SexyDinar

Iraq's prime minister has said the country is "independent" as the US formally ends combat operations. Nouri Maliki said the country's security forces would now deal with all threats, domestic or otherwise. US Vice-President Joe Biden is in Iraq on an unannounced visit ahead of the official end of the mission, at midnight (2100 GMT) on Tuesday. In the US, ahead of an address to the nation, President Barack Obama said there was still much work to be done. "It is not going to be a victory lap. It is not going to be self-congratulatory," he said of his speech as he met troops in Texas. He also warned that there remained a "tough fight ahead in Afghanistan". The end to US combat operation comes despite continuing violence and instability in Iraq. The country's political leaders have so far failed to form a government after elections in March produced no conclusive winner. In his televised address, Mr Maliki told Iraqis: "Iraq today is sovereign and independent. "Our security forces will take the lead in ensuring security and safeguarding the country and removing all threats that the country has to weather, internally or externally." He assured Iraqis that the security forces were "capable and qualified to shoulder the responsibility". Violence in Iraq is down from the peak seen during the sectarian conflict in 2006-2007, although the number of civilian deaths rose sharply in July. Almost daily attacks on Iraqi forces and traffic police in Baghdad and Anbar province, west of the capital, killed more than 85 people in the first three weeks of August. These attacks may be a response by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq - an umbrella organisation of Sunni militant groups to which al-Qaeda in Iraq belongs - to the US military sending its combat troops home, says the BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad. In an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, Mr Obama said the "lower and lower levels of violence" in Iraq were proof that the Iraqi security forces were "functioning at least as well if not better than any of us had anticipated". While many Iraqis have welcomed the withdrawal, others say they believe it is happening too soon and that the country is not ready to manage its own security. "It's not the right time," Johaina Mohammed, a 40-year-old teacher from Baghdad told the Associated Press. "There is no government, the security is deteriorating, and there is no trust." One Baghdad resident, Ilifat, said that as long as any US soldiers remained in Iraq, he would consider it to be occupied. "When the last US soldier leaves Iraqi bases and no US base remains in the country, we will say that the US troops have withdrawn," he told the Reuters news agency. "Now the US army is still here and the country is occupied, and it will remain occupied. The country is also too weak." Gradual pull-out White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the withdrawal marked "a change in our mission" in Iraq and that it was up to the Iraqi people to "write the next chapter in Iraqi history". "We will be their ally, but the responsibility of charting the future of Iraq first and foremost belongs to the Iraqis," he said. The last US combat brigade left Iraq nearly two weeks ago, well ahead of the 31 August target set by President Obama to cut the number of US troops in Iraq below 50,000. Those remaining US troops will focus on supporting Iraqi forces. Gen Robert Cone, the deputy commander of US troops in Iraq, told the BBC that the greatest assistance would be needed in the areas of logistics, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. US troops will not participate in combat missions unless asked by the Iraqi authorities, or if acting in self-defence. "The reality is you can't be in those kinds of environments and solely be an adviser," Gen Cone said. "The soldiers that are left here... are combat soldiers but we're performing missions other than a primary combat role. "I can assure that every American that is left in this country has the right and responsibility to self-defence." Air cover for Iraqi ground operations is provided almost exclusively by US planes and helicopters as the new Iraqi air force is still in its infancy. All US forces must be gone by the end of next year. The White House has meanwhile urged Iraq to speed up political negotiations to form a coalition government after inconclusive elections in March. Talks between Mr Maliki and the former Prime Miniser, Iyad Allawi, whose al-Iraqiya bloc won two more seats than Mr Maliki's State of Law alliance, have repeatedly stalled. US Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said the eventual government would have to be "inclusive and should represent the result of the democratic election that was held". "We believe that the Iraqis are making progress toward that goal," he told reporters on board Air Force One. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11137269

Just to add to this Warka Bank have removed the TAB that allows you to transfer from IQD to USD and emailed clients stating it's an upgrade and you must now put it in writing which we should allow 3 working days!!! Bearing in mind Warka did there upgrade two to three weeks ago!!! Things are definately coming together.

