Iraqi Dinar Info

My last post?

2007-01-27T00:07:00.000-08:00

Dear reader,

As some of you know by now I stopped updating this blog.

I did not get feedback whatsoever so I do not even know my updates are apprieciated or not so I decided to spend my time on other things I am involved in.

For those of you that where interested I am sorry for this!

Regards Marcel

Latest internet findings on Iraqi Dinar

2006-11-05T00:12:00.000-08:00

There was a lot of publishing on the dinar and Iraq lately. I skimmed through all and found these the most interesting for you all:

More and more conservative commentators are turning against Iraq, that the US should leave. Read here why they are wrong in the eyes of Jeffrey T. Kuhner, contributor of the Washington Times.

Good news from Tokyo, vital reconstruction loans to Iraq!

More help from US, the European Union and Saudi Arabia.

Doubling oil exports by 2010 as 'conservative' aim, according to Iraq´s Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih.

Article about the exchange rate of the Iraqi Dinar against the US Dollar.

Nice overview of Blogs from Iraqi´s, gives you some insight of life in Iraq.

Soldier leaves coin with school pen pals, just nice to read!

Economics in Iraq not as bad as it seems, just overshadowed by the violance.

That´s it for now. Have a great week ahead!

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar

This weeks news and articles on Iraq and the Dinar

2006-10-21T03:34:00.000-07:00

Dear reader,

Here are some links to articles and news about Iraq and the Iraqi dinar that might interest you:

- I found a nice article by Mark Brunswick from the Star Tribune who spend six weeks in Iraq. Just about everyday life in Bagdad, not much to do with the dinar, but nice to get some insight how living there would be.

- Not a very nice development is that militias are splintering into radicalized cells. More violent and ruthless then we saw till this day. It seems like the more the troops are trying to stop it, the worse it gets.

- More on the violance in Iraq by Jeffrey White and Loring White.

- Interview with Dr. Abdul Rahman Yones, Kurdistan Regional Government Minister for Health. About the goals and problems in this sector.

That's all for now.

Regards Marcel

P.S. When you stumble upon a nice article or news about Iraq or the dinar please email me at support @ iraqi-dinar-opportunity.com so I can publish them here for everybody to read!

Nothing going on in Iraq?

2006-10-10T04:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a nice article about getting Iraq back on track!

http://www.edinarfinancial.net/news/?quer=&nm=&ny=&nn=388

Regards Marcel
Iraqi Dinar

Nice article about Iraq's oil

2006-09-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/9865/1/340

Regards Marcel

Latest news and articles about Iraq and the Iraqi dinar

2006-09-17T02:07:00.000-07:00

Dear reader,

Here are this weeks interesting articles and news about Iraq and the dinar:

- The Unique Situation of the Iraqi Dinar
About why the Iraqi dinar is positioned for a huge rise in value. Very interesting!

- Iraqi dinar between the illusion of zeros and the game of economy
Some more explaination about the 3 zero's probably not going to happen.

- Jordan expected to sign free trade agreement with Iraq
Things are happening more and more for Iraq, this is an example of that!

- Iraq Oil Minister To Visit Australia Next Week
Iraqi President Travels to Colorado
Again, Iraq is on the move!

- Dinar Quagmire
Of course not everybody is positive about the Iraqi dinar and I do not want to withhold.

- Two billion iraqi dinar Compensations for Shorja Fires and Robbed Banks
About insurance and it's importance for Iraq.

- Iraq Central Bank: Reserves enough to support Iraqi dinar
The dinar is still in compliance with the International Monetary Fund!

That all for now, have a great week!

Regards Marcel
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity

Latest Articles about the Dinar and the Violence in Iraq

2006-08-17T06:07:00.000-07:00

"I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I’ve seen it in Baghdad in particular, and that if not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could move toward civil war," said General John Abizaid.

But the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Peter Pace says although civil war is possible, it's not expected."

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/iraq/060816a.aspx

"Corruption is endemic, its state-owned industries inefficient and while there is plenty of money around, it has done little to help ordinary Iraqis."

"If these other (security) actions are able to gain some traction, the attention could shift to the economy and if we had not been laying the groundwork, then very quickly it could become the focus of blame for why things were not going well," said Jeremiah Pam, U.S. Treasury Attaché to Iraq.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BUL523890.htm

"The exchange rate remains stable and reserves continue to grow in Iraq, according to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) August 2006 report. "

PortalIraqNews

Regards Marcel

Latest news on Iraq and the Dinar

2006-08-05T00:44:00.000-07:00

Let me begin with the bad news. I guess we have all seen the talks about Iraq heading into a civil war if the vilolance continuous to rise in Iraq. Of course there were signs for that earlier, but never outspoken so directly by some top US leaders and generals.

This is something we all hope will not happen! Not for the people in Iraq, not for the Iraqi dinar, not for the soldiers stationed there and most certainly not for the future of Iraq.

There was also some good news this week.

Most articles I could find on the 3 zero's lobbing where negative. I think this is taken of the agenda now. I believe the dinar will stay the same.

Another positive thing this week is that in all chaos at least Iraq's central bank offers some stability!

That's it for now, please post a comment if you have thoughts, news or whatever you would like to share about Iraq and the Iraqi dinar.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema

Local Investors and Civil Affairs Help to Boost Economy in Iraq

2006-07-21T03:38:00.000-07:00

Blackanthem Military News, TIKRIT, Iraq, July 20, 2006

"Iraqi private investors are seeing a future in their own country’s economic growth and are jumping in to help the economy in multiple ways.The Iraqis are financing a unique business in the Salah Ah Din province, a water and soft drink bottling company. This new company is getting most of its financing from the Al Jaborah Company with the additional financing coming from local business men."
________________________

These are the things that really matter for rebuilding Iraq in my opinion. As the Iraqi's themselves gain confidence and start to invest it will be also very good for the rate of the Iraqi dinar!

Regards Marcel

PS: I like comments, why don't you? These are 'only' my own opinions and I am curious for yours!

More on the Iraqi dinar zero lop

2006-07-13T05:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.dinar-into-dollars.com/zero_lop_analysis.html

http://www.dinar-into-dollars.com/dinar_currency_peg.html

Good to read!

Regards Marcel

Clarifying article about removing three zero's of the Iraqi dinar

2006-07-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

"According to the statements of Bayan Jabr Al-Zubeidi, the Iraqi Minister of Finance on June 26, 2006, to 'Al-Sabah' newspaper, published in Baghdad, the government intends to remove three zeroes of the dinar to make it equivalent to the dollar. Thus, we may conclude that the planned process will be nothing but currency exchange, which neither revaluates nor devaluates the dinar"

"It is well known that the Iraqi dinar is a local, not a global, currency. It will remain the same both in the foreseeable and distant future. The country's import capacity, the consumption levels, and the welfare of the Iraqi individual, all depend on the circumstances of oil exports and the policies and methods of handling them"

"In brief, the value of the dinar against the dollar differs in several aspects from its value against global currencies. This is just a formal issue of no use, and that is not to be celebrated"

Click here to read this article, very informational and clarifying!

Regards Marcel

For US residents: Iraqi Dinar Exchange Direct Now Open

2006-07-08T03:14:00.000-07:00

Iraqi Dinar Exchange Direct is now open to exchange Iraqi Dinar for dollars, posting the current official exchange rate for Iraqi Dinar, and offers news and information about the Iraqi Dinar Exchange updated daily.

Delano, MN (PRWEB) July 7, 2006 -- Iraqi Dinar Exchange Direct is now open. Iraqi Dinar Exchange Direct is now open to exchange Iraqi Dinar for Dollars. They also post the current Current Official Exchange Rate for Iraqi Dinar there daily. They have news and infomation about the Iraqi Dinar Exchange Rate also updated daily.

Iraqi Dinar Exchange Direct currency service is designed to give any investor in the Iraqi currency a way to collect their profits, if the value of the Iraqi money rises before Iraq opens the Dinar for international exchange. This is a service to Residents of the US to exchange their Dinar for US Dollars. They will also find the most current information on the dinar currency exchange rate and news about the Iraqi Dinar updated daily.

Lately there have been many rumors and speculation about Iraq zero lopping the Dinar and some Dinar currency investors are concerned that Iraq might change the Dinar. Iraqi Dinar Exchange offers a service that will enable Dinar investors to convert their currency to the new version so they are not left holding old Iraq currency. This fits Iraqi Dinar Exchange's mission to help investors in the New Iraqi Dinar realize profits and secure their investment in the face of changes and uncertainty.

Iraqi Dinar Value should be Raised, Baker Jaber AL Zubaidi:

2006-07-01T01:12:00.000-07:00

"A statement by B.J. AL Zubaidi, the Minister of Finance, in which he said that he had suggested to the Chairman of the Central Bank, Dr. Sinan AL Shibibi, that three zeros be taken from the Iraqi Dinar in order to raise its value so that one Dinar be equal to a Dollar"

Click on the blogtitle for the complete update from www.edinarfinancial.net

Regards Marcel

New Iraq/ Iraqi Dinar Articles

2006-06-24T02:14:00.000-07:00

Positive measures show this war is no Vietnam

"Taheri has used a number of social and economic indicators to measure that country's condition. Recently, "...all have been pointing in an unequivocally positive direction"

"Value of the Iraqi dinar. After 1995, the Iraqi dinar was not even traded in Iran and Kuwait. The new Iraqi dinar is treated as sound currency by these countries. Since its introduction in 2004, it has risen 23 percent against the Iranian rial and 17 percent against the Kuwaiti dinar"

"From 2003 to 2004, Iraq's gross domestic product more than doubled, studies by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and others show. From 2002 to 2004, inflation shrank from 70 percent to 25.4 percent; unemployment from 60 percent to 30 percent"

See also: Winning the war

3rd Brigade's role during war in Iraq celebrated

"Salazar consistently praised his brigade's accomplishments, not only in the field of combat, but in development and reconstruction projects as well as its involvement in government and economics"

"Initiated a banking and economic development program that strengthened the Iraqi dinar, took U.S. dollars out of circulation, reduced unemployment and began to revive the the economy"

Have a great weekend,

Marcel

Good news for the Iraqi Dinar!

2006-06-19T01:57:00.000-07:00

Iraqi ministry of oil announces hike in fuel prices

"Iraq's Oil Ministry announced Sunday an increase in gas and fuel prices for the second time in six months in line with Iraq's commitment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)."

Read the rest here.

This is again one step forward to be accepted by the IMF!

Regards Marcel

New articles about Iraq/ Iraqi Dinar

2006-06-14T04:18:00.000-07:00

Like I said here before, there's more then just the news in the media. Click on the title to read.

Regards Marcel

Before making determinations about the conflict in Iraq, people should do more than just skim the headlines

"Forget about media bias. Natural human tendencies and the fast-paced world in which we live dictate that bad news will be covered first"

"These are the types of things that I think are necessary for an informed citizen to read to get the whole picture from Iraq"

"Amir Taheri, an Iranian journalist who writes from Europe, wrote an extensive article on what he considered to be four important factors to watch in Iraq, all of which "have been pointing in an unequivocally positive direction": the number of refugees returning to Iraq; the number of religious tourists coming to Iraq yearly; the value of the Iraqi dinar; and the activity of small and mid-level businesses in Iraq"

Written Testimony of James R. Kunder Assistant Administrator for Asia and the Near East

2006-06-08T23:45:00.000-07:00

"I welcome the opportunity to testify on behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Today, I would like to describe to the committee USAID's contributions to the President's National Strategy for Victory in Iraq, as well as USAID's perspective on the work of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) and the USAID Inspector General."

"he remarked on the courage, skill and dedication of the Iraqis who, themselves, are actively involved in the reconstruction process"

"Third, on the economic front, USAID worked with the Treasury Department to provide assistance to the Central Bank of Iraq that helped stabilize the dinar, prevented hyperinflation, and enabled Iraq to qualify for International Monetary Fund (IMF) lending and Paris Club debt rescheduling"

"USAID is focused on providing a better future for Iraq and is investing in this future by focusing on the country's children and youth"

"with Congress' continued support, USAID will be able to make further strides in helping to achieve success in Iraq"

Read the complete testimony here.

As you can read things are getting better. The only thing you hear and see on the news are the bombings and how many are killed today in Iraq. Maybe most media companies think that is all we like to hear instead of bringing some positive news every now and then.

Regards Marcel

Iraq Weekly Status Report

2006-06-07T05:54:00.000-07:00

Read the latest report on the status of Iraq from 05/31/2006.

I have also added the index page of the reports in the menu on the right side for future reference.

Regards Marcel

More positiveness about Iraq/ Iraqi Dinar!

