Update: Abadi’s Reforms
I simply luv this article that follows. It is telling us so much about the OPEC and the GCC.
Many still don’t understand the GCC and ask keep asking me what it is. So now I will explain again to you. The GCC is the Gulf Cooperation Council. It is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain,Oman and now Iraq.
Arguably the most important article of the GCC charter is Article 4, which states that the alliance was formed to strengthen relations among its member countries and to promote cooperation among the countries’ citizens. The GCC also has a defense planning council that coordinates military cooperation between member countries.
So we are witnessing the economic strength and power of the OPEC and the GCC in the following article. This is such HUGE news as Saudi Arabia and other member are willing to help Iraq through this economic crisis by cutting oil production. They are doing this to raise oil prices, something which we know Iraq needs desperately to stabilize its economy and help in it’s stabilization of the Iraq dinar (thus the RV later).
I simply luv this article that follows. It is telling us so much about the OPEC and the GCC.
Many still don’t understand the GCC and ask keep asking me what it is. So now I will explain again to you. The GCC is the Gulf Cooperation Council. It is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain,Oman and now Iraq.
Arguably the most important article of the GCC charter is Article 4, which states that the alliance was formed to strengthen relations among its member countries and to promote cooperation among the countries’ citizens. The GCC also has a defense planning council that coordinates military cooperation between member countries.
So we are witnessing the economic strength and power of the OPEC and the GCC in the following article. This is such HUGE news as Saudi Arabia and other member are willing to help Iraq through this economic crisis by cutting oil production. They are doing this to raise oil prices, something which we know Iraq needs desperately to stabilize its economy and help in it’s stabilization of the Iraq dinar (thus the RV later).
This is such HUGE news this past week I can not over emphasize it enough. This is yet another tool being used to assure Iraq WILL SURVIVE AND WILL SUCCEED. How can you not succeed in the long term when so many countries are behind you?
So all you doubters that we will never see the RV – as I told you let’s just weather the storm and watch for the sun to appear. The storm never lasts forever and the sun will always appear once again to warm us up.
Article Begins:
ECONOMIC SPECIALIST: OPEC WILL CUT ITS PRODUCTION RATES TO SAVE THE ECONOMY OF IRAQ
http://ift.tt/1M6jvB8
BAGHDAD / Center Brief for the Iraqi Media Network (IMN) - most likely in the competent state institutions in managing crises Harvard University Ali Jabbar Furaiji OPEC to take a decision to cut the roof of Petroleum Exporting Countries to save Iraq from a major economic collapse.
Said Furaiji's (IMN) said that "to predict oil prices like endeavor futile, since there are many variables that come into play in oil prices decisively and crossing, where called Venezuela an emergency meeting for the second time, not only in its calls for a conference to develop a joint strategy for cooperation with Russia , one of the largest oil producers in the world, in order to stop the decline in crude prices. "
He added that "Algeria also called in earlier to an emergency meeting of OPEC to discuss the decline in oil prices, which did not face the acceptance of a large number of members of the organization, as Iran entered on line calls through the NOC in an emergency meeting, in the words of Minister of Oil Iranian Begin Zanganeh. "
Furaiji said that "Saudi Arabia, the largest oil exporter in the world, and other Gulf states behind the shift in OPEC's strategy, and has been since last year to defend the survival of shares in the market, rather than cut production to support prices."
He pointed out that "it is through the political changes of the last two years in the OPEC no signs or indications and intentions to reduce its share in the global market, despite the recent fall in oil prices began a negative impact on business sentiment, even in Saudi Arabia."
He explained that "several times in the OPEC to cut its production of oil, and this is what has been and still expect the market of the organization."
The OPEC countries currently processing the world, including a little over 30 percent of its needs, while he was in the seventies of the last century, nearly 50 percent.
The reason for that, in part, to producers of oil shale Americans who flooded the market by nearly four million barrels per day when they started from scratch a decade ago.
Evidence suggests that the futures market could be facing a slow improvement of up to $ 70 per barrel by 2019.
Article Ends
Article Begins
GOVERNMENT MUST START HUNTING THE “BIG HEADS” AS PART OF ITS ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE
BAGHDAD: Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority said Friday the government must start hunting the “big heads” as part of its anti-corruption drive, calling for “convincing and assuring steps” AS PROOF OF THE GOVERNMENT’S SERIOUSNESS IN IMPLEMENTING ITS HIGHLY TOUTED REFORM PLAN.
