MarkZ
[via PDK]
Article: “Economist: The total cost of the general population census amounted to $951 billion dinars”
This is about $80 million dollars. Cudos to the Iraqi government and their accurate census. I am told they should have the numbers by Sunday...
People I know in Iraq have been saying the HCL is waiting for those census numbers. And should be approved quickly after the census totals are released.
Shafaq News / The US consul to Erbil, Steve Bitner, spoke on Saturday about “economic opportunities” that will bring great benefits to Iraq and the United States of America.
“The strategic agreement between the two countries includes many aspects, including economic, cultural, health and environmental cooperation, and the consolidation of common relations,” Bitner said during his participation in a dialogue session at the Peace and Security Forum held by the American University of Duhok.
“Over the past 20 years, security and political concerns have dominated relations between the United States and Iraq, but recently attempts have emerged to focus on economic opportunities that will bring significant benefits to both countries,” Bitner said.
On Friday, the activities of the Fifth Forum for Peace and Security in the Middle East, hosted by the American University of Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, began in Duhok governorate.
The forum is attended by the Presidents of the Republic, the President of the Kurdistan Region, and a large number of local, Arab and international official figures.
The two-day forum is in charge of the two-day forum that it includes dialogue sessions, seminars and workshops on the situation in the Middle East and the world, and that it aims to build bridges of cooperation between the various participating countries, discuss problems and solutions, and the role of society in the Middle East.
Frank26
Question: "Will the rate change prior to [December] 31st IYO?"
It is my hope, it is my desire but if you show them the new lower notes in '24, have you not given it to them?
If you show it to them are you not giving it to them?
That's why I believe strongly in this year. But it doesn't matter because if they cancel the auctions on the 31st what are they going to do on January 1st?
Baghdad Today – Baghdad
An informed source revealed on Saturday (November 23, 2024) the fact of the transfer of the secret reservoirs of the Central Bank of Iraq from the old to the new building on Abu Naas Street in Baghdad.
The source told Baghdad Today that “the information that talked about the transfer of secret tanks and maids that were underground in the old Central Bank of Iraq building on Al-Rashid Street to the new building on Abu Nawas Street during the curfew of the census, is absolutely incorrect.”
He added that “the final touches in the Central Bank of Iraq building are still being worked on by the relevant authorities and the transfer of anything to the new building is normal and there is no secrecy in it, and all of it is carried out under the supervision of the competent authorities, both security and others.”
Social media sites circulated information about the transfer of secret underground tanks and cabins in the old Central Bank of Iraq building on Al-Rashid Street to the new bank building on Abu Nawas Street during the days of the curfew for the census.
Militia Man
When your census is accurate they'll have the ability to be able to get their purchasing power indirectly and directly because of the nature of how many people are accurately accounted for.
That will help the citizens.
They've been explaining that type of thing to the people in Iraq. They've been doing it a lot in the last couple of weeks and especially in the last week or so. They've been hammering it home, putting it on TV all around the country...
Shafaq News/ Concerns are mounting over the results of Iraq’s general population census, conducted on November 20–21, as Kurdish leaders call for a review of the data using the 1957 census as a reference point.
Fahmi Burhan, Head of the General Board for Kurdistani Areas Outside the Region, described the census process as “administratively successful” but expressed serious concerns about its implementation.
“While the census process succeeded in many areas, technical difficulties with the tablets and incomplete coverage in border regions between Kurdistan and the federal government remain significant issues,” Burhan stated.
He further alleged violations in some southern neighborhoods of Kirkuk, adding, “Despite efforts to prevent disputes that could destabilize Kirkuk, these issues raise legitimate concerns for the Kurdish population.”
Burhan stressed the need for a joint committee involving the Kurdish Ministry of Planning and the Iraqi government to verify the census results. "Names and registrations must be reviewed based on the 1957 census data, and any incorrect records should be corrected and transferred to their rightful locations before the final results are declared," he said.
Burhan noted that an agreement between Erbil and Baghdad established the 1957 census as the basis for determining the status of Kurdistani areas outside the Kurdish administration, stretching from Khanaqin to Sinjar.
The census controversy underscores the persistent tensions in disputed areas like Kirkuk, Khanaqin, and parts of Diyala and Nineveh provinces. These regions remain contested between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), with historical, ethnic, and political claims fueling the dispute.
