GOING GLOBAL EAST MEETS WEST - ARCHIVES

Welcome to Going Global's Archives ~ For Current News and Events, Please Go To Going Global East Meets West's New Address Posted Below ...

2012-01-28T23:56:00.000-08:00

Please enjoy the archives .. And .. For Current News, Go To ~ Link ~ GOING GLOBAL EAST MEETS WEST - ARTICLES OF INTEREST ~ http://goingglobaleastmeetswest.blogspot.com/

Dr. Sinan Al-Shabibi Governor Central Bank of Iraq ~ Iraq focus day: Sunday 22 January 2012

2012-01-21T22:09:00.000-08:00

Iraq focus day: Sunday 22 January 2012

Iraq Focus Day
Conference Day 1
Conference Day 2
Workshops

Challenges and opportunities in the banking sector of Iraq

*Restructuring financial institutions to increase transparency in operations

*Improving the regulatory environment and compliance to create an open platform for collaboration with the international community

*Discussing the importance of clear strategies in developing local banks to increase their competitiveness in the time of rapid technological development

H.E. Dr. Sinan Al-Shabibi Governor Central Bank of Iraq

Link
Dr. Sinan Al-Shabibi Governor Central Bank of Iraq ~ Iraq focus day: Sunday 22 January 2012

SOPA ~ Another Video ~ Warning ..

2012-01-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

G20 ~ 2012 Mexico .. Watch ..Mexico An Emerging Market ...

2012-01-17T10:46:00.000-08:00

Link ~ IMF seeks up to $500 billion in new funds

Links ~ Mexico and U.S.

January 2011 Mexico's Finance Minister ..

*****And .. Worth Watching .. March 2011 - The Mexican Economy and Future Prospects ..

Message from Phoenix ~ Today @ 4:00 PM. EST~ Phoenix will be a Guest on 'Wolf Spirit Radio' ~ Also, Phoenix Sunday @ 8 pm will host a special guest

2012-01-14T11:21:00.000-08:00

January 14, 2012

Today I will be a guest on Wolf Spirit Radio at 4:00 pm est. with the host Dave Corso

The Link ~ http://www.wolfspiritradio.com/ .. Click Enter and Listen Live. Also, Join in on the chat. The show will also be recorded for on demand listening on the Wolf Spirit Radio page: http://www.wolfspiritradio.com/main/

Tomorrow, Sunday, at 8 pm est on PRR our guest will be Thomas "Sasquatch Spirit" host of "The Great Turtle" Island Radio show.

Great Turtle Island Radio is the host of "Buffalo Talk" with the Elders of the Cree Indian nation.Thomas will be sharing his views and experiences with us as well of his first hand knowledge of the great Sasquatch.

Great Turtle Island ~ link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-great-turtle-island

*Phoenix Blog Talk Radio - Link ...

Conferences and Events

2012-01-09T15:04:00.000-08:00

Conferences and Events for January, February, and March 2012 ...

Going Global Headline News for Monday, January 9, 2012 .. Will Update ...

Phoenix Rising Radio ~ 8:00 PM EST, Thursday, December 22, 2011 ...

2011-12-22T23:55:00.000-08:00

Phoenix Rising Radio is the live radio program of the private "Gimme Shelter" forum hosted by Phoenix. Show topics cover the global current events impacting us all.

The live show airs at 8:00 PM EST. Monday Through Friday. All past shows are on-demand.

Phoenix Rising @ Link

As of December 22, 2011, Going Global East Meets West will move to a new address. You can check out the new address @ link.

I will be posting on both sites (until January 1st) and will adhere to the strict copyright SOPA law, which may go into effect January 1, 2012.

Please note that the new site will Also be free from any advertisements or solicited donations that fall under SOPA's strict policy. New Address ~ link ..

Link ~ Going Global Headline News for Wednesday and Thursday, December 21-22 -2011 .. Winter Solstice ...

Going Global Headline News for Wednesday and Thursday, December 21-22 -2011 .. Winter Solstice ...

2011-12-22T13:11:00.000-08:00

Life is short .. live it ... Love is rare .. grab it. .. Anger is bad .. dump it. .. Fear is awful .. face it. Memories are sweet .. cherish them ...

Great Explanation on the Situation in Iraq .. easy enough .. even a caveman will understand it ...:) Phoenix Rising Radio ~ 7:00 AM EST, Thursday, December 22, 2011 ...

Biden ~ In a telephone interview. Talabani discuss with Biden all hot issues on the Iraqi scene

Iraq ~ Former Prime Minister Allawi's Group Blame the U.S. Withdraw for Attacks ...

Zebari said: they should deal with the issue of al Hashimi quietly among political leaders rather than inflated information

Al-Maliki discuss with the US Army Chief of staff of joint cooperation between the two countries

UN, Iraqi PM react to series attacks in Baghdad

Al-Maliki: the criminal bombings of today emphasizes faith enemy confusion of political realities in the country

Thursday ~ Obama to discuss payroll tax extension: official

Series of blasts hits Iraqi capital - police

Iraq PM Warns Sunnis Could be Shut From Power

Petraeus Back from Baghdad ...

Baghdad and Kurdistan ~ The Leaders of the Kurdistan accepted the terms of the Charter of the National Honor of Moqtada al-Sadr

Sadr ~ Maliki is not responsible for the arrest warrant against Hashemi

Iraq and EU ~ Zebari met ambassadors of the EU to brief them on developments in the political crisis, and the initiative of Iraq to Syria

Iraq row deepens as PM calls for VP handover

Iraq’s Zebari warns of foreign meddling amid crisis

Americans will be transferred to foreign prisons under Indefinite Detention act

IEA expects Iraqi oil boom

UN and Iraq ~ Ban Ki-moon: U.S. Withdrawal Marks New Moment in Iraq's History ~ He is Closely Watching the Current Political Situation ...

Iran's Currency ~ The collapse of the currency of Iran threaten stability ...

Obama Ready to Sign Indefinite Detention Bill into Law

Central Bank of Iraq the return of the dollar exchange rate to what it was ...

Iraq and U.S. Director of CIA Meets with Iraqi Leaders As Allawi Out Of The Country Once Again ...

U.S. CIA Director, Petraeus, aware of crimes Hashemi

Maliki: Baath Party leader asked his followers to get ready, when the Americans withdraw then pounce on the Iraqi regime ...

Who are the Ba'athist? Allawi Gets a Ba'athist Endorsement ... ''07'

Maliki admits hiding the evidence for the crimes documented and Warned the owners if continued there would be consequences

Basel III .. International regulatory framework for banks (Basel III)

Links ~ Infrastructure Bank, National Infrastructure Bank, U.S. Infrastructure Bank

Going Global Headline News For Tuesday and Wednesday, December 20-21-2011 ...

Biden ~ In a telephone interview. Talabani discuss with Biden all hot issues on the Iraqi scene

2011-12-22T09:38:00.000-08:00

Thursday, 22-12-11

In a telephone interview. Talabani discuss with Biden all hot issues on the Iraqi scene

Baghdad, Search President Jalal Talabani, Thursday evening, during a telephone call from us Vice President Joseph Biden all hot issues on the Iraqi scene.

According to a statement by the Presidency of the Republic received (News News Agency) Thursday: contact search included all hot issues on the Iraqi scene, where the Vice President said the United States commended all efforts by President Talabani to collect Iraqi political forces to resolve problems through serious dialogue and cordial.

"Biden to contact United States support fully the efforts of President Talabani to contain the current crisis facing Iraq. He was United States Ambassador in Iraq for more cooperation for successful endeavours of his Excellency President.

At the conclusion of new connection Vice-President thanked the President for his and his "always expects you like this national effort. These troubles sincere to the country and that's what you folks.

link

Iraq ~ Former Prime Minister Allawi's Group Blame the U.S. Withdraw for Attacks ...

2011-12-22T09:00:00.001-08:00

Snip .. "Unfortunately this was all agreed upon by America - to hand over Iraq to a new dictator, and so Iraq will implode again." Ali Hatem Suleiman, the leader of one of the nation's largest Sunni tribes said

video .. warning graphic ..

http://www.newslook.com/videos/384141-graphic-multiple-blasts-rip-through-baghdad?autoplay=true

In a sign of the deepening sectarian crisis facing the Iraqi government, a series of explosions hit Baghdad today, killing at least 63 and wounding another 180.

A series of 14 bomb attacks, apparently coordinated, in Baghdad today ed Iraqi officials to declare it the worst day of 2011.

At least 63 people are dead and more tha 180 are wounded as signs emerge that the political crisis facing the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki may be spilling into the streets.

The violence comes just days after the last U.S. troops pulled out of Iraq and into neighboring Kuwait. American officials have said the soldiers in Kuwait could return to Iraq rapidly if the situation spiraled out of control, but so far there's no reason to think that's the case.

According to the New York Times, insurgents used car bombs and IEDs to strike at grocery stores, schools and government bombings in neighborhoods all around the capital city. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but they bear the hallmarks of previous work by the group Al Qaeda in Iraq.

“This has nothing to do with the American withdrawal,” Abdul Kareem Thirib, the head of the security committee for Baghdad’s provincial council, said to the Times. “When they were here, there were also explosions. We were the ones in control of the streets when the Americans were here. I think there will be more cowardly attacks in the coming days but we will face them and everything will be under control.”

The sectarian problems have been increasing since the government of al-Maliki, a Shiite himself, issued an arrest warrant for Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni and one of the most political influential Sunnis in the country. He's accused of running a death squad, though many Sunnis view it as a political ploy to force the Sunnis from power.

The BBC reported that the al-Iraqiyya group, the main Sunni group in parliament, is boycotting the assembly in protest.

"Maliki will drive Iraq towards separation and will create a new dictatorship and take on Saddam's mantle," Ali Hatem Suleiman, the leader of one of the nation's largest Sunni tribes said to the BBC.

"Unfortunately this was all agreed upon by America - to hand over Iraq to a new dictator, and so Iraq will implode again."

al-Hashemi is believed to have fled to the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq. link

related .. Iyad Allawi ~ 'Saddam without a moustache' ... BBC News Profile ...

Zebari said: they should deal with the issue of al Hashimi quietly among political leaders rather than inflated information

2011-12-22T08:43:00.000-08:00

December 22, 2011

Zebari said they should deal with the issue of al Hashimi quietly among political leaders rather than inflated information

Baghdad, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said that the issue of Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi exaggerated in the media when they should have been handled quietly among political leaders.

A Ministry statement quoted received (News Agency news) a copy of Zebari expressing concerns about Iraq's return to the fighting that is tearing the country almost communal in 2006 and 2007.

Most areas saw Iraq years above a wave of sectarian violence on the back allow bombing in Samarra which killed thousands of civilians.

link

Al-Maliki discuss with the US Army Chief of staff of joint cooperation between the two countries

2011-12-22T08:33:00.000-08:00

Thursday, 22-12-11

Al-Maliki discuss with the US Army Chief of staff of joint cooperation between the two countries

Baghdad, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki full importance of continued cooperation between Iraq and the United States in the interest of the two countries.

According to a statement by the information Office of the Prime Minister received (News Agency news) on Thursday: Al-Maliki confirmed, during the meeting, stressed the importance of continued cooperation between Iraq and the United States in the interest of the two countries.

The Prime Minister invited: to accelerate the processing of Iraqi forces with the necessary equipment and machinery necessary for their work.

His Chief of staff of the US military was ready to cooperate with Iraq in the area of training and equipping and arming of Iraqi forces.

link

UN, Iraqi PM react to series attacks in Baghdad

2011-12-22T08:28:00.000-08:00

December 22, 2011

UN, Iraqi PM react to series attacks in Baghdad

Baghdad, The UN and Iraqi government both condemned the recent attacks which hit the Iraqi capital Baghdad, leaving 75 people dead, and 167 injured.

On the UN level, Special representative of the UN Secretary General for Iraq Martin Kobler lashed out at the 13 explosions which rocked the Iraqi capital, saying that such was amongst the most brutal crimes ever committed against the innocent.

He called on all Iraqi parties to swiftly react and protect their fellow citizens from such bloodshed, affirming that the Iraqi people should not be victims of such attacks.

Similar reactions were echoed by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, who noted that such an incident was politically motivated due to its timing.

He called on the Iraqi police and army to both intensify their efforts to track-down those responsible for such atrocious attacks.

link

Al-Maliki: the criminal bombings of today emphasizes faith enemy confusion of political realities in the country

2011-12-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

December 22, 2011

Al-Maliki: the criminal bombings of today emphasizes faith enemy confusion of political realities in the country

Baghdad, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said the series of criminal explosions targeting innocent and defenceless in schools, markets and public places again reveal enemy faced by Iraqis Tine and criminal nature which would not hesitate to conduct any way to achieve its objectives and emphasizes the enemy intention of shuffling the political reality in the country.

