said that M is a very inteligent person. Arrogant, true enough, self centered, without question but very intelligent. I am sure that he knows very well what will happen, I give you as example when he complained that his reduced position was unacceptable. What happened, he bitched and cried but accepted the position without question when he was told to either shut up or get out. He does not stand a chance, and he knows it without the Kurds votes and the support of the list. So what happens.......not a darned thing, he will fold with this as well when he is put under pressure again by being told to either play ball or be given over to the people of Iraq. I am sure he will do anything to avoid that........he is power hungry but not stupid. Now as for A we cannot loose with him either because, as Medic has said many times, he can seat his gov in three days and that is good enough for me. I for one do not and have not believed an RV would happen this month but very shortly in 2011. The reason is that these people would ***** if they were hung with a new rope and absolutely nothing will make all happy. After working in Iraq for as long as I have I have learned the muslim religion is not happy unless they are fighting, sad as it may be is true all the same. I have seen these people bicker when just going along would have much better results and they knew it at the time. I believe that this will be over in January.......or maybe February at the latest........What with all of their holidays and bickering there is no way for them to do anything that quickly even when they have already agreed as we all know and have known for some time. Everyone please sit back and relax, all that you are doing is going through an emotional roller-coaster and that will do no good for anyone ever. Just sit back and know in your heart and soul that this is done and we are simply waiting for the announcment. Relax and enjoy.......dont let these people get under your skin.......trust me......they just are not worth it........If I have learned nothing else over here it is that.....

First of all |I would like to say that medic is one of the people that I listen to and pay attention to. He is not the most important or least for that matter just one of them. He made a statement earlier that Maliki is not the P.M. rather he assumed the office. That explains why Alawi and his block walked out, I believe I would as well. For God sakes, this country needs to stop chasing rabbits down holes and in fear of not having some dictator to rule their very existance. This seems to be a very simple concept, however, the past has taught me that my way of thinking simply does not apply in this part of the world. I work in Iraq and watch over what happens here as many know. I also do not claim to be some "Guru" in any way but after being here for 7 years now, sometimes I feel like I am in prision, I feel like even a blind squirel finds an accorn every now and then and I do my best to bring them to the table for dinner. This turn of events that has been explained has me baffled to say the least. How is it that with the top members of parliment being put into place can Maliki still force his influence on the country and government. It does not take much to understand why with a temporary leadership program he would be allowed to remain but why when all are in place can he still force this. Even to the simplest mind it makes sense that he knows that he will be hung for what he has done as soon as he leaves office and that his why he attempts to remain but why is this impeachment possible, you must hold the office to be impeached from it. and he does not officially hold the office rather just keeping the chair warm for the next P.M. I am certain Allawi and his group walked out like they did because of this as I said before I would have done so as well. For what it is worth I agree that this will be over shortly as was said before but as for this countries government to work properly they need leadership and not some self diluted fool grasping at straws for survival. The reason that I am posting this is to warn and give my two cents of warning do not invest in the stock market here in Iraq or do anything but take your money when it RVs' and run. This country will implode and crumble shortly after this comes to a head and we leave or step aside and give them the reins. I felt that I needed to say this so that I don't feel badly and that maybe I could have done more when all crumbles and my fellow Americans loose all. Take care and be safe.......

Good Evening.......Please forgive if it appears that I am being callous or indifferent as to yours or anyone elses position in all of this. The reason that I post information from time to time is to do my best to show that there is some sort of forward movement to all of this and not just some photo of a monkey and a football. I am not some sort of Guru, making money or pumping the masses. My desire is to open a couple of eyes, possibly with some news like the prince being in Baghdad. For some reason, that did not hit the news that I saw anyway and I hope it may be of help. Another thing that I see here is a side of their personalities in greed. It is truely a flaw of epic magnitude and I, for one, am certain that this cannot and will not go on for much longer because of their spending sprees. As my Grandfather was so fond of saying, "Sooner or later the teet will run dry" and with the way that they are spending money they will have no choice but to do something IMF, UN, US or the Mickey Mouse club be damned. So all in all please don't think me an insensative person, working on the hardships of others. I am and always will be on the side my fellow countrymen in the United States and my heart goes out to you in your time of need. All of my families prayers go out to you and your family to hold on, I truely believe its over and we are simply waiting for the fools to wake up and smell the coffie.

