Monday, December 19, 2011

Conferences and Events for December 2011 and January 2012 ...

See All Posts Located to the Right of this Blog ...

Upcoming Conferences, Events, and Financial Meetings for December 2011 and January 2012 with links ...Will Update ...

Phoenix Rising Radio ~ 7:00 AM EST Monday, December 19, 2011 ...

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

The live show airs at 7:00 AM EST. Monday Through Friday. All past shows are on-demand.

Phoenix Rising @ Link

As of January 1, 2012, Going Global East Meets West will move to a new address. You can check out the new address @ link.

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

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

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

Link ~ Message From Phoenix -~ Sunday, December 18, 2011 ...

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

Cafe Hayek Blog Closes Comments Section

In October 2007, Greg Mankiw closed the comments section on his blog with this message "Why Comments Are Gone."  

Now Don Boudreaux and Ross Roberts have just announced that they are indefinitely closing the comments section of Cafe Hayek, with this message "Comments to be Closed."   

In both cases, the economics bloggers expressed frustration with the lack of civility among some commenters, and the "e-food fights." I've also experienced those same frustrations, along with concerns about the additional time it takes to moderate some comments, check the spam filter on a daily basis to free some of the comments stuck there, etc.  But for now, the comments section on Carpe Diem will remain open! 

Sunday, December 18, 2011

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

Message From Phoenix -~ Sunday, December 18, 2011 ...

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

Monday, December 19th ~ Iraq ~ House of Representatives in Session Despite the Lack of Allawi's Iraqi List ...

***Iraq Oil and Gas Law On The Table And Expectations of Endorsement 2012 ...

Iraq and GCC Summit Dec. 19-20-2011 ~ The GCC Summit, Iraqi File ... and .. Monday ~ Gulf leaders to tackle new challenges at summit talks

U.S. Congress Reconvenes on Monday, December 19th ...

Late Monday ~ EU to ask Britain for 30.9-billion-euro rescue boost

Tuesday, Dec. 20th ~ Arab League ~ Positive Meeting Syria ~ Adjourns Until Tuesday...

Tuesday, December 20th ~ Maliki gives VP two days to prove he is not involved in parliament attack or face trial ...

France, Iraq and chapter 7 ~ France attentive to pending Kuwaiti demands, urges Iraqi progress ...

Wed. Dec. 21st ~ SOPA ~ Stephen Colbert explains SOPA ~ Maybe Funny, But in Reality It's Total Censorship and Not Funny ~ December 21st

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

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

Iraq's CBI ~ Central Bank launches ATM Project

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il dead

Monday, December 19th ~ Iraq ~ House of Representatives in Session Despite the Lack of Allawi's Iraqi List ...

GCC ~ Monday ~ Gulf leaders to tackle new challenges at summit talks

France demands Baghdad to implement pending issues

IMF Squeezes Malawi to Free Kwacha Currency

***Iraq Oil and Gas Law On The Table And Expectations of Endorsement 2012 ...

EU to ask Britain for 30.9-billion-euro rescue boost

Maliki gives VP two days to prove he is not involved in parliament attack or face trial ...

Message From Phoenix -~ Sunday, December 18, 2011 ...

Poof ~ Sunday, December 18, 2011 ~ Season's Greetings ...

IMF and Qatar ~ a positive outlook for Qatar in 2012, but growth will slow ...

GCC CENTRAL BANK PROCEDURES IN FINAL PHASES

U.S. Congress Reconvenes on Monday, December 19th ...

U.S. Defense Secretary in Libya ~ Lifting of Sanctions and the release of billions of dollars that were frozen will help in building the new democracy

Iraq and United Nations ~ Launched the Global Compact network in Iraq .. And wealth of up to 400 billion through 2018 ...

Iraqis celebrate US exit, but are worried about their future ...

No Oil Law, No Budget: Allawi's Iraqi List Boycotts As Parliament is preparing to discuss a series of important laws, Oil and Gas Law and Budget

Baghdad airport security authorities prevented al Hashimi and seven companions travel ...

Arrest warrant issued for Iraqi first vice-president, Hashemi .. (Mr. Delay) ...

Tuesday, Dec. 20th ~ Arab League ~ Positive Meeting Syria ~ Adjourns Until Tuesday...

Iraq's Economy ~ Iraq would be the international transport of goods and trade from Europe to Asia Through Turkey ..

Sunday ~ Last U.S. troops leave Iraq, ending war

Going Global Headline News for December 16th and December 17th, 2011 ...

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

Just a guess .. but shouldn't these positions be filled before a major influx of cash hits the banks ... kel

1. Link ..Office of the comptroller of the currency

And..


2. The FDIC - An agency that gained significant powers over the nation's biggest banks under Dodd-Frank financial overhaul law .. Link .. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp

December 19, 2011

Positions that need to be filled and Stalled in the Senate:

_Agency appointments deferred
_Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
_Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
_Office of the Comptroller of the Currency


The stalemate over the consumer bureau has prevented the Senate from approving nominees to two banking regulatory agencies: the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The three nominees—Martin Gruenberg, Thomas Hoenig and Thomas Curry—would be charged with implementing last year's Dodd-Frank financial-overhaul law, which imposes a raft of restrictions on the financial industry and is opposed by some Republicans. The three are expected to take a tough line on the nation's largest banks.
____
December 19, 2011

GOP Keeps Appointments on Hold

Senate Republicans are taking steps to try to block President Barack Obama from using his power to make appointments while lawmakers are away for the holidays. But the president could hold a trump card or two.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took the first shot on Saturday, saying he would allow Senate votes on Obama nominees only if the president dropped the idea of using his recess appointment powers.

Continues ...read more ..

Republicans also moved to keep the Senate technically in session through late January, when senators plan to return to Washington, the same tactic they used during a break in May.

The main target has been former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, the president's pick to head the new—and contentious—Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Republicans don't want to confirm a director until changes are made to the bureau's structure.

