Iraq on the right path

[Psycho4Bud]

Generally speaking, the media worldwide report predominantly about the sensational, catastrophes, deaths, controversial statements by international personalities, wars, celebrity stories, gossip, rumours and the abnormal.
News about socio-economic success, development and progress is scantily tackled. A veteran German reporter told me this kind of news is boring for media consumers. People prefer the sensational. Hence, media providers fiercely compete to get hold of dramatic events. This is the kind of news that mesmerises people to the media. Commercial media, above all TV channels rejoice in reporting about wars and killing, the sooner the better. They rush to the scene of events and report live. "Thank God! At last something sensational is happening. Now we can make money (through commercials of course)." Commercial TV owners celebrate joyfully. Sensational events overshadow normal, ordinary, effective, humane achievements.
Had Mohammed Yunus not won this year's Nobel Prize for peace, no body would have taken notice of his great Mini-Loan Bank in Bangladesh which helped eradicate poverty for seven million people. International media used to report almost only about floods and poverty from Bangladesh. Yunus's work was ignored. It was not sensational enough. Commercial media live on the sensational, the weird, the bloody, the negative, the abnormal, and the controversial.
All this seems to apply to Iraq. We only hear and read bad news from Iraq: suicide and car bombs. Random killing, sabotage, and destruction are the only news we get from Iraq. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General describes the situation in Iraq as "worse than a civil war." Obviously he watches only CNN. But is Iraq really only killing and destruction?
An American businessman with links to major parts of Iraq told me another story of Iraq. While he admits that there is daily killing and destruction in Iraq, there is also construction, development, progress and freedom. Here are some of his facts: Slowly but steadily, "80 per cent of Iraqis are creeping (back) to (normal) life."
"Um Qasr, in the southeast extremity of Iraq on the Persian Gulf" which was deserted by the spring of 2003 is back to normal. "It is back in business as a port with commercial and military functions. "Hundreds of families have returned - joining many more who have come from all over Iraq."
"The boom in Um Qasr is part of a broader picture that also includes Basra, the sprawling metropolis of southern Iraq"
Very few media report about good news from Iraq. "Newsweek has just hailed the emergence of a booming market economy in Iraq as "the mother of all surprises," noting "Iraqis are more optimistic about the future than most Americans are." The reason, of course, is that Iraqis know what is going on in their country while Americans are fed a diet of exclusively negative reporting from Iraq."
The growing dynamism of the Iraqi economy is reflected in the steady increase in the value of the national currency, the dinar, against the three currencies in direct competition with it in the Iraqi marketplace: the Iranian rial, the Kuwaiti dinar and the US dollar, since January 2006."
"No doubt, part of the dinar's strength reflects the rise in Iraq's income from oil exports to almost $40 billion in 2006, an all-time record. But oil alone does not explain all, since both Iran and Kuwait are bigger exporters than Iraq."
"The fact that civil-servant salaries have increased by almost 30 per cent, with a further 30 per cent due to come into effect early next year, also has helped boost demand.
But a good part of the boom is due to an unexpected flow of foreign capital. This has been facilitated by the prospect of a liberal law on direct foreign investments, which exists only in such free-trade parts of the region as Dubai and Bahrain . None of Iraq 's six neighbours offers such guarantee for the free flow of capital to and from the country."
"Since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the number of private companies in Iraq has increased from a mere 8,000 to more than 35,000 this year. Each week an average of 60 new companies spring up in Iraq 's booming areas. A good part of the investment in southern Iraq , including in Um Qasr, comes from Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates."
"Whatever happens, Iraq is Iraq ," says a Kuwaiti businessman, building hotels in the south. "Iraq will always remain the country with the world's largest oil reserves and the Middle East's biggest resources of water."
"One hears similar comments from local and foreign businessmen investing in real estate in Najaf and Karbala. Over 200 million Shiite Muslims regard the cities as holy. Najaf and Karbala have always been dream destinations for pilgrims. Under Saddam Hussein, however, few foreign pilgrims were allowed. With the despot gone, pilgrims are pouring in-and with them the fresh money."
"That good business is possible in Iraq is reflected in the performance of new companies, most of which did not exist three years ago. One privately owned mobile phone company is expected to report revenues of more than $500 million this year, a sevenfold increase in three years. Another private firm marketing soft drinks has seen profits double since the end of 2003. The number of luxury cars imported has risen from a few hundred in 2002 to more than 20,000 this year. The leading export of Iraq is producing nearly $41 billion in revenues."
But what about continued attacks of insurgents and terrorists?
"Most foreign investors coming to make money in Iraq shrug their shoulders. "Doing business in any Arab country is always risky," says a Turkish investor who has set up a trucking company and a taxi service. "In some Arab countries, you risk nationalization or straight confiscation by the ruler. In other Arab countries, you must give a cut to one of the emirs (and princes). Here, you face possible terrorist attacks. But such attacks are transitory."
"The relatively low cost of labour is another attraction to investors. Wages in Iraq , where unemployment is (still) over 30 per cent, are less than a quarter of the going rates in Kuwait . Nevertheless, the Iraqi boom appears to be attracting some Iranian labourers from areas close to the border-people who come in for a few days to make some money before returning home."
"Although Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki's government has slowed down the pace of privatisation, the foundations of the command economy created by Saddam continue to crumble."
"The transition from a rentier economy-in which virtually the whole of the population depended on government handouts-to a free-market capitalist one entails much hardship for some segments of society. Many pensioners and some civil servants find it hard to make ends meet as prices rise across the board. The end of government subsidies on virtually everything-from bread and sugar to gasoline and water-is also causing hardship."
"But, judging by the talk in teahouses and the debate in Iraq's new and pluralist media, most people welcome the switch to capitalism and regard it as an exciting adventure.
"Since 2003 the salaries of average Iraqis have risen in excess of 100 per cent. In addition the Iraqi government has slashed the income tax rates from 45 per cent to just around 15 per cent. That has resulted in the average Iraqi family being able to develop long term nest-eggs (we call them IRAs)."
"Gasoline is only .56 cents a gallon. It wouldn't be that high except that Iraq decided to payoff some of its debt to the World Bank and are using energy profits to do so.
In addition much of the formerly centralised organisation of the economy has been turned over to private sector endeavours and while some government sectors have seen a spike in unemployment, private sector unemployment is hovering around 30 per cent. High to you and me, but still better than in the Saddam era."
The more and more Iraqis are taken on the board of development, the less they would listen to warlords and terrorist groups. Insurgents are not recruited among the 70 per cent of peaceful and diligent Iraqis; they are recruited among the 30 per cent jobless and retainers of the old regime. I'm confidant and millions of Iraqis with me that the course of development will prevail.
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/Navariednews.asp?dismode=article&artid=1839729411

