Iraqi Dinar: Scam or God-Send?

[JustNTime]

Iraqi Dinar: Scam or God-Send?

by Dene McGriff

For the past nine years the Iraqi Dinar has had a crowd of hopeful, devoted and sometimes discouraged followers. Imagine being able to buy a million Iraqi Dinar for $1170. One thing we can all agree on is that the current Dinar is worthless. But many believe it is no more than a scam and will never be worth anything. While others believe that the Dinar will not only give the global economy a shot in the arm but will make a whole slew of regular folk multi-millionaires. The debate rages. The establishment scoffs and the “Dinarians” wait with hungry anticipation. Now there have been scams surrounding the Dinar. Some have sold counterfeit bills and others old Dinars with Saddam’s picture on it. But according to all sources, it is legitimately worthless at its present value. The real thing has many security features as seen in the photo below.

The question is, will it ever be worth anything and if so, what impact will it have on Iraq. Because of the continual failure of fiat currency (paper money) and the impracticality of going back to the gold standard, there is a push to a resource based valuation of currency. Bretton Woods and Keynes anticipated this methodology but it was never implemented.

This is the methodology Iraq is using to determine the value of their currency. According to experts, we don’t know how muchoil Iraq has because less than half of the country has been explored, but they probably have more than Saudi Arabia has left. They are said to be number one in natural gas and they are very wealthy in mineral resources. Historically, with the Tigris and Euphrates rivers flowing year round through Iraq, they are the bread basket of the Middle East.

So I would say that there is reason for hope that the currency one day will have value even as it once did (over $3 to one Dinar) and as Kuwait has right now. However, Iraq has suffered 30 years of brutal dictatorship and war. The country is in disarray, fragmented and dysfunctional. The infrastructure is a mess. It is still a very dangerous place as the sectarian war continues. It is problematic to expect the opposing factions to work together for common solutions. There is so much distrust. It is a small miracle the government has held together this long.

The Dinar community of investors has expected the currency revaluation to occur for the pasts several years but every time they turn around there seems to be more that needs to be done. Now, after nearly nine years old timers are growing weary. The Dinar Gurus are befuddled as one prediction after another is missed.

Do I think the RV will ever happen? Absolutely! Do I have any idea about the rate or the date? I sure don’t and no one else does either. Frankly, all the so-called gurus have been wrong time and again. I’m not taking anything away from the providers of intel. I know they are doing their best but obviously, there is a lot of disinformation out there.

So I am going to give you my version of the GOOD NEWS first and then the BAD NEWS. Not only have I been following this carefully for several years, I have 30 years experience in international business and have made several trips to the Middle East – mainly Kuwait between the two Gulf Wars.

The good news is that the RV of the Iraqi currency is all over the news, both here and Iraq. A year or so ago, no one in the Iraqi government or central bank even talked about an RV. Now, it is all over the news every day. It turns out that there is a lot more involved than any of us every could have imagined. The fact that so many high in the Iraqi government and CBI (central bank) are talking about the revaluation process clearly indicates they are working on it and it probably will happen.

A mini-industry of “Dinar Gurus” has arisen and these gurus have developed contacts all over the world. They raise some good points. Yes, in order to function in the modern world economy, Iraq needs to have a “tradeable currency” to pay contractors, debts, function in OPEC, the WTO (World Trade Organization), etc. This is all true, but when these Gurus start saying that it the RV is in the hands of the UN, the World Bank, the IMF, the US Treasury, the EEC (Europe), the Bildebergers, and so forth (super rich and powerful pulling strings in the background), they are wrong. This is not about us. It is not about the world (although it would certainly help the global economy). It is about a struggling, divided country called Iraq. It is about Parliamentarians who are lucky if they have a grade school education, no experience in democracy, debate or compromise. It is about how they are going to divide up the wealth (the HCL – hydrocarbon law and Erbil agreements) – like in Kuwait where the money is passed out to everyone.

There are many factions in Iraq: the Sunni, Shiite and Kurds, plus regional tribes. They are all jockeying for control and a piece of the action. There are also laws that need to be passed such as how you transition from the worthless Dinar to a higher value Dinar. The good news is they are gradually coming to agreement on the issues. But think about it for a moment – after 30 years of dictatorship and war, they are learning to govern themselves for the very first time. Bottom line? This is their currency, their country and they will revalue (RV) their currency when they are good and ready. It is up to them, not some “three letter” agency. So when will the RV occur? When they are ready!