2006-05-30T05:04:00.000-07:00

I found two more positive articles/ news on Iraq and the Iraqi dinar (click on the titles to read it all):

1) Trends You Don't Hear About

"The economy. GDP doubled from 2003 to 2004, and was up double digits in 2005"

"Now, for the first time in half a century, Iraq is exporting food. Agriculture has come back big time"

"Currency Exchange Rates. The Iraqi currency (the dinar) trades in a narrow range", "But the dinar floats against other local currencies (like the Kuwaiti dinar and the Iranian rial)"

2) Iranian Foreign Minister Meets With Iraqi Leaders in Baghdad

"Now both the United States and Iran have an enormous stake in Iraq's stability and have considerable influence on Baghdad's politics. The U.S.-led invasion, which helped empower long-oppressed Iraqi Shiites and Kurds, has allowed the Islamic Republic to gain unprecedented sway by working through allies in the two communities. Although the Americans and Iranians disagreed on the Nuclear issue, one thing they do agree on is a stable Iraq."

Iraq and the Iraqi Dinar from a more positive point of view!

2006-05-27T01:22:00.000-07:00

This is really nice to read, here are some excerpts:

"Since the fall of Saddam's regime, more than 1.2 million Iraqi refugees have returned home"

"In 1995, the Iraqi dinar stopped being traded in Iran and Kuwait. Inflation was 70 percent in 2002. Now inflation is 25.4 percent"

"The World Bank estimates that as much as 81 percent of Iraqis have access to clean water. Electrical output is 25 percent above pre-war levels"

"Only four out of Iraq's 18 provinces bear 85 percent of the country's violence"

To read it all, click here.

Larry King interviews Secretary Rumsfeld here.

Make a great weekend!

Marcel

Blogpost on Iraqi Currency

2006-05-25T23:26:00.000-07:00

Iraqi Currency
by Juan Cole

"My comment that I thought Amir Taheri was wrong to praise the stability of the Iraqi dinar, because the dinar is a managed currency and does not float freely, brought a rebuke from someone more knowledgeable about currency issues than I. Collier Lounsbury maintained that the stability was genuine and owing in some part to Iraq's petroleum. (Exporting a pricey primary commodity does wonders to harden your currency). Now I have another reaction from someone who knows something serious about financial matters. Me, I know about ayatollahs. So I'm posting this interesting response for those to whom it may mean something. And also because it supports my deep-seated suspicion that the argument for "good news" on the Iraqi currency front is problematic."

Read the complete article here.

Regards Marcel

Good reading on Iraqi Dinar

2006-05-23T04:56:00.000-07:00

"the Iraqi currency has appreciated (it's dinar time)"

"The 77 percent “think that ousting Saddam Hussein was worth it"

"In addition, it suggests that things in Iraq are much better than they seem"

Read the complete article:

http://www.claremont.org/weblog/004972.html

Also the 2 links in this artilcle lead to interesting articles about Iraq and the Iraqi Dinar.

Regards Marcel

This would be great for the Iraqi Dinar!

2006-05-18T12:38:00.000-07:00

Nice article this. ALL Iraqi's should read and act on this!

Also as I said in the tiltle: Wouldn't be bad for our Dinars too.

Regards Marcel ;-)

Iraqi Insurgents In Secret Talks; Admit May Be Fighting Wrong Enemy
by Tom Attea

Iraqi insurgent groups, in secret talks with resourcefully pacifying President Jalal Talabani, admitted they may have been fighting the wrong enemy. Upon hearing the admission, President Talibani slapped his forehead so hard he fell over backwards and was unconscious for approximately three days.

Upon being resuscitated, he continued the talks. Apparently, the insurgents, most of whom are Sunni Muslims, have slowly begun to realize that American and coalition troops, who they have been making their best efforts to kill, may not be the real enemy. It seems they are also growing disenchanted with the practice of blowing up a dozen or so of their fellow countrymen every day.

While it is far too soon to expect them to realize that coalition troops are actually the helpful heroes who liberated their country from murderous despotism and will be delighted to depart their sandy realm as soon as they can get their act together and run their own country, the groups have indicated a marginal willingness to consider giving up their various armaments and roadside explosives.

Behind the change in their sentiment seems to be, not only their longtime-overdue displeasure with dismembering their own nation, but the realization that they are dangerously bordered by their traditional enemy, Iran, as they have been for quite a few thousand years, and that, because of the continuing discord, Iran has managed to increase its influence in the country, particularly among their uneasy Mosque fellows, the Shiite contingent of the legions of Mohammed. This perception is especially upsetting to the insurgents, because, as noted above, most of them are rival Sunni "Mosque-ovites."

Their infuriatingly slow realization of the error of their ways is likely to elicit hardly more than ironic displeasure from the many families, coalition and Iraqi alike, who have lost loved ones during their misguided rampage.

But at least their willingness to talk and to consider mending their detonative ways is a glimmer of hope for the families whose sons and daughters are still in Iraq, attempting to do the right thing by the Iraqi people, Sunni and Shiite alike.

May the day soon come when enough of the knuckleheads realize the error of their war so we and the other nations that are in the hot sands we've gotten ourselves into can finally get our much underappreciated troops the heck out of there.

About the Author: Tom Attea, creator of NewsLaugh.com, has had six shows produced Off-Broadway and has written comedy for TV. Critics have called his writing ""delightfully funny" and "witty" with "good, genuine laughs."

Iraq Weekly Status Report

2006-05-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

This is a pdf, go here when you cannot open the site:

Weekly Status Report

Make a great week!

Marcel

Latest news on Iraq

2006-05-05T04:26:00.000-07:00

This is a good linkpage for the latest news on Iraq and the Iraqi dinar. Bookmark it for future reference.

Latest News on Iraq

Regards Marcel

Nice Iraqi dinar article

2006-05-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

You can find a lot of positive articles about the Iraqi dinar, but there are of course negative ones to be found also.

This is an older one you may have seen before, still nice to read.

Also because you can read it with in mind what you know on how it is in Iraq today!

http://www.cato.org/research/articles/hanke-031107.html

Regards Marcel

Iraqi Dinar Articles, good to read!

2006-04-10T03:57:00.000-07:00

Here are some links to nice Iraqi Dinar Articles for you to check out:

Iraq in Perspective

Iraq takes another step toward conquering debt

Lots of good news on Iraq

Iraq Weekly Status report

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Resources

Iraqi Dinar News: About Iraq's economic growth

2006-03-18T02:10:00.000-08:00

Interesting article, click the link below to read.

Iraqi Dinar News

Regards Marcel

Sorry for no Iraqi Dinar updates

2006-03-15T03:35:00.000-08:00

Dear all,

I am truely sorry for not updating you these past weeks!

I was visiting my sister on Curacao (also holiday of course) and the internet connection was even worse then I thought so it was too hard for me to stay in touch with you.

Now I am back and will continue the support you normally can expect from me.

I am going through all my emails now so when you had a question it will be answered today or at latest tomorrow.

Also I will hunt down some Iraqi Dinar news again to be posted here as soon as possible.

Regards,

(tanned:-) Marcel
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity
Iraqi Dinar Resources

Iraqi Dinar in the News: Article on USAToday

2006-01-31T08:38:00.000-08:00

Nice article to read!

http://www.usatoday.com/money/world/2006-01-18-iraq-usat_x.htm

Regards Marcel

Iraqi Dinar Opportunity
Iraqi Dinar Resources

See a More Positive Perspective on the Situation in Iraq Today

2005-12-22T04:30:00.000-08:00

BookSurge proudly announces the publication of the
"Enigma of Iraq" by James Mayfield.

Salt Lake City, Utah (PRWEB) November 5, 2005 -- BookSurge announces the publication of "The Enigma of Iraq," by James Mayfield.

Why are Americans bombarded with images of non-stop violence, when upwards of 80% of the country—including local governments, schools, hospitals and markets, water and electricity, sewage and roads, etc. are functioning? Why is the media using scare tactics to sway public opinion? According to Middle East expert James Mayfield, we can answer these questions only by redirecting the focus away from the violence and toward the quotidian, the daily living of Iraqi citizens, over 60% of whom voted in an election fraught with violence and fear.

James Mayfield, former Director of Local Government Development in South Central Iraq, is deeply concerned about the validity of news dispensed to the American public. Only by receiving valid news can we fully understand Iraq.

In "The Enigma of Iraq," the author presents a comprehensive overview of the diverse groups that constitute this volatile nation. Who are the Shi'a and the Kurds? How do the Sunni and the small minority of Christians coexist?

In order to further clarify the situation, Mayfield focuses on four primary questions:1. Can we justify our presence in Iraq?2. What have we accomplished?3. What do the terrorists hope to accomplish?4. Will our presence make democracy possible?

The "Enigma of Iraq" not only sheds light on these debates, but puts forth solid arguments from the principal participants. For anyone interested in a more positive perspective about Iraq, this book is a must-read.

About the Author:James Mayfield dedicated forty years of his career as a consultant and professor in the Middle East. An expert on rural village development, this Professor Emeritus in Political Science and Middle East Studies now works as a consultant for the USAID in Jordan and Egypt, where he works on Local Government Reform, with a focus on good governance and democratization.

For more information or for a free review copy, please contact Melissa Bolton at 843-579-0000 ext 164. Books are available to order at Booksurge.com, Amazon.com, Alibris.com and Abebooks.com.
____________________________________

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar
Iraqi Dinar Search

Accession working parties established for Afghanistan, Iraq

2005-12-17T04:34:00.000-08:00

GENERAL COUNCIL 13 DECEMBER 2004

The General Council, on 13 December 2004, established working parties to examine, respectively, the membership applications of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Afghanistan was invited to attend meetings of the General Council, and as appropriate, meetings of other WTO bodies as an observer.

Ambassador Assad Omer, Permanent Representative of Afghanistan, in thanking members, said that after two decades of conflict, his government has significantly improved the economic climate.

“The peaceful completion of our first direct presidential elections ... has heralded a new era of political stability”, he said.

Ambassador Omer said that his country hoped to re-establish itself as the land bridge for trans-continental trade.

“We believe that participation in the international trading system will lead to more trade, investment, technology transfer, employment and income growth throughout the economy”, he said.

Iraq was invited to continue attending meetings of the General Council and, as appropriate, meetings of other WTO bodies as an observer.

Trade Minister Mohammed Mustafa Al-Jibouri said his country viewed the decision as “yet another contribution on the part of the WTO to Iraq's efforts to reform its economy”.

He said that since the General Council's decision last February to grant observer status to Iraq, his government has started accession preparations in earnest, including the drafting of its Foreign Trade Regime Memorandum and the creation of a National Committee for WTO Accession.

“The new Iraq looks with great optimism at achieving political stability, economic prosperity and social development ... we believe that our reintegration into the world trading system is an essential element to fulfil those aims,” he said.

Regarding another membership request, that from Iran, the Chairman, Ambassador Shotaro Oshima of Japan, reported on his recent consultations. He said that although it was clear that a large part of the membership continued to be supportive of an early and positive action on this request, there was still no consensus at that stage to accept the request and to set up a working party for this purpose.

contact us : World Trade Organization, rue de Lausanne 154, CH-1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland

This article is taken from the WTO Website

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar

Reconstruction of Iraq without Asset Stripping

2005-12-12T05:18:00.000-08:00

Reconstruction of Iraq's Economy without resorting to mass Privatization Asset Stripping. Sterling-Bond, UK escrow company propose issuing an Iraqi Oil Bond to raise funds for reconstruction of the Iraqi nation.

Sterling-Bond, a private UK-based escrow services company has made a radical proposal to the debate on how best to pay for and undertake the reconstruction of the post-war Iraq economy and national infrastructure. At its heart is the suggestion of issuing an Oil Bond to pre-sell a portion of the nation's oil reserves and pay for the rebuilding of the country's infrastructure, its oil industry and much else.

The company believe that this solution offers an more effective means of fund-raising from the international finance community rather than what may turn out to be a "fire sale" of Iraq's national assets by the Allied powers of Britain and American in co-operation with the interim Iraqi government.

The problem with privatization is that any assets sold now would be grossly undervalued and this would be deemed in the eyes of the world to be highly offensive to the Iraqi people. However, an Oil Bond, if managed well, could raise substantial funding for the next ten year's worth of reconstruction while the nation recovers and becomes healthy enough to decide its own fate.

As such Bond issues are common in the financial community the capacity for raising thousands of millions of pounds for the country's reconstruction is available immediately. Such funds need only then be managed effectively to ensure a "best spend" strategy for the benefit of the country without further draining the resources of either Britain or America.

Further information can be found at the company's web site: www.sterling-bond.com

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar
Dinar Resources

The Iraqi dinar in a nutshell

2005-12-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

The Iraqi dinar (pronounced: di-'när) is the legal currency of Iraq.

Old Iraqi dinar

The Iraqi dinar was introduced into circulation in 1931 and was at par with the Pound sterling. The Iraqi dinar replaced the Indian rupee that was the official currency at the time of the British occupation in World War I. After the 1958 coup d'etat, the Iraqi dinar was dissociated from the Pound sterling, but continued to have a very high value.
After the Gulf War in 1991 and due to the economic blockade and unrestricted printing of banknotes by the government, the dinar devalued fast, and in late 1995, $1 equaled 3000 dinars.

Banknotes issued between 1990 and October 2003, along with a 25-dinar note issued in 1986, bear an idealized engraving of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Following the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq's currency was printed using poor grade wood pulp paper (rather than cotton or linen) and inferior quality lithography.

