Baghdad summons UK diplomat after ambassador paints 'bleak image' of Iraq, 26 AUGUST

 The Foreign Ministry in Baghdad summoned Britain's chargé d'affaires on Sunday over remarks made by Stephen Hitchen, the UK ambassador to Iraq, about the country's security and political situation.

The ambassador's remarks reflected "a bleak image of Iraq, its government and components", the ministry said in a statement to the country's state-run news agency.

The comments were "an interference in internal affairs and a departure from the diplomatic duties assigned to the ambassador”, it added.

Mr Hitchen recently appeared on the Bestoon Talk show run by Kurdish media outlet Rudaw, answering questions on Iraq's political situation and the role of Iran-backed Shiite militias in the country.

“The challenge for the Iraqi government is how to deal with the militias,” he said. “The decision to bring the militias into the government is logical but if a PMF [Popular Mobilisation Forces] member receives salaries they must also accept commands.

“A soldier does not have the right to say ‘I will follow this order, but not this one.’ This is not natural. It is not logical."

When ISIS swept through large parts in northern and western Iraq, US-trained security forces collapsed in a humiliating defeat. To face the advancing extremists, thousands of Shiite volunteers answered a call to arms by Iraq’s influential Shiite cleric Ali Al Sistani. At the time, the government of former prime minister Nouri Al Maliki had already formed the PMF to organise and supervise the volunteers as parallel forces.

Shortly after its formation, several powerful Iran-backed Shiite militias joined the PMF. By then, some of them were fighting alongside President Bashar Al Assad's forces in Syria’s civil war. Since then, they have grown more powerful and their influence has increased since October 2022 when Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani took office.

Mr Hitchen also said the presence of “uncontrolled weapons” and Iran-backed militias have kept British companies away from Iraq.

“There are some companies from other countries that may flourish in chaotic environments: bribes, threats, militias,” he said. "That is not our natural environment. So, if Iraq wants investment from western countries, it highly depends on protecting the investment."

LATEST FROM BRUCE, 26 AUGUST

  Bruce  

 [via WiserNow]  ...it looks like our start for notification and exchanges could start over the weekend...It could defer to Monday, with exchanges starting either Monday or Tuesday. That's very possible.

 Bruce  

 [via WiserNow]  ...If it all pans out, we'll get our emails [Wednesday] – set our appointments...start as early as [Wednesday] or Thursday...Rate wise...we saw what...the dinar and dong were a few days ago...and...the redemption center screens are going to be much higher than the bank screens. Just so you know, redemption center screens are significantly higher. 

Not to mention the fact that, if you're a dinar holder... and are a US citizen, you will be offered a contract rate.

What is the contract rate? 

Contract rate is what a barrel of oil in Iraq is selling for, in USN dollars, whatever the per barrel price of oil is that Iraq is selling...to...other countries...That's what we are being offered. That's the contract rate, and it's pretty high.  

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 Bruce   

[via WiserNow]  

 When do we get notified? 

The latest information has been all over the place...but I can tell you the latest information that I believe is reliable is saying we will receive notifications sometime Tuesday...That would be the 20th...

And that would be great. Then we probably will be setting our appointments, more than likely, for Wednesday, with some possibility of Tuesday afternoon...

 INTEL ONLY

***WHERE ARE WE NOW???***

Gem Finch, [16/08/2024 12:29 PM]

First R&R  - new information today the money from BC and Divorce Decree or Death Certificate parent’s spouse there were four areas traded as bonds.  The other thing is interest we paid on mortgages and bank loans for cars or whatever?  And for some of the older folks so older people will get a pretty big chunk – now for those in the currencies and Zim and those with Zim  - we will get our R&R put into our QFS accounts.  They should tell us that and how much it’s going to be before the total from the exchanges are added.   When it comes to the QFS  - so the Quantum Card thicker than a CC and has three chips  but we never carry that around with us and we only use it to move funds into your primary and secondary accounts, from the QFS account.    You can move to three different banks.   You don’t use it for anything else  - it’s not a CC /Debit card and you don’t ever want to lose it.

Access to the QFS we will get the R&R into that account and know what that is before the other funds are added.  Now here is the other thing to access the QFS they’ll use a biometric finger or thumb print and username and password all of which have to be written down and all other passwords at that exchange.   And a five digit  ID number and a new email address all you have to add to access your QFS accounts.   So this is backed by the New UST  - Bruce is saying gmail is a safe email.