The White House was undeterred on Sunday. "Without a confirmed director the bureau can't exercise its full ability to protect consumers, which is why the president will keep fighting for Cordray and against Republican attempts to weaken these important consumer protections," White House spokeswoman Amy Brundage said.

The response fueled speculation that Mr. Obama will override the lawmakers' maneuvers with moves that undoubtedly would provoke protests from Republicans at a time when partisan tensions in Washington are already high.

Even if the Senate remains in "pro forma" session, legal experts say Mr. Obama could install his nominees after the Senate goes home and before any placeholder session convenes. Or he could wait until Jan. 3—just before the new congressional session formally starts.


In 1903, in a split-second between two congressional sessions, President Theodore Roosevelt made more than 100 recess appointments.

Stalled in the Senate:


_Agency appointments deferred
_Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
_Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
_Office of the Comptroller of the Currency


Since any appointments during the "pro forma" sessions would likely provoke a legal challenge, legal experts say Mr. Obama's best shot might be on Jan. 3, when the Constitution requires the current congressional session to end.

Another option appears more theoretical than practical. The Constitution's Article II, which establishes the executive branch, says the president "may adjourn" the House and Senate "as he shall think proper." No president has ever taken that step, congressional experts said.

Mr. Obama has made 28 recess appointments but none over the past year even as several nominees to top positions stalled in the Senate.


The stalemate over the consumer bureau has prevented the Senate from approving nominees to two banking regulatory agencies: the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The three nominees—Martin Gruenberg, Thomas Hoenig and Thomas Curry—would be charged with implementing last year's Dodd-Frank financial-overhaul law, which imposes a raft of restrictions on the financial industry and is opposed by some Republicans. The three are expected to take a tough line on the nation's largest banks.

read full article link

Iraq's CBI ~ Central Bank launches ATM Project

Related articles ~ Iraq's Finance Minister: Economy, Dinar, Chapter 7, Iraq was on the verge of great economic revival would make it a destination for global investments and .. May 2011 ~ Iraq to bring banks to the masses – by mobile ... and..CBI ~ Central Bank announces the "national key" to facilitate the payment system and instruments in Iraq ...

Monday 12/19/2011

Central Bank launches ATM project

Announced the Central Bank of Iraq that began implementing a project divided the national, which aims to provide ATM service to citizens through the installation devices in different regions.

The deputy governor of the Central Bank of the appearance of Mohammed Jawad, according to (Rn) that "the central bank agreed to implement divided the national project, which allows users in both government and private banks disposing of their money through credit card and dissemination of devices in the exchange markets, train stations, airports and public places."

Saleh added that "the government and private banks will be covered expenses the company implementing the project and the process of buying the equipment and its installation," pointing out that "the central bank will oversee the supervision anniversary of the project divided the national."

The Council of Ministers in March / March, new mechanisms to facilitate the opening of documentary credits of less than $4 million through the revitalization of the role of private banks, which aims to stimulate trade in the country.

The Iraqi government is still limited in its financial transactions on the government banks relied upon by 85%.

The total capital of Iraqi private banks billion and $ 600 million currently, except What branches owned by Arab and foreign banks operating in the country.

link

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il dead

December 18, 2011

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il dead

Seole, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack while on a train trip, state media reported Monday, sparking immediate concern over who is in control of the reclusive state and its nuclear program.

A tearful television announcer dressed in black said the 69-year old had died Saturday of physical and mental over-work on his way to give "field guidance."

He had suffered a stroke in 2008, but appeared to have recovered. North Korea's official KCNA news agency said he died at 8:30 a.m. Saturday (6:30 p.m. EST on Friday) after "an advanced acute myocardial infarction, complicated with a serious heart shock."

South Korea, still technically at war with the North, placed its troops and all government workers on emergency alert, Yonhap news agency reported. But Seoul's Defense Ministry said there were no signs of any unusual North Korean troop movements.

"Up until tonight, if anybody had asked you what would be the most likely scenario under which the North Korean regime could collapse, the answer would be the sudden death of Kim Jong-il," said Victor Cha, a Korea expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank in Washington.

Continues ...read more ..

"And so I think right now we're in that scenario and we don't know how it's going to turn out."

The White House said President Barack Obama had been notified of the reports of Kim's death and it was closely monitoring and in touch with South Korea and Japan.

The United States was committed to stability on the Korean peninsula as well as to its allies, the White House press secretary said.

Japan's Foreign Minister Jun Azumi said his country had to be prepared for the unexpected on the security front.

Market players and regional powers will be on edge over what might happen next in the isolated state, whose collapsing economy and bid to become a nuclear weapons power pose major threats to northeast Asia.

Asian stocks and U.S. index futures fell, with South Korean shares tumbling as much as 5 percent, and the dollar gained after the announcement. The Korean won fell 1.8 percent.

Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong-il's youngest son, is seen as the leader-in-waiting after he was appointed to senior political and military posts in 2010. He was at the head of a long list of officials making up the funeral committee, indicating he would lead it, and a key sign that he had taken, or been given, charge.

But there will be enormous questions over how much credibility the younger Kim has, since he is only in his late 20s and has had little time to prepare for the role.

"Kim Jong-un is not yet the official heir, but the regime will move in the direction of Kim Jong-un taking center stage," said Chung Young-Tae at the Korea Institute of National Unification. "There is a big possibility that a power struggle may happen.

"It's likely the military will support Kim Jong-un," he added. "Right now there will be control wielded over the people to keep them from descending into chaos in this tumultuous time."

UNCHALLENGED HEAD

Kim Jong-il's sister and her husband have also been promoted to important political and military posts, creating a powerful triumvirate ready to take over the family dynasty that has ruled North Korea since its founding after World War Two.

Experts say Jong-un has the intelligence and leadership skills that would make him suitable to succeed his father. He is also reported to have a ruthless streak that analysts say he would need to rule the country.

