TresSugar

More Money, Less Problems? Iraqi Officials Hand Out Cash

LibertySugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:00:41 -0700

Money can't buy me love, but can it buy peace? Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki wants to find out - he's passing out cash on the streets of Iraq. Iraqi officials can dole out up to $8,000, to each person only once, as a way to improve the national economy and morale. I guess your $600 surplus check isn't looking so generous now!

Usually getting smaller sums, under $1,000, most Iraqi recipients use the money to get medical care, or cope after a death in the family or job loss. American and Iraqi officials believe money and better conditions will ease extremism; but concerns about favoritism and corruption still remain.

Governments love giving out money these days! While American lawmakers reach for consumer spending (and their own approval) with stimulus cash (and $42 million of taxpayer money used to notify every American that the government might send them money), Iraq wants these funds to spark confidence, and signal upcoming massive oil-revenue investments in Iraq's basic services. Are you buying it?

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Optimism in Iraq: Gains In Security, Solvency, and Stability

CitizenSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 08:00:52 -0700

Could this be the good news from Iraq that we've been waiting for? After five years of struggle, Iraq may be holding the line on two major fronts: al-Qaeda and its finances. The positive news is buoyed this morning by the report that Iraq may agree to a timetable for US withdrawal.

Here's what's happening: American and Iraqi troops appear to be in the midst of driving al-Qaeda from their last stronghold in Northern Iraq in what's being called, "one of the most spectacular victories of the war on terror." Operation Lion's Roar (possibly the best title ever) combined Iraqi and US forces to capture more than 1,000 suspects. It was thought that nearly 1,200 al-Qaeda soldiers remained in a final stand in the northern city of Mosul, down from a previous force of nearly 12,000 in May.

Though it might be premature to call a victory over the Sunni-led terrorist group, they are confident through the mission that al-Qaeda has now been forced to operate in the desolate and remote regions of the Iraq countryside, and the reduced violence has led some to be comfortable enough to spend time outside, like this tike at an amusement park in Baghdad. Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced over the weekend that his government has "defeated" terrorism.

To see how Iraq's piggy bank is about to get some relief as well, read more.

Economically, Iraq can breathe a sigh of relief as the United Arab Emirate has agreed to forgive the $4 billion in debt owed to them. This may be the first in a series of warming trends among Sunni controlled Middle Eastern states to welcome their Shiite-controlled neighbor.

Since the invasion and occupation of Iraq by US-led troops and the following take-over by a Shiite controlled government, many Sunni nations were suspicious of the Al-Maliki government. Compounded by the continual bombing, kidnapping, and killing of diplomats, forced many embassies in the nation to close. However, with the decline of violence, President Al-Maliki has reprimanded his Arab “brothers” for being so slow to return. He said he found it “difficult to explain why diplomatic exchange has not taken place.” Adding that, “Many foreign countries have kept their diplomatic missions in Baghdad and did not make security excuses.”

Do you think these bits of good news signal an overall trend toward success? Is the situation in Iraq on it's way to stability and resolution?

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Progress in Iraq Gives UN Secretary General Hope

LibertySugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:00:00 -0700

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon shed a positive light on the situation in Iraq, yesterday.

As more Americans disapprove of their country's effort in Iraq, the UN leader said that Iraq was stepping back from the abyss, but warned the situation remains fragile. He said:

There is new hope that the people and government of Iraq are overcoming daunting challenges and working together to rebuild their country.

Over 100 countries are currently meeting in Sweden to discuss the International Compact with Iraq, a five-year UN created international agreement on Iraq put together a year ago.

While the Secretary General gave words of encouragement, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki encouraged neighboring countries to engage in some good-hearted debt forgiveness. Iraq has $60 billion in debt, owed mostly to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The new Iraq wants a fresh financial start to help its reconstruction efforts.

Of course humble decreases in violence do not mean the rebuilding of Iraq is complete, but this cautious celebration of Iraq's progress may give Iraq the political momentum it needs to take the next step forward. Will praise from an international figure like the Secretary General of the UN have political implications back in the US?

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Front Page: Gaza Blast Kills 5, US/Iraq Talks Stall, Midwest Pounded

CitizenSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 06:55:45 -0700

Gaza Blast Kills 5: A large explosion in Gaza yesterday killed at least five Palestinians, including several Hamas militants and a baby girl. Despite the death and destruction of a residential building, responsibility is unclear. Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, first blamed the blast on an Israeli air strike, causing them to fire rockets and mortar rounds at Israeli towns and villages around Gaza. The Israeli military has vehemently denied any involvement in the explosion.