Now we come to the rate. If you hear the zeros will be dropped and investors see nothing, or that it will be worth $12 to one Dinar, don’t believe it. The Iraqi leaders, including Shabibi (he is head of their Central Bank) have made a couple of conflicting statements. They say the Dinar will be on par with the US dollar. They have also said it would be the most valuable currency in the region (putting it over $3). I would look for the rate to be somewhere between one and three dollars and change. Again, no one knows.

The other misconception spread on the internet is that there will be a rolling RV either spreading out in a circle from Iraq or following the sun around the world. Some say there will be one price in country and another for different countries. Others say there will be a different rate for different tiers of people (super elites, countries, business and the rest of us). That is not the way Forex (the foreign exchange markets) works. The 1170 rate has held for years. The value of a currency (with a “buy” and “sell” rate) is the same in every bank and exchange point around the world. No one will know a minute sooner than another person. Why? That would open up the equivalent of “insider trading” – giving some a tremendous advantage to buy up currency at lower rates. It will go live worldwide with the same rates for everyone! The buy/sell spread may vary. Think of an RV as the Second Coming. No one and I mean no one knows when or how much, the rate or the date. It will happen in the twinkling of the eye.

In summary, if you Google the Dinar, the internet will tell you this is a scam. All I can say is that a lot of people are misinformed. There is a great deception across the land on this and many other issues, especially when it comes to the economy. So let’s look at Iraq for a moment. We are not talking about Zimbabwe or Somalia. Iraq has proven wealth (agricultural, mineral and oil). In spite of the war, it has had a stable currency with low inflation. In order to function in the world of nations, one thing is true. It needs to have a “tradeable currency” not to say they can’t muddle through for years at a time. The only question is when? How have they gotten by the past 8 years? They have used US dollars. Long term, this is not a sustainable solution but they have proved they are in no hurry to make the change. After 30 years they are playing catch up and there are many things that have to be done, laws that have to be passed, systems and procedures that need to be in place. They will RV when they are ready.

So why do we say that the revaluation of the Iraqi Dinar could be a God-send? Obviously, it would make some folks very rich. But think of it. It is reported that the U.S. has several trillion Dinars (Bush Jr announced in the beginning that the war would be paid for, just as Bush Sr. did). If the Dinar was valued at $3 and change, that would mean an injection of nearly $10 trillion into the U.S. economy. This could bail out Obama. It is also reported that various European countries also hold Dinar – quite a shot in the arm for the Euro. China and other countries hold Dinar as well. We may never know the full impact. It is reported (but hard to verify) the revaluation of the Kuwaiti Dinar led to Clinton’s surplus budgets. That would certainly be a “God-send.”

Counting on a Dinar RV is still very high risk because this is the Middle East. A shooting war in the region involving Iran, Israel or Syria could definitely delay or derail an Iraqi RV. Anyone who knows the region or Bible prophecy, knows this isn’t just a possibility, but inevitable. So here’s hoping for a few good years…

Copyright 2012 by Dene McGriff

Presented with permission of the author<br style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">http://www.the-tribulation-network.com/

http://blog.world-mysteries.com/modern-world/iraqi-dinar-scam-or-god-send/

[kenshin7]

Thanks this was a nice piece to read .

[DinarDana]

Well he certainly made some very good points.

[limopeter]

Nice read thank you

[smee2]

A very good summary of the facts, and the suppositions, and dinar reality. It puts things into an easy to read and easy to understand format. I think it should be required reading for all dinar investors.

Thanks for posting ...

smee2

[speculatorsRIDE]

This should be pinned at the top. Great overview of the situation and possibilities. Thanks for bringing this over.

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

***///

Good read... Thanks!

(Made go look at all my Dinar again! )

Now I'm nice n' calm...

[DEESEAN]

Awesome read, and great info. I completely agree with this. The one thing that really has me believing is Afghanistan. I know it doesn't have anything to do with Iraq but, I am in Afghanistan and i have been to Iraq. The diffence between these two countries and the people are too numerous to list. I do have more faith in Iraq and her people. i also know what both countries have to offer. Iraq has oil, natural gas and recourses that they have some freeedom to take advantage of. They also have a government (still growing) that is trying to fix what is broken. Afghanistan on the other hand has no oil, no reachable recourses (Due to the violence in the country) and a governement that would make Iraq's look like a juggernat.

