Simmering anger in Baghdad over fuel crisis in hot summer
Middle East Features
Jul 2, 2008, 15:23 GMT
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online.wsj.com/article/SB121461541218112817.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
BAGHDAD -- Iraq's anticorruption agency -- responsible for investigating allegations of stealing public funds and other malfeasance by government officials -- is continuing to stumble despite efforts to revive it.
Fighting corruption is key to rebuilding Iraq, both U.S. and Iraqi officials said, as the country turns its focus from security to providing basic services and promoting economic development. But the agency in charge of those efforts has been stymied, because of conflicting government directives, inadequately trained workers and other hurdles.
They should point their fingers at the Insurgents causing constent damage to the infastructure....yeesh. Had their been no insurgence the addvancement of the economy would of been immense.....but nope. A few loony leaders of large group of loonies think that destroying Iraq will somehow help then endear them to the populace.
'No WIN until Iraqi's have water and power'
Lol... Both are above Pre Saddam levels.
'Oil Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad blamed the shortage on sabotage of a pipeline bringing crude oil from the southern fields to a refinery in Baghdad. '
Gee, Think that might have something to do with this line up?
So it's just you and Harry Reid now.
Optimism Grows in Iraq as Daily Life Improves
By Bernhard Zand
There is an unexpected air of normalcy prevailing in Baghdad these days, with consumption flourishing and confidence in the government growing. The progress is astonishing, but can it last?
Pork is available in Baghdad once again. Not just in the Green Zone, where US diplomats can enjoy their spare ribs and Parma ham, but also across the Tigris River, in the real Baghdad, at 'Al-Warda' on Karada Street. Bassim Dencha, 32, one of the few Christians remaining in Iraq and the co-owner of Baghdad's finest supermarket, has developed a supply line from Syria. As a result, he now has frozen pork chops and bratwurst arranged in his freezers, next to boxes of frozen French fries and German Black Forest Cakes. And the customers are buying.
For four years, selling pork or alcohol in Baghdad was a security risk. But the acts of terror committed by Islamist fundamentalists, who once punished such violations of their interpretation of the Koran with attacks on businesses and their owners, have gradually subsided. The supply of imported goods is also relatively secure today, now that roads through the Sunni Triangle are significantly safer than they were only a few months ago.[...]
Is the situation truly improving in Iraq? Is it possible to rely on these changes in everyday life or are they merely an illusion? According to the quarterly report that the Pentagon issued in mid-June, the number of armed incidents has declined by 70 percent since last summer, bringing it down to 2004 levels -- from about 180 daily incidents to 45. More than 320,000 of the 478,000 soldiers in the Iraqi Army, the report claims, are now capable of fighting without American support, and more than €3.8 billion ($5.9 billion) of Iraq's own reconstruction budget totaling €6.4 billion ($9.9 billion) has already been invested in projects. 'The security, political and economic trends in Iraq continue to be positive; however they remain fragile, reversible and uneven,' the report concluded.
www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,563471,00.html
Shssssh...Don't tell anyone, America can win. Please don't tell America, they get pissed at that.
Iraq is a wealthy nation.
They can have all of this ANYTIME THEY WANT IT!
All they have to do is become civilized.
It's not the USA's responisbility to deliver these things.
Damn it I said ssshceeee!
The reason the dictators hate Iraq is the same reason as Leb still keeps Pallies in 'Camps'. Come on even you 'Iranian' or 'Liverpool Muslime' must admit that this is a racial thing. You guys are on the 4th generation of Pallies living in camps in their own ancesteral homelands inside Leb just cause you arabs hate jews. You guys must hate the fact that you have the same blood as them. Or is it a muslime thing?
Iraq just needs to get rid of their radical freaks and all would be well.
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No WIN until Iraqi's have water and powerJul 2nd, 2008 - 19:34:39
Our contractors were supposedly involved in these projects, which sugger from the corruption in Iraq's related ministries.
All that oil revenue coming in;and nothing being done with it except to pad the pockets of the leadership.
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jAuBrzOe1HPqakyvaVqR1R3D6FBgD91L5JV84
BAGHDAD (AP) — Frustrated Iraqis trying to tank up their cars faced miles-long gas lines in temperatures soaring above 100 degrees Tuesday — a stark reminder that a country with one of the world's largest oil reserves still has major challenges delivering fuel to its people.
Oil Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad blamed the shortage on sabotage of a pipeline bringing crude oil from the southern fields to a refinery in Baghdad. He gave no further details and would not say how long the shortage would last. The fragile nature of the country's oil distribution system means that periodic shortages appear from time to time. But this week's crunch seems worse than most.
Iraq's Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani has said the country expects to reap revenues of $70 billion by year's end if world prices remain high. Oil prices exceeded $143 for the first time ever on Monday and show few signs of falling.
But sectarian strife, rampant corruption, lack of adequate refineries and inefficient government institutions limit the positive impact that increased public revenues could have on average Iraqi citizens like Habib Hadi, who lined up for gas at 4 a.m. Tuesday.
After waiting more than four hours, he said he finally edged close to the gas station and 'saw a catastrophe.' 'The gas pump was not working because of the lack of electricity,' Hadi said.
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