Maliki said in a statement sent to (Agency news News) on Thursday that the timing of these crimes and their choice once again to every skeptic political nature of the goals they want to achieve through crime and murder innocent, unarmed and trying to mix cards hoping to reach those goals.

Al-Maliki called on security forces and army troops to tighten its procedures and to do its duty with utmost discipline to protect citizens and fill security holes that implemented these killers and call on them not to be dragged to the reactions of criminals try to push them to achieve their goals.

He also called on all clergy, politicians and political parties, tribal chiefs and all good forces must assume their responsibility in this delicate and ykovo along with their security forces and the strengthening of health information, support and maintain unity.

Maliki insisted that offenders and from behind will ysttiao change the course of events and the political process or the impunity that happens to them sooner or later.

And several areas in the capital, terrorist attacks and car bombs claimed the lives of hundreds of citizens killed or injured.

link

Thursday ~ Obama to discuss payroll tax extension: official

2011-12-21T22:03:00.000-08:00

December 21, 2011

Obama to discuss payroll tax extension: official

President Barack Obama will publicly discuss the importance of a payroll tax extension, a new push in his end-of-year showdown with Republicans, according to a senior administration official.

The official said privately that Obama would hold an event Thursday to pressure Republicans to approve a two-month extension.

Republicans in Congress were facing a torrent of political pressure and media scorn after triggering an uproar by blocking a compromise plan to extend a tax break for 160 million Americans.

The conservative editorial page of The Wall Street Journal, normally a bastion of support for House of Representatives Republicans, branded the episode a "fiasco" that could end up reelecting President Barack Obama.

House Republican leaders stuck to their guns despite taking on heavy political fire, insisting that the Senate return from its vacation to work out a new compromise to unpick the pre-Christmas imbroglio.

If the tax cut is not extended by January 1, payroll tax deductions, which are separate from income tax, will go up from 4.2 percent to 6.2 percent in a move Obama says will hurt a "fragile" recovery.

The hike would cost the average American $1000 over the course of 2012.

Additionally, around two million people also stand to lose federally funded unemployment benefits.

link

Series of blasts hits Iraqi capital - police

2011-12-21T21:44:00.000-08:00

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Series of blasts hits Iraqi capital - police

A series of explosions struck Baghdad Thursday, the first apparently coordinated attacks on Iraq's capital since a crisis erupted between its Shi'ite-led government and Sunni rivals after the withdrawal of the last U.S. troops, police said.

Two roadside bombs exploded in the central Baghdad area, killing at least four people and wounding 14 more, while a car bomb hit the commercial Karrada district, wounding five people, police and security officials said.

Two more explosions hit northern Baghdad, police and witnesses said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from those blasts.

link

Iraq PM Warns Sunnis Could be Shut From Power

2011-12-21T21:11:00.000-08:00

12/21/2011

Iraq PM warns Sunnis could be shut from power

Iraq's Sunni Muslim minority rejected a call for all-party talks on Wednesday, ignoring U.S. pressure for dialogue to resolve a sectarian crisis that has erupted since American forces left the country this week.

With fears mounting that the nation of 30 million might one day fragment in chaos in the absence of the U.S. troops who toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003, Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki warned Saddam's fellow Sunnis they faced exclusion from power if they walked out on his ruling coalition.

The main Sunni-backed party, furious at terrorism charges leveled by the Shi'ite-run authorities against Iraq's Sunni vice president on the day Americans left, rejected Maliki's call for all-party talks in the coming days and vowed to try and unseat the prime minister in parliament, a move unlikely to succeed.

Having stuck by a decision to withdraw U.S. forces in 2011, a return of the kind of sectarian blood-letting that killed tens of thousands of Iraqis after Saddam fell could embarrass President Barack Obama as he campaigns for re-election.

Vice President Joe Biden called Maliki and the Sunni speaker of parliament on Tuesday to press for urgent talks among Iraq's leaders. But there was little sign of a thaw on Wednesday, although it remained unclear how far the rhetoric reflected a real threat to the fragile coexistence of Sunnis with the majority Shi'ites and ethnic Kurds, both oppressed under Saddam.

Maliki, calling on the Kurds to hand over Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi who has taken refuge in their autonomous region, said he wanted Hashemi's Sunni-backed Iraqiya block to end a boycott of parliament and of his year-old power-sharing government.

Continues ...read more ..

"But," he warned, "If they insist, they are free to do so and they can withdraw permanently from the state and all its institutions."

Iraqiya said it would not attend talks with Maliki, "since he represents the main reason for the crisis and the problem, and he is not a positive element for a solution."

As well as Hashemi, who stands accused of running death squads based on televised confessions by men claiming to be his bodyguards, the other most senior Sunni politician, deputy prime minister Saleh al-Mutlaq, is also under fire from Maliki, who has asked parliament to remove Mutlaq from office.

Hashemi has dismissed the charges against him as a fabrication, a denial that has credibility in Washington, where one U.S. official said he believes the charges were unfounded.

The White House on Tuesday said it was "obviously concerned" about the arrest warrant issued for Hashemi. In his calls to Baghdad, Biden had "stressed the urgent need for the prime minister and the leaders of the other major blocs to meet and work through their differences together."

Shi'ite leaders insist there is no political motive behind the case against Hashemi. But Sunnis, outnumbered about two to one by Shi'ites, see it as proof that Maliki, now freed of the trammels of U.S. occupation, is determined to tighten his personal grip on government and to marginalize the Sunnis.

In a system devised under U.S. occupation to divide power, Iraq has a Shi'ite prime minister with Sunni and Kurd deputies, a Kurdish president with Shi'ite and Sunni vice presidents, and a Sunni parliament speaker with Shi'ite and Kurd deputies.

Having long shunned the U.S.-backed institutions set up when Saddam's decades of one-man rule ended, Sunni voters propelled Iraqiya into first place in a fragmented parliament last year. But Maliki was able to draw on other Shi'ite and Kurdish groups to build a coalition, in which Iraqiya eventually took part.

Tensions among the major groups has, however, hamstrung the government, leaving key posts such as that of defense and interior minister unfilled and obstructing legislation that could clarify rules for investing and exploiting Iraq's vast oil and gas reserves.

Iraq sits astride a Sunni-Shi'ite faultline running through the Middle East, fuelling mutual accusations of foreign influence, whether from Shi'ite Iran to the north or from the Sunni-ruled Arab states to the south.

In an interview, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, an ethnic Kurd, said that the country's domestic schisms risked inviting more interference from outside:

"As long as your internal front is fragmented and not united ... others who want to interfere will be encouraged," he said. "That's why it is very important to deal with this crisis as soon as possible."

link

Petraeus Back from Baghdad ...

2011-12-21T19:31:00.000-08:00

Related articles ~ U.S. CIA Director, Petraeus, aware of crimes Hashemi
and April 2010 ..Iraq ~ Patraeus says, New infrastructure and economic rebuilding coupled with security gains are for all to see ... and April 2011 .. Panetta to head Pentagon, Petraeus to replace him as CIA chief ...

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Petraeus back from Baghdad

CIA Director David Petraeus has just returned from a quick visit to Iraq.

The trip was initially intended as a chance for Petraeus to thank the CIA team in Iraq as the US completed its withdrawal of forces, an official said.

The trip, though previously planned, comes as Iraq is mired in political turmoil.

The country’s Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, is in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region as he fights charges from Maliki’s government that he organized a death squad targeting government and military officials.

Petraeus, a former commander in Iraq, also met with the Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the Speaker of the Parliament and Minister of Finance, both senior members of the mostly Sunni-backed Iraqiya political bloc, which Hashemi is also a member of. Petraeus then traveled to northern Iraq to meet with senior Kurdish leadership.

The content of Petraeus discussions were not disclosed. The CIA and the U.S. embassy in Baghdad would not comment.

link

Baghdad and Kurdistan ~ The Leaders of the Kurdistan accepted the terms of the Charter of the National Honor of Moqtada al-Sadr

2011-12-21T19:26:00.000-08:00

Related article ~ Sadr's call for Iraqi blocks the signing of a code of conduct is receiving broad support

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The leaders of the Kurdistan accepted the terms of the Charter of the national honor of Moqtada al-Sadr

Said Secretary General of the Liberal bloc Zia al-Asadi said a President Jalal Talabani and the Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani accepted the statement in terms of the Charter of the national honor given consent and complete with some minor modifications which do not affect the essence of the Charter.

The delegation concluded that sent the cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to Kurdistan to discuss with the leaders of the province on the initiative of the Charter of the national honor his visit today after meeting with both Talabani and Barzani.

He added, "Asadi" The meetings resulted in the formation of a joint committee represented by all those who participated in the signing of the Charter and the mission of this Committee to follow up implementation of the Charter.

link

Sadr ~ Maliki is not responsible for the arrest warrant against Hashemi

2011-12-21T19:25:00.000-08:00

21/12/2011

Maliki is not responsible for the arrest warrant against Hashemi

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is not responsible for the judiciary issuing an arrest warrant for Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi according to the Sadrist movement which belongs to al-Maliki's National Coalition.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry announced the warrant had been issued last night. They said al-Hashemi is wanted on terrorism offenses and they presented the confessions of three members of al-Hashemi's protection detail who said the Vice President ordered them to carry out assassinations since 2009.

Continues ...read more ..

The Interior Ministry pledged to release the full confessions after the investigation is complete.

Iraqiya List, led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, said today it will appeal the decision of the Iraqi judiciary to order the arrest of the Vice President, a leading figure in Iraqiya List. They claimed the confessions were made under torture.

The Iraqi judicial decisions against al-Hashemi are widely believed to be a direct attack on opposition groups, increasing the crisis in the country.

Sadrist movement member Jawad al-Jabbouri told AKnews that Iraqiya List must support such decisions issued by the judiciary as they are based on facts: "We believe the judiciary is independent and has its own procedures and everyone must respect its decisions."

The Iraqi judiciary has issued a decree banning al-Hashemi and a number of his bodyguards from traveling while sources in the National Coalition revealed pledges from President Jalal Talabani to return Hashimi to Baghdad after the end of their regular meeting in Sulaimaniya, Kurdistan Region.

link

Iraq and EU ~ Zebari met ambassadors of the EU to brief them on developments in the political crisis, and the initiative of Iraq to Syria

2011-12-21T19:19:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Zebari met ambassadors of the EU to brief them on developments in the political crisis, and the initiative of Iraq to Syria

Met Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, ambassadors and heads of missions of the EU operating in Iraq.

The meeting came at the request of the Representation of the European Union informed on the developments of the political crisis, and the initiative of Iraq to Syria to implement the Arab initiative and the Arab Plan of Action, and relations, Iraq - the U.S. after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.

The foreign minister stressed that all Iraqi political leaders emphasize the language of dialogue to address and mitigate the escalation of the tone of the media and the judiciary take its course.

He also stressed on the success of Iraqi efforts to encourage the Syrian government to agree to receive the Fact-Finding Commission according to the protocol monitors the status of the Arabs, and the Iraqi government sought to participate in the work of the Committee.

The Minister reviewed the results of the visit, Mr. Prime Minister and ministerial delegation to Washington, and the positive results that emerged from the strengthening of the bilateral relationship through the activation of the strategic framework agreement.

link

Iraq row deepens as PM calls for VP handover

2011-12-21T18:56:00.000-08:00

December 21, 2011

Iraq row deepens as PM calls for VP handover

Iraq’s government marked its first anniversary on Wednesday in turmoil as its premier urged Kurd officials to hand over the Sunni vice president on terror charges, in a row that has raised communal tension.

Baghdad - Iraq’s government marked its first anniversary on Wednesday in turmoil as its premier urged Kurd officials to hand over the Sunni vice president on terror charges, in a row that has raised communal tension.

Washington has urged calm, but Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki threatened to replace ministers belonging to the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc if they did not end a cabinet boycott, while Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, currently holed up in the autonomous Kurdish region, rejected claims he ran a death squad.

Lawmakers are also due to consider a call from Maliki to sack Sunni Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlak, who has decried the Shiite-led national unity government as a “dictatorship”.

All this comes just days after US troops completed their withdrawal from the country, leaving behind what US President Barack Obama described as a “sovereign, stable, and self-reliant Iraq.”

Continues ...read more ..

“We call for the government of the Kurdistan region to... hand over Hashemi to the justice system,” Maliki told a news conference in Baghdad. “We do not accept any interference in Iraqi justice.”

