Iraq’s ‘one-million-dollar-a-month’ president

[Denarius]

http://www.azzaman.com/english/print.asp?fname=news/2005-04-14/10335.htm


If this is true this is insane , :(
When I first read it I thought it stated 1 Mil annual salary Which would have been bad enough - This along with repeated reports of corruption in the oil ministries is starting to look very bad (and many Iraqi's are pissed)

Corruption instead of development in Iraqi Kurdistan
Talabani’s administration has also been accused of corrupt practices
http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=6751


Corruption takes its toll on Iraqi oil industry

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?storyid=89000



two good Iraq's blogs:

http://hammorabi.blogspot.com/
http://www.roadstoiraq.com/

[BrerRabbit]

I think our lowly congressmen get in excess of 5 million a year for expenses plus a salary and benefit package far beyound mine. I too, but I haven't figured out how to do anything about it.

[Dinaress]

a small price i say , for what he risks.

[dougmyers]

for his own security, cars, housing, travel, and all his other exspenses that maynot be enough!

[Aunt Gwennie]

is that 1 MIL USD or NIDs? Did the reporter get the denomination right? If it is 1 MIL NID....which I would tend to think it was....then we all know how much that is....less than $700 USD per month.

Leave it to the media to pounce on this first thing.

AG

[Denarius]

is that 1 MIL USD or NIDs? Did the reporter get the denomination right? If it is 1 MIL NID....which I would tend to think it was....then we all know how much that is....less than $700 USD per month.

Leave it to the media to pounce on this first thing.

AG


This story is being reported from other sources;(UPI)
and it is USD vs NID still unconfirmed from Iraq Government sources.

http://interestalert.com/brand/siteia.shtml?Story=st/sn/04250002aaa03f7b.upi&Sys=siteia&Fid=WORLDNEW&Type=News&Filter=World

WASHINGTON, April 25 (UPI) -- Insider notes from United Press International for April 25 ...
Iraqi glasnost? The newly elected Iraqi parliament has signaled it would support a resolution revealing salaries of senior officials to the public. The rumor mill whispers that senior Iraqi officials receive massive salaries; President Jalal Talabani reportedly receives $1 million a month, while his deputies and Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari receive $500,000 per month. The motion before the parliament calls for all government officials including the president, prime minister and their deputies as well as other senior aides to declare the income before assuming office. The reports of the astronomical salaries have stunned Iraqis. A presidential source speaking strictly off the record insisted that Talabani's allocations were for "offices and other expenses" like travel and wages for employees. It is not clear when the parliament will pass the resolution, which will be its first since the elections in January. An Iraqi economist, also speaking off the record, said that if the reports were confirmed it would make the gap between minimum and highest wages in Iraq the largest in the world, observing, "If this is true, then the president's salary will be 10,000 times that of pensioners who earn $100 to $200 a month." Adding to public outrage, no Iraqi government official is known to be paying taxes.

Put into perspective;

President Bush recieves an annual salary of $400'000 USD
$33'333 month x 12 $400'000 year
Vice -President Cheney recieves a $200'000 annual salary

US senators,state reps, and congressman make $158-202 thousand annual salaries

So if the story is true;
Talabani recieves $33'000 day or $1'000'000 USD month!

An Iraqi that works as a bank teller makes the equivalent of $100 USD month or $5 USD daily,
or $1200 annual USD

Talabani would be making in one day what an iraqi would make in 27 years!!

For a country struggling with debt consolidation,reconstruction etc
I would think this would further outrage the Iraqi's,and sends the wrong message to the creditor countries being asked to wipe Iraq's debts,and those countries helping with reconstruction.

If this story turns out to be true,this is cause for great concern IMO(added civil unrest)
Those of you posting who have 'shrugged' and suggested that this is no big thing,are missing the big picture,and the consequences of such actions by
newly elected Government officials.

Jake

[dougmyers]

Saddam was getting in pay, and figure this pay check is a lot less!
Saddam took everything that was not nailed down for his pay!
Rooms full of cash found, truck loads of gold were found, cleaned out the CIB before Iraq fell! And the Iraqi people, had little to nothing for pay! :crying:

[BlueLake]

Saddam was getting in pay, and figure this pay check is a lot less!
Saddam took everything that was not nailed down for his pay!
Rooms full of cash found, truck loads of gold were found, cleaned out the CIB before Iraq fell! And the Iraqi people, had little to nothing for pay! :crying:
Bathrooms in gold even !

[BlueLake]

His Birthday Palace he used 3 days a year! Plus his sons palaces he was building on manmade hills and lakes.

[SOMF]

is that 1 MIL USD or NIDs? Did the reporter get the denomination right? If it is 1 MIL NID....which I would tend to think it was....then we all know how much that is....less than $700 USD per month.

Leave it to the media to pounce on this first thing.

AG

I think similar to Aunt Gwennie in that the denomination is in NID. The thought of $1 million USD/month seems very out lof line for a country trying to get on its feet.

[lordrazor1]

If it is NID, then it isn't much, especially if he doesn't own land. If he is renting, some areas for rent has gone up to $623.00 US, so if he is renting that comes to about 800,000 NID a month.....

[MEALTICKET]

Get a load of the Victorty. It some Victory after the creation I bet!!

[BRYAN]

Bathrooms in gold even !


gold Plated ...

[Dinaress]

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/050506/2005050604.html