RicknSaudi

JMO, but I think they will bask in the freedom of a sanction-free state before anything else gets done. They'll be in shock at least until the next session. Again, thanks but JMO

Well good..... I'm giving notice tomorrow and buying that yaht I've always wanted. Once retired, I may try some of what Possum's smoking. :eyebrows:

Link Pls?

Bwaaahaaahaa! Semantics.... Great post LGD. Gotta' appreciate the optimists amongst the skeptics

by Armando Cordoba 2/6/2013 There seems to be no banking officials or government bodies watching over the cash exchange, where hundreds and thousands of dollars and other foreign currencies are transferred or exchanged every minute. Photo: Rudaw ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—Millions of dollars pass through the Erbil currency exchange market every day, but the lucrative business in Iraqi Kurdistan's predominantly cash economy operates with little or no regulation. Walking through the Shekhallah Market, the cacophony of automatic bill counters sifting through Euros, Dinars, Dollars or Pounds nearly drowns out the steady chatter of merchants selling watches, vegetables or goods in the streets before the bustling cash sector. There seems to be no banking officials or government bodies watching over the cash exchange, where hundreds and thousands of dollars and other foreign currencies are transferred or exchanged every minute. Kurdish and foreign businessmen from neighboring countries walk into cash transfer offices with stacks of bills, and walk out with receipts in hand. Little stands are filled with Iraqi banknotes, as shop owners wait patiently for the next customer. Asked how the market was regulated, most merchants and clerks were too busy to talk. But Saadi Ali, a currency changer for 20 years, said as he sifted through bills, "I pay no taxes to the government at all." Like many of his colleagues on the street of small currency changers, Ali said that on any given day he exchanges the equivalent of thousands of dollars, all tax free and untouched by the government. And, he says, there are no start-up costs besides access to a large amount of Iraqi Dinar notes to exchange for foreign currency. In the autonomous Kurdish enclave, the only semblance of governed control seems to be set forth by the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and the currency conversion rates, which most of the merchants use to gauge exchange rates. But even this relationship seems to be governed on shaky grounds. Last year Hussein Muhammad, head of the Currency Trading Council, accused the CBI of flooding the market with $265 million, which devalued the US currency from 1.28 to 1.23, causing large losses among many currency exchangers. Unlike, Ali, the larger cash exchanges, and particularly cash transfer businesses have to get a license from the interior ministry. "I pay tax to the government yearly, it is almost 280,000 Iraqi Dinar," said Wrya Ali, the owner of Euro cash exchange. That is about $222 a year, an insignificant amount compared to the profits the exchangers admit to making. Merchants involved both in exchange or money transfers said they can make thousands of dollars a month, but refused to give a figure, saying it was because profits could vary greatly from one month to the other, depending on several factors. The bigger merchants have been known to sometimes make even hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single day, according to some of the money exchangers. The predominant forms of cash exchanged or traded, seems to be U.S. Dollar and Euros. Although the government does not regulate the money changers, it does ensure their security – testifying to their key role in this predominantly cash-only economy. Security guards disguised as civilians watch over the cash area for any suspicious activity, and robberies are few and far between. http://rudaw.net/english/business/020620131 Seems to be a cash flush society with no mention of any forthcoming regulations that we are all reading about. Makes for an interesting read though.... Never been much of a poster, but just thought ya'all might find this interesting. Ummmm, Go RV?

Hardly seems significant? Prolly more to this story than meets the eye.... Thanks for the post yota

Yea, be careful. I'm no conspiracy theorist, but I remember stories about guys going to the oil barons with those 100mpg carburetors. Has anybody ever heard from them?

I agree. Mormonism or Islam. Not such a tough choice really...

Good point studly. That was the first thing came to my mind. After having worked with "these guys" for years, I have never seen one wear gold. It's always been a silver color. Also, they don't usually wear a ring on their left "ring" finger. Because a wedding ring on the left ring finger is a symbol of a Christian marriage, no muslim wears rings on the left hand. (Besides, that's the hand they wipe their a$$es with. )

I agree. Romney wasted no time to pounce at any opportunity. Seemed very aggressive (read "hungry"). At times I could close my eyes and hear Reagan (although I'm sure he's no Ronald Reagan ).

Thanks DDS. I don't care who you are, that was darn funny

:blink:

I've heard of this Rudy guy. Can't remember where...