There is likely to be an enormous outpouring of emotion over Kim's death in North Korea, where the country's propaganda machine turned him into a demi-god.

Kim was the unchallenged head of a communist state whose economy fell deep into poverty during his 17 years in power as he vexed the world by developing a nuclear arms program and missiles aimed at neighbors Japan and South Korea.

North Korea, which tested a nuclear device in 2006 and again in May 2009, is seen as one of the greatest threats to regional security.

In 2010, the secretive North unveiled a uranium enrichment facility, giving it a second route to make an atomic bomb along with its plutonium program.

The North has repeatedly threatened to destroy the conservative government of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who ended a decade of free-flowing aid to the North after taking office in February 2008.

Known at home as "the Dear Leader," Kim took over the reins of North Korea in 1994 when his father and founder of the reclusive state, Kim Il-sung, known as the Great Leader, died.

Tension between the two Koreas spiked to its highest level in nearly two decades in 2010 when 50 South Koreans were killed in two separate attacks on the peninsula, but relations have improved this year due to pressure from Beijing and Washington.

link

Monday ~ Gulf leaders to tackle new challenges at summit talks

Iraq and GCC Summit Dec. 19-20-2011 ~ The GCC Summ....

December 18, 2011

Gulf leaders to tackle new challenges at summit talks

Regional developments, including a range of political, economic, security and military issues, will figure during the summit of the heads of Gulf Cooperation Council states in Riyadh on Monday, a top GCC official said on Saturday.

Saad A. Alammar, GCC's assistant secretary-general for political affairs, said the new challenges facing the GCC, which is emerging as an increasingly critical partner to advancing common interests of peace and security in the region, will also be discussed at length by the Gulf leaders.

Those interests include all regional developments including Iran, Libya, Yemen, Syria, maritime security, counter-terrorism, energy security and countering weapons proliferation, said the GCC's deputy chief.

Continues ...read more ..

He said the emphasis will be more on how to ensure closer coordination and boost further cooperation among the six nations. "The six-nation GCC is at the forefront of boosting peace and security in a region, which is currently witnessing chaos," said Alammar.

The two-day summit, the first since the region-wide protests unseated three veteran Arab leaders in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, will also look at possible ways to solve crises in a number of neighboring states.

Asked about talks of Egypt becoming a member of the bloc, Alammar said the issue "has never been discussed in the council."

In September this year, the GCC foreign ministers recommended a five-year development plan for Jordan and Morocco, said Alammar.

It was not immediately made clear whether this plan or membership for any other country would be discussed by the GCC leaders in their summit. "But, all our efforts are directed toward solving the problems in the region," said Alammar, while referring to the satisfactory progress made by Yemen after President Ali Abdullah Saleh endorsed the Gulf-brokered peace deal recently.

Alammar, who accompanied GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayyani to Yemen early last week, said the transfer of power in Sanaa and the announcement of general elections in Feb 2012 were welcome developments.

On the question of Iran and its nuclear program that will be discussed by the GCC heads of state, he called on Iran as well as Israel to refrain from fooling the world on the issue of their nuclear programs. He, however, said that all countries have the right to acquire nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. He reaffirmed the resolve of the GCC states to ensure that the Middle East region remains free from weapons of mass destruction.

On Syria, he called on the stakeholders to stop the bloodshed as early as possible and ensure normalcy in the country.

He said the GCC as a bloc stands to support Syria to restore peace and stability as well as maintain its unity. On the question of Libya, he said the GCC was happy a new phase has already started in the country.

The GCC leaders will share their views on the condition of Libya as part of the agenda, which will include a whole range of issues all deemed to be in the interest of the GCC member states. He pointed out that the GCC General Secretariat has several committees, including political and economic panels.
These panels have also drawn up a number of subjects to be discussed by the GCC heads of state, he added.

On economic issues, a report released by the GCC General Secretariat said the GCC is set to exempt over 800 products from customs duties in bilateral trade between the member countries from next year.


The GCC Financial and Economic Cooperation Committee has finalized the list of products, which will be submitted before GCC supreme council on Monday.

Once the Riyadh summit approves the list, the exemption of customs tariffs will come into effect from January 2012.

link

France demands Baghdad to implement pending issues

Friday, December 16th ~ France, Iraq and chapter 7 ~ France attentive to pending Kuwaiti demands, urges Iraqi progress ...

12/18/2011

France demands Baghdad to implement pending issues

Baghdad, The French government expressed its great concern for Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations, connected with the occupation of the latter in 1990, in addition to the fate of prisoners of war in Iraq.

The Kuwaiti official electronic site quoted a senior French diplomat expressed the necessity of returning Kuwaiti national archives and other properties, as dispatched by Kuwaiti news agency (KUNA).

French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero was quoted calling Baghdad government to "exert all efforts to solve all pending questions between the two sides".

He added that his government "encourages Iraq to implement all Kuwaiti demands, which were repeated by the UN Security Council".

Iraq is under UN Chapter VII for invading Kuwait in 1990, where international force was used against it as "a state threatening international security", in addition to freezing its funds in world banks "compensate Kuwait for the damages incurred by the invasion".

link

Monday, December 19th ~ Iraq ~ House of Representatives in Session Despite the Lack of Allawi's Iraqi List ...

December 18, 2011

Deputy: House of Representatives continues to hold its meetings, despite the lack of Iraqi

Confirmed member of the National Alliance MP Huda carpets that rupture between the political blocs are not in favor of the Iraqi people and Atsb in favor of the political blocs.

Sajjad said in a statement, told the public Sunday that the House should play an active role in resolving the current crisis caused by the announcement of Diyala province, and then suspend the Iraqi List, attend sessions of Parliament.

She added that all the political blocs on solving this crisis, serious and constructive dialogue, and that all the blocks behind it a wide audience demanding to move forward in the implementation of national projects and goals that day announced the parliamentary election.

