ezrapound

gag...

My work is done here. They're back.

Morning Adam. As I have pretty much given up most hope of this touted r/v I ask with some trepidation this question ( and I am pretty sure of your response)...do you see this happening anytime in the foreseeable future? I know, I know...all hinges on the damnable hcl, but...

I went to the bank this morning and asked about the dinar. Turned around and left while they were still rolling on the floor laughing...

So I finally seem to have turned a corner of some kind. Started out believing the first of January...then the end of January, then the end of the first quarter. Seems like replays of things we have seen over and over and over for years. I have said for some time now that I just didn't know how to throw in the towel and quit. But you know what? I think I have found the way, and it's very simple: I am just going to do it. I have believed in all this till I was/am blue in the face and nothing, and I mean nothing ever changes except the words of a few...and those words are really just juggled/reassembled words that have been used ad nauseum: Soon, this week, month.year, etc. I know some of you will say " Not now...not when we're this close"...yada yada yada. Sorry, my faith has been tested to the breaking point. 12 years is just enough. That being said I have decided this will be my last post/reply. No more checking in here every single day. The dinar is going into the shoebox and going on the shelf in the back of the closet. I just can't believe in this any more. Y'all have a great life.

I'm thinking if it comes out too low ( the touted .10 to .20) it'll cause a run on the purchase of Dinar...something the PTB may not wish to see happen. If it comes out a 1.00 it simplifies a lot of things: makes change much easier...1 for one, etc. It will be high enough to still cause some speculational runs on it's purchase, but not so much as to overwhelm them. Restores some of their lost pride ( which is a HUGE deal in the M.E.) I have said for years and years now that I was in the camp of 1.16. Still there and staying there. To me, less than that really makes no sense...but, as we all know I am not an economics wizard.

I'm thinking that with as much evidence of Maliki's nefarious deeds as there is they are perhaps simply gathering as much as possible before they even begin his arrest, trial and hopeful execution so that there is absolutely no way he could wriggle out of it. It amazes me and everyone else here that he has squirmed away from it all for as long as he has, but I am optimistic that sometime soon the hammer will fall on his ugly head. There is enough now certainly, to convict him, but they may be gathering enough so that if he somehow miraculously escapes Iraqi justice the world court can step in and get him for crimes against humanity. In my mind ( just mho) he is responsible for the ISIS situation, to say nothing of the slaughter of untold tens of thousands of civilian ( and military) deaths. In his case I think a resurrection of the Spanish Inquisition might be in order. That means barbed wire enemas followed by liquid plumber and ground glass...and the list goes on. NOTHING is too barbaric or horrible for this piece of camel dung. Somehow I think the people of Iraq will have their vengeance in the end...he will die at their hands.

As much good as they have accomplished in the last few months I still have my doubts whether or not they can find their asses with both hands, a road map, written instructions and a gps and a scout/navigator...

Correct Chuck. They never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity...

Jeez Louise where is Adam's chat today??

The guy lives in Great Britain so maybe their laws are different than ours...

Exactly. There's honest and then there's ridiculously stupid...!

Exactly. There's honest and then there's ridiculously stupid!

If this was from anyone else besides Luigi and TNT I MIGHT lend it a bit of credence. However....

What has happened to Sg's gals? Haven't seen anything from them in like a month of Sundays!?

They never forget an opportunity to miss an opportunity...

I too, am cautiously optimistic. I say cautiously because of my historical stance ( as many of you are aware) We have all been breathlessly at the brink of the abyss many times in the last few years after hearing over and over again how close we are, yada, yada, yada. I cannot, however, shake the conviction that THIS time could very well be the right time. Abadi keeps amazing us with his steadfastness in getting all the ducks in a row...never before has so much good news emerged from the sand pile ( I say that with tongue in cheek) Like most, I wonder what his exact plan is for not only the country, but for Maliki and his goons as well. We can only wait I suppose ( no other choice), and I have to say waiting has not become my long suit by any means. Entered this investment in '05 believing an R/V was imminent...12 years down the road I am not sure any more exactly what to believe, but as I have said a few times before waiting has become such a habit that I no longer even know how to throw in the towel and cash out. So, that being said, perhaps it is good for me and everyone else to remind me ( us) of all the things Iraq DOES have going for it. To forget all that would be too depressing. I do know that when this is all over and done with, I like a great many here, wish to never even hear the word Iraq again. To be honest I ( and most whether they admit it or not) don't really care about all the altruistic reasons for involvement with Iraq. We simply did so for the money. That may seem harsh and uncaring, but the facts remain we all are in this investment for selfish motives...no matter how much we doctor it up or try and convince ourselves and others that we want to see the people of Iraq and their country prosper. We got into it for the money. Money makes the word go round...simple as that. So, I will be perfectly happy to spend my money ( when and if it comes) and become totally oblivious to the welfare of Iraq. I wish them well and all that, and certainly do not wish them bad things, but...I want to take care of my family first and foremost. I don't really care if I am rich, because my run here on earth is almost over. I have had a good run. I want to be able to let my better half live the rest of her life as comfortably as I can make it for her. And that means enough money in the bank for her to do that. I suppose truth be told, she is the reason I don't know how to quit.