Maliki also rejected Hashemi’s calls for Arab League representatives to observe the investigation and any questioning, telling reporters, “We gave the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein a fair trial, and we will ensure that a fair trial will also be given to Hashemi,” referring to the now-executed Saddam.

He also warned Hashemi and Mutlak’s Iraqiya bloc that he would replace the group’s nine cabinet ministers if they continued to boycott government sessions.

“Ministers have no right to suspend their membership in the government because they will be considered resigned,” Maliki said. “In the next cabinet meeting, if they do not come back, we will appoint replacements.”

He added that “if we don’t succeed to reach an agreement, we will move towards forming a majority government,” as opposed to the current national unity cabinet.

Iraqiya, which has not pulled out of the government, holds 82 of the 325 seats in parliament and controls nine ministerial posts, and had earlier said it was suspending its participation in the legislature.

The bloc, which garnered most of its support from the Sunni minority and emerged with the most seats in March 2010 elections, was out-manoeuvred for the premiership by Maliki who finished second in the polls.

Maliki’s remarks came after he held a telephone call with US Vice President Joe Biden, who urged him to work with other parties to resolve the worsening crisis that threatens Iraq’s fragile political truce.

Biden spoke with Maliki and parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi and “stressed the urgent need for the prime minister and the leaders of the other major blocs to meet and work through their differences together,” the White House said.

US officials also confirmed Central Intelligence Agency Director David Petraeus, the former US military commander credited with containing sectarian violence in Iraq, had paid a visit to Baghdad in recent days.

But they said it was a previously scheduled trip to Iraq and Afghanistan and that Petraeus was not engaged in any political talks in Baghdad.

Hashemi, meanwhile, held a defiant news conference in the Kurdish regional capital Arbil, denying the charges laid against him and vowing to face them off in court.

“I swear to God that I never committed a sin when it comes to Iraqi blood,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “I suggest transferring the case to Kurdistan. On this basis, I will be ready to face trial.”

He added that apparent confessions aired on state television linking him to attacks were “false” and “politicised”. His office has complained of “intentional harassment”.

Officials issued the warrant for Hashemi’s arrest on Monday, after banning him from travelling overseas.

Security officials say they have detained at least 13 of the vice president’s bodyguards in recent weeks, but Hashemi’s office says only three have been arrested.

Maliki and other leaders have called for talks to resolve the political crisis, but the premier’s spokesman told AFP he would not accept any mediation over the charges against Hashemi.

“The prime minister will not compromise the blood of Iraqis, no matter what the price,” Ali Mussawi said.

Maliki has also called for Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlak, like Hashemi a Sunni Arab and a member of the Iraqiya bloc, to be sacked after Mutlak said the premier was “worse than Saddam Hussein”.

Lawmakers are due to consider Maliki’s request to fire Mutlak on January 3.

link

Iraq’s Zebari warns of foreign meddling amid crisis

2011-12-21T18:51:00.000-08:00

December 21, 2011

Iraq’s Zebari warns of foreign meddling amid crisis

Baghdad - Iraq’s foreign minister said on Wednesday Iraq would invite more regional meddling in the country’s affairs if its leaders failed to solve quickly a political crisis between the Shi’ite-led government and Sunni rivals.

“This aggravation is not in anybody’s interests,” Hoshiyar Zebari, a Kurd, told reporters in an interview.

“As long as your internal front is fragmented and not united ... others who want to interfere will be encouraged. That’s why it is very important to deal with this crisis as soon as possible,” he said.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s Shi’ite-led government has sought the arrest of Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, accusing him of running a death squad, and demanded that parliament fire another rival, his Sunni deputy Saleh al-Mutlaq, after he compared Maliki to Saddam Hussein.

Continues ...read more ..

The row, which erupted days after the last U.S. troops withdrew, could unravel Iraq’s fragile power-sharing deal among Shi’ite, Sunni and Kurdish blocs.

“This crisis came at the wrong time for Iraq. It came with the withdrawal of the last American troops,” Zebari said. “The biggest challenge for Iraq after the U.S. forces’ withdrawal is a political one, after that it is security.”

Neighbouring countries must not be allowed to think they can fill the vacuum after the U.S. withdrawal to interfere in Iraq’s affairs, he said. “We will not be a pawn in others’ games.”

Shi’ite Iran has gained considerable influence in Iraq since the fall of Saddam after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and Iraqi officials also complain of meddling by Saudi Arabia and Turkey. All have tried to play a role in directing Iraqi politics during and after the government formation last year.

Zebari said Hashemi’s case had been blown out of proportion in the media when it should have been dealt with quietly among Iraqi political leaders.

But he dismissed fears Iraq would return to the kind of sectarian slaughter that almost ripped the country apart in 2006-07.

Shi’ite leaders say Hashemi’s case involves law enforcement against individuals and does not target a community, but the Sunni minority fears that Maliki is increasing his hold on the government and marginalising Sunnis.

Both Hashemi and Mutlaq are senior Sunni leaders of Iraqiya, a cross-sectarian political bloc, which won majority seats in parliament last year on the back of minority Sunni votes.

Hashemi took refuge in the northern semi-autonomous Kurdish region after the arrest warrant was issued against him. On Wednesday, Maliki called on Kurdish authorities to hand Hashemi over to face charges, which he has denied.

SYRIAN CRISIS

Zebari, who has been involved in the Iraqi government’s mediation with neighbouring Syria to help end months of violence, said a delegation from the Syrian opposition is expected in Baghdad next week for a fresh round of talks.

Iraq has resisted Arab League calls for sanctions against Damascus, and Iraqi leaders are worried that unrest in Syria could inflame its own sectarian tensions.

Iraq sent a delegation last week to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his opponents, and helped persuade Damascus to agree to an Arab League-proposed peace plan.

Syria stalled for weeks before signing a protocol on Monday to accept monitors who will check its compliance with an Arab plan for an end to violence, withdrawal of troops from the streets, release of prisoners and dialogue with the opposition.

Despite that, Syrian forces killed 111 people on Tuesday, activists said, and France branded the killings an “unprecedented massacre”.

Zebari said the Syrian opposition still has “fears and doubts” over the Assad government’s readiness to implement the Arab plan, but said all parties have to be patient and wait for the outcome of the Arab mission.

“These issues cannot be solved by pressing a button to get the result, not in the world of politics and negotiations.”

link

Americans will be transferred to foreign prisons under Indefinite Detention act

2011-12-21T17:57:00.000-08:00

December 21, 2011

Americans will be transferred to foreign prisons under Indefinite Detention act

If you’re upset that congressional approval of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 can send you away to military prisons and be tortured in America, don’t worry — it could be worse.

The US could send you somewhere else.

No, really. They could. And they can. Anywhere else, too. Really.

While the bill that left Capitol Hill last week and awaits authorization from US President Barack Obama allows for the United States to indefinitely detain and torture American citizens suspected of aiding enemy forces, one provision in the bill specifies that that detention doesn’t necessarily have to occur domestically — nor does it have to be in a foreign prison run by the US.

The ongoing detention of foreign terror suspects at the US base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has been a hot topic since the War on Terror began, with American military authorities torturing could-be criminals without ever bringing them to trial. An exposé years earlier on the Abu Ghraib facility in Iraq revealed how American troops were subjecting detainees to disgusting, inhumane conditions; conditions which left some dead without ever going to trial. While Abu Ghraib has since been shut down, Guantanamo Bay continues to hold suspected criminals despite a promise to Obama to shut it down.

When the commander-in-chief inks his name to NDAA FY2012, Americans can be on their way to the same torture cells that have kept al-Qaeda and Taliban-linked terrorists for the last decade. It’s now been revealed, however, that US citizens and anyone suspected of a crime against America can be sent all over the world.

Under the legislation, the president has the power to transfer suspected terrorists "to the custody or control of the person's country of origin, any other foreign country, or any other foreign entity."

China? Sure. Iran? Why not! North Korea? That’s a possibility too. David Glazier, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, tells Mother Jones that this was an authority that the president has had before, but only under the new NDAA is the legislation endorsed and insured that it could be applied to Americans.

"If the president could lawfully transfer a German prisoner of war to a foreign country, then in theory he could do the same thing with an American prisoner of war," Glazier says.

Under the Feinstein Amendment imposed under NDAA FY2012, the Democratic senator from California proposed a law which would not change “existing law” with regards to detaining Americans. As Mother Jones notes, however, the jury is still out on what exactly “existing law” is when it comes to the topic, with those suspected of hostilities against America already being imprisoned without trial — citizen and otherwise. Both US-born Bradley Manning has been under military watch, isolation and torture for nearly two years, and the same has applied to a countless number of suspected terrorists at Gitmo and Abu Ghraib.

Al Franken, a Democrat senator from Minnesota, wrote in an op-ed last week that the provisions put in NDAA such as Feinstein Amendment were enough for some lawmakers to sign onto the legislation, but he said the final draft was still “simply unacceptable.”

“These provisions are inconsistent with the liberties and freedoms that are at the core of the system our Founders established. And while I did in fact vote for an earlier version of the legislation, I did so with the hope that the final version would be significantly improved. That didn't happen, and so I could not support the final bill,” wrote Franken.

link

IEA expects Iraqi oil boom

2011-12-21T17:44:00.000-08:00

December 21, 2011

IEA expects Iraqi oil boom

PARIS, Iraq is expected to account for as much as 80 percent of the anticipated production increase from OPEC members, the IEA estimates.

The International Energy Agency in its latest monthly oil report estimates crude oil production from Iraq is on pace to increase 1.87 million barrels per day from 2010-16. This means that by the end of the timeframe, Iraq will produce on average 4.36 million bpd.

The IEA said overall production capacity from members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is forecast to increase from 2.33 million bpd to 3.81 million bpd by 2016.

"This revised forecast means that Iraq is expected to account for 80 percent of the increase in OPEC's crude oil production capacity in the six-year period," the IEA said in a statement.

The December report, however, warns of growing political instability in Iraq now that U.S. military forces have formally ended their mission there.

"International oil companies also report that continued bureaucratic, logistical and operational constraints are posing significant challenges and delays to project work, which we have already largely built into our forecast," the monthly report said.

Iraq's Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki wants Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi arrested on charges he operated death squads in the country. Authorities in the central government in Baghdad, meanwhile, are at odds with the Kurdish regional government over natural resources.

link

UN and Iraq ~ Ban Ki-moon: U.S. Withdrawal Marks New Moment in Iraq's History ~ He is Closely Watching the Current Political Situation ...

2011-12-21T15:42:00.000-08:00

December 21, 2011

US withdrawal marks new moment in Iraq history: UN chief

United Nations, Iraq will have a new opportunity to prove that it can put past troubles behind it with the full withdrawal of US forces from the country, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.

"The completion of the withdrawal of the US military forces marks a new moment in Iraq's recent history," Xinhua quoted a statement from the UN chief as saying.

"This important development is an opportunity for Iraqi leaders to demonstrate to their people and to the world that they are fully capable of steering the country towards a better future," it said.

The US signed a document Dec 18 officially ending the Iraq war, after the last American combat forces left the country. The US began fighting in Iraq in 2003 and has had a presence on the ground since.

According to the statement, Ban said he was closely following the current political situation in Iraq.

Ban urged Iraqi political leaders "to engage in inclusive and constructive dialogue to resolve their differences and build on the achievements that have been made so far in laying the ground for a democratic state".

"Iraqi leaders owe it to the people of Iraq who elected them to work together in spirit of partnership and national unity to address the pressing challenges facing the country," the statement said.

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) was "still strongly committed" to helping the government and people of the country, he said.

Link

Iran's Currency ~ The collapse of the currency of Iran threaten stability ...

2011-12-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The collapse of the currency of Iran threaten stability

The value of Iranian rial plunged for several months

Iranian currency fell to its lowest level ever, according to analysts, threatening the stability of the approaching Iran with more sanctions.

To Miss Farhat: Haute value of Iranian currency (Real) to its lowest level ever against the dollar on Tuesday, with investors selling Bbashkl increasing due to economic isolation experienced by Tehran as a result of international sanctions, which the cause of the problem of inflation and fears that can not officials government to devise a practical solution to the crisis.

Weakened the value of the riyal for several months, but this decline came as a shock on Tuesday led to the so-called "new Msty of concern" about Iran's economy in the country, exacerbated by the conflicting information received from Tehran, and the hierarchy which has reinforced the sense of bewilderment and confusion.

Continues ...read more ..

In a report carried by the Iranian media reported that the state-run, the government decided to suspend commercial relations with the United Arab Emirates (the main gate to the exports of Iran) in retaliation for its support of the imposition of U.S. sanctions on Iran, which smallness later Vice President of Iran. Contributed to this decision appears to push Iranian merchants and businesses for sale rial against other currencies.