WOW.....this coming from the Kuwait Times, a regional news source. I know, I know........THE SKY IS FALLING, THE SKY IS FALLING! I guess there are some that don't follow the philosophy of Chicken Little.:D

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[medicinal]

Somehow, I just can't believe Iraq is better off now with Sadam gone, even excluding the estimated 100-800 thousand Iraqi deaths, I don't think any of Bagdads several million residents feel much better now. Your odds of dying on any given day: about 1 in 200! The future-Bleak to unthinkable, Yeah sign me up, I'd like to move to Bagdad and sell pork sandwiches.~LOL~

[Psycho4Bud]

Somehow, I just can't believe Iraq is better off now with Sadam gone, even excluding the estimated 100-800 thousand Iraqi deaths, I don't think any of Bagdads several million residents feel much better now. Your odds of dying on any given day: about 1 in 200! The future-Bleak to unthinkable, Yeah sign me up, I'd like to move to Bagdad and sell pork sandwiches.~LOL~

I suppose the same could have been said for Berlin after WW2 but then it would have been brats.

Enjoy the gloom and doom while it exists.........in the future there will be a feast of crow for alot of you folk.....LOL

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[andruejaysin]

I need to know what combo of drugs is required to think things are going well in iraq, I'd love to try it. I'm on strawberry cough, commercial mexican, meth, coke, morphine, xanax, ativan and 4ho-dipt. Sadly, this fails to change my perception enough to see iraq as anything but a disaster. What would you recommend? Heroin? PCP?

[Psycho4Bud]

I'm on strawberry cough, commercial mexican, meth, coke, morphine, xanax, ativan and 4ho-dipt.

Try cutting back to just weed.....I think the other crap may be distorting your vision. :D I often wondered why peoples vision seemed so blurred....THANK YOU!:D

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[Ozarks]

Lots of good news you never hear of but, for the Iraqis to win, the Capitol (Baghdad) is going to have to be taken control of.

That's going to be a bloody mess.

[Fengzi]

Come on Psycho, I can't belive that even YOU would be surprised that Kuwait considers Iraq better without Saddam. But, quite frankly, the Kuwaiti's opinions really don't mean shit. Nobody else thinks that way though, except maybe for that piece of shit in the White House. Certainly most Iraqi's don't think the current state of Iraq is better than before we invaded.

Iraq may very well be on the "right path" but that path is incredibly long and goes through some seriously baaad neighborhoods before it reaches it's end.

[Psycho4Bud]

Come on Psycho, I can't belive that even YOU would be surprised that Kuwait considers Iraq better without Saddam. But, quite frankly, the Kuwaiti's opinions really don't mean shit. Nobody else thinks that way though, except maybe for that piece of shit in the White House. Certainly most Iraqi's don't think the current state of Iraq is better than before we invaded.

Iraq may very well be on the "right path" but that path is incredibly long and goes through some seriously baaad neighborhoods before it reaches it's end.

I'm not suprised at all that Kuwait would feel that way. In fact, I'm not suprised that the Iraqi Kurds and the majority of the Iraqi Shi-ites feel that way either.

They are on the right path but like our own civil war, post WW2 Germany....there are growing pains that are a bitch. They'll get past it...

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[medicinal]

I realize that you being a moderator might make you think you have the only right opinions, But, maybe you're wrong, hell I was even wrong once, that was when I thought I was wrong, and I was wrong because I was right. So maybe Iraq was not a good Idea, and Maybe G.W. is a bad president, and maybe 3-30 thousand more Americans will have to die before we figure out the fact that we're in over our heads. Even If the USA pulls off a win in Iraq, it will still be a gigantic loss. A trillion dollars of treasure gone, 3,000+++ Americans dead, 100,000-800,000 Iraqis dead, 22,000+++ maimed Americans, the whole middle East in turmoil, the start of a thousand year old civil war (Sunnis and Shiates). Please tell me where we have gained one thing from this war, and please don't say we got rid of a dictator, please!