I have been watching this unfold and, once again, it seems that we are becoming to focused on what we want now rather than hanging in there and being patent. First of all let me explain something that, for some reason, never made it onto the chats. About 2 to 2.5 weeks ago a VIP flew in that no one said anything about, but that does not surprise me because no one really talks about this sort of thing here or in the US a whole lot for reasons that I will tie together in a little bit. The person that I am speaking about it the eldest of the princes of Saudi Arabia being next in line to the position of King. He was here for about 12 hours, now why would he be here, I doubt he would be dropping by to say hello at this point in time to have coffie and shoot the camel, as it were, for no special reason at all. Hmmmmmmmmmm.........now I wonder why that he would come here?? Understand that the way that this part of the world works is very different than what we are used to. Ah well I will let that go but if anyone wants to look this up on the news services here in Iraq it might be found. This was a rather quiet affair that I nor anyone else was willing to talk about while he was here for obvious reasons. Now that being said I would like to talk about a motivator that is above all else our greatest friend here in this country and for everyone else in the world dealing with this investment and that friend is greed. I have learned, after being here for a while, that if there is one thing that would discribe the people here in a single word, that word would be greed. If a person talks about power, money or anything else of value here what follows is or would be best discribed as pack of monkeys chasing a banana, mindlessly running in circles. This goes on continusly, and has for as long as I have been here and have been able to watch it, chasing one banana or another with no regard for anyone or anything else. The problem that we are all having is everyone is doing their best to apply western ideas and our common sense to this part of the world and that, my friends just won't make it. That would be like comparing the Zoo keepers to that pack of monkeys I mentioned a moment ago. The mindset is totally different in all ways from the motives to the end results, and that is why we are all so frustrated. Looking at the chase unfold from our point of view and mindset we can understand why the confusion is happening. The monkeys just don't care about the Zoo keeper, all that they care about is that banana, that being whatever their greed is pushing them toward at that specific point in time.The reason that I am saying this is to help put this into focus for all to step back for a moment, like the Zoo keeper, and shift our thoughts to realizing what is actually happening and not simply what we are doing our best to see occur. The best way to motivate this sort of person is to use their greed to our benifit, our benifit being the rest of the worlds' needs. First of all I would like to say this, just like the monkeys, these people will get the banana then look for other bigger bananas to chase and that is what should give us all the greatest comfort. The dinar is a huge source of greed and sooner or later these people will turn their attention that way. Absolutely, without question, I believe that the RV will happen in the very immediate future but I do not and would not quote dates as there are far too many monkeys in the chase here and any one of them could cause a delay. I would say this, the opening of this currency is just too big and represents too much of a source of greed to be ignored for any length of time in the very short future. So why was the prince here, here being Baghdad, at this point in time. First of all lets look at the fact that Iraq owes far too much money to Saudi to be left to their own means and that is, I am sure, why he was here, to give a shove in that direction. Secondly to provide a little taste of what will happen when the leadership of Iraq opens the dinar for trade gobally. Now to tie this all up in a package, if I have learned nothing about these people I have learned this greed is what its all about. The RV is just too big to let go by and they know it. Our best friend will make sure that they will grab for that banana very shortly and that, without question, I believe in more that anything else about this whole thing. To tie it all up "greed" will do for us what must be done so just relax because no matter what they want to or will say greed will beat out all else in their minds. Just relax and stop applying what we think to what is going through the minds of these people.