She pointed to the carpet that the House continues in spite of its lack of the Iraqi List, pointing out that the Iraqi List, has rules of Sunni, Shiite and the implementation of its goals to its citizens in dialogue and understanding and not to withdraw.

__ also..

House of Representatives will discuss tomorrow, Monday

Parliamentary source, Sunday, that the meeting of the Council of Representatives of the eleventh chapter II of the second legislative year, which will be held on Monday will see the first reading of eight draft laws and the second reading of the five other bills.

The source said in an interview with Alsumaria News, the agenda of the meeting of the House of Representatives on Monday includes reading the first draft laws accession of the Republic of Iraq to the Convention establishing the Organization for Plant Protection in the Near East, and the organization of rent of agricultural land and ownership of the right to dispose of the graduates of agricultural and veterinary and the law of seed and seed.

The source added that the agenda of the meeting also includes a second reading of the draft law on Iraq's accession to the Protocol on the privileges of the International Seabed Authority and immunity, noting that the agenda of the parliament session next also includes the first reading of bills the first amendment to the law of the guards nightclubs No. (8) for the year 2000, and amendment the first law regulating commercial agency number (51) for the year 2000.

The source explained that the meeting will also include the first reading of bills and the Ministry of Interior, and the offices of the judicial investigation, judicial investigators, and the Ministry of Science and Technology, adding that the meeting will see the readings the second draft laws reward faculty members, educational, and treaties, and stamp duty, and the CMC.


link

Apple 1991 PowerBook 100 vs. 2011 MacBook

Here's a website with some great historical data on Apple products back to 1976, with specifications and retail prices. The laptop above is the 1991 PowerBook 100, which retailed for $2,500 ($4,150 in today's dollars), and had a processor speed of 16 MHz and disk space of 30 MB.  Today's MacBook Pro (picture below) is 125 times faster (2 GHz) and has almost 17,000 times more disk space (500 GB) and sells for $1,800.   


Margaret Thatcher Addresses Income Inequality



Meryl Streep was interviewed tonight on "60 Minutes" about her new leading role - as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the upcoming movie "The Iron Lady."  That reminded me of the classic video clip above of Margaret Thatcher's last House of Commons Speech on November 22, 1990, where she addresses income inequality and expresses her opposition to a single European currency.

Iraq and GCC Summit Dec. 19-20-2011 ~ The GCC Summit, Iraqi File ...

GCC CENTRAL BANK PROCEDURES IN FINAL PHASES

More related articles ~ Iraq and GCC ~ Iraq's Accession into the GCC ... and .. Iraq Eyes Joint Defense Deal with Gulf Nations and 2010 ..Kuwaiti economist discusses the expansion of Iraq joining the GCC; Iraq as consumables market is important for the Gulf countries...
16/12/2011

The GCC Summit, Iraqi file

Held at Riyadh, on 19th and 20th of December 2011, the thirty-second the GCC Summit, which is scheduled to examine, inter alia, economic and political files.

And looks like the situation in Iraq between key issues, which imposes itself on the approach to security and political landscape in the Arabian Gulf.

The Gulf States should initiate economic investment, banking and construction sectors, agriculture in Mesopotamia. And consider this investment as a contribution to enhancing opportunities for the stability of Iraq

With the end of this year, US troops will complete its withdrawal from all territories of Iraq, in implementation of the security agreement, signed between the United States and Iraq, in 2008.

Will reflect the same new development on the overall Iraqi internal landscape and the Iraq regional and international options.

Continues ...read more ..

Will diameters of the Gulf Cooperation Council at the forefront of dealing with variable. Foremost among those affected, at all levels.

Hence, there is a need to reflect on the nature of this development, and by the Gulf, as the interests of the region, and enhances security and stability.

Since 2003, many spoke about the need for formulation of Gulf-Iraq relations on new bases, inspired by data present and elements of the force. Analyzes recent history, and weaknesses and imbalances that UNSTAT was developing.

Of course, a complete at this level did not find its way at the regional level. And that some States seemed more concerned with regard to Iraq, and closer to its developments. Maybe de facto, nothing else.

In any case, the train is not too late. Although time does not serve anyone, since time is a critical factor in the approach to policy and security alike.

The region has witnessed in the past few years, a number of symposia and workshops, which were considered in the development of Iraq, and the political and security environment. But few signals and lights that highlighted how we must strive through them, we are rulers, to redraw our relationship with the Iraqi side.

Initially, it can be argued that the integration of Iraq in the Gulf, or to move to link the Northern Gulf, the middle and southern, is in essence a historical mission, many standards.

This task, it traditionally many researchers, whether in Iraq or the States inside the Gulf (GCC countries).

There are 2 Gulf have enhanced majority saw scientific work, made in the seventh and eighth decades of the twentieth century, at the Gulf-Iraq relations analysis and approach means upgrading.

The first is the periodic journal studies Gulf and the Arabian peninsula ", published by the scientific publishing Council of the University of Kuwait. The first issue was released in January of 1975. As the second Gulf patrol ", Journal of the Arabian Gulf" by Arab Gulf Studies Center at the University of Basra. The first issue was released in 1974.

This scientific work, which was abundant and distinct, unfortunately witnessed a decline from the second half of the 1980s.

There is no reason for this is subjective, but the political and security developments, produced by the Iran-Iraq war, did everything in this region. Research process was not immune from political and geopolitical repercussions.

Thereafter, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait to draw political and security landscape in the whole region, and the first results of the collapse of Iraq's relations with the Gulf and the Arab-majority, which was divided in total.

In fact, not just Kuwait invasion against a sovereign State, and the occupation of its national territory, but, in parallel, stepped on the system of customs and traditions which governed relations among the States of the region.