Last month, Iraq’s Shiite-led government announced a package of reforms following large rallies in Baghdad and other provinces protesting endemic corruption, sectarian politics and shabby basic services. Graft is widely believed to be rampant in Iraq, and estimates based on findings from an anti-corruption commission and government reports show hundreds of millions of dollars have gone missing in the 12 years since Saddam Hussein’s regime was toppled.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s plan, which included eliminating the country’s three vice presidencies and three deputy prime ministers as well as other posts, was immediately approved by parliament. But changes widely demanded by Iraqis have not yet materialized, such as trials for corrupt officials, economic reforms and infrastructure improvements.
“One of the essential steps for reform is to hunt the big heads among the corrupt and hold them accountable, to retrieve all the stolen money,” Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said in remarks delivered through a representative during the Friday sermon in the revered Shiite city of Karbala.
People “have long suffered from corruption” and they want “this mission to be implemented without procrastination and delay,” said the representative, Sheik Ahmed al-Safi. “Quick action and real, convincing and assuring steps are needed to show that the officials are serious in implementing reforms,” he added.
Sistani’s remarks came hours before weekly Friday rallies in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities. Authorities blocked roads leading to Baghdad’s central Tahrir Square with barbed wire and military vehicles, deploying security forces to keep away protesters.
Increasingly, the street protests that were sparked last month by power cuts have evolved to demand the trial of corrupt politicians and reform of the judiciary, including the removal of Medhat Mahmoud, head of the Supreme Judicial Council, which oversees the court system.
Sistani also urged politicians to fix Iraq’s economy.
The government’s fiscal deficit is expected to reach double digits this year, battered by a slump in oil revenues and higher military spending, not least to try to drive ISIS out of the areas of northern and western Iraq that it controls. “Weak economic planning and failure to establish a comprehensive strategy for providing financial resources to the country other than through oil revenues is a form of corruption,” Sistani said.
Also Friday, a police officer said militants broke into a house of an anti-militant, pro-government Sunni tribal fighter in Baghdad’s southern suburb of Arab Jabour, killing him, his wife and two children. Another officer said three civilians were killed and six wounded when a bomb went off in a commercial area in the town of Madain, just south of Baghdad.
Two medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Article Ends
This next and last article has a title that is misleading. It talks about protests about the lack of electricity but what is most important is what these initial protests have led to. They have led to a much progressed attitude against the corruption in general and not only in this area of providing electricity. Lack of electricity was only the spark that ignited the overall movement.
If you take some time to read it you can truly see and begin to understand what has been going on in Iraq as far as corruption and how the continued corruption is really an ongoing power struggle. In short, this article is one of those gems that tells it all and I could not tell it any better myself.
How will it all end up? We know that the Dowa party is the key. WATCH the Dowa party ! Watch for the announcement of one of three near future events:
1) either that Maliki is dismissed as the head of the party and Abadi takes his place or
2) the dismissal of the Dowa party as a whole or
3) Abadi simply moves his affiliation from the Dowa party.
Don’t believe me this is going to happen? Just watch. One of these three events has to happen (must happen). Abadi can not continue in the same capacity and association with the Dowa party as is today. When one of these three events happens we will begin to see an end this constant corruption and a settling down of Iraq, a loss of Iranian influence . This will all be in our favor as it moves us closer to the RV political stability needed.
So please take a few minutes to read it if you are really curious and desire to understand why Abadi is now going after these crooks and the necessity to clean up this mess (political nightmare) and, why he is always bucking heads in the process and who is causing all the resistance to change.
When this resistance is gone or the powerbase behind it is gone then we will see the progress of Iraq move exponentially, if it is not already moving fast enough…..lol….
Article Begins
Iraq's electricity protests expose its real power issue
Iraq's electricity protests expose its real power issue
Protests over electricity shortages have turned to calls for an end to corruption and sectarian politics.
06 Sep 2015 19:00 GMT | Middle East, Iraq, Protests, Iran
Tahrir Square has become a place where a political power struggle between Iraq's Shia politicians is being played out [AP]
There was no doubt that Tahrir Square in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, was no longer a venue where Iraqis converged to speak with one voice.
I attended a few protests in recent weeks but this time there were noticeable changes. There were different groups on the ground, each with their own message.
There were those who have been taking to the streets for weeks demanding better services, an end to corruption and to sectarian politics.
These same people had clearly lost hope in the man they believed would bring about the changes he promised.
“(Prime Minister Haider) al-Abadi should leave his Dawa party if he wants to implement reforms,” a woman called Um Ahmed told me. Her words were echoed by others who believe the premier is under political pressure.
The Islamic Dawa party is headed by former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, who was in power for eight years.