Counterfeited banknotes often appeared to be of better quality than real notes. Despite the collapse in the value of the Iraqi dinar, the highest denomination printed until 2002 was 250 dinars.

Currency printed before the Gulf War was often called the Swiss dinar. It got its name from the Swiss printing technology that produced banknotes of a considerably higher quality than those later produced under the economic sanctions that were imposed after the first Gulf War. After a changeover period, the Iraqi government disendorsed this currency. However, this old currency still circulated in the Kurdish regions of Iraq until it was replaced with the new dinar after the second Gulf War.

New Iraqi dinar

Between October 15, 2003 and January 15, 2004, the Coalition Provisional Authority issued the new Iraqi dinar to "create a single unified currency that is used throughout all of Iraq.
The Hampshire-based Company "De La Rue" printed the New Iraqi dinars, also known as the "Post - Saddam" dinars, in England, in six denominations: 50, 250, 1000, 5000, 10,000 and 25,000 Dinars.

In November of 2004 the new 500-dinar note was issued by the Central Bank of Iraq to facilitate market transactions. The banknotes are beautiful and of "Swiss" quality with many security features rendering them very hard to counterfeit, features include, watermarks, metallic inks, security thread, ultraviolet images and raised lettering.

Value of the new dinar

Iraq has the second largest oil reserves in the Middle East and the largest reserves of natural gas. The new Iraq will be able to take full advantage of exporting these resources with sanctions no longer in place.

As Iraq is welcomed back into the International Community the value of the New Iraqi Dinar should rise. How high? That is what you speculate on when buying Iraqi Dinars! (And nobody dares to predict!)

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Resources

Will the Iraqi Dinar rise now that the constitution is approved?

2005-11-29T08:40:00.000-08:00

The current constitution of Iraq was approved by an October 15, 2005 ratification vote. The proposed constitution was drafted in 2005 by members of the Interim Iraqi Government to replace the Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period, which had been put in force by the Coalition Provisional Authority after the Iraq War and occupation of Iraq by the United States and Coalition forces.

The drafting and adoption of the new constitution was not without controversy, however, as sectarian tensions in Iraq figured heavily in the process. The deadline for the conclusion of drafting was extended on four occasions because of the lack of consensus on religious language. In the end, only three of the 15 Sunni members of the drafting committee attended the signing ceremony, and none of them signed it. Sunni leaders were generally urging the electorate to reject the constitution in the 15 October referendum, but were overwhelmingly rejected by the voters.

The text of the proposed constitution was read to the National Assembly on Sunday, 28 August 2005. It describes the state as a "democratic, federal, representative republic" and a "multiethnic, multi-religious and multi-sect country".

Excerpts From The Preamble

We the sons of Mesopotamia, the creators of the alphabet, and the cradle of arithmetic: went by the millions for the first time in our history to the ballot box, men and women, young and old, on January 30, 2005, remembering the pains of the despotic band's sectarian oppression of the majority; inspired by the suffering of Iraq's martyrs - Sunni and Shiite, Arab, Kurd and Turkomen so we can create a new Iraq of the future, without sectarianism, racial strife, regionalism, discrimination or isolation.

Some References To Monetary Concerns From The Body Of The Constitution

The Arabic language and Kurdish languages are the two official languages of Iraq. The use of both languages is officially endorsed in any setting enjoined by the principle of equality such as bank notes, passports and stamps.
The Central Bank of Iraq is a financially and administratively independent institution and is responsible before the Council of Representatives.
The federal government shall have exclusive authorities in the issuing of currency, formulating monetary policy, and establishing and administering a central bank.

Now, will the Iraqi Dinar rise?

This currency has already gained 25% the past half year. The more stable Iraq gets the more the dinar will rise in my opinion. This is only one of the many steps Iraq has to make but for exceptance by the world bank a big one.

Still keep in mind that investing in Iraqi Dinars should be on the most risky side of your investment portfolio.

Marcel Heersema is a full-time online investor who is always looking for the best money making opportunities on the net. For more information go to: Iraqi Dinar Resources

This article may be reprinted only if the resource box is left intact.

Investing in Foreign Currency Increases Iraq's Future Prosperity

2005-11-25T04:30:00.000-08:00

Buying the new Iraqi Dinar earns profits by investing in the future of Iraq. Purchasing this foreign currency also supports American troops and helps Iraqi children.

Delano, MN (PRWEB via PressReleaseHelp) July 27, 2005 -- Ask anyone if they could envision themselves investing in foreign currency, especially the Iraqi Dinar, and they would probably look at you as if you'd asked whether they'll ever travel to Pluto some day. Yet a new program from http://www.why-buy-dinar.com/ enables the average person to buy Iraqi currency, boost Iraq's prosperity, support American troops in Iraq and also help their own future prosperity in the bargain.

How does buying the Iraqi Dinar help Iraq? Iraq's new currency came out in October 2003. People buying this form of foreign currency with U.S. dollars have helped the Iraqi Dinar more than double in value since then.

“This means that people who get paid in Dinar, like Iraqi government workers, police, and security forces, can afford to buy more things they need and enjoy being a lawful part of their new society,” says Matthew Yonan, founder of Why Buy Dinar (why-buy-dinar.com), a federally registered foreign currency dealer. “Prosperity in the new Iraqi democracy helps to promote liberty and erodes support for the terrorist insurgency."

To enable average Americans to support the troops, promote prosperity in Iraq, help Iraqi children and increase their own future prosperity at the same time, Why Buy Dinar developed an attractive card that contains a 1,000 Iraqi Dinar note. Whether people decide to buy the card for themselves or give it to others as a gift, 50% of the profits go directly to Operation Iraqi Children. Operation Iraqi Children provides school supplies, blankets and shoes to the troops to hand out to Iraqi kids. It was founded by actor Gary Sinese and author Laura Hillenbrand in March 2004.

“Eventually the holders of this 1,000 Dinar note pack will benefit as Iraq regains its oil production and economy. Those who help out by buying the Dinar today will profit at that time,” Yonan says.

Each colorful card pack, including the 1,000 Iraqi Dinar note, normally sells for just $10 (including shipping). For a limited time they are having a special and they sell for $5. The card includes an explanation of historical background, why someone would want to have the Iraqi Dinar, how the Dinar will become more valuable in the future, and where Dinar will be able to be exchanged for other types of foreign currency. For images of the cards, how to order, or further information, please visit http://www.help-support-our-troops.com/ or http://www.help-iraqi-children.com.

Contact: Matthew Yonan Why Buy Dinar6020 Farmington Ave SEDelano, MN 55328.(612) 805-6598
________________________________

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar

Investing in New Iraqi Dinar? Online Price Comparison Highlights Lowest Price Dinar Dealer

2005-11-24T05:42:00.000-08:00

Price Comparison among 5 major New Iraqi Dinar dealers online find Why Buy Dinar has the lowest prices.

Delano, MN (PRWEB) August 10, 2005 -- Anyone investing in the New Iraqi Dinar wants to do so with an established and registered currency dealer. They want great service and a Dinar dealer who will stand behind the authenticity of their product with more than just their word. Smart investors also want to invest in the New Iraqi Dinar at the lowest prices.

We researched 5 of the primary New Iraqi Dinar dealers online and compared their prices. Consistently, Why Buy Dinar offered the lowest prices on New Uncirculated Iraqi Dinar notes among the New Iraqi Dinar dealers compared.

Why Buy Dinar was the only dealer that offered a triple-your-money-back guarantee that the Dinar they sell is Authentic New Iraqi Dinar.

To see the full price comparison, please visit http://www.why-buy-dinar.com/price_comparison.html

Why is buying the New Iraqi Dinar such a great investment? The Iraqi Dinar has long been a strong currency. Right now it is at a historically low rate. It is a similiar situation to what happened in Japan and Germany after World War II. Their economies were rebuilding so you could buy up their currency very cheaply. Once their economies got back on track, anyone who had taken advantage of that opportunity became extremely wealthy. The US Government has invested over 200 Billion Dollars in the future of Iraq so far. They have committed another 18 Billion Dollars in Reconstruction Aid. That is more than $2000 per US Household. Are you in a position to directly profit from that investment? You are if you buy New Iraqi Dinars.

To learn more about the opportunity the New Iraqi Dinars offer, please visit http://www.why-buy-dinar.com

Contact: Matthew Yonan, Why Buy Dinar,6020 Farmington Ave SE,Delano, MN 55328.(612) 805-6598

Buy Iraqi Dinar: 5 Critical Signs You Should Know

2005-11-23T04:37:00.000-08:00

by Catalin Ionescu

At first glance, buying Iraqi dinars online looks easy. Almost too easy. There are a lot of dealers trying to sell them nowadays. So all you have to do is pick one. Right?

Wrong! As with any "hot" merchandise, scams are common and you should know how to spot them, well before you hand out your hard earned money.

Here are 5 critical signs that you should know before buying Iraqi dinars online.

Does the dealers' website look credible enough?

A couple pages thrown together, with nothing else than a bit or two of text often copied from other web sites are often not a good sign. Take your time. Look at a couple other sellers. Compare them. If something looks fishy, it probably is. Don't rush and buy Iraqi dinars from the first online dealer you happen to come across.

Are any testimonials, preferably not on the seller's own web site, from satisfied users that bought Iraqi Dinars from them?

Satisfied customers sometimes leave testimonials to show their appreciation. But beware! It is quite easy to fake pretty much anything on the Internet. And testimonials make no exception. Again, take your time; contact the ones who wrote them if you can. An extra hour you put into this research, before you decide where to buy Iraqi dinars, may make the difference between a successful purchase and a failed investment.

Does the seller show his physical location somewhere on the site?

It'll be quite hard to track an individual or company when all you have is an email address or web site URL. A physical address can help you quickly locate them in time of need.

Is there a phone number you can call and talk to a real person?

Verify the phone number on their contacts page. Call them. Ask them a couple questions to see if they really know their business. For instance you could ask them to tell you the Iraqi dinar security features. Or what denominations do they sell. Ask them anything you can think of that can help you make a decision.

Are they registered with an organization such as the Better Business Bureau?

Odds of getting scammed are pretty thin if the company you're considering doing business with is a member of BBB or another organization that tracks customer satisfaction and records complaints. But beware! Simply displaying the BBB logo isn't enough to earn your trust. Take your time and verify they're actually who they say they are.

Buying Iraqi dinars is considered by some to be a great investment. The safety tips shown here should help you when selecting your dealer.

About the Author:

Catalin Ionescu has spent the past 8 months learning all about the pros and cons of the Iraqi dinar investments. To find his uncensored views and lots of advice on the topic go to http://www.iraqi-dinar-exchange.com now.

Now is the Time to BUY the Iraqi Dinar

2005-11-19T01:07:00.000-08:00

by Clare Omvig

A powerful new development has made purchasing Dinar (Iraq Currency) top of the wise investor's list!

You need to take some time to read the powerful documentation and credible speculation concerning the power and excitement of the Iraqi Dinar market.

The Math makes it clear: Currently through FreeDinar.com you can purchase Iraqi Dinar at less than 1/10th of a US Cent per Dinar. Buy 100,000 Dinar for $100 today! Looking back at history it is possible that the Dinar value could be as high at $0.20 to a US Dollar. If that is the case a $100 in dinar could potentially return $20,000!

If the value reached, over time, is the pre-Desert Storm value of around $3.00 that same $100 could potentially be valued at $300,000! Our advice is to educate yourself as much as possible. Get your news reports from multiple media outlets and contrasting viewpoints. Only then can you begin to see the situation for what it is, a great, affordable opportunity. "More professional investors are buying. commodities, foreign currencies and equities, creating tension in the stock market." Wall Street Journal 11/24/04 Iraq has been granted 32 billion dollars in debt relief. "The Paris Club agreement represents a major international contribution to Iraq's continued political and economic reconstruction. I encourage (other) nations to agree to comparable debt reduction for Iraq." George W. Bush 11/22/04 Opening International Trade has increased the wages to Iraq's 25 million people who have pent-up demand for goods and services. An estimated $33 billion has already been collected for rebuilding Iraq. Coca-Cola, Chevron, Texaco, and more are investing! "...wages are triple those paid elsewhere in the Middle East." Wall Street Journal 11/24/04 More Iraqis are holding on to the dinar as a savings vehicle after years of hoarding dollars. The limited circulation of the new currency as compared to the open-ended printing of old notes by Saddam's political leadership. "Iraq has a stable currency; value of the new dinar has already risen 25 percent." US Department of State ? Bureau of Public Affairs 06/30/04 Iraq has the World's largest natural gas reserve and is the world's 2nd largest oil producer. "No one doubts Iraq's potential for enormous production. Only 17 of its 80 known oil fields have been developed, and the costs of new production are among the world's lowest."