As I have said for a long time I am not one of the choice few that are on the inside, however I do see things and if allowed I would share with everyone. First of all lets talk about the general Iraqi citizens and good old common sence. I just dont get some people talking about how just because these people are not very worldly they will follow mindlessly. This could be, I suppose, but think about it a minute.......if you were hungry and frustrated because you could not feed your children would you follow a member of the upper class to lead you simply because they said follow me to the land of the plenty but until we get there you will have to watch your children starve, I just dont think so. It is true that suicide bombers are recruited with claims of providing for their families. Is that not a last hope of providing for ones family. I know all about the virgins and all that stuff but does anyone believe that someone would do this just to have sex when the general mind think here is sex is to create children and not specificaly for anything else. Life here in Iraq is not like it is in Holywood. It is bloody and terrifying to begin with and it does not get any better. So why would anyone wish to blow themselves into a million pieces for something that is not really a great plus in the first place. The reason that many do this, using common sence, is rather like a drowning person grabbing ahold of anything that they can get their hands on just to survive. Would anyone do this just because they are bored on a warm afternoon? They do this because they have been lied to and are drug into believing that they will be doing some good for their family or something higher and they have lost everything else to believe in. Is this the sign of someone who is happy with their leadership, I for one doubt it. I read and learn from the posts of medic, mailman, scooter and the rest and I do believe that they, in their hearts, are doing the best they can do. When medic said that they, meaning the leadership of one of the political groups, are doing this because they have the backing of the people, honestly, it brings a tear of rageto my eyes towards the self-centered mindless degenerates fighting for wealth and power throwing their fellow citizens into hell in the process. I believe what medic said as I have seen this sickness first hand and feel offended for simply being close enough to be affected by it. The problem is that most people just don't understand that these people are living and have been raised by generation after generation of families led by disgusting leaderships who prey from those not so strong and in turn have to some degree into what they hate the most. What will need to happen is one of two things, simply put the first is for the UN, USA etc to step in and force this to happen. The second would be for the child-like leaderships to find a winner of this sadistic tug-of-war and put an end to it. The problem with the last is that this will never happen because as fast as one issue is solved another windmill will appear for all run to it. Please forgive my ravings. I do not say that I support or condone the mind set here I just see it as something that unless we do something about it, it will not end. I would say as a final though, all that has to be done is done. On the base that I serve many Iraqi have opened business here to include banks, resturaunts, small resale shops etc. When I speak with them all that they say is I hope that this is over soon. I guess that what I am saying is there is no specifically focused leadership for the people here and I doubt that there will be the way that things are now and in the direction that all is moving in now. If there is going to be something done don't expect the citizens here to do it.

Well Tampa, like I said I have done this for a number of years and between knowing the region from the air well and Baghdad having the same sort of thing as everyone else with street lights and such it is not hard to see. One other thing to consider is Baghdad is a large city just like Chicago, LA or any other. There is always movement, you see this is another case of being led down a path of lies, Baghdad is not a dead city it is very much alive with night life as well as day. They have Pizza Huts here along with many other things like that. Here is another confusing thing that is left out in many new stories and things that people talk about at home, Baghdad has five large Christian churches that the military has told me about. These are functional and attended regularly..........I do admit, being Christian myself to a certain reluctant mind think about going to take a look, even if they would take me. Going to one of the areas that I work with, because of how close it is I do at times travel there by what is called "hard cars". We dont hang around to take pictures and the like but you can see alot more from differeent view points. I hope that helps

Most people here are in a state of wait and see. For most of them poverty is something to live with and they accept that as a part of life. There are two vivid social classes here, the very rich and the the poor. Those that are poor have a real wait and see attitude, not knowing what tomorrow will bring. Business owners do the normal thing of dreaming. All are very excited of positive change but with a real wait and see attitude as well. Outside the wire you can see changes all over in farming and other economical forms of growth. Most people here don't talk about things like that much I suppose for a couple of reasons. The first I suppose is fear of what might happen and not wanting to get their hopes up and the second would be not knowing what to expect tomorrow. Its hard to be excited about something you have never had to begin with.

To answer your question, that would depend on the person. Most Iraqi citizens are very confused and freightened because they now have something that they have never had before and that causes a wild variety of emotions. I believe that most Iraqis' dont know us well enough to have an opinion one way or the other. This is rather the same problem that we had with the Russians when the cold war was over. For the most part they rely on what they get from their leaders, if they like us so will the citizens. For now they like us but are excited to stand on their own two legs......as it were..........they want us out of their country but see the need to keep us here. I know that this seems like a rather vague answer but these are people living in a vague world told who to believe and not, what to do and what no that sort of thing........ In answer to your question, when you see businesses operating, vehicles moving and life progressing as with any other major city you dont have to stand in a building to know that there is power in it.