He is accused by many of institutionalising corruption. And many believe he is among a number of powerful politicians behind the scenes preventing Abadi from taking action against corrupt officials
Stronger than the state
The protests emerged from a grass-roots movement but there was always the fear they may be hijacked by political forces that in many ways are stronger than the state.
On Friday there were people who came out in force to present an alternative to Abadi. They carried banners praising the Shia-led militias who are known here as the Popular Mobilization Forces. One read: "They have the support of the people and they have legitimacy.”
The protest movement started because of electricity shortages in the extreme heat. People could no longer cope. It was a spontaneous movement that brought Sunnis and Shias together.
They put behind the history of sectarian warfare in this country and looked forward for a better future.
They then directed their anger at what they called corrupt politicians, asking to reform a political system, which since 2003 has been based on distributing power among sects and ethnic groups, as well as party loyalties.
But now Tahrir Square has become a place where a political power struggle between Iraq's Shia politicians is being played out.
Abadi, himself a Shia, is facing powerful enemies from within his ruling coalition. He has made it no secret that members of the political elite are fighting back.
“There are people who want to place Iraq in a dark tunnel and bring down the political process. They want to do this to continue to steal the wealth of the country. They have money and they run television and radio stations. But we will pursue reforms,” he said.
Abadi has the backing of the highest Shia religious authority in Iraq, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who has considerable influence over the Shia population. Sistani, through his spokesman even warned that politicians who will be hurt by the reforms won't give up their power and privileges easily.
So all you doubters that we will never see the RV – as I told you let’s just weather the storm and watch for the sun to appear. The storm never lasts forever and the sun will always appear once again to warm us up.
Article Begins:
ECONOMIC SPECIALIST: OPEC WILL CUT ITS PRODUCTION RATES TO SAVE THE ECONOMY OF IRAQ
http://ift.tt/1M6jvB8
BAGHDAD / Center Brief for the Iraqi Media Network (IMN) - most likely in the competent state institutions in managing crises Harvard University Ali Jabbar Furaiji OPEC to take a decision to cut the roof of Petroleum Exporting Countries to save Iraq from a major economic collapse.
Said Furaiji's (IMN) said that "to predict oil prices like endeavor futile, since there are many variables that come into play in oil prices decisively and crossing, where called Venezuela an emergency meeting for the second time, not only in its calls for a conference to develop a joint strategy for cooperation with Russia , one of the largest oil producers in the world, in order to stop the decline in crude prices. "
He added that "Algeria also called in earlier to an emergency meeting of OPEC to discuss the decline in oil prices, which did not face the acceptance of a large number of members of the organization, as Iran entered on line calls through the NOC in an emergency meeting, in the words of Minister of Oil Iranian Begin Zanganeh. "
Furaiji said that "Saudi Arabia, the largest oil exporter in the world, and other Gulf states behind the shift in OPEC's strategy, and has been since last year to defend the survival of shares in the market, rather than cut production to support prices."
He pointed out that "it is through the political changes of the last two years in the OPEC no signs or indications and intentions to reduce its share in the global market, despite the recent fall in oil prices began a negative impact on business sentiment, even in Saudi Arabia."
He explained that "several times in the OPEC to cut its production of oil, and this is what has been and still expect the market of the organization."
The OPEC countries currently processing the world, including a little over 30 percent of its needs, while he was in the seventies of the last century, nearly 50 percent.
The reason for that, in part, to producers of oil shale Americans who flooded the market by nearly four million barrels per day when they started from scratch a decade ago.
Evidence suggests that the futures market could be facing a slow improvement of up to $ 70 per barrel by 2019.
Article Ends
Article Begins
GOVERNMENT MUST START HUNTING THE “BIG HEADS” AS PART OF ITS ANTI-CORRUPTION DRIVE
BAGHDAD: Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority said Friday the government must start hunting the “big heads” as part of its anti-corruption drive, calling for “convincing and assuring steps” AS PROOF OF THE GOVERNMENT’S SERIOUSNESS IN IMPLEMENTING ITS HIGHLY TOUTED REFORM PLAN.
Last month, Iraq’s Shiite-led government announced a package of reforms following large rallies in Baghdad and other provinces protesting endemic corruption, sectarian politics and shabby basic services. Graft is widely believed to be rampant in Iraq, and estimates based on findings from an anti-corruption commission and government reports show hundreds of millions of dollars have gone missing in the 12 years since Saddam Hussein’s regime was toppled.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s plan, which included eliminating the country’s three vice presidencies and three deputy prime ministers as well as other posts, was immediately approved by parliament. But changes widely demanded by Iraqis have not yet materialized, such as trials for corrupt officials, economic reforms and infrastructure improvements.