Despite all that has happened, a number of States in the region, a few years later, in the search for ways to bridge the Gulf-Iraq relations, at a minimum, which was intended to spare the Iraqi people the effects of isolation and blockade, and flute by region more political suffocation and the cold war, which paid for all, each in its own way.

Of course, it was clear that the regime of President Saddam Hussein lived governed by aggressive tendencies, as was volatile in political alliances. Not an easy one to predict the intentions of this system, which benefited from a favourable regional and international environment, it seemed easy to harness the paradigm of its own interests, national ideology under banners, blank content.

I've fallen President Saddam Hussein, a few years ago. And history will judge his foreign and interior details.

It goes without saying that the policies of President Saddam Hussein Interior not less violent and bloody than those adopted with its regional.

Despite this, the meditation in history must not preclude the foresight to present, and seeking its approach as it serves the interests of the region, security and stability and decomposition.

But what can I do on a practical level?.

Initially, the rulers are contributing to the building of Iraq, and support the efforts of the economic and social development. Perhaps this is the shortest way to achieve stability of Mesopotamia, and imply regional stability and security of the Arabian Gulf.

And might argue that the achievement of security and stability of Iraq are the responsibility of security institutions. This is true in all, a verifier today as or another.

However, also true is that the national security of States and territories beyond the understandable question order, organically link with economic and social development in the broader sense. This development find a condition achieved by the interaction of States with geographical surroundings, and exercise a kind of implicit integration, or systematic, with the ocean.

In this sense, it is difficult to say Iraq can be achieved without national security with its regional integration.

We here in the Gulf, we have only to insist on seeing Iraq and national security components has been completed, because it is simply one of the conditions for achieving the security of this region.

We must not shy away from strong Iraq's rulers. But we have to fear much of Iraq is weak, discredited the weigher strategic weight in this region.

And might argue that a strong had invaded Kuwait in 1990.

Indeed, Iraq which invaded Kuwait was not a strong, but a musoma, weary years eight frivolous war lean with Iran.

That Iraq, its leadership, Chlamydia in nationalism, I think that error out of internal crisis could be achieved through military guidance towards the border. But not eastern border, but this time, southern Kuwait.

The case of Iraq, at the end of the 1970s, another model, several universal models, indicating that the military power of the States are not necessarily proportional economic capacity proportional, and overall development indicators.

The end of the regime of President Saddam Hussein has ended a painful history of Gulf-Iraq relations, spanning more than three decades.

If it is necessary today to develop lessons and through this page, most need is to find ways to build the future.

And so do not spend more time and waste effort in worthless ends, we say, unequivocally, that economic development portal represents a realistic option for rebuilding Gulf-Iraq relations.

Gulf States on Sunday to confirm its presence in the ongoing reconstruction projects in Iraq, which preceded us to many countries such as Egypt, Turkey and South Korea.

The Gulf States should initiate economic investment, banking and construction sectors, agriculture in Mesopotamia. And consider this investment as a contribution to enhancing opportunities for the stability of Iraq, which cannot be achieved without regional security components.

The Gulf today to move in this direction, driven by a long-term vision of regional security and the requirements for completion.

The GCC Summit is suitable for major decisions in the area. Must reflect on all outstanding.


link

U.S. Congress Reconvenes on Monday, December 19th ...

December 18, 2011

Snips ~ President Barack Obama said yesterday he was “very pleased” with the Senate deal. His remarks at the White House after the Senate passed the plan belied months of negotiations on a bigger package that Obama and Democrats wanted and were unable to get: A year-long extension of the payroll-tax cut along with a surtax on millionaires.

House Speaker John Boehner said he and fellow House Republicans oppose Senate legislation to extend through February a payroll tax cut and long-term unemployment benefits and will push to extend the measures through 2012.

Congress should “stop, do our work and extend for one year,” Boehner said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” today. He said a two-month extension creates uncertainty for employers as they budget for 2012. A “reasonable, responsible” compromise could be reached, he said, and suggested a formal conference committee between the House and the Senate to resolve differences between the two chambers.

“We’ve got two weeks to get this done,” he said. The tax cuts expire at the end of this year.

“It’s time to do this the right way,” Boehner said. “It’s not time to kick the can down the road.”

Link

U.S. Defense Secretary in Libya ~ Lifting of Sanctions and the release of billions of dollars that were frozen will help in building the new democracy

Snip ~ Said Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations that the lifting of sanctions "will allow the United States and other countries for the release of billions of dollars that were frozen to help the Libyans in building the new democracy."

December 18, 2011

U.S. Defense Secretary holds talks in Tripoli

Reached U.S. Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, to Tripoli on Saturday in the first visit by a U.S. defense secretary to Libya, where he met with Libyan officials.

He met with Panetta at the start of his visit, which is expected to take several hours, Osama Aljowaily Libyan counterpart, also met the Prime Minister, Abdul Rahim Cape.

He praised Pantia during a joint news conference with the Cape the work done by the Libyans to overthrow Colonel late Muammar Gaddafi, adding: "There will be challenges and there will be difficulties, but I am sure that a country like Libya was able to accomplish what he did and show such courage will conclude at the end of the day to lay the of democracy."

Continues ...read more ..

He emphasized that the United States is prepared to provide all assistance requested by the Libyans, "noting that the sacrifices made by the Libyan people gain the right to self-determination.

And visited the U.S. Secretary of Defense a cemetery, where lies the capital, Tripoli 13 sailors killed a U.S. attack on the destroyer "USS Anterbad" port of Tripoli in 1804 during the so-called war of the Barbary pirates.

It is noteworthy that the United States were the main countries participating in the process of "NATO" that contributed to the overthrow of the late Colonel, Muammar Gaddafi, after more than four decades in power.

Panetta's visit is the second senior U.S. official after Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, on October 18 / October, had been carried out to Tripoli after the forces of the Transitional National Assembly.

The visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense shortly after the UN Security Council lifted the United Nations Friday, the sanctions on the Central Bank of Libya, the Libyan Foreign Bank's him, in a move welcomed by the United States and Britain.

Said Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations that the lifting of sanctions "will allow the United States and other countries for the release of billions of dollars that were frozen to help the Libyans in building the new democracy."

The sanctions were imposed early this year under Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973 in an attempt to stop the killing of unarmed demonstrators by the forces loyal to the late leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.


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Poof ~ Sunday, December 18, 2011 ~ Season's Greetings ...

Poof ~ Sunday, December 18, 2011 ~ Season's Greetings .. Jesus was a Socialist ...

Link ~ Santa claus is back in town

Well, it's Christmas time pretty baby
And the snow is falling on the ground
Well, it's Christmas time pretty baby
And the snow is falling down
Well you be a real good little girl
Santa Claus is back in town
Got no sleigh with reindeer
No sack on my back
You're gonna see me comin' in a big black caddilac
Oh, it's Christmas time pretty baby
And the snow is falling on the ground
Well you be a real good little baby
Santa Claus is back in town

Hang up your pretty stockings
And turn off the light
Santa Claus is comin' down your chimney tonight
Oh, it's Christmas time pretty baby
And the snow is falling on the ground
Well you be a real good little baby
Santa Claus is back in town

And some blues by some other greats, no longer with us;

Link .. and .. Link .. and ..Link

Greetings and Salutations,

Frustrated, tired of all the Hope messages? Is It Ever going to happen???


Don't worry, it's happening, way too much debris had to be removed from the path way, since the process began in 1984. The promise being kept to me and therefore to you is, they would remove our enemies out of the way so, no one would have a short lived celebration. Unless, you've done due diligence thru the years, you wouldn't even realize, anyone was lurking in the back ground to steal your goodies for themselves.

Countless times, things were prepared to go out to the world, then some tick mite buried deep in the dog's back would come out to try and suck blood, as if they were starving or some thing. How many felets can you eat, how many gold toilet seats do you need? Greed is a sickness that must be curbed. Even ronald reagan raised taxes for god's sake. Trickle down does not work....figures don't lie, but liars sure figure. Who has benefitted from the 'war on drugs'? Rich folks who funded all the importation. Romney made money bankrupting companies and selling off the pieces, what do think if he got into the white house, same thing as G dubya. Corporations are people, too, in a pig's eye.

Yes, this country needs a few more political parties and money needs to be removed from the election process.

Continues ...read more ..

Over the last 100+ years all we had over here in the us, is the choice of which new master we want to hand out our pork and beans. White folks and black folks alike with additions of latinos now to come onto the plantation to be ruled. So, folks they who have mastered the plantation owners are flipping the script and evening out this playing field. People who already have power do not need to fight to keep it, they know that money needs to move and not sit in dusty chambers collecting more dust. So, while it seems by some I've been hoping beyond hope, understand there are principles of physics at work, certain immutable laws of physics. As change will happen as sure as the mississippi has changed it's course thru the years. Human intelligence will either take the lead or nature will. Long sighted folks from centuries ago made the first moves and now those moves have engaged the planet's banking system to change the future from entropy or collapse upon itself, to a burst of growth and parting of the clouds into the sunlight of life worth living.

The folks in the rafters are applying the principle bought here by the master and spreading the world's wealth to the hungry and the poor. Helping the widows, elderly, and the orphans is a big thing to them. They have done their own version of overturning the tables of the money changers at the temple. Not like it's a secret, the st germain trust opened on the 15th, 10 days before xmas, as it has done for years. This time the blocks of the greedy have been driven away by massive arrests and imprisonment. None without warning but as I am fond of saying, they just refused to believe 'fat meat is greasy'. They can bet on it now! We live in a time of miracles, definition of which is 'nature going unchecked' letting the flow of nature go without intervention by human thought. I just saw Kansas City beat the Packers...whaaa??? Yogi Berra used to say, 'it ain't over 'til it's over'. So remember folks, it only takes one moment to shift your life from poor to wealthy, the work to get it there has taken years but we're 'there'. You won't get coal in your stocking this year. Cheers Will! Merry Christmas one and all.

Love and Kisses;

Poofness


@ 2goforth@Safe-mail.net

***Iraq Oil and Gas Law On The Table And Expectations of Endorsement 2012 ...

Related articles ~ *Iraq Oil and Gas Law ~ Adoption By End of the Year ~ The adoption of a draft bill submitted in the oil and gas 2007 ...

19/12/2011

Oil and gas law at the table and the expectations of experts endorsing the 2012

After slumber long years to close the Public


Baghdad Yasser incumbent Hussein Tgb

After coma lasted more than a year to close the file of oil and gas law and place it on the shelves back interested Alyatarth again to feel that the years go without the benefit of this wealth, and that the time has come for legislation does will the start of the year 2012 and whether the law will be initiated or not? And we will find in the folds of the following report visions of economists and law and their vision of the importance of law and how to get out of its impasse.

Has become the symposium panel discussion on the challenges of the oil industry extractive to a constructive dialogue in order to establish oil and gas law to be of the oil industry extractive and other power of the law make it in the forefront of the industries that serve the programs of development.

Continues ...read more ..

Just the whole number of economists and law on the importance of expediting legislation the law of oil and gas in order to develop oil policies on the right track and to ensure the best use of national wealth-rich.

This consensus in a seminar discussion organized by the Iraqi Institute for economic reform, which was characterized by high level of transparency and disclosure bold to ask in the working papers of the seven made ​​by the experts at the symposium.

worksheet first made ​​by the President of the advisory board Thamer Ghadban as accompanied the process of preparing a draft law of oil and gas and assume advanced positions in the leadership of the oil sector in a timely manner and his long experience in this area, and presented a chronology of the stages that have passed the draft law with the detection of Khvaya many accompanied the processes of discussion and debates that took place.