"A senior Iraqi leader evoked the eternal dream that Iraq could produce 10 million barrels a day." The New York Times 05/03/05 The Kuwait currency devalued by the same margin in the '90's has completely rebounded. "If post-war Kuwait is any example: A Kuwaiti dinar was valued at about a dime after the war. Each now brings in $3.40 ...If (Iraq Dinar) jumps to a few cents, (investors) can start paying off mortgages." Stars and Stripes Mid-east ed., 10/15/04 Following World War II, it took three years to institute a new currency in West Germany. Iraq has taken only six months. Oil revenues and existing assets from the Saddam dictatorship are being pumped into government operations and reconstruction projects such as: paying 350,000 teachers (rehabilitating 2,200 schools), 100,000 doctors and healthcare workers,(30 times more funds over pre-war levels, restoring 240 hospitals), upgrading electrical grids, water, sewage, irrigation systems, and expanding oil output. 3 dozen countries are contributing financially to the renewal of Iraq, and 19 countries are providing personnel for operations in Iraq. The new Iraqi Government and the US treasury are working together to reinstate a strong decentralized banking system in Iraq. Iraq has vast areas of fertile land and the most precious commodity of all in the Middle East, water. With the rejuvenation of the Tigris and Euphrates River, Iraq's agriculture sector may once again be the Breadbasket of the Middle East.

Iraq holds the second largest oil reserve in the world, with 95 percent of Iraq?s revenue coming from exported oil. Combine that with the continued rise of oil prices and you have the makings of a strong economic comeback. The Iraqi Dinar has also managed to appreciate in value from it?s all time low of 3000 Dinar to one US dollar to the recent level of between 1500 and 1400 Dinar to one US dollar. Before the 1991 war it was 1 Dinar to 3 US dollar. Keep in mind that the new Dinar has only been in existence since October 15, 2003. The monetary system established by the new government encourages foreign investment, a key to developing a strong economy.

A new stock market opened recently with over record trading volumes pushing stock prices drastically upwards for the 27 firms listed, with over 2 billion shares changing hands in only 6 trading sessions. Real estate in Iraq is booming, largely because of the severely depressed prices due to the restrictive policies of the old regime. With money flowing into Iraq, citizens are now buying houses in neighborhoods generally reserved for government officials.

Our advice is to educate yourself as much as possible. Get your news reports from multiple media outlets and contrasting viewpoints. Only then can you begin to see the situation for what it is, a great, affordable opportunity for investment.

Personally we wanted to check this investment out...and so went to http://www.freedinar.com (key in id: nzinvestor) and ordered a Starter Pack to see if they are what they say they are...and sure enough, within a week we had our dinar in hand by regular mail.
I can therefore recommend this to any savvy investor - as the next opportunity to potentially make millions!

About the Author
Clare has been in internet marketing for a couple of years now, and has promoted a number of opportunities. Currently her investment strategy with MyFreeDinar.com (nz investor) is making a lot of money. Internet marketing and traffic venues have been her choice of focus though for most of her time online. You can visit her blog here: http://website-creations.blogspot.com/

Nice article, don't you think?

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Resources

Iraq's constitution is useful mile marker - not finish line

2005-11-07T04:40:00.000-08:00

USAToday
Posted 10/17/2005 9:25 PM

There is, for a change, some good news out of Iraq. Barring a last-minute surprise, the country, with more than a 60% voter turnout, has approved a constitution. (The final count is due in the next few days.) What's more, Sunnis turned out in large numbers ? more than 90% in at least one area - effectively ending their boycott of the political process.

But don't break open the champagne just yet.

There are allegations of fraud. And like almost every potentially "decisive" moment in the two-and-a-half years since the U.S. invasion - the fall of Baghdad, the "Mission Accomplished" celebration, the capture of Saddam Hussein, last January's elections - this is not a signal achievement that will allow U.S. troops to come home. Rather, it is an incremental change that might help prevent all-out civil war.

Americans like quick, clear-cut outcomes. But facing reality in Iraq is the key to understanding the nature of the challenge. In fact, the Bush administration is belatedly doing that, tempering its relentlessly upbeat assessments with more talk of a long haul.

Iraq is a two-track war: political and military. Politically, the referendum is positive. Most critical is that the Sunnis decided to vote. Though most cast "no" ballots, that does not necessarily mean they will now conclude that violence is the only answer.

The next big moment comes with elections for Iraq's first permanent government - the others were transitional - on Dec. 15. What's needed is for Sunni candidates to step forward and Sunnis to participate. That will give them representation - not to dominate as in Saddam's day, but with a say proportionate to their 20% numbers.

Sunnis would have had more sway over the new constitution if they had participated in January's elections. But, under U.S. pressure, the other groups - Shiites and Kurds - agreed to allow changes to address Sunni concerns, including that they might be persecuted and cut off from oil wealth. It's critical that the United States and others, such as the Sunni-friendly Arab League, continue that kind of pressure.

Militarily, the insurgency continues to overwhelm efforts to improve the lot of average Iraqis. Without security, nation-building can be only sporadic at best. If Sunnis become more politically involved and less aligned with the foreign terrorists who seek to make Iraq a foothold for Islamic extremism, the insurgency could diminish.

With support for the Iraq war plummeting in the USA, the temptation is to declare victory and start leaving. Just achieving some stability in Iraq will be difficult, let alone a representative government. But even that will take continued staying power.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Resources

Poll Shows Iraqi Businesses Remain Optimistic About Economy; Substantial Rise in the Employment of Women Also Found

2005-11-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

9/28/2005 1:14:00 PM

To: National Desk
Contact: Gregg Willhauck of Center for International Private Enterprise, 202- 721-9200, gwillhauck@cipe.org

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Iraqi business leaders remain decidedly optimistic about the growth of the Iraqi economy as well as the growth of their own businesses, according to a poll released today by the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). The survey reveals that 77 percent of Iraqi businesses anticipate growth in the national economy over the next two years and 69 percent of respondents describe themselves as being "optimistic" about Iraq's general economic future.

"Business confidence in Iraq is being driven by a sense of opportunity," concluded John Sullivan, CIPE's executive director. "The Iraqi economy has been rebounding, and private businesses see many opportunities to grow their firms. A significant number of businesses are reporting plans to hire more employees and to invest in order to build on this sense of economic progress and growth."

The poll, conducted by Zogby International, included interviews with more than 600 Iraqi business owners and managers spread across five cities: Baghdad, Hilla, Basra, Arbil, and Kirkuk. CIPE and Zogby produced a similar Iraqi business poll released in December 2004. Both polls are available through CIPE's website http://www.cipe.org

Among other significant findings, 63 percent of the Iraqi businesses surveyed employed women, which represents almost a 50 percent increase over the previous poll. In each of the cities of Baghdad, Hilla, and Arbil women were employed by at least 60 percent of the businesses polled. While more than half of the firms polled in either Basra or Kirkuk did not employ women, at least 40 percent of the firms did.

Despite the many challenges they face, 54 percent of Iraqi businesses expect increased sales in the next six months and 38 percent are expecting employment to rise. Similarly, 45 percent of Iraqi businesses believe their profits will grow during this same period. By contrast, only a handful of Iraqi businesses expect to see a decline either in sales, employment, or profits. The remaining Iraqi businesses are expecting no change in these areas.

In addition to the optimism they expressed about their country's economic future, Iraqi business leaders' belief in the political future of their country is quite strong. Sixty percent of respondents expressed an optimistic outlook regarding Iraq's political future, whereas only 9 percent held a pessimistic view and 25 percent professed themselves as "neutral."

When asked if they agreed or disagreed that the election of the government earlier this year would result in long-term stability in Iraq, 71 percent of respondents stated that they agreed, with 27 percent strongly agreeing and 44 percent agreeing somewhat. Kirkuk was the lone exception with 55 percent responding that they somewhat disagreed and 7 percent that they strongly disagreed. In each of the other cities sampled the responses for "strongly agree" and "somewhat agree" totaled over 70 percent.

Not surprisingly, the security situation remains the major priority for the business community. When asked what single action the government could take to help them, 33 percent of respondents wanted better security, with Baghdad business leaders rating the highest at 45 percent. The effective enforcement of laws and regulations, combating corruption, and better education and training - particularly in the areas of computers and English language - also ranked as high priorities for the Iraqi business community.

"One of the survey's key findings is that firms are seeing progress and this progress is building greater confidence. Nevertheless, Iraqi businesses want this new government to do a better job of providing a secure environment in which to live and conduct business as well as enforcing laws and regulations and fighting corruption," observed Sullivan. "Business people around the world, and Iraq is no exception, want a sense of political stability. The optimism displayed by Iraqi businesses is being driven both by their sense of opportunity and the belief that a stable governmental structure is going to emerge."

CIPE is a non-profit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy. CIPE has supported more than 800 local initiatives in over 90 developing countries, involving the private sector in policy advocacy and institutional reform, improving governance, and building understanding of market-based democratic systems.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

-0-

/© 2005 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar

Philadelphia World Affairs Council.(Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz)(Transcript)

2005-10-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

U.S. Department of Defense Speeches; 5/5/2004

Remarks as delivered by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, Philadelphia, PA, Wednesday, May 5, 2004.

Thank you for the warm introduction. Thank you for finally getting me to Philadelphia. As you say, we had to go through a rather circuitous route to succeed. But I have been looking forward to the opportunity to come here, and specifically to the World Affairs Council. I really admire the great work that the World Affairs Councils do throughout America and the opportunity they offer to talk directly to Americans about the critical issues facing our country. And today I'd like to talk about, obviously, the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan and the global war on terror.

It is important for public officials to get out of Washington and be able to share our views directly with the people, and I can't think of a better place to do that, to discuss our efforts to defend freedom, than in this city where America's freedoms were first enshrined and nurtured.

We've experienced some difficulty in the past few weeks in the coalition mission in Iraq, but I think the American people have an understanding of this. They are surely as tough and determined as Americans were some 250 years ago. Significantly, it was in this city more than 200 years ago that Ben Franklin was asked, as he left the Constitutional Convention, "Well, Doctor, what have you got, a republic or a monarchy?" And his unforgettable response was, "A republic, if you can keep it."

In the first two-and-a-quarter centuries of our country's history we have learned some of the challenges of building free institutions even in what some might argue were the most favorable circumstances imaginable.

In Afghanistan today, 25 million Muslims who have suffered from a quarter-century of the most brutal invasion and civil war are struggling now to build those free institutions, with our help, under much more difficult circumstances. In Iraq another 25 million people, predominantly Muslims, are working to build a free Iraq after 35 years of torture and abuse by one of the worst tyrants of the last hundred years.

Their struggle is our struggle because their success will constitute major victories in what promises, unfortunately to be a long war to rid the world of the terrible threat of terrorism that emerged in full light on September 11th, 2001.

Before I respond to questions, I'd like to provide some context about the situation in Iraq and then comment on the wider global war against terrorists. I thought the best way to provide some context for that war would be to briefly take you back to the world as it was just slightly over three years ago.

President Bush had just assumed office. He was well aware that the freedoms we value would again be challenged. The president's instructions to Secretary Rumsfeld were to transform the Department of Defense to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Shortly after taking office, the secretary visited with his counterparts in NATO and he told them about the experiences of one of his predecessors, a man named Dick Cheney. Back in 1989 when Cheney was undergoing his Senate confirmation hearings, not a single mention was made of the word "Iraq." And yet Secretary Cheney's tenure at the Defense Department would turn out to be marked--some indeed would say dominated--by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the extraordinary victory of the coalition in Operation Desert Storm.

Read the rest of this speach here.

Regards Marcel.

IRAQ: THE STATE WE'RE IN

2005-10-24T03:03:00.000-07:00

Special Report From Belfast Telegraph

When will peace return to Iraq? When will the terrifying cycle of bombings and suicide attacks abate? When will the people have food and electricity? When will they be able to walk the streets in safety? When will our sons and daughters return home? How will it all end? In this special report from Baghdad, Patrick Cockburn exposes the monumental series of blunders that plunged the nation into chaos - and explains why the conflict will be longer, bloodier and more profound in its consequences even than Vietnam.

Iraq is a country paralysed by fear. Thirty months after the US and British invasion the country is getting closer to civil war by the day. Ethnic cleansing of Shia by Sunni death squads has started in the south and west of Baghdad. Insurgents control large parts of the city at night. They lob mortar bombs at will into the heavily fortified American, British and Iraqi government headquarters in the Green Zone.

The American and British governments seem disconnected from the terrible reality of Iraq. Tony Blair says the time scale for withdrawal is "when the job is done." But stop any Iraqi in the streets of Baghdad and the great majority say the violence will get worse until the US and Britain start to pull out. They say the main catalyst for the Sunni Arab insurrection is the US occupation.

A deep crisis is turning into a potential catastrophe because President George Bush and Tony Blair pretend the situation in Iraq is improving. To prove to their own voters that progress is being made, they have imposed on Iraq a series of artificial milestones. These have been achieved but have done nothing to halt the ever deepening violence.

The latest milestone is the referendum on the new constitution - the rules of the game by which Iraq is to be governed - on which Iraqi will vote tomorrow. The document was rushed through with the US and British ambassadors sitting in on the negotiations. The International Crisis Group, a highly regarded think-tank, warns that because the country's 5 million Sunni Arabs see the constitution as legitimising the break up of the country, the referendum will ensure that "Iraq will slide towards full-scale civil war and dissolution".