Personally, and this is JMO, I still think they should have nuked the whole Arabian peninsula back in '91 and turned it into a giant Jiffy Lube. Like some of you, I have lived among them for many years. There is not a more evil "culture" in the world. Though most seem docile on the outside, their deeply embedded religion can spark hatred and violence at the mere mention of Mohammed in a negative lite. There is no living with these barbarians, and the only way to ensure a peaceful future for all others is - I hate to say it - genocide. Plain and simple. Perhaps another crusade is in the offing. Again, this is my opinion and I stand by it.

Thanks Heavy. I just sent this to my son...

I found this just now and couldn't stop LMAO. "Good morning everyone. Since Steve is still in the middle of the ocean, I am making this post today. I know a lot of you were disappointed when September 1 came and went with no RV. I was too. I was able to get in touch with some of my contacts today and have the following information for you. Shabibi had a press conference and explained to all the people what happened. When the banks went to open the boxes to get the new dinar out and get ready to start exchanging for the old dinar, they discovered a printing error. The printer used the wrong art work and printed the currency without the kurdish language on the currency. The kurdish government came unglued when this was discovered. It only had english and arabic on it and not the kurdish language too. Shabibi tried to convince the kurds to go ahead with this currency anyhow due to the cost of printing it and the cost of all the advertising that had been done already. They refused. Shabibi is now having a printing company in Germany and one in London reprint all the currency with the kurdish language on it too. All the banks in Iraq that have the misprinted dinar are in the process of destroying it now. Shabibi is meeting with Maliki, the finance committee of Parliament and Parliament early next week to discuss the RV. He told the media that an announcement will be made on TV September 15, giving the new date of the RV. He will then be leaving for the big financial conference in London on September 18 & 19. Also, after that meeting, Saleh will be meeting with the IMF in London and giving them the new RV rate. Also, I was able to get an update on Talabani. He was scheduled to meet with Maliki in Baghdad on September 2. His health got bad and he flew back to Germany and is in the hospital again. He said he is going to try and come back to Iraq either September 10th or the 11th and meet with Maliki then and set a time for the National Conference. His doctors are warning against it. We will have to wait and see. I don't believe this will affect the RV either way. I hope this encourages everyone to hold on a little longer. Shabibi is still working on this and it will be done. We will know for sure on September 15. My contacts will be watching for this announcement and will let me know right away. Until then, stay calm and know that God is in control. Blessings, Ray " What a bunch of idiots!!!

And....You know this how? I do hope you are wrong, but to adamantly (sp) say this makes me wonder why you are even here?

Personally, my line of thinking all along any time they mention "raising" the zeros, to me is the same as "razing" (similar to a barn-burning ), or "removing" the zeros. To what end is still anybody's guess. JMO

Non....non....Uh.....nonsense....

:lol: :lol:

I don't drink anymore, and have never drank more than "socially" in the past. I come from a family of alcoholics (father and grandfather both died from alcohol poisoning), so I personally know the damage booze can cause. I remember many nights as a young boy laying awake as mom and dad fought bitterly over stupid things. I will state from personal experience that my college days were incredibly enhanced by pot. (High school not so much ). The creativity and desire to produce the best grades possible could not have happened without the "evil weed". Deans List for more than 75% of my total semesters. I've often pondered as to why this occurred. Perhaps it was because I entered college well into manhood (32yo) and knew that this was something I "had" to do. Combined with my lack of friends my age in the dormitory with whom I could associate and my inherent introverted nature allowed me countless hours of "alone" time to study and perfect reports, essays, etc. Just me and my "weed". Granted there was the usual paranoia that came with the odor (cracking the window, stuffing a towel under the door, Ozium and incense, etc.), so my involvement rarely consisted of more than one-hitters at a time. Surely didn't want to get popped. I guess it helped that I had the only basement dorm room which was near the laundry room and the HVAC unit and this seemed to provide much air flow. Long story short. I firmly believe that pot should be legal - if not, decriminalized. This is IMHO only and I suppose it affects everybody differently. BTW, I don't smoke anymore due to the "sensitive" nature of my occupation, but......COME ON RETIREMENT AND FREAKIN' GO RV ALREADY!

Thanks Delta. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna quit smoking now! That was simply disgusting. Interesting trick with the card though

:lol:

Yes....But....with English, you don't have these nasty translations....

Giggity!