“One of the essential steps for reform is to hunt the big heads among the corrupt and hold them accountable, to retrieve all the stolen money,” Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said in remarks delivered through a representative during the Friday sermon in the revered Shiite city of Karbala.
People “have long suffered from corruption” and they want “this mission to be implemented without procrastination and delay,” said the representative, Sheik Ahmed al-Safi. “Quick action and real, convincing and assuring steps are needed to show that the officials are serious in implementing reforms,” he added.
Sistani’s remarks came hours before weekly Friday rallies in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities. Authorities blocked roads leading to Baghdad’s central Tahrir Square with barbed wire and military vehicles, deploying security forces to keep away protesters.
Increasingly, the street protests that were sparked last month by power cuts have evolved to demand the trial of corrupt politicians and reform of the judiciary, including the removal of Medhat Mahmoud, head of the Supreme Judicial Council, which oversees the court system.
Sistani also urged politicians to fix Iraq’s economy.
The government’s fiscal deficit is expected to reach double digits this year, battered by a slump in oil revenues and higher military spending, not least to try to drive ISIS out of the areas of northern and western Iraq that it controls. “Weak economic planning and failure to establish a comprehensive strategy for providing financial resources to the country other than through oil revenues is a form of corruption,” Sistani said.
Also Friday, a police officer said militants broke into a house of an anti-militant, pro-government Sunni tribal fighter in Baghdad’s southern suburb of Arab Jabour, killing him, his wife and two children. Another officer said three civilians were killed and six wounded when a bomb went off in a commercial area in the town of Madain, just south of Baghdad.
Two medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Article Ends
This next and last article has a title that is misleading. It talks about protests about the lack of electricity but what is most important is what these initial protests have led to. They have led to a much progressed attitude against the corruption in general and not only in this area of providing electricity. Lack of electricity was only the spark that ignited the overall movement.
If you take some time to read it you can truly see and begin to understand what has been going on in Iraq as far as corruption and how the continued corruption is really an ongoing power struggle. In short, this article is one of those gems that tells it all and I could not tell it any better myself.
How will it all end up? We know that the Dowa party is the key. WATCH the Dowa party ! Watch for the announcement of one of three near future events:
1) either that Maliki is dismissed as the head of the party and Abadi takes his place or
2) the dismissal of the Dowa party as a whole or
3) Abadi simply moves his affiliation from the Dowa party.
Don’t believe me this is going to happen? Just watch. One of these three events has to happen (must happen). Abadi can not continue in the same capacity and association with the Dowa party as is today. When one of these three events happens we will begin to see an end this constant corruption and a settling down of Iraq, a loss of Iranian influence . This will all be in our favor as it moves us closer to the RV political stability needed.
So please take a few minutes to read it if you are really curious and desire to understand why Abadi is now going after these crooks and the necessity to clean up this mess (political nightmare) and, why he is always bucking heads in the process and who is causing all the resistance to change.
When this resistance is gone or the powerbase behind it is gone then we will see the progress of Iraq move exponentially, if it is not already moving fast enough…..lol….
Article Begins
Iraq's electricity protests expose its real power issue
Iraq's electricity protests expose its real power issue
Protests over electricity shortages have turned to calls for an end to corruption and sectarian politics.
06 Sep 2015 19:00 GMT | Middle East, Iraq, Protests, Iran
Tahrir Square has become a place where a political power struggle between Iraq's Shia politicians is being played out [AP]
There was no doubt that Tahrir Square in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, was no longer a venue where Iraqis converged to speak with one voice.
I attended a few protests in recent weeks but this time there were noticeable changes. There were different groups on the ground, each with their own message.
There were those who have been taking to the streets for weeks demanding better services, an end to corruption and to sectarian politics.
These same people had clearly lost hope in the man they believed would bring about the changes he promised.
“(Prime Minister Haider) al-Abadi should leave his Dawa party if he wants to implement reforms,” a woman called Um Ahmed told me. Her words were echoed by others who believe the premier is under political pressure.
The Islamic Dawa party is headed by former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, who was in power for eight years.
He is accused by many of institutionalising corruption. And many believe he is among a number of powerful politicians behind the scenes preventing Abadi from taking action against corrupt officials
Stronger than the state
The protests emerged from a grass-roots movement but there was always the fear they may be hijacked by political forces that in many ways are stronger than the state.
On Friday there were people who came out in force to present an alternative to Abadi. They carried banners praising the Shia-led militias who are known here as the Popular Mobilization Forces. One read: "They have the support of the people and they have legitimacy.”
The protest movement started because of electricity shortages in the extreme heat. People could no longer cope. It was a spontaneous movement that brought Sunnis and Shias together.