US/Iraq Talks Stall: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki declared that talks with the US aimed at reaching a long-term agreement allowing US forces to remain in Iraq have "reached an impasse". According to Maliki, the US demands compromised Iraqi sovereignty. President Bush has said he wants an agreement by the end of July, as the UN mandate for US forces to be in Iraq expires at the end of 2008. Maliki said of the proposal, "We cannot allow US forces to have the right to jail Iraqis or assume, alone, the responsibility of fighting against terrorism."
Midwest Pounded: Iowa's Cedar River broke its banks yesterday, forcing the evacuation of thousands of homes and causing a railroad bridge to collapse. Officials estimated that 100 blocks are underwater in Cedar Rapids, where preparations weren't enough to hold back the water. The sheriff said of the weather crisis, "We're just kind of at God's mercy right now, so hopefully people that never prayed before this, it might be a good time to start." Estimates show that 3,200 homes were evacuated and 8,000 residents have been displaced. This news comes after a deadly tornado hit an Iowa Boy Scout camp, and a similarly deadly twister tore through Kansas, leaving residents to dig out of the destruction.

To see an exclusive, first-hand photo account of the Kansas aftermath, read more.

Front Page: Al-Qaeda Killed in Somalia, McCain Qualified For President, Maliki Is "Depraved"

CitizenSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 07:00:55 -0700

Al-Qaeda Killed in Somalia: One of al-Qaeda’s top agents in East Africa was killed this morning by a US airstrike, according to officials. Aden Hashi Ayro was the leader of the Islamist comeback in Somalia and a military commander for the Shebab - an Islamist militia recently classified by the US as a terrorist group. His removal is seen as the turning point for the war against extremists who've seized towns recently. Consul for Somalia’s embassy in Nairobi said, "this will definitely weaken the Shebab. This will help with reconciliation. You can’t imagine how many Somalis are saying, ‘Yes, this is the one.’ The reaction is so good.”

McCain Qualified For President: The US Senate voted on the question of John McCain being a natural-born citizen because of his birth in the Panama Canal Zone. The detail is one of the qualifications for the job of president. The Senate unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution recognizing that McCain is indeed a natural-born citizen.
Maliki Is "Depraved": A bloc of Iraqi MPs have denounced the government and used a passage from the Koran to describe Prime Minister Nouri Maliki as "depraved." The MPs support the Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr. Iraqi troops and US-led foreign forces have fought those loyal to Muqtada al Sadr in recent weeks. Nine people died today in a Baghdad bomb blast aimed at US troops, and in recent weeks, more than 400 have been killed and 2,500 injured in Sadr City.

Front Page: Spanish Plane Crash Possible Cause, Pakistan Suicide Attack Kills 60, Rice Surprise Visit to Iraq

CitizenSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:56:58 -0700

Spanish Plane Crash Possible Cause:
The plane that crashed in Madrid yesterday and killed 153 people, including two babies and 20 children, had reported an overheated air intake valve before the first attempt at takeoff. The problem was reported and the equipment turned off to fix it. It's not known if this is the only factor in Spain's worst air disaster in almost 25 years.

Pakistan Suicide Attack Kills 60:
Killing 60 and wounding dozens more, a suicide bomber attacked Pakistan's largest military munitions plant. The Pakistan Taliban has claimed responsibility. The violence comes amid political uncertainty in the country following the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf earlier this week.

Rice Surprise Visit to Iraq:
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice surprised Baghdad with a visit to discuss the future of US forces in Iraq. Amid negotiations over the timing of the final withdrawal of US forces, reports suggest that a compromise draft agreement of the plan is being considered by both governments. RIce will meet with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki during her visit.

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Iraq Banned From Olympics: Government Broke IOC Rule

LibertySugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:14 -0700

Iraq has been banned from participating in the Beijing Olympics because the government replaced the country's Olympic committee originally elected in 2004. The Olympic Charter states that all nations must have committees free from political influence. Now, Iraq's seven qualifying athletes - two rowers, two sprinters, an archer, a weightlifter, and a judo competitor - cannot fulfill their Olympic dreams because of their government's quarrel with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The dispute began in May when Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government disbanded the Iraqi Olympic Committee, maintaining that the members were corrupt and won their spots through phony elections. The action broke IOC rules, and prompted the banning. Following the decision, the general secretary of the current Iraqi Olympic Committee said, "it is a blow to Iraq and its international reputation, its athletes, and its youth."