This is really a good article, find the rest here, I really recomment!

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Information
Dinar Opportunity

Where Can You Buy The Dinar Safely?

2005-10-21T04:51:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of places where you can buy the Iraqi dinar. It will be a half year dayjob to test them all!

So where can I buy the dinar safely?

Look for the companies that are involved in more than only selling the new Iraqi dinar. They do not want to destroy their good names by selling counterfit notes or just do not send you anything at all.

These companies are better to get in touch with and you can check them out more easily on the search engines. Do not buy at sites where there is no contact information! Always try to email the company first so the least you know is that their customer support is fine.

Also try to find out more about the company by doing an IP check. You can fine a lot of sites offering this for free. If it is a hidden id and no info can be given about the domain just leave. When they are hiding means they do not really believe in this opportunity and are just resellers for the quick buck. Why would they otherwise hide?

What I can say is that when something is 'hot' you always get fraudland people attracted. There are already scam reports regarding this. People who do not receive anything at all or just copied paper! As soon as you receive your dinars find out what the security marks are (do a search on google!) and check it out.

Also look at the prices. It should be somewhere around $100 for 100,000 dinars. When the price is a lot less alarm bells should ring. When it is a lot more look for a better place. I have seen prices on the net ranging from $50 to $200 for the same pack of dinars. Just do not jump onto this, get educated!

For the rest I recommend that you use the documentation on my site. The links, ads and articles are there for you, to assist you in your due diligence.

The best to you and keep away from the scammers!

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
http://iraqidinarinfo.com

Baghdad real estate market is booming despite escalating violence

2005-10-20T04:02:00.000-07:00

18/10/2005
Source: Yahoo News

A five-bedroom river-view house sold three years ago for $45,000. Two years ago it sold again, this time for $80,000. It sold a third time in August. The latest price tag? $300,000.

It's not in Charlotte or Kansas City or Philadelphia; it's in Baghdad. The market here is booming.

As Rime Allaf, an Iraq expert with London-based research center Chatham House noted, it doesn't make sense from the outside: "Who buys houses in Baghdad right now? The place is a disaster, and keeps getting worse."

Still, despite steadily increasing levels of violence, a great deal of money flows into Iraq, enough that property values have increased close to 1,000 percent in the past three years in parts of town.

Baghdad's economy is also surprisingly strong. Streets are jammed with traffic. Cell phones are everywhere. The bare shelves of retail stores from the Saddam Hussein era are now piled high with imported goods.

But it's Baghdad, after all, and the risks of business are more about suicide bombers and execution squads than mundane concerns such as bankruptcy and foreclosure.

Real estate agent Raad Jassim al-Shimary stepped from his Amirayah office in August to a hail of bullets from an insurgent in a passing car. He was killed by six shots to the chest. Other real estate agents and people on the street are convinced he was killed because he owned a realty office.

"I liked the business more back before the war," says Abu Mohammed, who's been in the business for 15 years in the Amirayah neighborhood. "Maybe there wasn't as much money then, but I know 10 men who owned agencies who have been murdered."

Abu Mohammed is not his full name, but like every real estate agent contacted by Knight Ridder for this story, he believed that giving his full name would be dangerous.

The murders are political. Iraqis cite a grab bag of reasons for insurgent executions: sold to Iranians, dealt with Americans, or even made a profit on property that, in the end, belongs to Allah. The exact number of murdered real estate agents is unknown (murders are so common that they frequently go unreported here), but Shimary's death was ordinary enough not to cause a stir in a country where violent death outpaces life, and money, no matter how dangerously earned, must be pursued.

Real estate is hardly the only business that carries a potential death sentence. Liquor stores and hair salons are targeted for being against Muslim law, restaurants for feeding policemen, and government offices for cooperating with the United States.

Even in hyper-violent neighborhoods such as Amirayah - near the airport and, depending on the time of day, controlled by insurgents - people are finding ways to keep their agencies open. People are making several years salary by selling off their backyards, and home and business property values are just about tripling every year.

Buyers believe that once the violence stabilizes, property near the airport will be very valuable - as foreigners will want a quick exit from what is likely to remain a very dangerous city for years to come.

"The neighborhood doesn't matter. People just want to buy property," said real estate agent Bilal al-M., who's been in the business almost 20 years. "This month, the market has flattened out, because people are worried about security. But there's still too much pressure for prices to fall, and if security improves, we should see prices increase another 25 percent by next year."

Consider the 6,500-square-foot villa in Jadriyah, south-central Baghdad, that sold for $75,000 during Saddam Hussein's last year, but brought just over $500,000 this summer. It's a market fueled by money from foreign investors, ex-pats looking to help their families, pent-up frustration at 30-year-old Baath Party laws that strictly regulated property ownership in Baghdad, and even the cash made from looting as the capital fell.

In the market, fixer-uppers - houses or business properties that have suffered extensive bomb or bullet damage - are particularly hot.

"The price is lower, of course, but the man who fixes up such a place can resell it months later for enormous profit," Belal said.

Home selling here is a fairly low-profile business. Rarely do real estate agents advertise sales, and many places sell without so much as a "for sale" sign. When there is one, the seller often paints the details on a sheet and ties it to the security walls that surround most homes in Baghdad.

A typical house in Baghdad is two stories high, with tiled floors and at least one palm tree in the tennis court-sized front yard. It will have large rooms with high ceilings and with large windows. Most importantly, it will have second-story outdoor patios in front and behind the house, as well as a third patio on the roof for sleeping during the height of the hot summers.

Bilal noted, however, that while customers with a lot of money are looking for any investment, those looking for a home are most concerned about a safe street, something that changes almost month to month here.

For instance, until a year ago, places near the Green Zone - a central, walled district protected by U.S. and Iraqi military - were sought after. More recently, as the Green Zone area has been more frequently the target of insurgent attacks, and guards have become increasingly trigger happy in their defense of it, the area has lost its luster.

Safaa runs the same realty agency his father started 50 years ago. Today, customers come to his small office through a razor-wire maze. Concrete blocks on the busy street out front discourage parking nearby. Yet inside, it's a real estate office, down to the office calendar and photos of available properties.

"Many of my customers made their money through looting," he admits while discussing the market situation. "After they had the money, they wanted some place safe to put it, and a house made sense."

Former residents also wanted to move back, or more likely buy property in case they decided at some time it was safe enough to move back. Many did so and put their new properties up for rent, and prices in the rental market have shot up at the same ferocious pace. Apartments that used to rent for as little as $2 a month are now going for $300.

Safaa notes that business has slowed down lately. A lot of people with money have used it to flee, or to pay ransoms to get family members returned. And while there is still a steady stream of customers, he doesn't expect the property frenzy to return before the security situation becomes clearer.

Still, he says he won't leave a family business, and notes he's made more money in the last two years than ever before.

"Before in Iraq, the houses were cheap," he said. "Now, the houses are expensive, but the lives are cheap."

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Info

Stupid currency tricks: Iraqi dinar

2005-10-19T05:13:00.000-07:00

I'm considering buying Iraqi currency as an investment.
Is that a good idea?

August 10, 2004: 10:13 AM EDT By Walter Updegrave, CNN/Money contributing columnist

Judging by the number of pitches I see from Web sites flogging the new Iraqi currency, not to mention dozens of people on eBay, there are at least some people out there who think investing in the Iraqi dinar that was introduced last October makes sense.

My take is unequivocal. Given the difficulty of predicting currency movements, I'm not even a big proponent of investing in established currencies like the euro or the yen.

And when it comes to buying and selling the fledgling currency of a fledgling government in one of the most chaotic parts of the world, that goes beyond mere speculation. I'd call it gambling.

The main argument for buying the dinar, of course, is that Iraq has vast oil and natural gas reserves at a time when energy prices are climbing. If the country gets its political act together, it could profit in a big way.

I hope things work out that way, but it's a big, big if.
And even if it does, there's no guarantee it will be able to run an economy that keeps inflation -- a major risk for currency values -- under control.

Of course, where there's great risk and uncertainty, there's also the potential for great reward. But I'd be wary of some of the information out there.

One site I visited had a chart showing the historical value of the dinar from 1932 through 1982 fluctuating between just under $5 and just under $3 per dinar. Gee, the dinar is now worth only $0.0007. Could you imagine if it made it back anywhere close to its historical range? Why you'd make a killing! Even if the dinar climbed in value to just one cent, that would represent a 1,329% return!!! Surely, it can go up at least a penny.

Really? If that's a sane rationale for investing in a currency, then why not buy the Turkish lira, which trades at $0.0000007?

Fact is, it's the economic prospects for a country that determine the future value of its currency, not the price it trades at now or the price it traded at in the past. And no matter how low a value a currency reaches, it can always go lower.

One final thing to consider if you're still thinking about investing in dinars is liquidity.

At this point, there's not a particularly organized market for them. You can get an exchange quote for dinars by going to the currency section of Bloomberg or Yahoo Finance, but the rate you'll pay varies substantially from one seller to the next.

As for selling any dinars you buy, good luck.

Frank Trotter, an executive with Everbank, the online bank that offers small investors savings and money-market accounts denominated in a variety of foreign currencies (but not Iraqi dinars) told me that his trading desk surveyed several of the online dealers posing as someone who owned dinars and wanted to sell them.

"We received no bids," said Trotter. "We haven't seen a legitimate market in terms of trading it."

That could change, of course, but probably only if the political and economic situation stabilizes. So if you want to sell dinars, for now you're pretty much relegated to eBay.

My view is that if you want to spend a few bucks to acquire Iraqi dinar as a novelty item or you want to gamble with money you can well afford to lose, that's fine. Enjoy yourself. But you shouldn't even think of making something this iffy a part of your investment portfolio.

Walter Updegrave is a senior editor at MONEY Magazine and is the author of "We're Not in Kansas Anymore: Strategies for Retiring Rich in a Totally Changed World."

A nice Iraqi Dinar directory

2005-10-17T04:21:00.000-07:00

Good day to you!

I've created a new informational site about Iraqi Dinar.

You can search here on topic related keywords. I feel that it is in your own best interest to find out as much as possible before investing!

http://iraqidinarinfo.com

Regards,

Marcel Heersema

Training of customs officials hoped to boost Iraqi investment

2005-10-14T04:40:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 10th 2005

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Izdihar project trained 40 Iraqi customs officials. The recently completed project trained Iraqi customs officials from around the country to increase their awareness of new methods of revenue collection and their familiarity with World Trade Organization (WTO) requirements. The training was an initial step to assist the Customs Department’s seamless transition to using WTO-accepted tariff and customs valuation procedures at border points throughout the nation.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the WTO is the only global organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. It consists of 148 member nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Accession into the WTO would increase Iraq’s foreign direct investment and lay the foundation for a globalized economy.

Although actual accession may take years, the economic reforms that Iraq will implement to be eligible for membership promote economic freedom and growth which will stabilize the country’s economy.

USAID’s Izdihar project works to provide businesses with reliable access to credit through the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) initiative, encouraging the growth of sustainable jobs and assisting with investment promotion, capital markets, privatization and trade policy.

Taken from PortalIraq

Italy cancels 80 percent of its Iraqi debt

2005-10-13T03:09:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 10th 2005

The Government of Iraq announced that it has signed a bilateral agreement with Italy canceling the equivalent of $2.4 billion of Iraqi debt, amounting to 80 percent of Italy's claims against Iraq. The bilateral agreement implements the Agreed Minute concluded in November 2004 between Iraq and 18 Paris Club creditor countries.

This is the third bilateral agreement that Iraq has signed with its Paris Club creditors. In December of last year, the United States of America cancelled the entirety of its claims and Canada cancelled 80 percent of its claims against Iraq in June.

Prior to this agreement, the claims of the Italian government against Iraq totaled approximately $3 billion. When fully phased in, the agreement signed today will reduce this debt stock to approximately $600 million.

The debt reduction will take effect in three installments. Approximately $900 million will be cancelled immediately; a second installment of approximately $900 million of debt cancellation will automatically become effective upon the signing by Iraq of a formal stand-by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (expected by the end of the year); and a final installment, equal to approximately $600 million, will automatically take effect upon completion of the stand-by arrangement.

The residual debt stock will be repayable over a 23-year period with six years of grace on principal payments. No principal or interest will be payable during the first three years.

"The conclusion of a bilateral agreement with the Italian government is another positive development for Iraq's debt management," said Iraq's Minister of Finance Ali A. Allawi.

"Iraq appreciates the constructive approach taken by Italy throughout the negotiations of this agreement."

Other Paris Club creditors of Iraq are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Bilateral agreements between Iraq and each of these countries are expected to be signed by the end of the year.

Taken from PortalIraq.com

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity

Thinking about purchasing dinar? Then you should read this……

2005-10-12T06:07:00.000-07:00

The key issue behind whether or not your Iraqi dinar investment proves worthwhile is contingent upon Iraq’s economic and sociopolitical stability. It is indeed difficult to make an accurate prediction concerning Iraq’s future due to the immeasurable number of variables involved. As speculating investors, however, it is possible to obtain a fairly clear picture by ruling out those scenarios that have a low probability of success.