They put behind the history of sectarian warfare in this country and looked forward for a better future.
They then directed their anger at what they called corrupt politicians, asking to reform a political system, which since 2003 has been based on distributing power among sects and ethnic groups, as well as party loyalties.
But now Tahrir Square has become a place where a political power struggle between Iraq's Shia politicians is being played out.
Abadi, himself a Shia, is facing powerful enemies from within his ruling coalition. He has made it no secret that members of the political elite are fighting back.
“There are people who want to place Iraq in a dark tunnel and bring down the political process. They want to do this to continue to steal the wealth of the country. They have money and they run television and radio stations. But we will pursue reforms,” he said.
Abadi has the backing of the highest Shia religious authority in Iraq, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who has considerable influence over the Shia population. Sistani, through his spokesman even warned that politicians who will be hurt by the reforms won't give up their power and privileges easily.
Many expected that attempts to reform the sectarian and ethnic power-sharing system would unite powerful forces against Abadi.
“It seriously divided the Shia house. The government and the army are not strong. The armed groups (Shia militias) are exerting pressure. This is very dangerous. Abadi tried to ask Iran to stop those groups and its political backers from meddling in state affairs but it didn’t work,” Wathiq al Hashemi, a political analyst told me. "Also the Dawa party has two wings. One wing supports Abadi and the other supports Maliki"
Iran 'get out'
While the protesters may have first demanded electricity, organisers tell us that what they also want is to regain Iraq’s independence. Protests have not been confined to Baghdad. The mainly Shia cities across southern Iraq have seen demonstrations as well. And some demonstrators particularly in Basra chanted "Iran get out".
There were a few protesters in Tahrir who were angry at comments made by a former Iranian ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, who said “some embassies whose countries have always supported terrorism in Iraq have played a major role in provoking the popular protests”.
Iran has influential allies in Iraq. And it has given crucial support to Shia militias who are battling ISIL instead of the weak army.
Organisers talk about the support they have from Sistani – a cleric whose authority is not questioned. And they seem confident that the grand ayatollah who never endorsed Iran’s theocratic system of government or what is known as "Wilayat al-Faqih", will continue to back their cause. Some may argue that just like the powerful Iranian backed politicians, the protest organisers may also exploit a protest movement that began with the simple demand of electricity. Either way, there is a new divide in a country with already so many frontlines.
While the protests may have overcome Iraq’s sectarian divisions, it has divided the majority Shia community
Some Shia political and security factions close to Iran have grown stronger than the state and some call them a shadow government waiting in the wings to step in.
There is a new conflict which could wither away, cause more chaos or change the face of Iraq.
http://ift.tt/1PXwYJi
Article Ends
Till next time…. Auf Wiedersehen!
Peace and Luv To Ya All,
Mnt Goat
“It seriously divided the Shia house. The government and the army are not strong. The armed groups (Shia militias) are exerting pressure. This is very dangerous. Abadi tried to ask Iran to stop those groups and its political backers from meddling in state affairs but it didn’t work,” Wathiq al Hashemi, a political analyst told me. "Also the Dawa party has two wings. One wing supports Abadi and the other supports Maliki"
Iran 'get out'
While the protesters may have first demanded electricity, organisers tell us that what they also want is to regain Iraq’s independence. Protests have not been confined to Baghdad. The mainly Shia cities across southern Iraq have seen demonstrations as well. And some demonstrators particularly in Basra chanted "Iran get out".
There were a few protesters in Tahrir who were angry at comments made by a former Iranian ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, who said “some embassies whose countries have always supported terrorism in Iraq have played a major role in provoking the popular protests”.
Iran has influential allies in Iraq. And it has given crucial support to Shia militias who are battling ISIL instead of the weak army.
Organisers talk about the support they have from Sistani – a cleric whose authority is not questioned. And they seem confident that the grand ayatollah who never endorsed Iran’s theocratic system of government or what is known as "Wilayat al-Faqih", will continue to back their cause. Some may argue that just like the powerful Iranian backed politicians, the protest organisers may also exploit a protest movement that began with the simple demand of electricity. Either way, there is a new divide in a country with already so many frontlines.
While the protests may have overcome Iraq’s sectarian divisions, it has divided the majority Shia community
Some Shia political and security factions close to Iran have grown stronger than the state and some call them a shadow government waiting in the wings to step in.
There is a new conflict which could wither away, cause more chaos or change the face of Iraq.
http://ift.tt/1PXwYJi
Article Ends
Till next time…. Auf Wiedersehen!
Peace and Luv To Ya All,
Mnt Goat
via Dinar Recaps - Our Blog http://ift.tt/1M6jw87
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