Thanks

Thank you. Most kind indeed. I have to admit I am a bit surprised at myself. After 12 years of this ride I fluctuate between extreme optimism, total ambivalence, and the depths of depression. The small voice inside that I hear I am sure echoes what many here also hear..."Yeah, yeah...been there, heard it before and nothing happened" when new and optimistic progress is reported! Many folks to not really realize exact;y what Iraq has to offer...it isn't just the oil...it is natural gas, gold,silver, copper and many of the other metal elements. Technology will enter the picture as Iraq is and will be a source of labor. I read reports years ago while I was in Iraq as a civilian contractor that Nokia, Caterpillar, Nike and a few other major players were poised to enter Iraq. True or not, the implications are clear. Then there is the issue of tourism. Yes, tourism. Iraq is a center of many Holy sites valuable to not only the Muslim world, but Christian also. Babylon, Nineveh, Abraham's well and oasis ( both of which were situated on the Marine Air Base at Al Asad where I spent 4 years. Many people either forget or never knew that Iraq was where literature and mathematics began! So, it is easy to see why I, and many others say oil is not the only issue here. Oil IS, however, a major concern.Consider this...everything in the world today made of plastic...a major derivative of petroleum! The entire world weeps at the destruction at the hands of ISIS of many, many historical sites. That Maliki is behind it speaks eloquently about his eventual persecution and execution for crimes against humanity...to say nothing of his responsibility for the loss of tens of thousands of lives. That Adam feels this is our year, that small voice deep inside remains skeptical. As educated and informed as Adam is, the fact remains he is only one man, and only his opinion. 12+ years on in this endeavor has left me doubtful and frustrated. There is some solace in the fact that I am not alone in these feelings. Nay, many of us here at DV feel the same. Many of us here at DV simply cannot afford to join the VIP group. The benefits of joining and gaining the info shared there are academic. Be that as it may, I think it behooves all of us to gather as much info and hard factual material as we can and make up our own minds as to the validity of this investment.

I rarely comment much here, but I am going to say some things here. First, Trump CANNOT in any way cause an R/V in Iraq. He CAN lift any sanctions against Iraq ( if there are indeed any). He can recommend to Abadi and everyone else that it would be in their best interest to do so, but that is about as far as his influence can go. Iraq can and will do whatever they feel is in their own best interests...and do so on their time frame and under their own terms. The U.S. has a vested interest in this country, not only from the thousands of American soldiers lives lost there but from a militarily strategic stance as well. Any country in the middle east can be reached within a couple of hours time from Iraq. Therefore it is in OUR best interests to maintain a presence there...if for no other reason than to keep a finger on the oil pulse. Oil equates to power, and power is what it is all about. Control in any way the oil./money/power in the middle east and you can manipulate much of the civilized world. It is also in Iraq's best interest to encourage our presence their for their own protection. They are poised to become the single biggest powerhouse in that region, and many say the biggest powerhouse on the planet. I recall reading some years back where it was predicted that in time Iraq would become the wealthiest country on this planet. They have the resources to pull this off. At one time Iraq was the cattle producing big shot in the middle, also the wheat and date producing capitol. Plus, Iraq has the one single most valuable commodity in the entire middle east that no other country there has...water! All the oil and silver and gold won't mean squat to a thirsty man!. Personally I think Abadi has done and is doing a stellar job of bringing his country out of the disaster it was and well into the 21st century. I believe he has a plan in place to take care of Maliki in a way that will satisfy the entire world. He isn't blind, nor is he stupid. He HAS to know what this jerk has caused and is still causing, and his end is in the works. Mark my words. I will always believe Maliki is behind this ISIS crap to try and divert attention away from his nefarious actions. He certainly deserves to die a horrible, prolonged and agonizing death. Just my 2 cents. I will now fold away my soap box and retire to my lazy boy for a nap.

While it actually hurts my mouth to say this I tent to agree with Frank's estimate. But...as always, I will not be smiling until my bank account screams "YYYEEESSSSSSS!"

Ok, I suppose stranger things have happened but I do believe the thing to remember is this: Iraq is it's own sovereign country and they alone will do what is best for their own country. Not the U.S., not Russia. Not China, nor anyone else. If they choose to revalue their currency, then they can and will do so. On THEIR time frame and on THEIR terms.That being said I doubt Kushner or anyone else can cause an R/V in Iraq, no matter how badly we all wish for it.

Thanks. I am just to the point where I am stupefied that it has been this long and nothing has happened yet. Even more stupefied that I have hung in there blindly for this long without totally throwing in the towel. Whether it is a super deep seated belief in it or I am just too stubborn or dumb to quit I just don't know anymore. Some habits are really hard to quit...this is one of them for me.

While this does indeed sound encouraging and all that, I still have to take my historical stance...I will smile when my bank account is much larger than it is now. Not being a Debbie downer, but after 12 years of this ride all I can do any more is...SIGH...

Good morning Adam. After 12+ years of this ride I am certain you can understand my frustration level. That being said, at this point are we just pretty much waiting on the total liberation of Mosul or what? I know, I know...the HCL must be passed and all that, but it seems as if Mosul is a real turning point?