Ghadhban devoted through the display to the problem of oil and gas, the principle of public policies that begin diagnosing the problem and then displayed benefit of researchers and observers, and citizens in order to prepare suitable solutions and proposals that lead to the adoption of this law has been Showing Anger of the project diplomacy unusual and distanced himself - for any bias in the presentation of the problem and summarized Ghadhban and paper differences that occurred between the federal government and the Kurdistan region on Substances that constitutional legislation and powers exhibitors all the stages undergone by the law of the interactions, and the differences and convergence, sometimes leaving the assessment of the situation for the participants in the seminar who representing the official and public and representatives of civil society organizations.

The Anger I think the law of oil and gas will see the light when it dissipated and build bridges of trust and think is full of the interests of the Iraqi nation and the nation anticipated the possibility of easing the crisis if it described the intentions and the convergence of ideas and true interests.

The second worksheet for Lnaúb former judge Wael Abdul Latif, which included eating oil and gas wealth in the Iraqi Constitution of 2005 which was allocated Title IV of the doors of the Constitution the six articles of the oil and gas, Article 111 and Article 112. Judge Wael Abdul Latif said in his paper that the Iraqi constitution in force for 2005's first constitution codifies the right of Iraqis through as provided in Article 111 of the oil and gas is the property of all Iraqi people in all regions and provinces, and added that this article did not mention in any constitution earlier whether Iraq's permanent constitution (Basic Law) of 1925 or a series of temporary constitutions for the years 1958.1964, 1968, 1970 not even in the draft constitution for Iraq in 1991 (after the popular uprising) as well as the law of the State Administration of Iraq for the Transitional Period of 2004 and the constitutions applicable to Iraq such as the Constitution Ottoman in 1867 or the Regulations by the British Governor of Iraq in 1920.

Focused Abdullatif that the constitutional article was a public promise does not mean anything in this field and believes in the need to regulate how they going to be the property and the words start to all (Iraqi people), which addresses citizenship regardless of religion, nationalism and ethnicity are but mimic Iraq regardless of the spot that is home to. He concluded by saying: that Article need legal mechanisms show a partnership and ownership of the Iraqis to this wealth.

He noted that the first paragraph of Article 112 stipulates the following:


The federal gobernment will administer oil and gas extracted from current fields with the governments of producing regions and provinces to be distributed and imports fairly commensurate with the demographic distribution across the country with the quota for a specified period for affected regions that were deprived of an unfair way by the former regime, which are damaged after that so as to ensure balanced development in different parts of the country and this shall be regulated by law.

He said Abdul Latif said all the objectives set by the legislator is required of the legislature normal that organized under the law, but that the goals of the legislator failed to materialize now and on the eve of 2012.

The judge concluded Wael out that the problem of deep, is that all the constitutional articles related to this wealth and the objectives set by the legislator and in spite of the entry into force the Constitution since 2006 have not been achieved so far and the reason is the failure of the legislature normal organized by law.

Also made ​​other papers do not move away in the analysis of what put and carried the visions of an additive in the importance of oil issues we have mentioned in the news, which was published yesterday, but the important thing is that the seminar concluded that the need to enact the law during the year 2012 by solving all the problems differences through dialogue and the Pacific, including construction and in the interest of the nation and the Iraqi citizens in every part of the territory.

link

Late Monday ~ EU to ask Britain for 30.9-billion-euro rescue boost

....................Please, Sir, May I Have Some More

December 18, 2011

EU to ask Britain for 30.9-billion-euro rescue boost: report

European Union ministers will ask Britain to contribute 30.9 billion euros towards an International Monetary Fund (IMF) package aimed at rescuing the single currency, the Daily Telegraph reported Monday.

Britain will be asked for the cash injection, equivalent to $40.3 billion, when European finance ministers hold talks over the 200-billion-euro fund later Monday, an EU official told the Telegraph.

If Britain agrees, it would be the second biggest contributor to the package behind Germany and level with France.

Continues ...read more ..

However, British Prime Minister David Cameron, who blocked plans for EU treaty changes aimed at saving the currency, has repeatedly promised not to directly fund a bailout kitty.

Britain is already liable for 14.3 billion euros of loans and guarantees to Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

With several members of the 17-strong eurozone, of which Britain is not a part, under threat of credit rating downgrades, the key focus of the telephone conference will be boosting coffers to enable the new fund to come to the aid of floundering economies.

A government source said on condition of anonymity that the so-called Eurogroup ministers will from around 1500 GMT "discuss what happens after the European summit of December 8 and 9" on saving the eurozone.

At that summit, member countries announced plans to pump 200 billion euros into the warchest.

Eurozone members were to provide about three quarters, and other EU countries the rest. The aim was to allow the Washington-based IMF to come to the aid of eurozone countries in trouble, and the summit gave leaders 10 days to work out the details.

The eurosceptic wing of Cameron's Conservative Party is urging their leader to resist attempts to make Britain pay towards any bailout of heavily-indebted eurozone nations.

"We did not agree any increase in bilateral resources last week," a spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said Friday. "We made very clear in that meeting that we were not contributing to that 200 billion euros."


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Tuesday, December 20th ~ Maliki gives VP two days to prove he is not involved in parliament attack or face trial ...

(File photo ~ December 21, 2010, Hashemi left and Maliki right .. what's the saying? keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer?)

Thank you very much to Kellyann for the following news article ...


18/12/2011

Maliki gives VP two days to prove he is not involved in parliament attack or face trial

Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has given an Iraqi Vice-President Tariq al-Hashimi a period of two days to prove his innocence, after he was accused of financing armed actions, or face arrest and trial.

Mr. al-Hashimi has been accused of financing armed attacks on on the Iraqi Council of Representatives that left one dead and four others injured among them a Kurdish MP.

Continues ...read more ..