In this context, the newspaper quoted the "New York Times" for Jawad Salehi-Isfahani, Professor of Economics at the University of Virginia Tech as saying: "It is the most serious financial crisis faced by the Iranian regime, and there are a lot of crises looming on the horizon," adding, "I have a feeling that no one in Iran is responsible for economic policy, not one that can think quickly and take the appropriate decision. "

The agency Fars news agency reported that one U.S. dollar equal to today's 15,150 rials, while it is $ 13,400 against the dollar a few days ago. In late October / October, and reached the value of the riyal to about 7000 to the dollar, which means that the Iranian currency fell in value by more than 50 percent against the dollar in the past few months.

The newspaper considered that the currency crisis comes at the worst time for Iran, which has suffered from the blows of economic due to the cumulative effects of four rounds of UN sanctions in the Security Council, as well as sanctions imposed by the United States, Canada and the European Union on the country over its nuclear program.

International companies are no longer willing to engage in new business with Iran and the European Union, and talked about the possibility of Iranian oil province, one of Tehran's main exports. It is expected that the Obama administration to impose harsh laws to punish banks soon in brotherly and friendly countries dealing with Iran's central bank.

Effects of these steps are clear in Tehran that had problems and financial and economic crises are no longer obvious to one, so that many of the Iranian officials in recent days clearly started out talking about the devastating impact of the isolation imposed on Iran.

To make matters worse is that the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday and put the names of 10 companies based in Malta on the black list of companies as a cover for Iran, and specifically to Iran Shipping Lines, which had been placed on the blacklist.

The Treasury Department said in a statement that it took this action because of Iran Shipping Lines Company and its subsidiaries "relied increasingly on multiple fake companies to overcome the impact of U.S. sanctions and international."

Reflects the low value of Iranian rial in part the impact of the problem of inflation in Iran, caused by the government's decision to phase out subsidies for fuel and other basic commodities, causing prices to rise sharply.

To mitigate the impact of the crisis on consumers, the Iranians, the government distributed cash payments, which led to the opposite result and got to aggravate the problem of inflation by increasing the amount of supply in Iran Rial.

The media reported that Iran's official inflation rate was about 20 percent, although the estimates were higher external.

Believed to economists that the ability of the Iranian government to control inflation has weakened in part because of the Islamic ban on charging interest, which prevents banks to offer attractive prices that would encourage the Iranians to keep their money in savings accounts, and keeps the financial cycle in the country and prevent inflation.

link

Obama Ready to Sign Indefinite Detention Bill into Law

2011-12-21T09:31:00.000-08:00

December 21, 2011

This was on CBS news.

I think he will sign it right before he gets on Airforce One to leave on vacation so no one can ask any questions about it. Phoenix

Central Bank of Iraq the return of the dollar exchange rate to what it was ...

2011-12-21T09:16:00.000-08:00

December 21, 2011

Central: the return of the dollar exchange rate to what it was

BAGHDAD - Fulayyih Heidar al-Rubaie

Down the dollar exchange rate to what it was a few weeks ago to stand at 1,200 dinars per dollar, and comes at a time deliberately in which the central bank to pump more than 400 thousand dollars to the local market to fill the growing needs of the dollar, which invited him to double the sales of foreign currency in Mzhadath daily to meet the demand of businessmen and traders and to reduce the gains the dollar, which reached numbers high during the week and the past.

Continues ...read more ..

He was interested in the economic aspect played down the risk of high dollar, which is attributable to get speculation among currency traders, pointing out that ups that occurred no more than that be more than temporary and will return after the normal price of the exchange, and while the price of the dollar over the past week and the beginning of this week's numbers are high reached 1227 dinars per dollar, said an official source at the central bank that rises uncontrollably, and he was increasing U.S. dollar selling Mzhadath daily to meet the growing demand to that currency, saying he sucked nearly trillion Iraqi dinars from the local market after selling more than $ 400 million to meet the great demand for foreign currency.

The price of the dollar climbed to higher numbers somewhat over the past few days to reach the exchange rate in local markets around 1227 dinars per dollars, which led to the apprehension of many specialists in economic affairs, who warned that the continuation of it may work on the high inflation significantly in the coming days unless under control, calling the central bank to use the wider powers and extend his influence to absorb the unit rise, and at the same not time markets are notable gains in the same period which saw the rise of the dollar, as expected, have been observed (morning) the survival of many of the prices of goods and services on what it months ago from now, and are interested in the economic That it's up to the falling demand and increased supply , which helped to keep prices on what it is until after the rise in the dollar.

has assured the Central Bank and the words of Vice President of the bubble price, which witnessed the dollar had special reasons arising from the emergence of a great demand for foreign currency, for reasons he said were related to the financing of regional trade and as a result of the withdrawal of U.S. .

The appearance of Mohammed Saleh during his speech (morning): The Central sold during the past 48 hours more than $ 400 million to the public through Mzhadath daily, absorbing nearly trillion dinars of liquidity available in the local markets, stressing that the price of the dollar in the parallel market took the land of the remarkable and chief Tuesday after pumping this figure the huge foreign currency, which confirms that the high dollar selling prices are only to be more of a bubble price can not affect the national economy.

Saleh explained that the Iraqi dinar currency strong and will be covered in the currency of of foreign protection and by more than 100 percent per unit of domestic monetary, indicating that the increased volume of applications to the foreign currency which exceeded the need to pay the central bank to subdue these applications to more scrutiny and censorship for fear of money laundering, denying at the same time, rumors of a restriction of transfer of financial which resulted in the recent times for actions committed by the Central Bank in the form of increasing the size of the audit and led to delay in transfer of funds,

said Saleh also: Freedom of money transfer is available to everyone now, and the central bank chief for the market and the process of controlling prices, the currency is able to protect the Iraqi dinar believe in him fully preserving the exchange rate.

in turn, indicate the number of owners Chierfat own during conversations (morning) decline the sale and purchase of currency during the past few days which saw the rise in dollar prices, stressing that those prices were offset aversion clear by the citizens who wish to sell or buy foreign currency, said Kassem Saleh shop owner for banking in Baghdad that the price of the dollar, which rose recently has seen fluctuations in price in the cost of other commodities, materials, indicating that the application process was almost uninterrupted over the past days to buy the dollar and its owner, a decline in purchases of foreign currency caused by fear owners Chierfat what can accrue to him prices that currency quickly.

and stayed prices of goods and foodstuffs in the markets of the beautiful nature of it months ago, and traders said the market that the rise of the dollar did not affect never in the sale and purchase of food, describing these altitudes Baellouktah.

He and Sam Zaidi shopkeeper in the markets of beautiful food prices have not experienced any gains remember after the rise of prices of the dollar in recent times, however, al-Zaidi said a decline in demand, said that the result of confusion vendors themselves from the possible continuation of the rise of the dollar, and Zaidi said Most traders who finance their trade in hard currency (dollar) requires the transfer of such large amounts of currency and to a number of neighboring countries, which may serve to increase the prices of some materials as a result of that slight elevations, which he said could be reflected in future to consumers if it continued.

link

Iraq and U.S. Director of CIA Meets with Iraqi Leaders As Allawi Out Of The Country Once Again ...

2011-12-21T09:03:00.000-08:00

20/12/2011

After private "arenas of Liberation," the news of Petraeus, the "Arab" publish a report from the meetings of the U.S. Director of Central Intelligence with Iraqi leaders

BAGHDAD - "arenas of Liberation"

Site after himself "arenas of liberation" on Monday evening, news of the arrival of Petraeus to Iraq, published site "Arab Net" Tuesday a report from the meetings of the U.S. Director of Central Intelligence with Iraqi leaders.

Site that follows the channel "Arab" reported that "sources of political beginning, it was revealed Tuesday that the outgoing U.S. commander in Iraq David Petraeus attended a meeting of the Iraqi List, which was held yesterday, while the source in the office of the leader of the list, Iyad Allawi, the U.S. ambassador and former military commander participated in the meeting.

Continues ...read more ..

The source said, according to the "Arab Net" same "The outgoing U.S. commander in Iraq David Petraeus participated in the meeting held by the Iraqi List, on Monday evening, in-house leadership Rafie al-Issawi, to discuss the charges against the Vice-President of the Republic of command in the list Tareq al-Hashemi."

The source - who requested anonymity - that Petraeus held meetings with the leaders of the Iraqi List, to discuss the latest crisis to come out by fast.

For his part, said a source in the office of the Iraqi leader Ayad Allawi, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, James Jeffrey, and former U.S. commander arrived to the headquarters of the leading Rafie al-Issawi in the list before the start of the meeting of Iraq a few minutes.

And the holding of the Iraqi List, on Monday evening meeting attended by leaders of the list without the participation of its leader, Iyad Allawi to travel outside the country and a leader Tariq al-Hashimi, who issued an arrest warrant on charges of terrorism.

The talk about the presence of the commander of forces of former U.S. in Iraq, the meeting of the Iraqi List, after the presentation and the Ministry of Interior confessions of elements in the protection of Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, in which they highlighted that Hashemi cost them personally out assassinations and bombings in Baghdad in return for cash, while issued a Supreme Judicial Council on the background confessions that an arrest warrant for al-Hashemi, in accordance with Article IV of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

link

U.S. CIA Director, Petraeus, aware of crimes Hashemi

2011-12-21T09:02:00.000-08:00

December 21, 2011

Petraeus aware of crimes Hashemi

An official source in the Iraqi List, that head of U.S. intelligence (CIA), which served as the commander of U.S. occupation forces in Iraq earlier (David Petraeus) arrived in haste to Baghdad after receiving a phone call from a Gulf state and leaders of the Iraqi List ask him to attend the emergency meeting held last Monday at the home of the leadership in Iraq Rafie al-Issawi.

The source said that (Petraeus) and the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad (James Jeffrey) participated in the emergency meeting on the serious accusations against Hashemi. According to the source, (Petraeus) surprised the audience by saying he has information about the involvement of al-Hashemi and his involvement in the criminal operations, but added to say that The time then was not allowed to disclose it, adding that he was aware of the issuance of arrest warrant against the latter

link

Maliki: Baath Party leader asked his followers to get ready, when the Americans withdraw then pounce on the Iraqi regime ...

2011-12-21T09:01:00.000-08:00

Link ... October 2011 ~ Iraq Arrests More in Wake of Tip About Coup By Saddam's Former Baath Party

21/12/2011

Maliki: Baath Party leader asked his followers to get ready, when the Americans withdraw then pounce on the Iraqi regime

Baghdad, Prime Minister, Nouri Al Maliki, said “we arrested the baathists before the American withdraw so that nobody says the government benefited from the withdrawal.”

He compared the Baath Party with the Nazis in Germany, explaining that the baath is a constitutionally banned party in Iraq.

Continues ...read more ..

Maliki announced “the leader of baath asked his followers to get ready and when the Americans withdraw, then, they pounce on the Iraqi regime.”

On the other hand, Maliki pointed out that “the Americans did not interfere in the security file since signing the security agreement on 2008,” adding that the number of employees in the American Embassy now is not more than 1500.

He went on saying “maybe some consider that a big number, but, many of them will be practicing their job; experts in agricultural, economic, cultural, educational fields.”

link

Who are the Ba'athist? Allawi Gets a Ba'athist Endorsement ... ''07'

2011-12-21T09:00:00.001-08:00

*** Alleged Baath Members Confess in Videos to Iraq Attacks

related articles ~

Continues ...read more ..

*** Iraqi Deal to End De-Baathification ...!!!

Iraq's Sunni insurgent groups gather to plot comeback amid political crisis ...

Baathists Back in the Mix ...headed by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi ...

Iraq to sack 376 security officers for alleged Baath links

Allawi Gets a Ba'athist Endorsement ... ''07'

Baath leaders in Syria, calling for the release of Saddam's people on account (prisoners of war!)

Former Iraqi PM Allawi Testifies Before Congress (wants UN oversight)...

Jamal Watermelon ... No difference between former regime ...

An Allawi Repeat? Allawi recently called upon the UN Security Council to intervene since already under chapter 7 ...

Iyad Allawi ~ 'Saddam without a moustache' ... BBC News Profile ...

*Allawi is willing to relinquish candidacy for prime minister ~ And national preferred a compromise candidate ~ The Kurds are worried about delay ...

It comes down to this ....

History Repeating itself? Sunni's ~Their way or No way? Don't think so ...