One of the first potential scenarios that should be considered for elimination, is the notion that the U.S. troops may suddenly retire from their work in Iraq, and that instability and chaos in Iraq would follow. The result of the up-coming November elections will likely shed light on the issue of the troops withdrawing from Iraq. If John Kerry defeated the current U.S. President, his military plans are to remain in Iraq until it is both socially and politically stable and governable. Kerry has taken advantage of several occasions to emphasize that not only that he intends to keep American troops in Iraq, but also that he may actually increase the number of soldiers stationed there. He has also voiced a plan to try to obtain the support of European nations to help accomplish the vital task of appeasing the people of Iraq.

If, on the other hand, George Bush is reelected as our President, all Americans know quite well that is not planning on leaving the soil of Iraq until peace and stability have been secured. Since both candidates share similar military objectives about troops’ deployment and maintenance in Iraq, it makes it highly unlikely for American troops to leave Iraqi soil for any reason other than success.

The second possible scenario that should be considered for elimination has to do with the two Muslim factions of Iraq, the Shiites and the Sunnis. Some have voiced the fear that rebels from these groups may join forces and overrule Iraq’s pro-American government, and defeat our allies military forces. The likelihood of this scenario is extremely slim, since American and its allies have remained very strong. Although the war in Iraq will probably last for a considerable length of time, the knowledge, training, and technological advantage posed by America and its allies is virtually impossible to defeat. Despite the vehement opposition of the present situation felt by the Iraqi rebels, they lack the resources, knowledge, and endurance to put up any kind of fight. Additionally, it is very unlikely that they will receive substantial, if any help from their Arab neighbors. Satellite and road checkpoints are only a few forms of detection that would unmask any efforts of this kind. Even if this was overcome, Arab countries are well aware of the hefty price to them if they were caught pursuing any such activities. In short, we can say with confidence that our possible second scenario can be eliminated due to the fact that this is highly improbable too.

A third major scenario that has been given considerable attention due to its deep negative ramifications concerns itself with the lack of economic resources is depletion of economic resources faced by the United States or its allies. Some fear that such a case would force the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. Last year, our fiscal and commercial deficits were each approximately half of a trillion dollars, and Americans economic recovery this year is still not solid. Nevertheless, Iraq’s oil production, even with the periodic sabotages by the insurgent forces, remains more than sufficient to sustain America’s armed forces and their expenses, as well as to sustain the recovery of Iraq.

Read the rest here.

Regards Marcel.

The New Iraqi Dinar... This (1) One 25,000 Note had a Pre-war Value of Over $75,000 USD

2005-10-10T00:11:00.000-07:00

by AnonymousJuly 29, 2005

(ContentDesk) July 29, 2005 --

With phrases such as the headline above, online currency businesses have seen their sales of the new Iraqi currency explode (no pun intended) by catering to the desire in us all to be rich. It all boils down to the notion that history has a way of repeating itself and prior instances of war profiteering through currency speculation will present themselves once again with this "investment"...Or is it "gambling?"

The problem isn't that they are selling the Dinar so much as it is the huge gouging they are dealing in the process. For example, a quantity of 100,000 Dinar can be bought at cost for about $67 USD. However, if you went looking to purchase from a dealer online or at eBay, you can expect to pay over $105 for the same amount and, on top of that, they charge an outrageous amount to mail it to you ($5-plus) for the cost of a stamp and envelope. Fed-up and mad! Enter the hero known to many simply as "Mr. Vaseline".

The unusual name bestowed from a metaphoric use of the petroleum jelly product in his ads. I can tell you it got my attention...Yikes! Armed with such caveats as "Don't let the dinar seller's bend you over again," and great knowledge garnered through the collective research of many bright minds in the Dinar arena, he has set-out to do battle with the evil forces that misrepresent this opportunity and slay the price gouging army.By marketing his book appropriately titled: "Are You Paying Too Much For New Iraq Dinar / Iraqi Dinars" online at eBay (username "jonniedrum"), Google, and other areas where Dinar peddlers lurk and plunder; many potential victims have been educated on the ups, downs, ins, and outs of the New Iraq Dinar as a speculative opportunity.

Feedback from buyers has been exceptionally positive and eBay has recognized his work with their Verified Right's Ownership program (VERO), taking swift action on those who attempt to infringe the copyright! In a recent interview, Mr. Vaseline was quoted as saying "I am always shocked and humbled when a doctor, lawyer, banker, or CEO of some big company emails me to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for making this available!"Recently reaching the 1,000 copies sold milestone since beginning his crusade last November, this might be one purchase well worth making if you are looking at the New Iraq Dinar.

However, if you are brave and choose to make the journey alone, Mr. Vaseline's advice is simple..."Keep it greasy so it goes down easy.".

Taken from: Contentdesk.com

Iraqi Minister Says July Saw "Largest Ever Oil Revenues"

2005-10-09T03:14:00.000-07:00

Al-Iraqiyah TV at 0728 gmt on 9 August carries live from Baghdad a 30-minute news conference by Iraqi Oil Minister Ibrahim Bahr al- Ulum to unidentified correspondents.

At the beginning of the news conference, the minister makes a statement on the Oil Ministry "recent achievements".

The minister says: "The ministry drew up effective plans commensurate with the size of the challenges that are facing the oil sector. This is a vital sector on which the state budget basically depends, taking into account the top priority of the phase in which we are living and the need to provide oil byproducts to the citizens.

"In general, it would be useful to mention figures that reflect the Ministry's plan. In the field of crude exports, the Oil Ministry has been able to raise the level of the export operations, reaching about 1.6 million barrels per day [bpd] from the Iraqi ports for last month. If we compare this with the daily exports in June, which was 1.44 bpd, and in May, during which the daily exports were 1.38 bpd, we will find that the Oil Ministry has been able to carry out the 100-day plan; namely, the expansion of the oil export capacity.

"It is also useful to recall that the Iraqi revenues for July were probably the largest in the history of the Iraqi oil industry. The revenues during July amounted to 2.5bn dollars. Furthermore, the Oil Ministry aspires to promote this plan further to reach the level that we reached during the first half of last year.

"Moreover, it is also useful to review the operations of the Iraqi refineries because this is of direct interest to the citizen. Perhaps we can indicate the increase in oil byproducts in our Iraqi refineries in the north, in the centre, and in the south. The average increase in the production of liquefied Gas and gasoline was between seven and 10 per cent. As for gas oil and paraffin, the increase in July was between 18 and 20 per cent. Perhaps if we look at some useful figures of Gasoline production in our refineries, we will find that in May it was 9.6 million litres per day. It increased to 10.25 million litres in June and 11 million litres per day in July. By solving the problems of the congestions and the problems that our refineries are facing, we hope to increase the production of gasoline to 13 million litres per day by the end of this month.

"The Central Committee, which was forced in the Oil Ministry two months ago to deal with this congestion, hopes production would go as high as 14 million litres per day by the end of October.

Read the rest here.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity

Where To Exchange The Iraqi Dinar In The Future?

2005-10-05T05:14:00.000-07:00

"There are a lot of places where I can buy Iraqi dinars, but where can I sell them?"

I get this question in my mailbox on a daily basis. To explain this best to you let me first begin explaining why this opportunity even exists.

You can buy dinars everywhere because this is not a common currency yet. They are 'just' a pack of printed paper. That is the key to trade and sell them freely, by anyone.

If this was an accepted currency from the day it was printed this 'money loophole' would not even be known. The reason is simple: Governments do not allow currency exchange unless you are a registered corporation.

That is also the reason why this is a time limited opportunity!

Here is why: As soon as Iraq gets his act together, the World Bank is going to review Iraq's status and when they think it is stable enough it will be accepted. As soon as that happens you will be breaking the law trying to sell dinars!

"Now what has this got to do with selling my dinars?"

Everything! After acceptance by the world bank, all the banks in the world will follow and you can excahnge them there! Just as you would sell your euros or yens after a holiday.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
http://iraqi-dinar-opportunity.com

Business After The Iraqi War

2005-09-30T03:59:00.000-07:00

By Carlos T. Fernandez

The rewarding of high compensation packages to top executives who turned over weak quarterly earnings, or who were involved in corporate scandals, adversely affected short-term investing, and collectively contributed to the downturn of the global economy over the last couple of years. Even the help and expertise of Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and several notable Nobel Prize winning economists in the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, wasn’t enough to revive the economy. September 11 then turned our attention towards terrorist threats against the markets.

Many, including the Bush administration, believed that a short war was the answer to both of these enormous problems. That is, if done quickly, a war would induce an increase in government spending that will be injected into the economy and a multiplier effect will, in turn, create jobs for the unemployed. But now that it’s over and coalition forces have taken control of Iraq, should we expect to return to business as usual? Unfortunately, this is easier said than done.

The facts are that the underlying and axiomatic problems are still present in the global economy. First and foremost, we have America’s account deficit, which is increasing by the second. The cost of the war is certainly adding to this burden and is currently hovering at approximately $20 billion dollars. Some experts say that this cost could reach up to $95 billion dollars. We, inevitably, will have to pick up the majority of this bill.

The United States’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is also not in good shape. It has trickled down to an annual GDP growth that is expected to reach only 3.1% and both France and Germany have recently downgraded their annual GDP growth forecasts to 2.4% and 2.0% respectively. Moreover, the "uncertainty factor" as I like to call it, most likely will keep businesses and consumers cutting back on expenditures for the remainder of 2003.

Fortunately, there are some signs that the economy is beginning to recover. A report that was recently released by the U.S. Department of Commerce showed a rise of over 2% in retail sales for the month of March and a slight rebound in consumer confidence. Also, the national unemployment rate, which was released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, remained unchanged at 5.8% for March 2003. While the majority consensus is that the economy will eventually recover, it is apparent that this will definitely take more time and effort than what most people had originally predicted.

Carlos T. Fernandez is the business columnist for Dominican Times Magazine, a publication that focuses on the hispanic culture and the issues affecting its communities. He is also the publisher of a popular financial planning and management website entitled Building Wealth (http://buildingwealth.blogspot.com).
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Assessing the Opportunities Presented by the New Iraqi Dinar Currency

2005-09-28T04:32:00.000-07:00

By Sakina Walsh

Could it be possible that you are staring right into the most spectacular financial opportunity of the century? Operation: Iraqi Freedom will undoubtedly be a war marked in history for loss and tragedy, American victory, and the rise of a nation with a new democratic government. But could it also be a war historically remembered for the financial opportunity it created for the sharp investors who keenly recognized an ephemeral chance at the right time?

The War on Iraq ended with a nation placed on the footstool of many new operations. An old dictator was removed; a new government was instilled, and the old currency, each note stamped with the face of the now powerless Saddam Hussein, was suddenly valueless and burned in the streets by American soldiers. In its place entered a new currency, beautifully created with the input of the people and history of Iraq.

The United States funded this new currency, artistically crafted by the De La Rue, the world’s premier currency printers. Unveiled during a press conference in the capitol city of Bagdad, the new Iraqi currency was introduced. A historic university, erected in the thirteenth century, is etched into the one thousand dinar bills. A serene waterfall graces the front of the periwinkle five thousand dinar notes. And a humble, hardworking farmer holds up a sheaf of wheat on the most substantial bill of all: the twenty five thousand dinar note.

Twenty five thousand dinars! That sounds like a huge value allotted to a single bill of currency. But in fact, today, this note is only worth 17.12 US dollars! Today, the average American’s savings account could make them a millionaire in Iraq.

But what does this mean? How does this present such an outrageous financial opportunity? In 1990, prior to the Gulf War and before any sanctions were placed on Iraq, the Iraqi dinar was equivalent to approximately $3.40. And prior to Operation: Iraqi Freedom, the Iraqi dinar still maintained a value of about 30 cents. That’s about three hundred times what it’s worth today.

The United States and several other nations are in the process of taking every measure possible to rebuild Iraq. The country is gaining stability, and could soon be in its way to becoming an independent and prosperous nation. What would this mean for the value of the Iraqi currency? Certainly it would mean a rise in its value. It could go back to what it was worth before the war, or more. And that would mean an unbelievable return for anyone who invested in it today. It could mean thousands, hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars for someone who had a million dinars today.

The value of the Iraqi economy has nearly doubled since the capture of Saddan Hussein. This has many investors predicting that the dinar will continue to rise in value as well. Even without help from other nations, with the world’s second largest oil reserve and the world’s largest gas reserve, it is abundantly clear that Iraq has the resources available to expand and become an extremely prosperous nation. In fact, economists and investors are speculating that Iraq has the potential to become among the wealthiest nations in the world.

Today you can take advantage of this potential and be part of those that benefit from Iraq’s success the most. Purchasing the Iraqi dinar at its most vulnerable point in history could mean a fortune in the near future. This means nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for today’s forward-thinking investors.

Learn more about this unique opportunity and how to purchase the dinar at www.Iraqi-Dinar.com with American Trading Company.