[Psycho4Bud]

I realize that you being a moderator might make you think you have the only right opinions, But, maybe you're wrong, hell I was even wrong once!

WTF is with this line of garbage? I'm not allowed to state my opinion because I'm a mod or is it that this is the only pathetic avenue you have for a jab? You can do a hell of alot better than that.....better talk to BlueCat, she can teach ya a thing or two.

EVERYBODY in here has his/her right to whatever opinion. If we all agreed wouldn't that make for a nice exchange of pats on the back for all. Who was it in here that mentioned independent thought?

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[Markass]

Try cutting back to just weed.....I think the other crap may be distorting your vision. :D I often wondered why peoples vision seemed so blurred....THANK YOU!:D

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

I smoke only weed but I still believe that sacrificing young american lives so far away from home..for a cause that doesn't and won't directly benefit us...being far from worthy of these lives being lost if you ask me and always will be. The war needs to end, I want my friends back home. Sadaam's gone, they've got their government. It's a civil war. America's thousands of miles away.

[Markass]

Generally speaking, the media worldwide report predominantly about the sensational, catastrophes, deaths, controversial

Indeed that is the media's job? To give us a side other than the political side...But still, why do our soldiers have to die for Iraq? Iraq could give two effing shits about America and what happens to us. What's important is America...not Iraq. I'm tired of this terrorism nonsense...it wasn't Iraq that was responsible for 9/11, and their barbarism is a matter in their own country, not ours. I can say that removing Sadaam was a good move and we've done that now. It's time to leave! These lives are not worth it. A quote from President Ford: "And I just don't think we should go hellfire damnation around the globe freeing people, unless it is directly related to our own national security."

[Miss Green]

What you think that by getting rid of Saddam that everything was going to be ok?Do you think that it was legal to be doing this?No it wasn't done properly and wasn't done in a proper court of law.I don't approve of capital punishment under any circumstance.This is just so wrong its beyond belief.Funny how when bush was asked a question the other day which was "do you think that Saddam execution was legal", you should of seen him walk (more like run)away from it.He knows he screwed.:o

[medicinal]

WTF is with this line of garbage? I'm not allowed to state my opinion because I'm a mod or is it that this is the only pathetic avenue you have for a jab? You can do a hell of alot better than that.....better talk to BlueCat, she can teach ya a thing or two.Never said that, only implied you have a very annoying superiority attitude in your postings. Now answer my question! WTF have we gained in Iraq? Again, please, no demise of the dictator crapola!

[Psycho4Bud]

WTF is with this line of garbage? I'm not allowed to state my opinion because I'm a mod or is it that this is the only pathetic avenue you have for a jab? You can do a hell of alot better than that.....better talk to BlueCat, she can teach ya a thing or two.Never said that, only implied you have a very annoying superiority attitude in your postings. Now answer my question! WTF have we gained in Iraq? Again, please, no demise of the dictator crapola!

"you have a very annoying superiority attitude in your postings"
Don't worry, I find you equally as annoying. Still think you should consider chatting with the Cat though.

What have "we" gained? To start we did rid the world of a future problem, gained a strategic position when the conflict with Iran eventually starts.

What have the Iraqis gained? Since the Sunni is only 20-30 percent of the country the MAJORITY has gained it's freedom along with the Sunni. Problem is that the Sunni aren't in absolute control anymore. NO more genocide on the Kurd and Shi-ite Iraqis....what have they gained? That's a no brainer.

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[Psycho4Bud]

Now answer my question!

Just another thing I love about the left.......DEMANDS for answers to questions! But when you ask one in return it's like an empty theater........no answers at all.

Noun 1. arrogance - overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
haughtiness, hauteur, highhandedness, lordliness
pride - the trait of being spurred on by a dislike of falling below your standards
hubris - overbearing pride or presumption
domineeringness, imperiousness, overbearingness - the trait of being imperious and overbearing
condescension, disdainfulness, superciliousness - the trait of displaying arrogance by patronizing those considered inferior
superiority - displaying a sense of being better than others; "he hated the white man's superiority and condescension"
snobbery, snobbishness - the trait of condescending to those of lower social status


Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[Zimzum]

Noun 1. arrogance - overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
haughtiness, hauteur, highhandedness, lordliness
pride - the trait of being spurred on by a dislike of falling below your standards
hubris - overbearing pride or presumption
domineeringness, imperiousness, overbearingness - the trait of being imperious and overbearing
condescension, disdainfulness, superciliousness - the trait of displaying arrogance by patronizing those considered inferior
superiority - displaying a sense of being better than others; "he hated the white man's superiority and condescension"
snobbery, snobbishness - the trait of condescending to those of lower social status


Have a good one!:jointsmile:

You just described US foreign policy:(

[medicinal]

"you have a very annoying superiority attitude in your postings"
Don't worry, I find you equally as annoying. Still think you should consider chatting with the Cat though.

What have "we" gained? To start we did rid the world of a future problem, gained a strategic position when the conflict with Iran eventually starts.