Maliki admits hiding the evidence for the crimes documented and Warned the owners if continued there would be consequences

2011-12-21T08:41:00.000-08:00

21/12/2011

Maliki admits hiding the evidence for the crimes documented and only warned the owners to continue

BAGHDAD - "arenas of Liberation" - Admitted to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of hiding evidence of crimes documented, and only warning to the parties executing the crimes of the consequences of which continue.

Maliki said in a press conference in Baghdad today that his government had documented evidence carried out by unnamed parties, who said "there are a lot of irregularities and, if not stopped some of these violations .. Fsnkhv their files at once and put them all to justice."

Continues ...read more ..

Maliki also said that the dossier had in his possession "crimes related to Balhashima" 3 years ago and presented to the Presidency and the President of the Islamic Supreme Council of the late Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, he revealed, "I stopped moving the file in order to continue the political process."

It is known that al-Maliki was addressed in the first of his ministry, former MP Nasser al-Janabi said, "I have a file of one hundred and fifty murder case" without moving his lawsuit, allowing the latter to escape from Iraq.
Maliki's warning comes amid continued from operations over the quality of a terrorist assassination lenses and improvised silencers, accuses the implementation influential parties in the Iraqi state.

link

Basel III .. International regulatory framework for banks (Basel III)

2011-12-21T08:08:00.000-08:00

Related articles .. June 2011 .. Europe Warns US to Speed Up Bank Reform ...(it seems like just yesterday...)...
Sept. 2010 .. EU to lift the rock on abusive high finance ... May 2010 .. ***Geithner Meeting Barnier on Basel III Presses Banks ...

December 2011

International regulatory framework for banks (Basel III)

Current highlights:

Progress report on Basel III implementation
Basel III implementation monitoring (QIS)
Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems - revised version June 2011
Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk measurement, standards and monitoring
Basel II

"Basel III" is a comprehensive set of reform measures, developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, to strengthen the regulation, supervision and risk management of the banking sector.

These measures aim to:
_improve the banking sector's ability to absorb shocks arising from financial and economic stress, whatever the source
_improve risk management and governance
_strengthen banks' transparency and disclosures.

The reforms target:
_bank-level, or microprudential, regulation, which will help raise the resilience of individual banking institutions to periods of stress.
_macroprudential, system wide risks that can build up across the banking sector as well as the procyclical amplification of these risks over time.

These two approaches to supervision are complementary as greater resilience at the individual bank level reduces the risk of system wide shocks.

The Basel III framework is summarized in a table which provides an overview of the various measures taken by the Committee.

Basel III is part of the Committee's continuous effort to enhance the banking regulatory framework. It builds on the International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards document (Basel 3
Compilation of documents that form the global regulatory framework for capital and liquidity (Basel II, Basel 2.5 and Basel III)
Basel Committee's response to the financial crisis

Links ~ Infrastructure Bank, National Infrastructure Bank, U.S. Infrastructure Bank

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

The creation of a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank was first proposed by Senator Christopher J. Dodd and Senator Chuck Hagel in 2007.

Barack Obama backed this proposed legislation in February 2008.

_Obama suggested that the Bank would borrow US$60 billion of federal funding to invest in infrastructure over 10 years, while leveraging "up to $500 billion" of private investment. It would invest in high-speed trains to provide an alternative to air travel, energy efficiency and clean energy, among others.

According to _O, the Bank's "work will be determined by what will maximize our safety and security and ability to compete" and it would "create nearly two million new jobs", mainly in the construction industry. According to the text of the proposed legislation funding for the bank would be taken from borrowed funds not to exceed one percent. The Bank would complement existing federal programs to fund infrastructure, such as the Highway Trust Fund or State Revolving Funds.

It is expected to invest primarily in surface transport infrastructure, which is likely to include highways and mass transit. _O did not mention investments in water supply and sanitation as an area of activity for the new Bank. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) estimates that investment in water supply and sanitation in the United States will have to be "over $250 billion above current levels of spending in the next 20 to 30 years" to replace aging infrastructure.

The original version of the bill expired with the 110th Congress, a different version of the bill was introduced into the 111th Congress by U.S. Representative Rosa L. DeLauro, (D - Connecticut 3rd District) as H.R. 2521. Obama proposed the Bank as part of his $210 billion economic stimulus package.

The original version of the proposed legislation was introduced in the United States Senate as Senate Bill 1926 (S. 1926). A similar bill has been introduced into the United States House of Representatives as House Resolution 3401 (H.R. 3401). The status of the bill can be tracked on THOMAS

The proposed legislation states that the "Bank" is actually an "an independent establishment of the Federal Government, as defined in section 104 of Title 5, United States Code." As explained in 5 US Code 104, an independent establishment of the Federal Government is "(1) an establishment in the executive branch (other than the United States Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission) which is not an Executive department, military department, Government corporation, or part thereof, or part of an independent establishment; and (2) the Government Accountability Office."

According to the proposed legislation, the "Bank" would be administratively similar to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).The "Bank" would have the power to: conduct hearings, issue subpoenas, obtain information from any other federal agency, accept for funding any infrastructure project with a potential Federal commitment of $75 million or more, authority to determine the appropriate Federal share of spending for each project, to act as a centralized entity to provide financing for qualified infrastructure projects; to issue general purpose infrastructure bonds, and to provide direct subsidies to qualified infrastructure projects from amounts made available from the issuance of such bonds; to issue project-based infrastructure bonds for the financing of specific qualified infrastructure projects; to provide loan guarantees to State or local governments issuing debt to finance qualified infrastructure projects; to issue loans, at varying interest rates, including very low interest rates, to qualified project sponsors for qualified projects; to leverage resources and stimulate public and private investment in infrastructure; and to encourage States to create additional opportunities for the financing of infrastructure projects.

According to the summary of H.R. 2521, the revised bill "Makes the Bank's Board of Directors responsible for monitoring and overseeing energy, environmental, telecommunications, and transportation infrastructure projects. Authorizes the Board to: (1) issue public benefit bonds and provide direct subsidies to infrastructure projects; (2) borrow on the global capital market and lend to entities and commercial banks for funding infrastructure projects; and (3) purchase, pool, and sell infrastructure-related loans and securities on such market. Requires the Board to establish criteria for determining project eligibility for financial assistance under this Act."

*** Obama calling for more infrastructure spending and a new bank: and remember ~ American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ...

Obama kicks off campaign with infrastructure plan

National Infrastructure Bank ...

Republican Mica’s Love-Hate Relationship with Infrastructure Finance

Also read ~ Business Groups Fault Obama Infrastructure Plan's Lack of Funding Details

Growth and Renewal in the United States ~ Infrastructure ...

Today, August 2, 2011 ~ Obama Mentions Infrastructure Again ~ Remember ~ 2009 Obama Infrastructure Bank Takes Shape ...

National Infrastructure bank ~ Innovative Funding ~ Senators Examine Need for National Infrastructure Bank ...

Put the millionaires' tax money to good use and creating the "National Infrastructure bank" ...

*American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ...

Gimme Shelter Radio ~ 11:00 pm., est. Wednesday, July 13, 2011 "Going Global...East Meets West...The Global Marshal Plan" ...

Infrastructure Bank? Smartest investments? ...

Shadow Banking .. Narrow Banking, Infrastructure Bank ..etc ...

President Barack Obama is pressing Congress to create a new "infrastructure bank" ...

National Infrastructure Bank ~ Obama Mentions Infrastructure Again ~ Remember ~ 2009 Obama Infrastructure Bank Takes Shape ...

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ...

Going Global Headline News For Tuesday and Wednesday, December 20-21-2011 ...

2011-12-20T22:42:00.000-08:00

UN and Iraq ~ Ban Ki-moon: U.S. Withdrawal Marks New Moment in Iraq's History ~ He is Closely Watching the Current Political Situation ...

Israel, US to hold largest ever missile defense exercise this spring

Fighting for the Future of the Internet - Wednesday, Dec. 21st 9:00 am H.R. 3261, the “Stop Online Piracy Act”

Biden Calls On Iraqi Leaders To Work Out Disputes

GCC ~ Gulf States will establish a development fund and a "partnership" with Morocco and Jordan ...

GCC ~ The Time Has Come To Unite the GCC Countries As a Political and Economic Entity ...

Who Makes Up Your Mind? You or the Media?

Sadr ~ Maliki is not responsible for the arrest warrant against Hashemi

Iraq leaders seek urgent talks ...

Iraq VP 'ready to face trial' before court

Listen .. Arrest Warrant Issue For Iraq's Vice President

Greece Set to Reach Bank Deal ...

Maliki acting "like Saddam" Sunni bloc leader, Allawi

Iraq ~ Allawi and Iraqiya List Announces Again They Will boycott Government Sessions

Iraq's Economy ~ political problems affecting the economic development ...

Talabani calls to avoid a flurry of media on sensitive issues ...

Tuesday, December 20th ~ Obama and Biden will mark end of Iraq war at ceremony in Maryland ...

GCC ~ Saudi King Abdullah urges GCC ‘to move from phase of cooperation to phase of union’

Emerging Markets .. No Longer the BRICS .. Look For The N-11 ..

Wow ~ CNBC ~ Report on Ponzi Schemes ...

GCC backs Mubarak port project disputed by Iraq ...

Going Global Headline News for Monday, December 19th and Early Tuesday, December 20, 2011...

Israel, US to hold largest ever missile defense exercise this spring

2011-12-20T20:33:00.000-08:00

Snip ~ The drill, which is unprecedented in its size, will include the establishment of US command posts in Israel and IDF command posts at EUCOM headquarters in Germany – with the ultimate goal of establishing joint task forces in the event of a large-scale conflict in the Middle East.

12/20/2011

US commander visits Israel to finalize missile drill

Israel, US to hold largest ever missile defense exercise this spring; thousands of US soldiers will be deployed in Israel.

Israel is moving forward with plans to hold the largest-ever missile defense exercise in its history this spring amid Iranian efforts to obtain nuclear weapons.

Last week, Lt.-Gen. Frank Gorenc, commander of the US’s Third Air Force based in Germany, visited Israel to finalize plans for the upcoming drill, expected to see the deployment of several thousand American soldiers in Israel.

The drill, which is unprecedented in its size, will include the establishment of US command posts in Israel and IDF command posts at EUCOM headquarters in Germany – with the ultimate goal of establishing joint task forces in the event of a large-scale conflict in the Middle East.

The US will also bring its THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and shipbased Aegis ballistic missile defense systems to Israel to simulate the interception of missile salvos against Israel.

The American systems will work in conjunction with Israel’s missile defense systems – the Arrow, Patriot and Iron Dome.

Gorenc came to Israel for talks with Brig.-Gen. Doron Gavish, commander of the Air Force’s Air Defense Division.

He toured one of the Iron Dome batteries in the South and the Israel Test Bed lab in Holon where the IAF holds its interception simulation exercises.

The IAF is planning to deploy a fourth battery of the Iron Dome counter-rocket system in the coming months and is mulling the possibility of stationing it in Haifa to protect oil refineries located there.

The Defense Ministry has allocated a budget to manufacture an additional three Iron Dome batteries by the end of 2012. IAF operational requirements call for the deployment of about a dozen batteries along Israel’s northern and southern borders.

The IAF is also moving forward with plans to deploy Rafael’s David’s Sling missile defense system, which is designed to defend against medium-range rockets and cruise missiles. Rafael recently completed a series of successful navigation and flight tests of the David’s Sling’s interceptor and plans to hold the first interception test by mid-2012.

link

Biden Calls On Iraqi Leaders To Work Out Disputes

2011-12-20T19:29:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Biden Calls On Iraqi Leaders To Work Out Disputes

Washington, Vice President Joe Biden is stressing an “urgent need” for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to meet with leaders of other political blocs in Iraq to help resolve potentially explosive sectarian differences emerging in the wake of the U.S. troop withdrawal.

The White House says Biden on Tuesday spoke by telephone with al-Maliki and with Osama al-Nujaifi, the speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives.

The political climate in Baghdad has been deteriorating in the wake of charges against Iraq’s Sunni vice president that he organized death squads. The accusations by the Shiite-dominated government raised fears that the government could collapse.

The White House says Biden emphasized U.S. support for an inclusive government in Iraq and the importance of Iraqi leaders to follow the rule of law.

link

GCC ~ Gulf States will establish a development fund and a "partnership" with Morocco and Jordan ...

2011-12-20T19:16:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Gulf States will establish a development fund and a "partnership" with Morocco and Jordan

Riyadh: The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit at the end of normal in Riyadh on Tuesday set up a fund development of the size of five billion dollars to Jordan, Morocco, emphasizing at the same time it seeks to "partnership" with the two countries.

The final statement said the summit decided to "create a fund to Gulf begin to provide support for development projects" in Jordan and Morocco, "in the amount of two and a half billion dollars for each state and cost of finance ministers in the countries of the Council study the basic structures required" to do so.