About The Author:

Sakina A. Walsh is a personal investor in the Iraqi Dinar, and comes from a family of economists. She has worked for several financial and investment companies, and has most recently partnered with American Trading Company where she has become very enthusiastic about the opportunities presented by the new Iraqi currency.
sakina@forgedesign.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Question for Economics Experts re: Iraqi Debt and Iraqi Dinar

2005-09-27T04:39:00.000-07:00

Posted on 12/17/2004 7:17:23 AM PST by Deo et Patria

US to forgive $5.4bn Iraq debt From correspondents in Washington December 17, 2004
THE administration of US President George W Bush will agree to write off the $US4.1 billion ($5.4 billion) worth of debt Iraq racked up during the regime of Saddam Hussein.

The debt write-off accord will be signed in Washington tomorrow by US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Treasury Secretary John Snow and Iraq's Finance Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, according to a State Department statement today.

"The signing of the debt cancellation agreement is the bilateral agreement that implements the United States' part of the Paris Club debt-reduction agreement reached November 21, 2004," the statement said.

"In fact the United States will go beyond the 80 per cent reduction agreed at the Paris Club and forgive 100 per cent of the $US4.1 billion Iraq owes the United States from the Saddam era," it said.

In late November, the Paris Club of 19 creditor countries, including the United States, Japan, Russia and EU nations, said its members had agreed to wipe out 80 per cent of the money it is owed by Iraq over three years.

Iraq owes the Paris Club nations $US40 billion, about one-third of the country's foreign debt.

Agence France-Presse

Read more comments here.

Regards Marcel.

Iraqi dinar defies spiraling violence

2005-09-26T01:47:00.000-07:00

By Intisar Maki

Azzaman, June 3, 2005

The upsurge in violence has worsened conditions for almost everyone and everything in Iraq, but the new currency.

The Iraqi dinar is the winner as it has so far weathered the impact of mounting violence and car bombs that would have sent any other country’s currency tumbling.

Since its launch in October, 2003, the new dinar has preserved its value vis-à-vis the U.S. dollar and other major countries.

It is probably the only symbol of stability in a car torn by wars, civil strife and violence.

However, Iraqi economists are not surprised to see the currency fending off the political turmoil and the descent into violence, a major characteristic of the past two years.

Thanks, they say, are mainly due to the Central Bank, which is one of the few government branches of the post-war era untainted by corruption.

“The (central) bank has pursued sound monetary policies,” says Thuraya Khazraji, Baghdad University’s professors of economics.

Other factors leading to the currency’s stability, in her opinion, include “the slight improvement in oil exports and the writing off of 90% of Iraq’s foreign debts.”

In the 1970s one Iraqi dinar was worth more than three U.S. dollars as Central Bank coffers were then stashed with hard cash, gold and other assets to support the currency.

But the dinar started losing its shine in early 1980s mainly due to the 1980-1988 Iraq-Iran war.

And the currency began to decline drastically after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and plunged to nearly 3,000 to one U.S. dollar in mid 1990s.

A new currency was launched shortly after the fall of the former regime.

While Iraqis had no trust in the former currency, confidence is growing in the new dinar which is currently changing hands at about 1,400 for one U.S. dollar.

“The adoption of new monetary policies by the Central Bank … has led to higher confidence locally, regionally and internationally in the new currency,” said Khazraji.

Imad Ali, professor of fiscal economics at Baghdad University, said many Iraqis were even turning to have their savings in the new dinar instead of foreign currencies.

“The issuing of the new currency has been very important for the Iraqi economy … it has offered Iraqis their first chance in nearly two decades to have their savings in the dinar rather than other hard currencies,” he said.

Ali also praised Central Bank policies and its attempts to stabilize the currency.

“Today demand for the dinar is higher than foreign currencies inside Iraq. The (central) bank’s polices have given a big boost to the dinar,” he said.

Yahya Najar, of Baghdad University’s College of Economics and Administration, said the new currency “is backed by foreign cash and gold and has earned the trust of the public.”

The currency’s stability has been good news to public sector employees who have seen substantial hikes in both wages and purchasing power.

The civil service is the largest employer in the country with some five million Iraqis receiving monthly salaries from the government.

Under Saddam Hussein the average monthly salary of a civil servant was 7,500 dinars (about three U.S. dollars).

Today it has ballooned to nearly 300,000 (about $200).

Taken from azzaman.com

Iraq's Central Bank builds credibility with rock-steady dinar value

2005-09-25T01:52:00.000-07:00

BAGHDAD: If Iraqis have one solid economic achievement to hold on to amid their many problems, it is the strength of their currency, which some feared would be devalued out of existence in the months that followed the fall of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in March 2003.

The dinar's current value of 1,465 to the benchmark U.S. dollar is virtually unchanged from January 2004, when the introduction of new banknotes to replace the Saddam-era denominations was completed.

Sadoon Hamoud Kathir, professor of economics and administration at the University of Baghdad, attributes this remarkable level of stability to sound government policies - specifically the transformation of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) into an independent body, which took place at the same time the new banknotes were issued.

"The most important move the Cabinet made was to separate the authority responsible for monetary emission from the government and to make it independent," said Kathir. "The CBI's goal is to restore the stability of the Iraqi dinar against other currencies," said an official from the bank speaking "I'm very optimistic about the current situation," he said. "And I have confidence in the economic policy of the new government."

Apart from the fact that Iraqis are generally comfortable using their national currency because they can reasonably assume the exchange rate is not going to suddenly rocket out of control, dinar stability brings other economic benefits.

Businessmen are happy because the price they pay for imported goods remains steady. As Ali Hussein, who sells footwear wholesale to traders at the Al-Shorja market in Baghdad, says he does well out of exchange-rate stability. "Although the dinar has appreciated [since 1993], everything is still expensive," he said. The Daily Star

Taken from almendhar.com

Regards Marcel.

Investors in new Iraqi dinar spur thriving Web trade

2005-09-23T04:27:00.000-07:00

By John Waggoner, USA TODAY

Iraqis are serving dinars — and investors are flocking to the table.

The new Iraqi dinar, introduced in October, is now virtually worthless: It takes 1,460 dinars to equal $1, according to Bloomberg financial news service. (Related: Check the latest exchange rates at USATODAY.com).

But dinar trade is thriving on the Internet.

Internet auctioneer eBay, for example, lists 622 auctions of new Iraqi dinars, in lots from 1,000 to 5 million. Dozens of Web sites, such as www.BuyDinarsHere.com, www.DinarTrade.com and www.InvestInDinar.com, sell dinars to U.S. investors.

The lure: Investors remember that the Kuwaiti dinar plunged to 10 cents after Iraq invaded Kuwait. It's worth $3.39 now.

The Iraqi dinar sold for as much as $3 before the first Gulf War. And Iraq sits on the world's second-largest oil reserves, an enormous asset. "Even if it goes up to one penny per dinar, that's a lot of money," says Mahmoud Shalabi, president of SilverDinar.com.

Currently, a 250,000 dinar note is worth about $171. At a penny per dinar, the same note would be worth $2,500.

Interest has cooled since the U.S. handed power to the Iraqis. "Before the handover of Iraq, business was phenomenal," says Marshall Donnerbauer, president of InvestInDinar.com. "All the soldiers and contractors wanted to be investors before that."

The insurgency hasn't helped business. "It depends on the news," says Katja Morgenstern, president of Dinar Trading Company, which runs www.buydinar.com. "If it's a bad week, business is slow."

Risks for investors are enormous. If Iraq inflates its currency or otherwise devalues it, dinars could get demolished. Further civil strife also could clobber the currency. Speculators who bought dinars early are sitting on big losses. Other problems:

•Pricing. Dinar exchange rates vary widely, and only large institutions can get 1,460 dinars to the dollar. Dinar Trading Company offered 1 million dinars for $1,345 Monday. Dinar Trade offered 1 million dinars for $1,050. "There are lots of different prices around," says Shalabi. "Everyone has his own price."

•Liquidity. Most dealers who sell dinars won't buy them, and U.S. banks won't buy them either. You can, however, sell dinars on eBay. Monday, 1 million dinars were being offered for $840 to $940.

•Fraud. Unlike the worthless Saddam-era dinars, new dinars are difficult to counterfeit. But some investors have ordered dinars from unscrupulous dealers and never received them, Morgenstern says.

Donnerbauer says there's a side benefit to holding millions of dinars. "I'm not a rich guy," he says. "But it's a good way to simulate being rich."

Taken from: www.usatoday.com

Add the Iraqi Dinar to your investment portfolio!

2005-09-22T04:50:00.000-07:00

Today a nice article about building wealth.

Craving for Financial Freedom
by: Dinar P. Wiria-Atmadja

Have you ever felt trapped in a Rat Race and wished to retire quickly but rich?

Have you ever felt that you are spending way too much time working with your boss at your office instead of with those you love? Your spouse, children, friends?

Have you ever felt frustrated because you are so deep in debt that you think you won't be able to retire because as soon as you do, the money will stop coming and thus you won't be able to pay off your mortgages and credit card?

Have you ever felt that you have no control over your life anymore in terms of time? Think about it: can you take a vacation just anytime whenever you want/ need it and as long as you want/ need it?

Have you ever wished that you can work whenever you want and wherever you want?
You are not the only one!

Too many people are trapped in a Rat Race because they have to. There are too many bills to pay, and too many dreams to fulfill. To them it seems that there is just no way to quit their job and enjoy life, travel and see the world with their loved ones.

Most people work because their bills tell them to, not because they really love to do it. Most people enslave themselves to their debt or job, because (they think) they have no choice.
This is when the craving for achieving financial freedom come in.

Freedom to choose when to work, without worries about income cuts. Freedom to spend more time with your loved ones, without worries about your employment or your boss. Freedom to take an expensive vacation, without worries about retrenchments thereafter. Freedom to do what you like, instead of what you've got to do, without worries about whether or not what you like generates enough income for you.

If you seriously crave for financial freedom, finding a better job with a higher paycheck is not going to work. Higher paychecks would usually mean more expensive lifestyle, more needs, more mortgages you THINK you can afford, more responsibilities thus more working hours and more time to spend at the office instead with your loved ones. And there is always the same problem: as soon as you stop, the money stops.

If you understand this, you will come to see that financial freedom is not measured by how much money you make by working, but by how long your money can support your normal lifestyle when you stop working.

And financial freedom is definitely not about accumulating abundant riches. It is about a golden chance to live abundantly!

Imagine! With financial freedom, you will have more quality time to spend with your family and friends. You will have more control over your life to do whatever you want, whatever you love, whatever you're passionate about. You will be able to give more, help others, make your part of the world a better place to live! You will be able to spend as much or as little time with your business as you choose. You will be able to come and go at will.

What a great chance to live abundantly!

Is craving for financial freedom realistic? Yes it is. It is not impossible to achieve it. Ordinary people have achieved financial freedom. They may not have their own luxurious yacht, but they have the time and the money to take their family on an expensive cruise to the most expensive spot on earth.

There are basically only two fundamental things ordinary people have known for decades to achieving financial freedom:

1. Manage your time and money!

Time and money are the only two factors that keep people from achieving financial freedom.
To duplicate the success of people who have reached financial freedom, you do not need to have self-confidence, super intelligence, high education, great luck, hard-work or great career path. Although those are all good characteristics, they are not fundamental to achieve financial freedom.

All you need is a good time and money management, which would also result in high productivity!

Invest your time in creating extra money that you can later invest. You can do that by taking up a part-time job or working overtime.

As soon as you have more extra income, be a responsible manager of your own money! Live less than your income so you can start investing. It is from investing in a business that will one day generate income for you and sets you financially free from having to work for a living.
As much as possible avoid borrowing money for anything at all. I believe everybody has been taught about the negatives of being in a debt, but very few have been taught to consider the benefits of being debt-free.

By being debt-free, you will have more money to invest. Ask yourself this question: how difficult would it be to create an extra $1,000 a month by cutting expenses and by investing the money you normally use to pay your debt?

2. Start investing in your own business to create passive income!

Passive income is income which requires little or no work at all. The example would be writing a book and get paid forever on it, traditionally investing huge capital or starting your own business.

As a passionate home-business owner myself, I believe that having your own home-business is by far the most powerful way to create passive income. It takes only small start-up capital and you will have extra tax benefits.

It is easier to generate passive income by having your own business than by traditionally investing. If your goal was generating $40,000 annually you would need $1,000,000 to invest at 4% interest. Very few people have this much start-up capital.

But there are many ordinary people who have become home-business entrepreneurs and generated $40,000 annually by investing very small capital.

Finally, quoting Robert Bolton, "A belief is not merely an idea that the mind possesses; it is an idea that possesses the mind", the idea that even ordinary people like you can achieve financial freedom should possess your mind and you will not be denied.

About The Author:
Dinar P. Wiria-Atmadja (What's in a name! :-), marcel) is a home-business entrepreneur, living in Jakarta, Indonesia and the owner of http://www.financialfreedomawaits.com. You are free to reprint and republish the article as long as you include the resource box with the author's name and active link to her website URL.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema

PS: Remember that poor people buy stuff and rich buy assets! No matter what the size of your wallet is, just stop buying stuff you do not need anyway and start building.