What have the Iraqis gained? Since the Sunni is only 20-30 percent of the country the MAJORITY has gained it's freedom along with the Sunni. Problem is that the Sunni aren't in absolute control anymore. NO more genocide on the Kurd and Shi-ite Iraqis....what have they gained? That's a no brainer.

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

And you think this was worth a trillion dollars and almost a million dead, you have a warped sense of worth, the place would be much better off had we never showed up plus our treasury would be 700 billion richer, and 3000+ more young Americans would be alive. Also we can't forget the 22,000++ maimed and wounded GIs, to free a few shiites, you're whacked! And also, there would be no conflict with Iran if our leaders were responsible adults, grow up!

[Zimzum]

With actions like these, Iraq may never be on the "right" path to anything. Are own actions like these will always work against us.

Soldier Teaching Iraqi Children English (http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15916.htm)

British soldiers beating Iraqi kids (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5866432585690527292)

Soldiers make Iraqi kids run for water. (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3755553743248506725)

[daima]

Try cutting back to just weed.....I think the other crap may be distorting your vision. :D I often wondered why peoples vision seemed so blurred....THANK YOU!:D

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

it doesnt sound like drugs have as much of a negative effect as lets say....., apple pie?


I hear that apple pie with a combination of the american flag will leave one senseless. Add military might and an uniformed population to that mix and its quite deadly.

dai*ma:stoned:

[daima]

Lots of good news you never hear of but, for the Iraqis to win, the Capitol (Baghdad) is going to have to be taken control of.

That's going to be a bloody mess.

we cant seem to secure uniforms. How in the heck are we going to secure a country?

dai*ma:stoned:

[daima]

Just another thing I love about the left.......DEMANDS for answers to questions! But when you ask one in return it's like an empty theater........no answers at all.

Noun 1. arrogance - overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
haughtiness, hauteur, highhandedness, lordliness
pride - the trait of being spurred on by a dislike of falling below your standards
hubris - overbearing pride or presumption
domineeringness, imperiousness, overbearingness - the trait of being imperious and overbearing
condescension, disdainfulness, superciliousness - the trait of displaying arrogance by patronizing those considered inferior
superiority - displaying a sense of being better than others; "he hated the white man's superiority and condescension"
snobbery, snobbishness - the trait of condescending to those of lower social status


Have a good one!:jointsmile:

me thinks you need to look up the word, dilusional.

dai*ma:stoned:

[Psycho4Bud]

And you think this was worth a trillion dollars and almost a million dead, you have a warped sense of worth, the place would be much better off had we never showed up plus our treasury would be 700 billion richer,

LMAO! Always yelling on how this is all about the almighty dollar/oil and make a remark like that. Now what word am I looking for.....hmmmmmmm.

and 3000+ more young Americans would be alive. Also we can't forget the 22,000++ maimed and wounded GIs, to free a few shiites, you're whacked!

What the hell, fuck the Shiites, fuck the Kurds....hell, if you were around during WW2 you could have added the Jews, Russians, mentally disabled, etc......all the folk that Hitler wanted to exterminate. That wasn't our buisiness. How many lives were lost, maimed?

And also, there would be no conflict with Iran if our leaders were responsible adults, grow up!

No conflict with Iran? LOL!!! Do some reading about your precious Iran then maybe you'll grow up a bit. Iran doesn't only concern the U.S. but most of the world including the Sunni dominate regions of the middle east.

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[Psycho4Bud]

I hear that apple pie with a combination of the american flag will leave one senseless. :

Wrong again.....never cared for apple pie myself; I lean more towards a French Silk. :D

VERY compelling arguements about the thread topic though........keep up that train of thought.:D

Also, apple pie and the American flag.......I started the thread below. I'd like to think that I'm not quite as narrow minded as some to the left in here.
http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=97547

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[medicinal]

What the hell, fuck the Shiites, fuck the Kurds....hell, if you were around during WW2 you could have added the Jews, Russians, mentally disabled, etc......all the folk that Hitler wanted to exterminate. That wasn't our buisiness. How many lives were lost, maimed? Are you on Drugs, what the hell does WWII have to do with Iraq. You've stated the only thing we've gained in Iraq for our trillion dollars and 3,000++ lives is the freeing of some shiites and kurds. BTW I was around for WWII, I was a kid and didn't know what was going on, but I was here. I think you don't have a clue as to what is right and wrong! I'll repeat this so you can learn something: This is a war for Profit period. The Bush-Cheney-wolfowitz-Rumsfeld-Etc. crowd could care less about the Iraqis, they needed a war to fill the coffers of Haliburton and subsidiaries, of which they definently have a monetary interest. If you are so adamat about the good we've done for Iraq, maybe you should go there and talk to the relatives of the 100,000-800,000 dead Iraqis and tell them how we've helped their country by getting rid of sadam, I'm sure you would recieve a reception, maybe not a good one. I still don't think you really are aware of the destruction this administration has done to their country and to ours, especially the abuse of powers aimed at our freedoms. Next time a view of any Iraqi town comes on TV, look at the total destruction of the buildings. 2/3s of the country are dirt eaters, meaning poor. they live in basically mud buildings, and we've been blowing them up in the name of Democracy. It is total insanity, if you buy into it, guess what, you're insane!