It also agreed to "consider the areas of joint cooperation and the formation of specialized committees of cooperation in this regard and down to the desired partnership."

The consultative summit of the leaders in Riyadh last May upheld the accession of Jordan and Morocco to the regional assembly to gain full membership, but the reservations of some member states and other opposition prevent this.

And said UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed another last month that "there is no objection to the very special relationship between the Council, Jordan and Morocco, but there is lack of consensus at this time to join" the two countries.

"The difference between the relationship is very special and full membership is very limited. Must learn from the experience of the EU, which speed up the inclusion of ten countries."

But the minister did not mention by name the UAE countries that oppose the accession of Morocco and Jordan.

The GCC was founded in 1981 from the six Gulf states, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman.

link

GCC ~ The Time Has Come To Unite the GCC Countries As a Political and Economic Entity ...

2011-12-20T19:01:00.000-08:00

Related articles different source .. GCC ~ Saudi King Abdullah urges GCC ‘to move from phase of cooperation to phase of union’ and .. Iraq and GCC Summit Dec. 19-20-2011 ~ The GCC Summ....

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Saudi Arabia: Saudi initiative will enhance the competitiveness of the GCC

The Secretary-General of the Council of Saudi Chambers that the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy will enhance the competitiveness of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Riyadh: noted the Secretary-General of the Council of Saudi Chambers, Dr. Fahad Al-Sultan initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and his call to his brothers, the leaders of the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf states at a summit that concluded today in Riyadh for the transition from cooperation to the Union, stressing that this will contribute to the promotion of strength of the economies of the GCC countries in general and will work to enhance the competitiveness of the private sector in particular.

Dr. Fahad Al-Sultan said in a statement to Saudi Press Agency, commenting on the decision of the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council to adopt the initiative of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the transition to an entity Gulf and one moves the GCC countries from the stage of cooperation to the Union as a predictor of the vision of the Kingdom of His reality and the future of the global economy in light of the challenges regional and international facing the countries and peoples of the GCC.

The Secretary-General of the Council of Saudi Chambers to guide the leaders of the Ministerial Council to form a specialized body to be selected by the Member States by 3 members of each state is mandated to study the proposals in all its aspects in the light of the views that are exchanged between the leaders and the meetings of the headquarters of the Secretariat and provide all the requirements of the potential administrative, technical and financial by the General Secretariat is a confirmation of the unity of determination among the GCC countries.

It made Dr. Fahad Al-Sultan, the timing of this initiative in light of the current global political and economic confirm the extent of that enjoyed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of prudence and foresight and stresses at the same time follow-up minutes at the suffering of the world economy from damage as a result of financial crises that befell him as keen Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to spare the region's countries and peoples of the consequences of these international crises.

And saw Dr. Fahad Al-Sultan, the timing of the initiative was important to the observer in the economic terms is the culmination of the efforts of their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the Council over the past three decades since the establishment of the Council and to date and confirms the validity of this approach complementary and Federal among the States of the Council that he would work to strengthen the economic position in the regional and international spheres.

He expressed confidence that, if achieved, the initiative in the transition from cooperation to Union Gulf in all levels of economic and political, it will make a major move in the march of peoples and countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States, pointing out that the private sector in the economic dimension will be the biggest beneficiary Unity of the Great Gulf.

"I'm sure that if the leaders adopted the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States that the proposed al-Hakim of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, it will strengthen the position of regional and international Cooperation Council states in the map of the international economy of the Gulf states combined in the position of a unified economic force everyone to respect and deal with".

According to the Secretary General of the Council of Saudi Chambers, Dr. Fahad Al-Sultan at the end of his statement of "SPA" that the private sector will be the biggest beneficiary of the Union Gulf demonstrating that that the volume of bilateral trade between the countries of the Council not exceeding 6% of the volume of trade with the world while it is in the European Union 54% which will contribute to the recovery of the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council in the event it was agreed on the establishment of the GCC will also promote integration among projects, trends and visions of the economic value of the Gulf and enhance the competitiveness of clusters and the major powers in the world.

He stressed that the time has come to unite the GCC countries in political and economic entity has been particularly significant in light of the common denominators between the countries and peoples of the GCC and that it therefore has an economic interest and big business will Bnfha to GCC nationals.

link

Who Makes Up Your Mind? You or the Media?

2011-12-20T11:21:00.000-08:00

Check Out Who Owns The Media? Link

Iraq leaders seek urgent talks ...

2011-12-20T11:15:00.001-08:00

December 20, 2011

Iraq leaders seek urgent talks

Iraqi leaders have called for urgent talks to head off a worsening political crisis after authorities issued an arrest warrant for the Sunni vice president on anti-terror charges.

Days after US forces left the country and on the eve of the first anniversary of the government, Iraq's political truce looked to be unravelling.

Iraqiya, the main Sunni-backed bloc, is boycotting the cabinet while Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has called for the sacking of one of his deputies, a Sunni who branded the Shiite-led government a "dictatorship."

The White House voiced concern over the developments, and multiple Iraqi leaders called for a national conference of the country's political blocs to break the deadlock.

"I call for a national conference, at a time when the political process is subject to strong and dangerous shocks with undesired consequences," parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi said in a statement.

Nujaifi, who along with Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi and Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlak is a Sunni and a member of the Iraqiya bloc, warned that Iraq faced "crucial days."

Continues ...read more ..

His call for talks echoed that of Massud Barzani, president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, who cautioned yesterday that "the situation is headed towards deep crisis."

"The ruling partnership has become threatened," said Barzani, who in November 2010 hosted a meeting of Iraq's leaders at which the foundations of the national unity government were laid, ending months of impasse following elections in March that year, with a cabinet eventually named December 21.

Yesterday, a five-member judicial panel issued a warrant against Hashemi on anti-terror charges, an interior ministry spokesman said. The vice president has also been banned from overseas travel.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said that the United States, whose troops completed their withdrawal from Iraq over the weekend, "have expressed our concern regarding these developments."

"We're urging all sides to work to resolve differences peacefully through dialogue, in a manner consistent with the rule of law and the democratic political process," he said.

News of the warrant came with Hashemi in Kurdistan and as state broadcaster Al-Iraqiya TV aired footage showing what the interior ministry said were Hashemi's bodyguards confessing to planning and carrying out terror attacks, and receiving funding and support from Hashemi.

At least 13 of Hashemi's bodyguards have been detained in recent weeks, though it was unclear how many were still being held.

Hashemi's office said only three were arrested, and has complained of "intentional harassment" in the form of a security force blockading his home for several weeks, as well as other incidents.

Iraqiya, meanwhile, said it would boycott cabinet to protest Maliki's "dictatorship", after earlier saying it was suspending its participation in parliament.

"This decision is based on the deterioration of the political process, and to ensure that the country will not head towards a catastrophe if Maliki's dictatorship continues," Mutlak, who Maliki said over the weekend should be sacked, told AFP.

Lawmakers are due to consider Maliki's request to fire Mutlak on January 3.

Iraqiya, which holds 82 seats in the 325-member parliament and controls nine ministerial posts, has not pulled out of the national unity government.

Iraqiya, which garnered most of its support from the Sunni Arab minority and emerged with the most seats in March 2010 elections, was out-manoeuvred for the premiership by Maliki who finished second in the polls.

link

Listen .. Arrest Warrant Issue For Iraq's Vice President

2011-12-20T11:04:00.000-08:00

December 20, 2011

Arrest Warrant Issue For Iraq's Vice President

Listen Link

Just days after the final withdrawal of U.S. troops, Iraq is in the midst of a growing political crisis. Aides to Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki say one of his main rivals, ordered attacks on Shiite politicians.

Greece Set to Reach Bank Deal ...

2011-12-20T10:53:00.000-08:00

December 21, 2011

Greece set to reach bank deal

Greece is likely to reach a draft deal with creditor banks on writing off half of its debt by the beginning of January, a Greek government source said on Tuesday.

"The framework of the negotiations... is advancing well, there is no agreement at the moment, it is probable that by the beginning of January there will be a draft agreement," said the source who declined to be named.

The overall operation must be completed by the end of January, the source said.

The negotiations began in November and are intended to work out the details of how the banks will write off 100 billion euros' ($130 billion) worth of the debt owed by Greece which totals about 350 billion euros.

Continues ...read more ..

The banks agreed to a write-down of about 50 percent of the value of the Greek bonds they own, under pressure from a eurozone summit meeting at the end of October.

Since then European Union leaders have made clear that banks will not be pressed again to take a write-down or so-called "haircut" on the value of their loans.

Suggestions from Germany at the beginning of the year that in future private bondholders should expect to bear part of the cost of rescuing countries in trouble over their public finances contributed to fast-rising tension on the eurozone bond market.

Some governments have since encountered increased and severe problems in raising money to fund their public deficits and debt.

The talks between Greece and the banks involve replacing bonds held by the banks with new bonds in such a way as to reduce the debt burden from 160 percent of gross domestic product to 120 percent in 2020.

The government has described the negotiations as "difficult and complicated".

Points at issue concern the percentage repayment loss to be suffered by the banks, on the interest rate to be paid on the new bonds, and on the nationality of the law applying to the new instruments.

Some Greek media reported on Tuesday that the talks might be heading towards a write-down of 65 percent by the banks, and an interest rate of about 4.0 percent, with 100-percent participation by private holders of bonds.

However, no official comment was available on this.

On Friday, the Institute of International Finance representing creditor banks in the negotiations said that "progress" had been made.

The bond rollover was part of a package of measures agreed at the October summit which also involved a loan of 100 billion euros from eurozone countries, and 30 billion euros to recapitalise Greek banks which hold nearly 50 billion euros' worth of Greek debt.

link

Maliki acting "like Saddam" Sunni bloc leader, Allawi

2011-12-20T10:16:00.000-08:00

June 2004 ~ Allawi ~ Ex-C.I.A. Aides Say Iraq Leader Helped Agency in 90's Attacks

December 20, 2011

Maliki acting "like Saddam": Sunni bloc leader

Amman, Iraq's Nuri al-Maliki is acting like Saddam Hussein in trying to silence opposition and he risks provoking a new fightback against dictatorship, one of Maliki's predecessors as prime minister said on Tuesday.

Iyad Allawi, who leads the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc, said the televised confessions Maliki has used to demand the arrest of the country's Sunni Muslim vice president were fabrications.

Speaking to Reuters two days after the final departure of the U.S. forces that ended Saddam's Sunni-dominated rule, Allawi called for international efforts to prevent the Shi'ite premier from provoking renewed sectarian warfare of the kind that killed tens of thousands in the years after Saddam fell in 2003.

"This is terrifying, to bring fabricated confessions," Allawi said shortly before leaving the Jordanian capital Amman to return to Iraq. "It reminds me personally of what Saddam Hussein used to do where he would accuse his political opponents of being terrorists and conspirators."

Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, who has taken refuge in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, denies allegations he ordered bombings and shootings against his opponents. The move against him, on the very day U.S. troops left the country, threatens to upset a balance among Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish factions.

"We fear the return of dictatorship by this authoritarian way of governing. It's the latest in a build-up of atrocities, arrests and intimidation that has been going on a wide scale," said Allawi, who comes from the Shi'ite Muslim majority but who has drawn support heavily from disaffected Sunnis.

Continues ...read more ..

REGIONAL SECTARIAN CONFLICT

As prime minister for 10 months under U.S. occupation in 2004 and 2005, Allawi was accused of revealing an authoritarian streak himself. He later led the Iraqiya bloc to first place in last year's parliamentary election but ended up joining a coalition headed by Maliki, who retained the premiership.

He said he would now try to unseat the prime minister in the legislature: "We have to make a move to bring about stability to the country by trying to find a substitute to Maliki through parliament," said Allawi, who repeated allegations that Shi'ite Iran is seeking control in Iraq now that U.S. forces have left.

"Maliki has crossed all red lines and Iraq is now facing a very, very serious and very difficult situation," he said.

"We are watching events unfolding which are aimed at the very heart of democracy and stability.

"The Americans have pulled out without completing the job they should have finished. We have warned them that we don't have a political process which is inclusive of all Iraqis and we don't have a full-blown state in Iraq," Allawi said.

"We want to resolve issues between Iraqis in a peaceful way and we want to bring stability. Iraqis should fill the vacuum, rather than anybody else," Allawi said, in a reference to his view Iran is intent on filling a vacuum left by U.S. troops.