The accusations against the VP came after security forces in Baghdad arrested three of al-Hashimi's guards on charges of carrying out the attack on the parliament.

"Al-Hashimi has sent former Iraqi parliament speaker Mohammed al-Mashhadani to inform Maliki that he has nothing to do with the parliament," said Ahmed al-Shaihani, an Iraqi government adviser, "He has requested a period of two days to prove his innocence.. and Maliki has agreed to give him two days" Baghdad Operations Command said earlier that it would display videoed confessions of the men who had carried out the attack with the help of a "senior" official without naming the official. The airing of the confession was delayed till the involvement of al-Hashimi is checked.

There were reports that al-Hashimi an several of his aides have tried to fly to Sulaimaniyah from Baghdad but have been intercepted by Iraqi security forces in the airport.

A member of the National Coalition (NC) bloc in parliament Hussein al-Asadi said yesterday that a court in Baghdad had already issued an arrest warrant for Mr al-Hashimi on "terror charges"

The parliamentary committee tasked with probing into the parliament bombing last month said earlier that it will disclose the details of the blast and who stood behind it. "The results will surprising and nobody will expect it" the committee said.

link

IMF and Qatar ~ a positive outlook for Qatar in 2012, but growth will slow ...

Links ~ Qatar ...

19/12/2011

Monetary Fund: a positive outlook for Qatar in 2012, but growth will slow

Dubai, International Monetary Fund said that the pace of economic growth in Qatar will slow down next year and they face increased risk of decline in oil and gas prices as a result of falling global demand, but the outlook overall for the Qatari economy remain positive.

Continues ...read more ..

Qatar's economy grew the largest exporter of LNG in the world rate in the double digits in 2011 and Qatar plans to spend vast sums on infrastructure projects before hosting the World Cup football in 2022.

and the International Monetary Fund said in a statement after the end of the annual consultations with Qatar in the first December "remains the outlook for 2012 positive despite growing external risks. is expected to come down the rate of GDP growth to six percent in 2012. "

The IMF predicted that the rate of growth for the current year 19 percent.
In October, said the General Secretariat for Development Planning in Qatar, it expects a slower rate of GDP growth to 5.1 percent in 2012 from 15 percent in the current year with the decline of expansion programs in the production of gas, which lasted for decades.

The IMF said "slow real GDP to oil and gas sector for less than three percent as a result of the imposition of the country's temporary ban on development projects in hydrocarbon new until 2015, but huge investments in infrastructure and increase the production of the manufacturing sector will enhance the growth of real GDP in the non-hydrocarbon sector to accelerate to nine percent. "

The IMF said the outlook for Qatar will remain positive over the medium term, but warned of the dangers outside.

"The main risks in the future is low oil and gas prices as a result of falling global demand and the disruption of natural gas (LNG) because of geopolitical tensions rising, but the government reserves, sufficient financial and policy framework that would reduce the potential risks. "

and reduce the fund slightly estimates of inflation compared to the expectations contained in the outlook of the regional economy, issued in October ( October).

The IMF said "Following the contraction rate averaged 2.5 percent in 2010 is expected to reach the inflation rate two percent, on average, while bypassing the impact of high gasoline prices and local impact of international prices of food decline in rents a wide margin.

"expected to average core inflation rate of four percent in 2012. "

In a report in October (October), the IMF projected that the average inflation rate to 3.2 percent in 2011 and 4.1 percent next year.

Qatar said in September it would raise pensions and wages and bonuses for workers in the the state and the armed forces at a cost of up to 30 billion riyals (8.2 billion dollars) after the economic turmoil elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa.


The IMF said "remain core inflation is low, but inflation risks have grown somewhat as a result of the continued increase in public sector wages, which highlights the need for fiscal policy to control aggregate demand and management of central bank liquidity."


The IMF said that the increase in wages and pensions will add about 1.6 billion dollars of government spending in the budget for fiscal year 2011 to 2012.

"We fill regulatory gaps in the financial system and to continue efforts to develop domestic bond market are essential to promote greater financial stability with the development of the financial system.

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GCC CENTRAL BANK PROCEDURES IN FINAL PHASES

.....GCC Central Bank in Saudi Arabia

12/18/2011

GCC Central Bank procedures in final phases

Kuwaiti Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shemali reiterated here on Sunday that the establishment of the GCC Central bank is in its final phases, pointing out that the concerned states which joined the GCC union are implementing this agreement.

Continues .. more related articles .. read more ..

Al-Shemali told reporters following a meeting of the GCC finance ministers that the GCC Customs union procedures are proceeding well and that a timetable has been set as of next year till 2015 to activate the union's agreement.

Concerning the railroad network, Al-Shemali said that the railroad network will be a reality and "you will see the train taking off from Kuwait to Salalah" according to what has been agreed upon.

The finance ministers submitted, during a joint meeting with the GCC foreign ministers, their recommendations to be referred to the GCC summit tomorrow.

On the other hand, Yemeni foreign minister Abu Bakr Al-Qorbi joined the meeting of the GCC foreign ministers currently convening here.
Diplomatic sources said that Al-Qorbi was carrying a letter to the council without revealing the nature of the letter.

They expected that Al-Qorbi would extend his country's thanks to the role of the GCC in ending the Yemeni crises.


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Read More @ LINKS ~ GCC Monetary Union Articles of Interest ... and ..Related articles ~ Iraq and GCC Summit Dec. 19-20-2011 ~ The GCC Summit, Iraqi File ... and .. New Libyan Currency By Year End ~ new currency will be brought by the end of this year and exchanged with the older one as soon as it arrives in banks and ... December 19th GCC Summit ... and ..Related articles .. Iraq and GCC ~ Iraq's Accession into the GCC ... and ..*** Iraq and GCC ~ Rate $2.66 ? ~ It's Been Stated in 2009 ~ Gulf Dinar to be issued by the Gulf Central Bank and set at SR10, nearly $2.66 ..