[Psycho4Bud]

If you are so adamat about the good we've done for Iraq, maybe you should go there and talk to the relatives of the 100,000-800,000 dead Iraqis and tell them how we've helped their country by getting rid of sadam, I'm sure you would recieve a reception, maybe not a good one.

Au Contraire, mon amie! The numbers you speak of remind me of the bodies found in the mass grave sites. But I would imagine that is just another conspiracy....right? The survivors of Saddams aggressions are definately thankful.

I still don't think you really are aware of the destruction this administration has done to their country and to ours, especially the abuse of powers aimed at our freedoms. Next time a view of any Iraqi town comes on TV, look at the total destruction of the buildings. 2/3s of the country are dirt eaters, meaning poor. they live in basically mud buildings, and we've been blowing them up in the name of Democracy.

Welcome to Iraqi Kurdistan.
Where democracy has been practiced for over a decade. It's not a dream.
It's the other Iraq.

The people of Iraqi-Kurdistan invite you to discover their peaceful region, a place that has practiced democracy for over a decade, a place where the universities, markets, cafes and fair grounds buzz with progress and prosperity and where the people are already sowing the
seeds of a brighter future.
http://www.theotheriraq.com/

It is total insanity, if you buy into it, guess what, you're insane![/COLOR]

Oh ya, the WW2 thing. During that time half this country, the bleeding hearts, didn't want to get involved with Europe.

I'm insane now.......lol. Coming from you I'll take that as a MAJOR compliment.

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[medicinal]

The people of Iraqi-Kurdistan invite you to discover their peaceful region, a place that has practiced democracy for over a decade, a place where the universities, markets, cafes and fair grounds buzz with progress and prosperity and where the people are already sowing the
seeds of a brighter future.
OK, Kurdistan is in the far north of Iraq, a small corner that basically was never involved in the main part of the war. The Kurds were pummeled by Sadam and would welcome anyone who would depose him. so I'll give you the kurds. Now on to the real Iraq, the part where all the kaos is. Tell me what good we've done there. Not trying to piss you off, but really, can't you see the destruction and killing we've done there has not helped anyone and has all but bankrupted this country, come on, put down your gun and lets talk. I gave you the Kurds, now you explain what good we are doing in the rest of Iraq. If you come back with a low blow. I'll assume you have no answers! BTW, I love a good debate, you must have some material to debate with, if you need some from me, let me know. I can show you how we've dessimated that country, and your scary face avatar does not scare me at all! You're probably a short fat bald man~LOL~

[Psycho4Bud]

OK, Kurdistan is in the far north of Iraq, a small corner that basically was never involved in the main part of the war. The Kurds were pummeled by Sadam and would welcome anyone who would depose him. so I'll give you the kurds.

:D

Now on to the real Iraq, the part where all the kaos is. Tell me what good we've done there. Not trying to piss you off, but really, can't you see the destruction and killing we've done there has not helped anyone and has all but bankrupted this country,

Bandrupt? hehehe.......here we go!! Hang on, it'll be a bumpy ride for ya!

After the Iraq/Iran war Iraq accumulated a sum of $120 billion in debt in which $40 billion was owed to Arab nations. The remaining $80 billion owed to the Paris Club, private investors, countries has had "debt forgiveness" to the amount of 80%-100% since 2003. Likewise, they have also made deposits in the tune of $10 billion into U.S. banks which fullfilled the agreements worked up with the IMF. The $40 billion remaining with Arab countries are now in debate/discussion.

One of the problems is that most of this so called debt was during the Iran/Iraq war in which it was stated to be grants in aid to fight the Shiite dominate Iran. After the invasion, they began to call this loans instead. Another matter is the currency exchange rate. In that region, the exchange rates vary from .29:1 - 3.29:1. Iraqs (pre-war) exchanged devalued to a rate of 4000:1. Shortly after the invasion and the introduction of the new Iraq Dinar the exchange rate dropped to 1500:1. The CBI has been artificially holding this back and as of recent the exchange has moved again to the rate of 1325:1 and is actually being traded in Kuwait at 1175:1. Recommendations by the IMF/World Bank and in agreement with the head of the CBI and the U.S. they would like to see this rate reduced further to a 1:1 on the U.S. dollar. They say that this will curb inflation, give more dollars for exports and lessen the cost for imports. Likewise, this will fall into the criteria that was insisted by the Arab countries for the remainder of debt forgiveness on the $40 billion.
I could provide links to all this but it would be quite an adventure. Alot of this I've posted in here.....with links. Their actually coming out of a state of bankruptcy created by Saddam and Sons.

come on, put down your gun and lets talk. I gave you the Kurds, now you explain what good we are doing in the rest of Iraq.

It used to be that Bagdad had all the electrical power/clean water/sewer systems but that has changed. These services are being equally divided throughout Iraq. There is also the restoration of the wetlands in the south. A new medical training hospital in Najaf. There are many, many improvements that you don't see on the ol' gloom and doom tube.