I know this is a little rambaling but my point is this . How can a country that is as hopeless as Afghanistan have money that is worth more than Iraq. Just hold on my friends this investment really is a god send and those of us who took the leap and patiently waited will be rewarded.

[Nightspell]

JustNTime, thanks so much for sharing Dene McGriff's erudite commentary--very concise and informative! Perhaps consideration should be given to posting this prominently on the DinarVets site alongside Adam's sage advice and disclaimers; or, in the alternative, pinned at the top as SpeculatorsRIDE suggested where it can be easily accessed as an invaluable read for Newbies and Gurus alike.

[win1mich]

Thanks, JustN, I'm going to print this out for my parents.

They're invested because of me, but don't really understand the facts regarding the dinar, or keep up with the news of Iraq.

It's hard to know where to begin when they ask "what's going on with the money?".

[Tubbs]

Thank you for posting

Very well written and easy to understand

Go RV :cool:

[JustNTime]

Thanks guys for nice comments. I thought it was a great piece to share also with the whole community. I want to give credit where credit is due, I brought it over from Lakehouse @ Going Global. Kudos goes to Lakehouse.

[Shick]

Bottom line? This is their currency, their country and they will revalue (RV) their currency when they are good and ready. It is up to them, not some “three letter” agency. So when will the RV occur? When they are ready!

Read more:

Good read especially this paragraph, now I can rest at night without anticipation of what soon will bring.

[Nightspell]

Perhaps it would be well to remember that we are playing in the Iraqi's playpen!!!

[Francie26]

Perhaps it would be well to remember that we are playing in the Iraqi's playpen!!!

". . . , and Divines." Can't recall the middle one. haha

[HopefulTxn]

It is reported (but hard to verify) the revaluation of the Kuwaiti Dinar led to Clinton’s surplus budgets.

Lets see... Kuwait replaced their currency and value in March 1991, Clinton didn't take office until January 1993 and didn't have a budget surplus until 1998. Yeah, I would say it would be hard to verify the two were related...

The author probably should have pointed out that the gurus and their 'contacts all over the world' have been wrong about everything from issues regarding Chapter 7 to people cashing out every month or so in Iraq and various other countries across the globe.

Just wish the author had supported their statements, which unfortunately is something that is seriously lacking in this speculation.

[graciepoo]

After being invested since 2004, I actually believe its a scam. I think the dinar will eventually lop then rd, however i expect nothing this year. Even though i expect to at least double my initial investment i still consider it a scam. We were told that this could make us rich and thats simply not true.

[Nightspell]

". . . , and Divines." Can't recall the middle one. haha

"Philosophers!" Nice to know that others appreciates Emerson!

[JustNTime]

Graciepoo, if I was you I would go ahead and sell out, if all you expect is to double your money. You could double it a lot faster on Ebay.

[Nightspell]

Oooops! Typo!!! Before I get flamed, let's make that "appreciate!"

[George Hayduke]

Good read, thanks for the perspective. It will be a great help to those new to the game or are considering jumping in before the price goes up.

[George Hayduke]

Good read, thanks for the perspective. It will be a great help to those new to the game or are considering jumping in before the price goes up.

What the.... ?!?! Someone popped me a neg for this with out comment?!?!?

Annnd, it's the only neg on whole thread? U know what that tells me...?

Yea, that's right, the neg button is now operational

[JustNTime]

I got you +1 back George. I agree with you. Must of been a guru not liking the read.

[Blu Collar Guru]

Awesome read, and great info. I completely agree with this. The one thing that really has me believing is Afghanistan. I know it doesn't have anything to do with Iraq but, I am in Afghanistan and i have been to Iraq. The diffence between these two countries and the people are too numerous to list. I do have more faith in Iraq and her people. i also know what both countries have to offer. Iraq has oil, natural gas and recourses that they have some freeedom to take advantage of. They also have a government (still growing) that is trying to fix what is broken. Afghanistan on the other hand has no oil, no reachable recourses (Due to the violence in the country) and a governement that would make Iraq's look like a juggernat.

I know this is a little rambaling but my point is this . How can a country that is as hopeless as Afghanistan have money that is worth more than Iraq. Just hold on my friends this investment really is a god send and those of us who took the leap and patiently waited will be rewarded.

+ 1

[renomac]

good deal justntime, but everything you said in your article, WE already knew !

Thank you & God Bless YOU