Security is the paramount issue

[Jared]

I would have to say that Security is the paramount issue. If they cannot protect their exports, police, or government, then the rest is rather moot. The minister of finance has already reported that an estimated $1.2B in revenues has been lost due to the insurgents. Their police are being attacked daily and most goverment officials have a price tag on their head.

The Iraqi's are still moving forward, which is great! But they need to get a handle on security before they can really start looking at the future.

Jared :cool:

[fsm75]

I would have to say that Security is the paramount issue. If they cannot protect their exports, police, or government, then the rest is rather moot. The minister of finance has already reported that an estimated $1.2B in revenues has been lost due to the insurgents. Their police are being attacked daily and most goverment officials have a price tag on their head.

The Iraqi's are still moving forward, which is great! But they need to get a handle on security before they can really start looking at the future.

Jared :cool:
So Jared. What is your opinion on it. Can they do it?

[Bill in Dc]

one need only take a broad look at "ground truth" trends to see that the security situation is improving or, at a minimum, is poised to improve significantly ... multiple open sources indicate an increase in iraqi security force esprit de corps as well as general acceptance by the populace ... the transfer of soveriegnty appears to have imbued the security with stiffer resolve; they are now responsible for the defense of their country and are not directly dependent on the multi-national forces ... pm allawi is increasingly fostering the impression that he is a low and order type ... rumours are even circulating that he himself has personally executed insurgents ... i do not believe this to be the case, but i cannot discount the possibility that allawi has embarked on a sort of psyop campaign to promulgate and perpetuate such perceptions ... are we even close yet? ... no ... but the trend towards civil society appears to me to be unstoppable!

[Jerry]

"It is most important to first build a sound economic infrastructure and legal system."

As quality of life improves for the Iraqi people they will spend ten times more than what they are spending right now and appreciation of the Dinar will soar.

Steve Miller Band Fly Like An Eagle...

Amen. preach it brother!

[Jared]

Yes, I feel they can do it to an extent. Suicide bombers are tough to deal with, but the groups should be able to be sniffed out and exterminated. Once the people see that Security is starting to work for them, they will start working more with the security forces. This will all come in time, but they have to keep oil flowing as it is their main source of income at the moment. Other industries will flourish, but they have to lean on oil at the moment as their cash crop. I love reading reports that the people are starting to go after the insurgents! It's that Iraqi pride I have talked about. It all takes time....

Jared :cool:

[Marilyn]

Allawi seems to be a tough character and a respected leader. I understand he had a strong anti-Saddam following before the war. I'm glad Bremer got out of dodge and let him take the reins. He can lead the police and civil defense into the hot spots and kick butt in a way we can't. Not that we couldn't just eliminate the Zarqawi gang, but he can weed the bad apples out from the population, saving more innocent lives. We have the big guns and take out entire buildings. He has one or two guys (He developed thier own kind of CIA) that can sneak in and take out one or two bad guys quietly. Once they're done mopping up, life will be grand in Iraq. I can't wait to see the day when Iraqi's stroll through their beautiful new malls, like the Saudi's do, enjoying all the things the modern world can offer. Sports equipment (Hope the Olympic team picks up a medal), computers, cell phones, VIDEO GAMES (This will be big!), DVD, Music, etc, etc, etc.... :D

[AF Sergeant]

I'd have to agree with the concept that Iraq will take out the insurgents themselves. The average Iraqi complains about not enough power, but we never targeted the power stations. They complain about water, but we never targeted the water plants. The people who did target these things are the ones who want to destabilize the country for their own political gain. Fighters from many other countries have come to get their shot at the Americans. At the same time, they target Iraq's infrastructure and police. If they can create an atmosphere of hatred with no law enforcement around, they win. Allawi will clean the place up and restore order, most likely with a heavy hand. That's the only "hand" the insurgents understand regretfully.

[Josie303]

Just came across the wire. :happy64:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&ncid=2027&e=2&u=/chitribts/20040720/ts_chicagotrib/combativeleaderwinsiraqirespect

[Blake]

I tell ya, you gotta admire Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's courage and fearlessness. 1st, he's a "59-year-old neurologist and former exile with a thin rasp of a voice, a fondness for black suits and a slight limp from the night in 1978 when a crew sent by Hussein tried to kill him with an ax in London." (Josie's link)

Now, his response to Al-Queda terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's $280,000 bounty on Allawi's head.....

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1560439,00.html


Iraqi PM says Zarqawi is Mental
20/07/2004 17:34 - (SA)
Amman - Iraq's prime minister mocked a 200 000 Jordanian dinar (about R1.7m) bounty on his head on Tuesday, calling terror suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi mentally ill.

He brushed off the threat with a reminder he'd heard tough talk before from Iraq's ousted dictator.

A statement posted on Sunday on an Islamic website, signed by Khalid bin al Walid Brigade, which is believed to be close to al-Zarqawi, called Prime Minister Iyad Allawi an "American stooge" who would be assassinated, and offered the reward.

"Zarqawi's threats do not scare me, I was always subject to Saddam's regime threats as well as the other Iraqi leaders," Allawi said after meeting Arab ambassadors in Amman. "We are all ready to sacrifice our life for Iraq, so neither his position, nor his threat, scares us at all."

"Those people are mentally ill and do not belong to this nation," Allawi said of al-Zarqawi and his cohorts with a light laugh....