The demographic makeup of these areas has been contentious since Saddam Hussein’s regime, which implemented Arabization policies to alter their ethnic composition. Despite the regime's fall in 2003, disputes over these territories continue, often flaring during key political or administrative events like the census.
DIGITAL ASSETS DAILY
By raising IQD. Then DJT selling the IQD then buying XRP at current price. Then flip the switch so XRP shoots up immediately.
Then as DJT says he could pay off the debt with crypto and have a 12 month celebration with a World Fair.
This would pay off the entire Global debt, the WF celebration and a few hundred years of Global debt at current spending rate as we transition into a Sound Money backed by Gold….
Problem. Solution. Celebration. 
Iraqi parliament to resume sessions, key laws up for vote
Shafaq News/ The Speaker of the House of Representatives will summon members to resume sessions, with a meeting scheduled for Monday or Tuesday next week.
The member of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, Aref Al-Hamami, told Shafaq News that the first or second session will include votes on several important laws, including the Personal Status and the General Amnesty Laws.
He added that "the Personal Status Law is ready for voting," noting that "the General Amnesty Law requires a minor amendment before it can be passed."
Al-Hamami also pointed out that " Property Restitution Law faces political disagreements among factions, with the Sunni bloc firmly opposing its passage in parliament."
The Presidency of the Iraqi Council of Representatives recently decided to extend the legislative term by 30 days starting November 9, 2024, under Article 58 of the Iraqi Constitution.
The extension aims to facilitate parliamentary work and the passage of stalled legislation, especially after repeated session delays. It also provides additional time for the government to submit the 2025 general budget draft before the end of the year, according to the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
General Amnesty Law: Sunni Demand
The General Amnesty Law, first enacted in 2008, has become a focal point of Sunni political demands for national reconciliation. The 2016 revision aimed to increase Sunni inclusion in Iraq’s political framework but faced resistance from Shia factions, concerned it could enable the release of convicted terrorists.
Proposed amendments now exclude individuals convicted of terrorism and serious crimes, seeking compromise. However, the law remains divisive, as Shia leaders prioritize national security, while Sunni representatives view it as critical for peace and political balance.
Personal Status and PMF Pension Laws: Shia Demands
The Personal Status Law originally passed in 1959, is a legal flashpoint as proposed amendments allow Iraqis to choose religious laws for personal status matters. Critics argue this shift risks eroding progress on women's rights, potentially allowing child marriages and weakening custody laws. While Shia supporters claim it’s constitutional, civil activists warn it could hinder gender equality.
Separately, the PMF Pension Law seeks to formalize benefits for fighters in the predominantly Shia Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), granting pensions and medical care. Although this law acknowledges the PMF’s role in Iraq’s defense, concerns arise over sectarian favoritism and budget strain, with critics arguing it could deepen sectarian rifts.
Property Restitution Law: Kurdish Demand
The Property Restitution Law, championed by Kurdish factions, seeks to restore lands seized from Kurds and Turkmen during the Baathist era, aiming to address historical injustices in areas like Kirkuk. While the law has garnered some support, ethnic tensions persist, as Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmen view land redistribution through competing group interests. Resolving these disputes could promote justice, but factional divides have prolonged delays, and reflection.
REINALDO JC
Dinar
Rumors of WWIII & When things seems to be at their worst…Than BOOM!!! Hold as we are in the final stretch…
You will wake up financially blessed!!! We are in OUR Blessing season!!!
MEPS24: Iraq has learned “nothing” from ISIS lesson, says head of Sovereignty Alliance
Shafaq News/ Iraq has learned “nothing” from ISIS’s 2014 takeover of a third of the country, viewing it only as a "security threat," stated Khamis al-Khanjar, head of Iraq’s Sovereignty Alliance (Al-Siyada), on Saturday.
Speaking during a discussion session at the Middle East Peace and Security Forum (MEPS 2024) at the American University in Duhok, al-Khanjar said, "Iraq has learned nothing from the ISIS lesson. Instead, the events since the group's military defeat in 2017 have reinforced the same conditions that led to the rise of al-Qaeda and ISIS."
"Both internationally and within Iraq, ISIS has been treated solely as a security threat,” he added, attributing this to "Iraq's state crisis, monopolized power, and the lack of a collective security concept."