If you come back with a low blow. I'll assume you have no answers! BTW, I love a good debate, you must have some material to debate with, if you need some from me, let me know. I can show you how we've dessimated that country, and your scary face avatar does not scare me at all! You're probably a short fat bald man~LOL~

Me and Alice Cooper are glad your not scared.:D
Short, fat, bald.........LOL..........6'3", not short.........255#, new crop gave me a major case of the munchies but should be back down to 245 in no time. Bald....LOL.....longer hair and thinning on top. Some call it migration, others thigh burns.:D

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[medicinal]

It used to be that Bagdad had all the electrical power/clean water/sewer systems but that has changed. These services are being equally divided throughout Iraq. There is also the restoration of the wetlands in the south. A new medical training hospital in Najaf. There are many, many improvements that you don't see on the ol' gloom and doom tube. BTW, is not the "doom Tube" the way the majority of Americans get their news? That may be all good and well, but the whole deal in Iraq rests on Bagdad where approx. 10 million Iraqis are in complete fear for their lives every day. The only safe area is the green zone and only connected Iraqis and US puppeteers live and work there. Do you and your Bush friends really believe 20-30 thousand more troops will straighten out this mess, I and most other Americans really see this as a feeble attempt for Bush to save face, with no regard for our soldiers lives. This escalation will surely be met with increased violence. Bagdad is roughly the size of Los Angeles, If the majority of the population of LA were to uprise and go on a killing spree, do you think 30-50 thousand troops in the streets would Quell it, were talking millions of pissed off Iraqis. I'll tell you what. I'll venture to say this debacle will cost a thousand more American lives, wanna Bet! BTW, while we're building hospitals in Iraq, they're shutting down hospitals over here due to the influx of illegal aliens, Maybe we should get our priorities in order! What about re-building our crumbling infrastructure, That trillion dollars could have done a lot of good right here in the good old USA!

[Shermania]

What I think is funny, is that none of you have actually been to Iraq... You guys are all going off what the media is telling you. Have any of you actually seen for yourselves what it is like in Iraq?

There is a term for people like you. "arm chair quarterbacks"

I don't think anyone is trying to say that everything is awesome in Iraq, but 99% of the time your only going to see the bad shit. It makes good news. How many times have you seen a fourth grader on the news because they got an "A" in math....??? How many times have you seen a fourth grader on the news because he brought a gun to school???? About every night on the news. Bad news sells. It's not necessarily Left or Right, but it sells. T.V. companies are a business, they are trying to make money. Unfortunately this shapes American minds.

Most of the terrorist in Iraq right now are actually Not from Iraq, so to say that the Iraqi people are fighting us troops is misguided. Listen, we can either fight those terrorists over there or over here.

I had a couple of my BEST friends die in Iraq. Guys in my platoon. At least they had a fighting chance. They were equipped, trained and felt like they were doing the world a good service. The innocent people who die in Any terrorist atack DON"T EVEN KNOW THEY ARE ABOUT TO DIE!!! How fair is that?

Terrorism is not going away... Its been around for thousands of years. Only within the last 40 years have they had the means to reach out and touch Americans. And they have. We can sit back and absorb blow after blow or we can try to do something about it. Take the fight to them. Iraq is a fucking mess. No doubt about it. But we can fight it here in America or there in the lions den.

[Psycho4Bud]

It used to be that Bagdad had all the electrical power/clean water/sewer systems but that has changed. These services are being equally divided throughout Iraq. There is also the restoration of the wetlands in the south. A new medical training hospital in Najaf. There are many, many improvements that you don't see on the ol' gloom and doom tube. BTW, is not the "doom Tube" the way the majority of Americans get their news?

Newsweek has just hailed the emergence of a booming market economy in Iraq as "the mother of all surprises," noting that "Iraqis are more optimistic about the future than most Americans are." The reason, of course, is that Iraqis know what is going on in their country while Americans are fed a diet of exclusively negative reporting from Iraq.
http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=96391

That may be all good and well, but the whole deal in Iraq rests on Bagdad where approx. 10 million Iraqis are in complete fear for their lives every day. The only safe area is the green zone and only connected Iraqis and US puppeteers live and work there. Do you and your Bush friends really believe 20-30 thousand more troops will straighten out this mess,

MY Bush friends....LOL. I don't care if it were a Dem or Rep in office, we need to get this done and I'm glad we did what we did in the first place. LOL.....one of my "Bush" friends is stopping in later; I'll ask her.:D

I and most other Americans really see this as a feeble attempt for Bush to save face, with no regard for our soldiers lives. This escalation will surely be met with increased violence. Bagdad is roughly the size of Los Angeles, If the majority of the population of LA were to uprise and go on a killing spree, do you think 30-50 thousand troops in the streets would Quell it, were talking millions of pissed off Iraqis. I'll tell you what. I'll venture to say this debacle will cost a thousand more American lives, wanna Bet!

I don't see the majority of Bagdad residents being involved. If that were the case we'd see where thousands were killed in a days time. You got the Sunni's resting right by Sadr City which was completely beat up by Saddam and Sons. MOST of the people want to get this over and done. People like Al-Sadr, Al-Quada, and the ex-Bathists arent the only residents.

I'm really not for sending anymore troops. Our mission is to secure the Gov., which we can do right now.......and to train THEIR troops to take over security, which is also being done.

BTW, while we're building hospitals in Iraq, they're shutting down hospitals over here due to the influx of illegal aliens, Maybe we should get our priorities in order! What about re-building our crumbling infrastructure, That trillion dollars could have done a lot of good right here in the good old USA!