Iraq sits on a sectarian, Sunni-Shi'ite faultline that is generating conflict throughout the region, notably between Iran and Sunni-ruled Arab states like Saudi Arabia. While the overthrow of Saddam in Iraq bolstered Shi'ites, the uprising against Iran's Syrian ally President Bashar al-Assad could lead to power in Damascus shifting toward Syria's Sunni majority.

"The rise of sectarianism is already there," Allawi said.

"We are witnessing the beginning of it and the influences of what is happening in the region is only adding fuel to the fire. My fear is that the Iraqi people will lose faith in the political process and sectarianism will prevail.

"Unless the international community and the region get involved and unless sense prevails, Iraq is heading towards a very big conflict."

link

Iraq ~ Allawi and Iraqiya List Announces Again They Will boycott Government Sessions

2011-12-20T09:42:00.000-08:00

What Mutdog is really saying is that "Instead of Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki’s dictatorship taking Iraq towards a disaster, HE Will .. Along with Allawi and Gang.

Snip “Iraqiya List decided today to boycott cabinet sessions,” Mutlaq told a press conference. “The resolution of Iraqiya list, which holds 8 seats out of 31 in the cabinet, was taken to guarantee that Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki’s dictatorship won’t take Iraq towards a disaster,” Mutlaq claimed. (translation above)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Iraqiya List to boycott government sessions

Iraqiya List coalition headed by Iyad Allawi decided to boycott governmental sessions two days after announcing boycotting parliamentary sessions, Iraq Deputy Prime Minister Saleh Al Mutlaq announced, on Monday evening.

“Iraqiya List decided today to boycott cabinet sessions,” Mutlaq told a press conference. “The resolution of Iraqiya list, which holds 8 seats out of 31 in the cabinet, was taken to guarantee that Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki’s dictatorship won’t take Iraq towards a disaster,” Mutlaq claimed.

Since last Saturday, Iraqiya List headed by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi had started boycotting parliamentary sessions in protest against the so-called political marginalization.

Higher Judicial Council issued, on Monday, an arrest warrant for Vice-President Tarek Al Hashimi, member of Iraqiya List, for terrorism charges preventing him to travel abroad.

“The judiciary panel of five, formed by the Higher Judicial Council to investigate charges against Vice-President Hashemi’s bodyguards, issued an arrest warrant for Hashemi over terrorism charges and banned him from travelling abroad,” Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Adel Daham told a press conference which Alsumarianews attended.

The judiciary panel arrested 7 of Hashemi’s bodyguards and displayed, on Monday evening, bodyguards’ confessions assuring that he personally asked them to execute assassinations and bombings in Baghdad in return of money, Daham added.

“We are being extremely patient and expecting a rational behavior from concerned governmental parties,” Hashimi told a statement, on Monday. *translation, we don't care that the iraqis suffer at our expense, we are rich and we are patient and will wait until everything comes crashing down and then we will take power just as saddam took power*

Some parties seeking to aggravate the situation are behind these annoyances, Hashimi argued calling for the release of 3 of his bodyguards.

Iraqiya List announced, on December 16, that it suspended its membership in Iraqi parliament in protest against Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki’s management of the country’s affairs. Iraqiya Ministers handed their resignations to the list’s leaders, Iraqiya List declared.

link

Iraq's Economy ~ political problems affecting the economic development ...

2011-12-20T09:29:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, 12/21/2011

Economist: political problems affecting the economic development

Baghdad, expert said the economic Majid picture that political problems were the main reason behind the absence of economic development in the country.

He said the picture according to the Agency (news): that there are several factors behind the failure to achieve the economic development process in the country, including the lack of economic visions clear and plans strategy capable of solving all the problems suffered by the Iraqi economy, pointing to the absence of an administrative apparatus of the Iraqi economy can manage efficiently and professionally.

He added the picture: that the solutions improvised proposed by some politicians have led to negative results on the national economy through the progressive elimination of domestic production Kalzerai and industrial making no development of the consumer society and adding of the import commodities from abroad and reliance on global markets rather than state coverage needs of the people of the local production.

Continues ...read more ..

He called for the need to develop a comprehensive strategic plan linked to a specific timeline for the development of the Iraqi economy, and pointing to the formation of the Commission follow up and monitor the work of the departments of economic and accounting negligent in their work ...

And earlier, a student member of the Economic Commission representative Abdul Hussein Resan prepare a strategic plan five-year or decimal restructure the economy Iraqi its laws and institutions.

The Resan's (the Agency news): The Federal Government will develop a strategic plan five-year or decimal, whether medium or long-term study shows scientific future restructure the Iraqi economy, its laws, institutions and cadres working as a result of the suffering of the economy now is a mess and instability.

Resan called to the need to take the Ministry of Commerce and its role well and my grandfather for the benefit of the Iraqi economy being the largest in charge of developing the economy and development.

link

Talabani calls to avoid a flurry of media on sensitive issues ...

2011-12-20T09:18:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 12/20/2011

Talabani calls to avoid a flurry of media on sensitive issues

Baghdad, Issued late yesterday evening, President Jalal Talabani's statement, which explain the position of the Chair of the actions taken by the security forces to protect against the deputy Tareq al-Hashemi, and the arrest warrant issued by the judiciary against the latter. The statement has been received (range) a copy of that "in light of developments seemed fast, busy President Jalal Talabani, what should be done in the light of his constitutional responsibilities, national

About something the Iraqis arrested a number of individuals to protect Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, and other news talked about the issuance of an arrest warrant against Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi and a number of protection and management of his office, even without the consultation and collaboration with the president.

Continues ...read more ..

The statement continued " recognition of the President of the seriousness and sensitivity of such developments has carried the President a number of rapid communications with the various parties to the judicial and parliamentary, governmental and partisan, stressing the importance of respect for the work and allocate the Iraqi judiciary and trust, non-interference in its affairs by the lack of appeal of its decisions on the other .. He also emphasized the special nature of such news and sensitivity in the current circumstances undergone by the country and the course of the ongoing political process in which the importance of consultation and work together to address the problems."

The statement added, "In light of all this President to work calmly and quietly and away from what makes it leak information from the stir and noise and confusion of things is one of the most important thing to be bound by it and agreed to get out of this situation in order to preserve the right of the judiciary and the fairness of the investigation and also preserves the political stability required in our condition now more than any stage we went through. It is worth mentioning that the President received the support and approval from everyone.

And added, "Monday, 19/12/2011 Monday surprised President introduced the testimony of a number of employees of the protection of the Vice President as well as the announcement of an arrest warrant against Tareq al-Hashemi .. Where these procedures and advertised in this way and time are outside of what was agreed upon in the light of the contacts the president of various parties during the past two days, especially as it regards the Vice President of the Republic, which affects directly the Centre presidency and the prestige and status.

The presidential statement "from the constitutional responsibility and national President of the Republic, it reaffirms the various parties to exercise utmost sense of responsibility and discipline and the tendency to statements that are inconsistent with the need to leave work for the judiciary to take a range of necessary on the one hand, and to provide the proper environment of the second aspect of the work of political calm and stable, which guarantees not to endanger the country and its operation political damage to any side in this difficult time ..

And not all of this but to work in a spirit of solidarity to achieve justice and to ensure the safety of the political situation and security of the society, especially the development related to building the national political such a development requires above all the participation of all the work and decisions and to ensure full independence of the judiciary and non-interference in its affairs and procedures, while not ignoring the political solution of the issues in dispute and not to disturb the wedding and hasty evacuation of the decisions announced in the media, which holds the right policy solutions and desired at this sensitive stage of the date of the Federal Democratic Iraqna independent.

link

Fighting for the Future of the Internet - Wednesday, Dec. 21st 9:00 am H.R. 3261, the “Stop Online Piracy Act”

2011-12-20T09:05:00.000-08:00

http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/mark_12152011.html

December 20, 2011

Fighting for the Future of the Internet

The online world has been all aflutter in recent weeks over the introduction of two pieces of legislation in Congress: the PROTECT IP Act in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House of Representatives. As PROTECT IP already passed in the Senate, last week the focus shifted to the hearings on SOPA and the fate that such legislation could have on the internet.

Both bills attempt to thwart online piracy and protect copyrighted intellectual property. However the way that Congress is trying to do this is by giving law enforcement and individual property owners the right to go after websites that might infringe on copyrighted materials and shutdown the website, prohibit other businesses from serving the sites, barring search results to the websites, and requiring service providers to block the websites.

This may seem reasonable at the outset, but the results are far more complicated. The implications of such enforcement, and especially the individual right of action that SOPA allows, may mean that attempting to regulate the internet in this way threatens freedom of speech and information issues, places too high a burden on internet companies to comply, and fundamentally changes the way the internet will function within the United States and make it more on par with such beacons of freedom as China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia. It is these consequences that are leading many opponents to claim that SOPA will actually break the internet.

Last Thursday the House Judiciary Committee held a session to mark-up the proposed bill.

Continues ...read more ..

The main focus was the 55 amendments proposed to the original bill, most of which try to soften the impact of the bill and find an acceptable middle ground between proponents of the bill, including the Recording Industry Association of America and the Motion Picture Association of America, and the incredibly long list of internet-based companies and activists who are adamantly against the bill.

Throughout the hours of debating the amendments (all of which failed), netizens tracked and discussed the developments online. It is estimated that over 150,000 people from 150 different countries watched a portion of the hearings on Thursday through the KeepTheWebOpen.org webstream. As the bill may determine how the internet functions in the US in the future, what better way of looking at the battle against the bill than seeing how it is being fought online?
___

A copy of the bill as it goes into the House Judiciary Committee:

Stop Online Piracy Act - Bill Text - 112th Congress (2011-2012 ...
Printer Friendly[Help], Congressional Record References · Bill Summary & Status . H.R.3261 -- Stop Online Piracy Act (Introduced in ...
Loc

The issue of SOPA and PROTECT IP are not new. Both build off of similar bills introduced but not passed by Congress in past years. One of the opponents of the bills and the consequences of such legislation is Senator Ron Wyden, who explained in this video earlier this year why PROTECT IP (and SOPA by extension) would be bad for the internet and bad for the US at large.

Tuesday, December 20th ~ Obama and Biden will mark end of Iraq war at ceremony in Maryland ...

2011-12-20T06:36:00.000-08:00

December 20, 2011

Obama to mark end of Iraq war

President Barack Obama will mark the end of the war in Iraq at a special ceremony Tuesday.

The president will be joined by Vice President Joe Biden at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland for the return of the United States Forces-Iraq colors, the flag that was lowered from a staff in Baghdad last week.

The last U.S. combat troops rolled out of Iraq across the border into neighboring Kuwait at daybreak Sunday, ending nearly nine years of war

link

GCC ~ Saudi King Abdullah urges GCC ‘to move from phase of cooperation to phase of union’

2011-12-20T06:17:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, 20 December 2011

Saudi King Abdullah urges GCC ‘to move from phase of cooperation to phase of union’

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz called for the formation of a Gulf union in response to growing threats, as rulers of the wealthy Arab GCC met on Monday against a backdrop of regional turmoil and fears over Iran.

“I ask today that we move from a phase of cooperation to a phase of union within a single entity,” said the Saudi king, addressing his counterparts at the opening of the annual Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Riyadh.

He did not elaborate on what form such a union might take, or any proposed steps to create it.

“You must realize that our security and stability are threatened and we need to live up to our responsibilities,” said King Abdullah.

“Our summit opens in the shadow of challenges that require vigilance and a united stance,” he added.

The GCC -- comprised of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates -- was formed in 1981 as a security alliance to counter post-revolution Iran.

Continues ...read more ..

The GCC summit comes as the embattled regime of Syria, rocked by a nine-month uprising the U.N. estimates has killed at least 5,000 people, agreed to an Arab League proposal to send observers to the country.

In a clear reference to Syria, the Saudi king urged the Gulf bloc to help their “Arab brothers so that the blood stops flowing and to guard against the risks of foreign intervention.”

Arab uprisings on the agenda
In addition to Syria, the Gulf leaders will discuss the situation in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, where popular uprisings have already unseated entrenched dictators this year.

GCC member Bahrain was also hit by a month of unrest in March, while demonstrators in neighboring Yemen forced long-time President Ali Abdullah Saleh to sign a power transfer deal.

In Kuwait, the cabinet resigned last month over allegations of corruption and a new government was sworn in on Wednesday with only minor changes to the previous government.

They are also expected to discuss their fears of the growing influence of arch-foe Iran after the U.S. pullout from Iraq.

King Abdullah said the security of Saudi Arabia and its Arab neighbors was being targeted, in an apparent reference to Iran.

“No doubt you all know that we are targeted in our safety and security. That is why we have to take responsibility,” he said, according to Reuters.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, has accused Iran of supporting an alleged plot uncovered in October by the United States to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington.