Although Iraq faces problems much more urgent than exclusion from the Olympics, watching fellow citizens compete with the rest of the world could have raised Iraqis' spirits and potentially inspired further reconciliation. Should the Olympics make an exception for Iraq, or stick by its standard of not mixing politics with sports?

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Front Page: Army Stealing Aid in Myanmar, Bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan, Farm Bill Passes

CitizenSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 06:59:21 -0700

Army Stealing Aid in Myanmar: Officials from several relief organizations say that the international aid being sent into Myanmar is being "stolen, diverted or warehoused" by the army. The members of the military junta told Thailand's prime minister they were in control of the relief operations and had no need for foreign experts. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon wants to send a senior UN official to inspect the relief effort in the ravaged country. To make matters worse, the US military’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center said there was a possibility that “a significant tropical cyclone” - another one - would form in the next 24 hours and head across the Irrawaddy Delta, the already hardest hit region.

Bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan: In an attack claimed by the Taliban, a suicide bomber wearing a burqa detonated by a police patrol at a crowded market in western Afghanistan today, killing at least 12 people and wounding 27 others, officials said. Yesterday, at least 20 people were killed and 35 others wounded in a suicide bombing at a Sunni funeral west of Baghdad. Police said the funeral was for the head teacher of a local school. The bombings occurred hours the announcement that Prime Minister Nouri Maliki was supervising an offensive against Sunni insurgents in the northern city of Mosul.
House Passes Farm Bill: The House approved a five-year, $307 billion farm bill with a solid bipartisan majority yesterday. Despite a veto threat from President Bush, the House voted 318 to 106 - more than the two-thirds needed to override a presidential veto - with 100 Republicans joining the Democratic majority in favor.

Front Page: Iraq Fights in Basra, PA Dems Balloon, Sirius/XM

CitizenSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:58:43 -0700

Thousands of Iraqi troops battled Shia militias in heavy fighting that has been raging in the southern city of Basra. At least 12 people have died in the conflict, one day after Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki vowed to "re-impose law." Some of the most brutal fighting was with the Mehdi Army, supporters of radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. The city of Basra with its wealth of oil makes the area ripe for warring. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said, "Militias have taken over almost the city and law and order has collapsed, although it is not a hopeless case because the government is taking measures to reverse the situation. Remember, Basra is the lifeline of Iraq. Most of Iraq's oil exports go through Basra." Those oil exports provide most of Iraq's revenues.

Democratic voter registration in Pennsylvania has hit a record of more than four million voters. Yesterday was the deadline for Pennsylvanians to register ahead of the April primary. In addition to more than 120,000 new voters registered this year, more than 86,000 others switched from other parties to register as Democrats. Only 12,000 switched registration to become Republicans, perhaps signaling the desire of Keystone voters to participate in the tight Democratic contest.
Sirius Satellite Radio won US antitrust clearance in their proposed purchase of XM Satellite Radio. The deal would create a single US satellite-radio provider. The Justice Department approved the deal and said the combined company won't amount to a monopoly because of competition from other types of audio entertainment like broadcast radio and MP3 players. The Justice Department's antitrust chief said, "we just simply found the evidence did not support a challenge to the transaction under the antitrust laws."

Front Page: Cheney, McCain in Iraq, Violence in Kosovo

CitizenSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:00:44 -0700

Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Baghdad just hours ago on an unannounced visit, according to the Iraqi prime minister's office. On Cheney's agenda are plans to meet with Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and with Gen. David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, as well as US Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker. The vice president was on a tour of the Middle East, the latest official to make the trip recently. The trip coincides with the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war.

On an unrelated trip, Sen. John McCain is also in Iraq today with colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He is scheduled to meet with the same officials as Vice President Dick Cheney. Iraqi politicians are monitoring the visit closely knowing that the outcome of the upcoming election will certainly affect their country. Wael Abdul Latif, an independent Shiite member of the Iraqi Parliament, said “this visit confirms that the Republicans believe that the Iraqi war is very important in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East.” As Iraq is central to the current campaign, Hillary Clinton delivered a major policy speech in DC this morning on the Iraq surge and her plan to begin troop withdrawals.
United Nations police have been forced to withdraw from parts of Kosovo after clashes in Serbian areas in the divided city of Mitrovica with Serb demonstrators grew too violent. The violence is said to be the worst since Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence last month. In the clashes, at least 22 UN police and eight NATO troops were injured. The violence started after about 100 UN police arrested 53 Serbs in an operation to retake the UN court in a Serbian part of the city. The action caused 200 to 300 protesters then gathered in front of the court and began to throw rocks and Molotov cocktails, forcing the withdrawal.