LOL........Now thats another debate that I just kind of think that maybe we are on the same page. SCAREY isn't it!!:stoned: Cost of Illegals and what measures to take.

I'm all for rebuilding our infrustucture but once again WE would have to start, in quite a few cases, to clean out our insurgent groups. Gang membership is up over 1 million. Time to kick some Gang Bang ass with the National Guard.......after Iraq these folk will seem like cheap ass punks to these soldiers.

There are hospital system that are hurting and then there are the types like the Mayo system which is reaping the benifits/ along with it's crooked suppliers. I got some first hand knowledge on that shit!!:mad: Next time you go to an E.R. take a look at the little swivel chair behind the counter.......$450!! Hospital grade.......I'd sit that pretty little nurses ass in a vibrating lazy Boy for that cost!!

Iraq, like Iran is something that needed to be dealt with and in Irans case, will probably have to be dealt with........but thats another thread. :D

NOW, answer me this riddle.... YOU have just been elected; President medicinal, how would YOU deal with Iraq today?:stoned:

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[medicinal]

NOW, answer me this riddle.... YOU have just been elected; President medicinal, how would YOU deal with Iraq today? Funny you should ask as I actually have a plan! I'd send every ship and airplane to Kuwait and begin the Total migration out, I'd say to the Iraqi "government" good luck, you've had 2 years to deal with your bullshit, Adios, and BTW there will be no further funds coming your way, and also, The only oil leaving the port will be going to America to repay the money spent here @ 20.00 per barrel, 10.00 to go to the repay the debt fund, and a maximum 10.00 profit for oil companies this savings would be passed on to the consumer by a presidential Mandate, Now to complete the scenario, I would blow up all weapons catches in the country and leave them with only Ak47s. I would then issue an American Fatwa to surrounding countries to stay the fuck out of Iraq or be dealt with on a grand scale, can you say vaporize! Now would this work, who knows, but Americans would not be dying in a foriegn land And our national debt might get a breather. I can see no good coming from staying, even if we were to "Win", we've still lost plenty! Aufweidersein Iraq!

[Psycho4Bud]

NOW, answer me this riddle.... YOU have just been elected; President medicinal, how would YOU deal with Iraq today? Funny you should ask as I actually have a plan! I'd send every ship and airplane to Kuwait and begin the Total migration out, I'd say to the Iraqi "government" good luck, you've had 2 years to deal with your bullshit, Adios, and BTW there will be no further funds coming your way, and also, The only oil leaving the port will be going to America to repay the money spent here @ 20.00 per barrel, 10.00 to go to the repay the debt fund, and a maximum 10.00 profit for oil companies this savings would be passed on to the consumer by a presidential Mandate,

OUCH! The U.S. did nothing but invade Iraq for its oil. Look at what this neo-con is doing...hell, Bush was better. Not me dude, read the posts in here.

Now to complete the scenario, I would blow up all weapons catches in the country and leave them with only Ak47s. I would then issue an American Fatwa to surrounding countries to stay the fuck out of Iraq or be dealt with on a grand scale, can you say vaporize!

Now you have basically declared war on Syria, and Iran. Don't get me wrong, I think this should have been stated in the beginning and there should have been action taken to the extent your talking about.

Now would this work, who knows, but Americans would not be dying in a foriegn land And our national debt might get a breather. I can see no good coming from staying, even if we were to "Win", we've still lost plenty! Aufweidersein Iraq!

LOL.....If I EVER referred to you as a tree hugger my friend you have my apologies!!! We may feel different about the Iraq situation but we do see eye to eye on how to handle "other" situations.

LMAO......there's a neo-con in you just begging to be released to the wild! "can you say vaporize!".......I damn near spit out my soda on that one.........CLASSIC!:stoned:

Have a VERY good one!:jointsmile:

[medicinal]

LMAO......there's a neo-con in you just begging to be released to the wild! "can you say vaporize!".......I damn near spit out my soda on that one.........CLASSIC! Nope, no Neocon here. I think the threat would be sufficient. We've already shown we cant win a war on the ground, they just keep coming. Maybe with this knowledge, the syrians and Iranians would stay out of there. It's going to become a mulla operated society anyway, maybe we should try talk! Just an Idea. Here's a Quote from Joe Biden:"I have reached the tentative conclusion that a significant portion of this administration, maybe even including the vice president, believes Iraq is lost. They have no answer to deal with how badly they have screwed it up. I am not being facetious now. Therefore, the best thing to do is keep it from totally collapsing on your watch and hand it off to the next guy -- literally, not figuratively." Two more years of this insanity unless the Democrats close the purse strings!BTW, I think we agree on the illegals, and maybe even border security Hell I'll even through in the federal reserve and Income tax!

[trem0lo]

"I have reached the tentative conclusion that a significant portion of this administration, maybe even including the vice president, believes Iraq is lost.

What kind of quote is that? Tentative conclusion? Significant portion? Maybe even? How vague can we get? The truth is, nobody really knows whats going on apart from what the media tells us. In my experience, the media is biased towards the sensational... meaning we get a lot of negative news that is fueling the hatred for this war.