We know when the R&R is happening for us  - but for non-exchanges because this goes to anyone 28 years and older and the green card holders you need to have had your card for 18 month minimum.  Say you're 55 or younger – but this will be deposited directly into your bank account.   They know what your bank account is because of the Ssecurity you had to use  and this all starts on Monday 19th August and could take up to 7 days to show up and you’ll know when you have a deposit  - email/phone call or online notification.  And for the older folks its substantial – but for the younger ones under 35 that says you won’...FOR READ MORE: https://dinarevaluation.blogspot.com/2024/08/where-are-we-now-intel-only-by-gem.html

IRAQ'S BOLD MOVES AGAINST CURRENCY COUNTERFEITING IN 2024

DINAR REVALUATION UPDATE: IRAQ IS TAKING PROACTIVE MEASURE AGAINST COUNTERFEITING, 26 AUGUST

Parliamentary Security Committee: 7 Strikes Against Currency Counterfeiting Networks in 2024

The Parliamentary Security Committee has confirmed a series of successful operations against currency counterfeiting networks in 2024 [4]. These operations, totaling seven strikes, have significantly disrupted criminal activities targeting the Iraqi economy. Counterfeiting poses a serious economic threat, and the actions taken by specialized Iraqi security teams demonstrate a growing intelligence capability in monitoring and preventing crimes that could undermine national financial stability.

International Networks and Internal Threats

The committee member, Yasser Iskandar, highlighted the involvement of international networks in currency counterfeiting [4]. These networks, operating both inside and outside of Iraq, aim to drain resources and destabilize the economy by flooding the market with fake currency. The successful strikes against these networks have led to numerous arrests and the seizure of large sums of counterfeit money across various governorates, including Baghdad.

Technological Advancements and Counterfeiting

Globally, the resurgence of counterfeit currency has been attributed to advancements in technology, making it easier to duplicate banknotes to a degree that is difficult to detect [3]. Sophisticated scanning and printing devices have enabled criminals to create convincing counterfeits that can be mixed with legitimate currency. This trend has been observed in several countries, reflecting a common challenge for law enforcement and financial authorities.

EU and U.S. Counterfeit Rates

Comparatively, the European Union (EU) has seen an increase in the use of fake notes and coins, up by 16% and 22% in 2023 compared to 2022 [3]. The United States, however, still grapples with a significant counterfeit currency issue, with the Secret Service reporting the seizure of $22 million in fake banknotes in 2023, resulting in 197 arrests [3].

Prevention and Enforcement Measures

In the EU, the European Commission's anti-counterfeiting strategy is based on four pillars: prevention, repression, training, and cooperation [6]. Measures include a system for information collection, designated national authorities for analysis, national central offices for investigation coordination, and authentication measures applied by credit institutions and other cash handlers. The European Technical and Scientific Centre supports national authorities with technical assistance, training, and classification of new types of counterfeit coins.

Ongoing Challenges

Despite the success of the Parliamentary Security Committee's operations in Iraq, the global nature of currency counterfeiting requires continued vigilance and international cooperation. The sophistication of printing and editing tools continues to challenge enforcement efforts worldwide.

In conclusion, the efforts of the Parliamentary Security Committee in Iraq highlight the importance of proactive measures against currency counterfeiting. The operations conducted in 2024 have underscored the critical role of intelligence and law enforcement in safeguarding economic stability against the threat of counterfeit currency.

Parliamentary Security: We have dealt 7 blows to currency counterfeiting networks during the current year, 26 AUGUST

Parliamentary Security: We have dealt 7 blows to currency counterfeiting networks during the current year

The Parliamentary Security Board affirmed, on Sunday, that it coordinated 7 negative marks against cash duplicating networks during the ongoing year.

According to Yasser Iskandar, a member of the Parliamentary Security Committee, “there are international networks trying to drain resources by leaking large sums of money to harm the Iraqi economy,” counterfeiting currency—whether Iraqi or foreign—poses an economic threat.

That’s what he added “particular Iraqi security groups prevailed with regards to coordinating 7 subjective negative marks against cash forging networks in Iraq during the year 2024, where a significant number of them were captured and enormous amounts of cash were seized in a few governorates, including Baghdad.”

He brought up that “ousting risky and significant organizations is proof of the developing knowledge aspect in checking wrongdoings that undermine the nation’s economy and uncovering cells that are attempting to forge ahead with these ways that are attempting to alter the nation’s capacities.”

It is essential that money forging activities are done by worldwide organizations, some external the nation and some inside.”

THE LATEST UPDATE RELATED ZIMBABWE BY JON DOWLING, 26 AUGUST

 NELSON CHAMISA

WE’RE A GREAT PEOPLE…A people of politeness and hospitality. Our DNA as a people is excellent. We are blessed with many endowments. If we could just get our politics right and get our nation to be born again. We have everything. We have a unique God-given gift of resources-the human resources, the natural resources, the material resources and the

@Godisinit

spiritual resources. #JustImagine If we could come together, pull together and walk together, the world will see a WINNING NATION and SHINING COUNTRY on the African continent and beyond. Blessed Friday #JustImagine #NewDawn #Godisinit

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This is the latest update we can find from Nelson Chanisa concerning Zimbabwe. Nothing official has come out yet regarding the elections. As soon as it’s official, we’ll let you know accordingly. 👆🏻👆🏻

@JonDowling

BANKS DEPRIVED OF THE DOLLAR: WASHINGTON'S TIGHT GRIP IN 2024