That month its Interior Ministry also blamed an unnamed foreign power for a violent attack on a police station by members of the kingdom's Shiite Muslim minority.

Iran, the region’s Shiite giant, has denied the charges, but Iranian Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi visited Riyadh last week in an effort to cool tensions.

Qatar in November said it had arrested Bahrainis with connections to Iran who it said had planned to attack the Saudi embassy in Bahrain and blow up a causeway linking the two countries.

Iran has denied the charges, which have raised tensions in the Gulf.

New Mideast strategy

King Abdullah also suggested that the GCC needed to adapt to new circumstances in the Middle East following the popular uprisings that swept some Arab countries earlier this year.

“We learnt from history and experience not to stand still when faced with our reality,” the king said.

“Whoever does that will end up at the back of the caravan trail and will be lost... That is something we will not accept for the sake of our countries, our people, our stability and our security. That is why I ask of you today to move beyond the stage of cooperation and into the stage of unity in a single entity,” he added.

A Saudi official confirmed to Reuters that the idea of moving the six-nation GCC towards a sort of confederacy had been discussed given its concerns about the regional situation, but only informally, and said that it was an idea for the future.

“It is possible,” said Jamal Khashoggi, a former Saudi newspaper editor with strong connections to the royal family.

“Each country has a different system and it would require political will,” he added, suggesting that a possible model was the United Arab Emirates, a GCC member and confederacy where seven sheikhdoms maintain their own internal political systems but have a joint foreign and economic policy.

“If there is the political will to establish such a union, the idea will be more realistic,” said Muhammed Abdul Ghaffar, diplomatic adviser to Bahrain’s king, noting that King Abdullah had not gone into detail of how it might be implemented.

While the six states refer to each other in Arabic as “full brothers,” the strongest possible family connection in a tribal society where a father may have had dozens of sons by different wives, they have frequently disagreed on many areas of policy.

Along their two-day summit, GCC leaders were also expected to agree an aid package for Yemen, where they helped broker an agreement for President Saleh to step down from power peacefully in response to 10 months of mass protests, an official said.

Yemeni Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi met deputy finance ministers from the six Gulf states on Sunday.

link

Iraq VP 'ready to face trial' before court

2011-12-20T05:59:00.000-08:00

December 20, 2011

Iraq VP 'ready to face trial' before court

IRAQ'S Sunni Arab Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi says he is "ready to face trial" on terror charges on condition that the case be heard in the autonomous Kurdish region.

"I suggest transferring the case to Kurdistan," Hashemi told a news conference in the Kurdish regional capital Arbil. "On this basis, I will be ready to face trial."

He also called for representatives of the Arab League to take part in the investigation and any questioning, and said apparent confessions aired on state television linking him to attacks were fabricated.

Yesterday, a five-member judicial panel issued a warrant for Hashemi's arrest on terror charges, plunging Iraq into political crisis. The Sunni leader has also been banned from overseas travel.

Days after US forces left the country and on the eve of the first anniversary of the government, Iraq's fragile political truce looked to be unravelling.

Iraqiya, the main Sunni-backed bloc, is boycotting the cabinet while Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has called for the sacking of one of his deputies, a Sunni who branded the Shiite-led government a "dictatorship".

The White House has voiced concern over the developments, and multiple Iraqi leaders, including Maliki, have called for a national conference of the country's political blocs to break the deadlock

link

Emerging Markets .. No Longer the BRICS .. Look For The N-11 ..

2011-12-20T05:46:00.000-08:00

*The N-11 (MINTs plus Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Pakistan plus a few more countries on the fringe of "civilized" thinking).

*Then there's the VISTA (Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey, and Argentina) nations

*And the CIVETS (Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, and South Africa).

The N-11 ~ Emerging Markets

■ There has been increased focus on these countries (Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Korea, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey and Vietnam).
■ Recent economic performance has improved and equity markets have been strong.
■ While the N-11 may not have the scale to have a ‘BRIC-like’ impact, they could rival the G7.
■ As a source of new demand and sustained growth, they could surpass major markets.
■ Several of the N-11 could perhaps join the largest economies in theworld.
■ Growth conditions vary widely across the N-11, and several face large challenges.
■ Growth stories could be much more compelling in places if conditions improved.
■ As a group of potentially large, fast-growing markets, the N-11 could be an important source of growth and opportunity

Wow ~ CNBC ~ Report on Ponzi Schemes ...

2011-12-20T05:19:00.000-08:00

December 19, 2011

CNBC's Scott Cohn reports on more than $1.5B in losses as a result of Utah ponzi schemes.

Link ~ Utah: Welcome to Ponziland! - CNBC

Last Week .. December 12, 2011 ~ President Obama’s Press Conference with Prime Minister Maliki ...

2011-12-20T01:46:00.000-08:00

Going Global Headline News for Monday, December 19th and Early Tuesday, December 20, 2011 ...

2011-12-19T22:06:00.000-08:00

Dodd-Frank Law ~ Fed bank oversight rules expected this week (possibly Tuesday)

Al-Maliki and Jaafari agree to defuse and resolve the crisis

Iraqi Investors Fearful ~ Iraq is witnessing a migration of Foreign Currency Because of the Political Situation ...

Maliki ~ "What the government seeks to develop is the Iraqi economy and infrastructure and provide services for the whole people" ...

Prime Minister Maliki Would Resign if it is NOT a no-confidence of deputy, Saleh al-Mutlaq ...

US "closely" monitoring reports of arrest warrant for Iraq's VP

Iraq Issues Arrest Warrant for Sunni Vice President ...

Iraq ~ Urgent Meeting ~ Shortly there will be a meeting between the President of Parliament, Maliki, Jaafari, to Resolve the Recent Political Crisis

Iraq ~ A forthcoming meeting of the blocks to discuss ways out of the political crisis and Parliament raises its meeting to January 3rd ...

Iraq's Deputy PM Shaways ~ Iraq is heading for integration into the regional and global systems ...

Maliki: I will not compromise the unity of Iraq

Allawi's Interview ... Categorically rejected the accusations against Hashemi or withdraw confidence from the al-Mutlaq

Wow ~ CNBC ~ Report on Ponzi Schemes ...

IMF and SDRs ~ 2012 Changes?

U.S. ~ Syria Should Act to Implement its Commitments

Iraq leader warns of collapse and Barzani calls for Urgent National Meeting ...

Yemeni unity gov't approves plan of action

Tunisia ~ Obama calls Jebali, underscores support for democratic transition in Tunisia and reaffirmed America's "deep friendship" ...

World Conference of the Economy, Islamic Finance Begins

Strauss-Kahn returns to public stage in China

Positive ~ Syria finally agrees and signs to Arab observer mission

Radio Free Iraq Headlines for December 19, 2011

Maliki calls for the strengthening of trust between Iraq and Kuwait

President of the Kurdistan region of Iraq calls for national conference

Fed Decision Before Christmas ~ Fed to embrace global banking rules: Fed's decision to accept the rules laid out by regulators in Basel, Switzerland

CBI, Parliament, Dinar ~ Parliament Convinced of Deleting 3 Zeros ...

National Commission on Iraq's accession to the WTO will hold its meeting of 29

Iraq Can Lead the Arab World If It Gets Oil Policy Right

Satellite Websites ...Are satellite sites too risky?

Their Only Crime Was Guilt by Association ~ SOPA

What Are We Looking For This Week December 18th through December 25th ...

Going Global Headline News For Sunday, December 18, 2011 ...

Dodd-Frank Law ~ Fed bank oversight rules expected this week (possibly Tuesday)

2011-12-19T21:45:00.000-08:00

Related article .. Dodd-Frank Financial Overhaul Law: Vacant Positions .. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. ...

December 18, 2011

Fed bank oversight rules expected this week: source

The Federal Reserve is expected to release this week a highly anticipated proposal for how it will oversee the largest U.S. banks, a person familiar with the plan said on Monday.

The proposal, which includes a group of rules such as new capital and liquidity requirements, was mandated by the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial oversight law, enacted in response to the financial crisis.

The rules are intended to make large banks more stable by ensuring they have enough capital and liquidity to absorb market shocks. They will also require banks to act to strengthen themselves if it appears they are heading into trouble, such as being overexposed to risky assets.

Release of the proposal could come as early as Tuesday, but it is possible it could be delayed until January if the proposal does not receive final approval this week from all members of the Fed's board.

Continues ...read more ..

Once the proposal is released, the banking industry and public will be allowed to give the Fed feedback before a final set of rules is implemented.

Under Dodd-Frank, the Fed is charged with providing more oversight of the largest U.S. financial firms. This includes all banks with more than $50 billion in assets, such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N), JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) and Citigroup Inc (C.N), and any financial firm the government identifies as being important to the functioning of financial markets and the economy.

The government has yet to decide which non-banks, such as insurance companies and hedge funds, meet this standard.

The capital requirements the Fed will lay out are expected to closely mirror the standards agreed to earlier this year by regulators from around the world as part of the Basel III agreement. Implementation of the agreement is due to start in 2013.

The Basel agreement will require banks to maintain top-quality capital equal to 7 percent of their risk-bearing assets. In addition, global "systemic" banks may have to hold up to an additional 2.5 percent. A 1 percent surcharge would be imposed on banks that became significantly larger.

Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo said in November that the Basel agreement, blessed by the Federal Reserve, was consistent with the capital rules expected to be issued under Dodd-Frank.

Banks have complained the Basel rules, which increase the amount they are funded by equity as opposed to debt, will cause them to lend less, thereby hurting economies.

Regulators and academics who support the rules contend that a more stable financial industry will better serve economies.

Basel negotiators are still hammering out the final details on liquidity requirements.

At a panel discussion Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan said in crafting new capital requirements, regulators will have to balance the need to prevent a future financial crisis with the need for banks to make loans that improve economic growth.

Higher capital requirements "have an impact (on lending), but it's meant to have an impact," Moynihan said. "The question is: 'Do we get the balance right?'"

After the discussion, Richmond Federal Reserve President Jeffrey Lacker said dampening lending is not necessarily a bad thing.

In the run-up to the financial crisis, "we had too much lending going on," Lacker told reporters. "Households were in too much debt and that's why we had the problem we had in the housing market."

U.S. banks are anxiously awaiting the Fed's proposal to see what the central bank would have them do if their financial positions deteriorated. Dodd-Frank requires the Fed to lay out mandatory "early remediation."

The dilemma is to create requirements that would allow a bank to recover instead of putting it into a death spiral by raising concerns in markets that the institution was in peril.

Mark Van Der Weide, a senior staff member at the Fed's Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation, said at a conference in September that one of the biggest challenges was deciding the parameters that would force a bank or financial institution to shore up its capital position.

link

Al-Maliki and Jaafari agree to defuse and resolve the crisis

2011-12-19T21:43:00.000-08:00

Monday 19-12-11

Al-Maliki and Jaafari agree to defuse and resolve the crisis

Baghdad, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki with the speaker of the House of Osama alngivi, the home of the National Alliance Ibrahim Jaafari, Monday evening, the possibility of resolving the political crisis for fear of developments.

A source in the Office of the President of Deputies (the Agency newsletter News): a walngivi Al-Maliki and Jaafari, after the last House called Al-Jaafari, discussed recent developments and the consequent impact on the Iraqi Street, as well as the possibility of deterioration of the political process because what happened recently.

Source: Al-Jaafari advised Al-Maliki in resolving the crisis, and told him about the existence of the national coalition party, surprising its problem with the Vice-President Tariq al-Hashimi, Deputy Prime Minister Saleh Al-mutlaq.

The source pointed out: the agreement has been reached on the political summit meeting, a political solution to the crisis, which legally solve tstgon resolved in accordance with Iraqi law, underlining the need for the situation you soothe him, indicating the source: Al-Jaafari, who asked not to charge a particular component and the rhythm of political problems, i.e. (Sunni component) and suggest that some politicians represent, for fear of stirring up sectarian problems, and the Iraqi people far, calling for education.

This Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani to urgently convene a national conference to overcome the risks faced by the country's political process, as discussed President Jalal Talabani in Sulaimaniyah Monday with, Dr. khudair Al-khuzai, Vice-President, attorat recent political events, and emphasized the need to allow for Justice to take its course and adjust security and maintaining stability in the country is everyone's responsibility.

He said a presidential statement received (News Agency news) said: President Talabani noted the importance of cooperation among the political forces to prevent aggravating conditions, adding that the problems are not resolved through recourse to appeasement and dialogue.

Added: for his part, Al-khuzai thanked President Talabani on his efforts to bring Iraqi row and convergence of views among the political parties to overcome the crisis and overcome obstacles to the country's political process.

link