[daima]

What I think is funny, is that none of you have actually been to Iraq... You guys are all going off what the media is telling you. Have any of you actually seen for yourselves what it is like in Iraq?

There is a term for people like you. "arm chair quarterbacks"

I don't think anyone is trying to say that everything is awesome in Iraq, but 99% of the time your only going to see the bad shit. It makes good news. How many times have you seen a fourth grader on the news because they got an "A" in math....??? How many times have you seen a fourth grader on the news because he brought a gun to school???? About every night on the news. Bad news sells. It's not necessarily Left or Right, but it sells. T.V. companies are a business, they are trying to make money. Unfortunately this shapes American minds.

Most of the terrorist in Iraq right now are actually Not from Iraq, so to say that the Iraqi people are fighting us troops is misguided. Listen, we can either fight those terrorists over there or over here.

I had a couple of my BEST friends die in Iraq. Guys in my platoon. At least they had a fighting chance. They were equipped, trained and felt like they were doing the world a good service. The innocent people who die in Any terrorist atack DON"T EVEN KNOW THEY ARE ABOUT TO DIE!!! How fair is that?

Terrorism is not going away... Its been around for thousands of years. Only within the last 40 years have they had the means to reach out and touch Americans. And they have. We can sit back and absorb blow after blow or we can try to do something about it. Take the fight to them. Iraq is a fucking mess. No doubt about it. But we can fight it here in America or there in the lions den.


you are 100% right. terrorism is alive and well throughout the world, including being taught and unleashed right here in america @ the school of the americas in georgia.

The "war on terror" is much like the "war on drugs". They are both infinite and can basically turn good citizens into criminals.

Neither can be 'won", but are used to manipulate the minds of the public for political reasons. The only people benefiting from these "wars" are the very very wealthy. I mean, they are both an invention of the wealthy elite power structures hell bent of ruling the planet, This is where the nwo comes in.
Europe is now using the , euro, and many countries in europe are binded by it.
We now see plans to make the usa , canada, and south america, dwarfed into one "country/zone" This makes things much less complicated for those trying to control world markets, populations, and the money systems used.
The peso? obsolete
The dinar ? obsolete
etc etc etc
all world currencies, except the dollar and the euro will eventually be worthless. The wto, nwo, the drug war, the oil wars, the american and european governments, along with the roman catholic church, imo, are the real threats to the planet and those who call it home. Its about domination and control. It always has been , like you pointed out.
If you think the oil wars and drug wars are deadly and invasive, wait till the water wars come. Hopefully i'll be dead and gone, but i fear for the planets future inhabitants. People say ///"do you really think there will be a water war?" Look at the southwest and the west. It was all oceans at one point, and now dry as a bone.
Our watertables are being destroyed and depleted and contaminated for personal wealth by, oil, chemical companies, soda pop companies, beer, and other corporate interests. Fricken people are now using up gasoline to have water delivered to them!!!! turn on your fucking faucets folks!!!!
The earth wont beable to sustain another country like america. Trees dont grow that fast.
Record heat is a fever of a dying planet. The earth is sick. Its animals getting sicker. Oceans are dying. Reefs are dying. Birds are falling out of the sky dead. Guess who's next?
But hey, at least we have ipods.

dai*ma:stoned:

[medicinal]

What kind of quote is that? Tentative conclusion? Significant portion? Maybe even? How vague can we get? The truth is, nobody really knows whats going on apart from what the media tells us. In my experience, the media is biased towards the sensational... meaning we get a lot of negative news that is fueling the hatred for this war.

Does anyone like this war except CEOs of Haliburton and Oil companies. The GIs may say they are for the War, But having been there done that I know what they really think. They hate it and want to come home, to a man, every one of them. They can't speak out against the war as it is considered treason. The rules for GIs are different than for us, you aren't allowed to speak bad against your superiors or the job you have been given. You are a puppet of your superiors, and if they tell you to say the war is going well and you think you are helping the Iraqi people, then that is what you say or you end up in the stockade. I'll guarantee you not one soldier wants to walk down an Iraqi street being nothing but a target for IEDs and snipers, you'd have to be insane to want that. When they say the war is going well, they mean for the war profiteers, and that my friend is the fucking truth!!

[Zimzum]

[COLOR="Blue"]Does anyone like this war except CEOs of Haliburton and Oil companies.

Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon to name a few.

[medicinal]

What kind of quote is that? Tentative conclusion? Significant portion? Maybe even? How vague can we get? The truth is, nobody really knows whats going on apart from what the media tells us. In my experience, the media is biased towards the sensational... meaning we get a lot of negative news that is fueling the hatred for this war.

I think it was pretty self explanatary. The Administration knows all is lost, but rather than concede that fact, they'll just stay the course and hand it off to the next president. Every sane solution to the war said start withdrawing troops and the Idiot is trying to send in more. Can you say "Viet Nam"~

[andruejaysin]

Me and Alice Cooper are glad your not scared.:D
Short, fat, bald.........LOL..........6'3", not short.........255#, new crop gave me a major case of the munchies but should be back down to 245 in no time. Bald....LOL.....longer hair and thinning on top. Some call it migration, others thigh burns.:D

Have a good one!:jointsmile:I think maybe alice wanted to scare people, or at least parents. And wouldn't thigh burns be on the sides of your head?:D