You are right it's disappeared which is not good if we are wanting to fransfer from IQD to USD when it eventually RV's!!!! Has anyone sent Mr. Issa an email about this for an explanation? Just thinking maybe they want to stay in control of the amounts that are going to be transferred from one currency to another so they don't get swamped electronically when it happens, just a athought.

How many timessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!

What are you trying to suggest? this has nothing to do with the RV/RI!!! Don't you think the UN & US know this is going on and has been for ages. I think most of the sanctions from chapter 7 have either been circumvented already or are being allowed by the UN on the basis that they get this RV/RI done ASAP.

My understanding is if Iraq are to be released from chapter 7 one of the main objectives is they must RV there currency !!!!

Would you trust someone you don't know holding on to your funds and then when RV hits they disappear!! Think about it...................... The process is very easy and you don't need to be a rocket scientist infact all of it can be done online. go here:- http://www.warka-bank.com/individual.php and complete your details and then choose your account type "Individual non-resident alien" then upload a colour copy of your passport and a utility bill no more than 3 months old in your name and address. Then they will send you an email with your account details. BINGO!!!!

Have you been around the last 15 months? The US, UK and Europe banks have been failing more than any banks in Iraq!!!! I know where I would put my money under my bed......................but to comment on the article Warka Bank is backed by one of the richiest people in the middle east so I think you will be okay for your deposit.

Yeah right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are these idiots for REAL. Start-over again.................equals the same result just join Allawi if you don't support Maliki SIMPLES!

M give me a call when you get it done or when your HUNG by the citizen's of Iraq!!!

So will the RV rate be in this Budget? if so will this be the RV indicator?

When they refer to until next September they mean this september 2010 like everything else in Iraq it's backwards!!!!!

Does anyone know what this means for us as investors?

Well, I am signing-off from chasing this investment on here and wait for the real changes on network TV or in newspapers which I can beleive in. To say I am fed-up is an understatement and I feel so sorry for myself for even getting involved in this charade of an investment and really sorry for the citzens of iraq who have been treated so bad over the last 5 years by Maliki and his B.S. So I say goodbye and good luck to all the people who are still invested soooooooooooooooooooo Long.

Already posted previously - BS!

I think this is good isn't? That means the Iraq funds held by the UN will be protected which will then pay for the RV or am I wrong?

Are these idiots for REAL! Close the session on Tuesday then decide when to have another session to choose a permanent speakership. GROW -UP and get this bloody sorted like 4 months ago! Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez

My eyes HURT!

I can't see how any bank can tell you how much you can purchase also the fact he stipulates per month is a bit odd as this indicates that there won't be an RV soooooooooooooooooooon. I think BS.

If it's not changed at the www.cbi.iq site then it hasn't happened - They are the central bank so I am sure they would change FIRST!

What the hell does this mean can't they speak english!

There is noway the UN , US and China will allow this to happen there is to much dependance on the RV and oil!

I don't understand this! They are going to remove 3 zero's from currency as we know to reduce inflation which is currently at 3%? This is a better than US, UK and many other european countries already! They have 26 trillion Dinar's in circulation so that's 26,000,000,000,000 at the current exchange rate vis ex.com equals USD 22,250,748,823 Billion which is sod all. We already know that they have that in Gold and cash which is held by the UN under chapter 7. Can someone explain this to me or am I missing something.

I think even if Maliki some how cheats his way to PM he won't be in the job for long! The people will remember what he has done to them for the last 5 months and the 5 years before, he really is on borrowed time. There are lots of people still with guns!!!

Does anyone know if Warka sorted out this problem it originally happened back in January 2010 but I have not heard from them since in relation to this being fixed. Last time I was told any external transfers had to be done manually by letter, scanned and emailed to them.