Al-Khanjar further confirmed, "Our main issue is the selective application and misinterpretation of the Constitution…This has affected all blocs that won first place in elections, leaving them marginalized in Iraq’s political system, as seen with Ayad Allawi’s list in 2010 and Muqtada al-Sadr’s list in the previous elections."
"In every democratic country, elections resolve political or social crises, but in Iraq, post-election issues often escalate into armed clashes,” he affirmed.
Protecting Iraq is an American duty: Security agreements are not just ink on paper
In a tense atmosphere that portends an unprecedented escalation, news continues about intensive security and diplomatic moves to prevent a confrontation between Israel and Iraq, against the backdrop of attacks by armed factions on Israeli sites. While Israel has filed an official complaint with the UN Security Council against Iraq, fears are growing of an “imminent” Israeli strike that could open the door to escalation in the region.
The political advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, Fadi Al-Shammari, said in press statements that “the Israeli threats have become tangible after the complaint that Tel Aviv filed with the Security Council.” He explained that the Iraqi government is working on more than one level to contain the crisis and avoid its disastrous repercussions.
Sources said that Baghdad received direct warnings from Washington that Israel was prepared to take military action unless the government could rein in the armed factions.
A source said that the Security Council is witnessing intense discussions regarding the Israeli complaint. He added: “Israel is trying to provide justifications for a possible military strike, claiming that the attacks are being launched from Iraqi territory with Iranian support.”
Washington in the circle of pressure
For its part, Washington finds itself in a sensitive position under the “Strategic Framework Agreement” with Baghdad, which imposes on it the responsibility to defend Iraq against any external threat.
However, observers believe that the American position may be less clear than it seems, as an analysis published by a Washington research center indicated that “Israel may resort to limited surgical strikes without waiting for a public green light from the United States.”
Between the field and diplomacy
A citizen named Ahmed Al-Saadi spoke about the tense atmosphere in a Facebook post, saying: “What is happening now brings to mind the atmosphere of war in the nineties. People here are afraid of the repercussions of any new confrontation.” In a tweet on the “X” platform, an account said: “If the news of an imminent Israeli strike is true, Iraq may witness one of its most complex crises since the fall of the former regime.”
Faction movements and internal balances
Field reports indicated that some armed factions have begun taking precautionary measures in preparation for any possible attack. A source close to one of the factions said in a private interview: “We are ready to defend Iraqi territory if Israel targets it.” But a citizen from Baghdad named Zainab al-Ali expressed her fears about the repercussions of these moves, saying: “Iraqis always pay the highest price in such conflicts.”
Future analysis and escalation expectations
According to strategic analyses, Israel is exploiting the escalation to impose a new equation in the region, which was confirmed by a reliable source, who said: “Any Israeli strike could be the beginning of an expansion of the conflict, as the factions will not only respond from within Iraq, but we may witness other fronts igniting.” He added: “The biggest fear is that Iraq will turn into an arena for settling regional scores.”
Iraq needs a unified position from political forces to ward off the Israeli threat, away from the divisions that have weakened the country over the past years.” link
Arab League Council to hold extraordinary session at Iraq's request
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, the Arab League Council will convene an extraordinary session at the level of permanent representatives, chaired by Yemen, based on Iraq's request.
Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, confirmed that “the meeting will discuss the memorandum from the President of the United Nations Security Council regarding Israeli claims of increased frequency and intensity of attacks originating from Iraqi territory since last September, which aim to drag the region into a wider regional war.”
Zaki added, “The General Secretariat of the Arab League received Iraq's request to hold an extraordinary session and circulated it to member states for consultation. Several member states supported Iraq's request, and it was agreed to hold the session tomorrow at the General Secretariat headquarters.”
Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has taken significant diplomatic measures in response to Israeli threats of an attack. On Saturday, Iraq sent official letters to the United Nations Security Council, the UN Secretary-General, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
These letters emphasized Iraq's commitment to stability and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter while denouncing Israel's accusations as part of a systematic policy to expand regional conflict.
The letters requested the Security Council to take action to halt "Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon" and to compel Israel to stop the ongoing violence and threats.
The ministry underscored Iraq's restraint in using its airspace for targeting a neighboring country and called for international intervention to prevent aggressive behaviors that violate international law.
MILITIAMAN CC HIGHLIGHTS NOTES
Militia Man discusses recent developments in Iraq’s economy, including expectations for exchange rate changes, the importance of population census data, and regional trade partnerships.