[Jared]

I do admire him, but he has a large task before him. Security is what is keeping investors out (as well as some banks). It will start to clear up, but it's going to take quite a while.

Jared :wave:

[Marilyn]

I knew he was a cowboy !

[Jerry]

Actually ....

The Terminator.... Hey maybe Governer Arnie can give him a few tips :p

[minigirl]

Actually ....

The Terminator.... Hey maybe Governer Arnie can give him a few tips :p

Iraqi PM says Zarqawi is a GIRLY MAN
20/07/2004 17:34 - (SA)
Amman - Iraq's prime minister mocked a 200 000 Jordanian dinar (about R1.7m) bounty on his head on Tuesday, calling terror suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi a little girl.

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

[Jared]

A minibus loaded with explosives hit an Iraqi police recruiting station killing 51 and injuring 40 today.

As I've stated, security is the key. If they can't secure their own security forces, how are they expected to secure the world bank and IMF staff? Granted, they are stopping other incidents, but abductions are still happening daily. I wanted to see the WB at the least come in this month, but that will not happen for a while I'm afraid.

Jared :wave:

[bert]

jared do you think they will try and reinstate there army,they will need one sooner or later.they need to do something differnt,it seems its getting worse than better.some days it seems, its going to be a long ugly ride,and iam just watching here from the us. i cant even think what it would be like to be living over there.when will they stop killing there own people???

[Bill in Dc]

i fear there will soon come a point where martial law is the only alternative ... yes, the macro trends look good but if history tells us anything its that periodically fringe elements can control a disproportianate amount of the capacity to make violence in a state (some, international theorists to name a few, define "the monopoly on violence" in a state as sovereignty ... and i'm paraphrasing (if anyone requires the actual definition it'll have to wait till tomorrow)) and do overthrow the "state" ... that's possible here and needs to be prevented ... i remain convinced that iraqis in general seek a pluralist, secular society: but they may have to fight for it ... if their not willing to fight for it, we may be up the proverbial creek without a source o' locomotion!

p.s. if i were a betting man ... i bought dinar didn't i? :drunk: ... i'd look for some sort of martial law to be declared after the interim assembly is seated (negotiations are currently ongoing to pick the 100 members that will comprise the assembly) ... why then? ... buy in: the assembly will--purportedly--be representative and empowered to veto the actions of the gov't ... however, if it allows martial law (for a defined amount of time hopefully), it'd be tough to argue that such an act was anathema to iraqi democracy! ... may be a bit of mirror imaging here so take the assessment for what its worth!

[BRYAN]

Iraqi PM says Zarqawi is a GIRLY MAN
20/07/2004 17:34 - (SA)
Amman - Iraq's prime minister mocked a 200 000 Jordanian dinar (about R1.7m) bounty on his head on Tuesday, calling terror suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi a little girl.

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:
They should send out wanted posters with him dressed in little school girls uniform :D

[Aunt Gwennie]

Just saw on the news that delegates will choose Interim Oversight Body in the next couple of days. I fear they need to bring some military force in to help guard this meeting....maybe not the US, but some other supporting ally group over there. The insurgents are doing everything they can do disrupt any type of rebuilding. The more caos....the more they are succeeding.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17751-2004Jul27.html

[Jared]

jared do you think they will try and reinstate there army,they will need one sooner or later.they need to do something differnt,it seems its getting worse than better.some days it seems, its going to be a long ugly ride,and iam just watching here from the us. i cant even think what it would be like to be living over there.when will they stop killing there own people???

The army is being rebuilt, but there was a bomber that hit one of their recruiting sites too. It would help if the neighboring countries would try to do something other than offering amnesty. The army needs time to rebuild. It is getting stronger but it is so small right now that they can't effectively stop the insurgents.

Jared :wave:

[bert]

saudi said it will try to get a group together of other countrys to help iraq.this was told to powell yesterday.found on google news .this could be mayor if it happens!!!!!

[Jared]

Powell mentioned Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, and Pakistan as being willing to create a muslim force. However, this force must have absolute resolve in what they are doing. I know Pakistan would do that, but I am unsure of the others. They cannot bend to terrorist demands. There was mention in that article that if the force came in, the US would start an early withdrawl once security was smoothed out. I'm not big on the idea of that article stating that they wanted no UN leaders or anything from the UN. I think the UN needs to be in the mix somewhere.....

Jared :wave:

[Jared]

This just in:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/98267/1/.html

Jared

[RogerL]

This is just more evidence, as if we needed more, that Zarqawi isn't interested in fighting against the "occupation" on behalf of Iraqis. He's interested in maintaining as much chaos as possible so he doesn't lose his base for terrorist operations. This should be a wakeup call for those Iraqis who still believe they'll be safer if multinational troops withdraw before the terrorists are destroyed.

I wonder how Al Jazeera would portray an attack on a Muslim international force?

[Jared]

I don't think he wants it to come to that. He's posturing now, but if he attacks muslims he will lose what support he has. I sure wish someone would get him soon.

Jared

[kvb]

Looks like there's some positive things happening in Iraq. Also seems they have a good outlook of things even though they want all foreign troops out of Iraq in six months....

http://electroniciraq.net/news/1588.shtml

[fsm75]

Looks like there's some positive things happening in Iraq. Also seems they have a good outlook of things even though they want all foreign troops out of Iraq in six months....

http://electroniciraq.net/news/1588.shtml
I think the 6 month goal is unrealistic. Their police and security forces will not be ready.