*******************************
Take Control Marketing
www.take-control.org
www.iraqi-dinar-opportunity.com
*******************************

Business After the Iraqi War

2005-09-20T04:39:00.000-07:00

by: Carlos T. Fernandez

The rewarding of high compensation packages to top executives who turned over weak quarterly earnings, or who were involved in corporate scandals, adversely affected short-term investing, and collectively contributed to the downturn of the global economy over the last couple of years. Even the help and expertise of Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and several notable Nobel Prize winning economists in the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, wasn’t enough to revive the economy. September 11 then turned our attention towards terrorist threats against the markets.

Many, including the Bush administration, believed that a short war was the answer to both of these enormous problems. That is, if done quickly, a war would induce an increase in government spending that will be injected into the economy and a multiplier effect will, in turn, create jobs for the unemployed. But now that it’s over and coalition forces have taken control of Iraq, should we expect to return to business as usual? Unfortunately, this is easier said than done.

The facts are that the underlying and axiomatic problems are still present in the global economy. First and foremost, we have America’s account deficit, which is increasing by the second. The cost of the war is certainly adding to this burden and is currently hovering at approximately $20 billion dollars. Some experts say that this cost could reach up to $95 billion dollars. We, inevitably, will have to pick up the majority of this bill.

The United States’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is also not in good shape. It has trickled down to an annual GDP growth that is expected to reach only 3.1% and both France and Germany have recently downgraded their annual GDP growth forecasts to 2.4% and 2.0% respectively. Moreover, the "uncertainty factor" as I like to call it, most likely will keep businesses and consumers cutting back on expenditures for the remainder of 2003.

Fortunately, there are some signs that the economy is beginning to recover. A report that was recently released by the U.S. Department of Commerce showed a rise of over 2% in retail sales for the month of March and a slight rebound in consumer confidence. Also, the national unemployment rate, which was released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, remained unchanged at 5.8% for March 2003. While the majority consensus is that the economy will eventually recover, it is apparent that this will definitely take more time and effort than what most people had originally predicted.

About The Author
Carlos T. Fernandez is the business columnist for Dominican Times Magazine, a publication that focuses on the hispanic culture and the issues affecting its communities. He is also the publisher of a popular financial planning and management website entitled Building Wealth (http://buildingwealth.blogspot.com).

Article on booming GSM business in Iraq

2005-09-19T04:35:00.000-07:00

MTC Atheer to increase investment in Iraq to $430 million by year-end to meet growing demand

The mobile telecoms market in Iraq will become one of the largest mobile markets in the Middle East by the end of the year, according to Ali Al Dahwi, General Manager of MTC Atheer.

United Arab Emirates: Monday, September 12 - 2005 at 16:57 GMT+4

The company, which currently operates the GSM network in southern Iraq and Baghdad, is rapidly expanding its infrastructure and increasing investment in the country to a total of $430 million, to meet this booming demand.

MTC Atheer launched services in southern Iraq in March 2004, and today has over 900,000 subscribers both in the South and Baghdad. As demand for mobile services in Iraq grows, MTC Atheer is increasing its investment in network infrastructure by 40% by the year-end, in order to be able to cater for an expected 1.5 million customers.

'The potential for development of the mobile services market in Iraq is much greater than initial studies suggested, and the growth so far has been huge. By the end of the year Iraq will have attracted four million mobile subscribers users in under two years, a phenomenal rate of growth,' said Al Dahwi. 'Iraq has a great opportunity to surpass most of the developing Arab states, so long as security can be achieved and development continues at a good pace.'

Al Dahwi was speaking at the Middle East, Gulf and North Africa GSM Conference, being held in Dubai on 11-12th September. He discussed the challenges that MTC Atheer has had to overcome to build its network in Iraq, including the need for round-the-clock site security, a lack of suitable sites and site access, unreliable power supplies, and the need to import network equipment. Growth in Iraq has also been mostly demand-based rather than planned, due to a lack of market information and population data. The company has managed to exceed its planned targets for Iraq however, reaching 500% greater subscriber numbers and 450% more capital investment that its original commitments.

You can read the rest here.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity

Iraqi official in plea for Australian troops to stay

2005-09-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

By Andra Jackson (theage.com.au)
September 12, 2005

A VISITING member of the Iraqi Government has urged Australia not to withdraw its troops from Iraq before Iraqi security forces are consolidated and the country secure.

Speaking in Melbourne yesterday, Ammar al-Hakim, a leading figure in the United Iraqi Alliance and son of Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, the leader of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, said the question of when it was time for troops to leave should be left to "the military experts".

Mr Hakim, the first Iraqi Government member to visit Australia since Saddam Hussein's overthrow, was in Thomastown to update the Iraqi community on how Iraq's draft constitution had been reached and on preparations for the October 15 referendum to ratify it.

He refuted the suggestion that Australia's involvement in Iraq had made it a terrorist target saying "it has nothing to do with the existence of Australian troops in Iraq. They are Muslims and they are killing us in hundreds and hundreds and this has nothing to do with religion. It has something to do with the ideology they believe".

He also disclosed that in his round of Canberra talks, which included meeting Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Prime Minister John Howard's adviser, Nick Warner, he raised his Government's concerns for Iraqi refugees held in detention or living on temporary protection visas. He asked that they be given special consideration and granted permanent protection visas.

Mr Hakim, in Australia at the invitation of the Iraqi community, wanted to dispel the negative image of Iraq presented by the media concentration on "explosions and killings".

"This is a very small issue compared to the reality of what is happening in Iraq".
There had been progress towards democracy with many people from different religions, sects and nationalities sitting together at one table for discussion, he said.

Australians also had an image of Iraq as "all unsafe". That was not right. Kurdistan to the north, and the middle and southern areas of Iraq were now considered "very safe".
Problems remained around Baghdad and in parts of western Iraq, but despite the tension "we can see the people are not afraid". There have been achievements with new agriculture and oil projects in southern Iraq. "People are living a normal life and going to their shops, to school and university ? all the elements you find elsewhere you find in Iraq," he said.

There are still electricity and water supply shortages which date back to Saddam's regime but normal wages have risen from 3000 Iraqi dinar under Saddam to 5000 dinar.
Inroads had also been made against the insurgents with the number of car bombings dropping from 17 a day four months ago to two a day at present.

Regards Marcel.

PS: When you have or found a good article just email it to me with the link you have/ found it on so I can publish it here.

Click here to mail me.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinar

2005-09-16T05:37:00.000-07:00

By AMIR TAHERI
September 14, 2005; Page A20

In the Tehran moneychangers' bazaar on Manuchehri Street, traders are always on the lookout for the new sogoli. The word, which means "top flower," is used to describe anyone or anything that is popular at any given time -- a thoroughbred steed, a beauty in the harem and, on "Foreign Exchange Street," the dozens of currencies traded each day. These days the moneychangers' sogoli is a surprise newcomer: the Iraqi dinar.

With the world media depicting Iraq as a ship sinking in a sea of blood, and self-styled experts predicting civil war or disintegration, it is hard to imagine why anyone would want to abandon such all-time favorites as the U.S. dollar and the euro, not to mention the oil currencies of the region, in favor of the world's newest money.

One reason, of course, is the sharp rise in the supply of dollars, a result of the dramatic increase in the price of oil. (Iran is earning something like $200 million each day from its oil exports.) Another reason is that hundreds of thousands of Iranians have registered to travel to Iraq to visit Shiite sites in Najaf, Karbala, Samarra and Kazemiah. Under a recent agreement, an average of 1,000 Iranians are allowed to perform the pilgrimage each day. (The number is to rise to 5,000 a day in two years.) To these must be added several hundred non-Iranian Shiites, mostly from the Indian subcontinent and the Persian Gulf, who travel to Iraq via Iran after visiting the Iranian holy city of Mash'had.

Yet another reason for the increased interest in the Iraqi dinar is the dramatic increase in the volume and value of unofficial exports from Iraq to Iran. Ironically, a good part of this trade consists of petroleum products, which are shipped from Iraq to four Iranian border provinces. Thanks to Iraqi government subsidies, petrol is 30 times cheaper in Iraq than in Iran. (There is also much smuggling of petroleum from Iraq to Turkey, where petrol costs 160 times more). Adventurous Iranian businessmen, often working on behalf of well-connected mullahs, are also making a killing by importing foodstuffs, medical supplies and consumer goods from Iraq, especially the Kurdish areas, at prices that defy competition inside Iran.

Iraq is also benefiting from a slow but steady transfer of Shiite religious funds from many foreign countries, notably Iran. The reverse was the case under Saddam Hussein, when the Shiite foundations were anxious to keep as little of their assets in Iraq as possible. In the past year or so, several foundations have started to withdraw their assets from Iran. The trend was accelerated last spring after the Iranian government seized assets worth some $200 million from the Khoi Foundation, named after the late Grand Ayatollah Abol-Qassem Mussavi Khoi. It is suddenly Iraq, and not Iran, that looks like the safe haven for Shiite foundations.

Angered by increasing state intervention in religious affairs, a small but growing number of Shiite mullahs are leaving Iran to settle in Iraq. There is further concern that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's new administration -- dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard -- may order a crackdown against the clergy.

Iraq's economic attraction, however, is not solely due to the arcane calculations of mullahs and pilgrims. It is also reflected in the latest report by the International Monetary Fund, published last month. It offers a mixed picture. For example, the report estimates Iraq's annual economic growth rate at just over 4% for 2005, a sharp drop compared to last year, when the economy grew by 52%.

But a closer look shows that the Iraqi economy still performed surprisingly well. The 52% growth rate represented exceptional circumstances in the aftermath of liberation and was unsustainable. Furthermore, the current 4% growth rate is higher than the average rates for the members of the Arab League. It is also a full percentage point higher than the annual average Iran achieved during the eight years of President Muhammad Khatami's administration.

If oil prices hold, Iraq's gross domestic product per head is projected to reach $3,000 next year, making it number 12 in the Arab League; in 2003, it was number 18. The IMF report shows that Iraq absorbed only $4.2 billion in investments in the non-oil sector of the economy compared to the $5.2 billion forecast last year. That figure, however, ignores investments made by small and mid-sized businesses, as well as farmers and individuals. Anecdotal evidence shows that such schemes are acting as the engine of growth in many parts of the country.

The key reason for the strong performance of the Iraqi dinar, however, may be the sevenfold increase in the nation's foreign currency reserves -- from less than a billion dollars to $7.3 billion. And the real figure may be higher because the report, finalized last July, does not reflect the latest rise in oil prices.

Some Americans might think that Iraq owes its robust economic performance to a flood of dollars provided by the U.S. taxpayers. The IMF report shows that this is not the case. Iraq is paying 90% of its own expenditures, including the cost of economic reconstruction. Of the remaining 10%, the U.S. accounts for four-fifths, with the rest coming from other donors. The bulk of the money the U.S. spends in Iraq is allocated to military and security operations, consultancy contracts and administrative costs.

The IMF speculates that within a decade Iraq could emerge as an engine of growth in the Middle East. Theoretically, this looks plausible. Iraq owns the world's second-largest deposits of crude oil and, once it produces its full OPEC quota, could take in up to $250 million a day from exports. It is also the only country in the Middle East that could easily double its agricultural production by introducing new farming techniques and equipment.

Nevertheless, Iraq's economic model suffers from two basic weaknesses. First, it is a rentier economy designed to distribute the oil income via state subsidies. Subsidies now account for 51% of the gross domestic product; the comparable figure in Iran is 22%, and 13% in Turkey. This limits the state's ability to invest in infrastructural projects, economic development programs and social services. It is clear that the current government under Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari lacks the political courage to reduce -- let alone abolish -- the subsidies that prevent the Iraqi economy from fully taking off.

The second weakness is the foreign debt inherited from Saddam Hussein, which amounts to $190 billion, including reparations distributed through the United Nations. (It excludes Iran's claim of over $1 trillion in damages.) Even under the best case scenario, servicing that debt could consume almost half of Iraq's GDP for the next decade. The best way to help Iraq would be for its creditors to write off the debts accumulated by an unrepresentative despot.

Iraq is in the process of crafting a more durable government. Economic reform should be a major part of that important effort.

Mr. Taheri is the author of "L'Irak: Le Dessous Des Cartes" (Editions Complexe, 2002).

Taken from The Wall Street Journal online.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity

Iraqi Dinar article by PRweb

2005-09-15T04:42:00.000-07:00

PRWeb August 16th:

"With companies like GM, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Chevron, Texaco, HSBC and many others moving in to do business in Iraq, there couldn't be a better time to take a low cost stake in Iraq's financial future. Iraq's economy was one of the wealthiest in their region for decades. Reconstruction money is just starting to flow into Iraq. In the next few years, they anticipate Billions of Dollars in more Aid and corporate investment to add to Iraq's bottom line. Iraq's GDP grew 50% last year despite the insurgency and infrastructure problems. They are estimated to post another 34% GDP growth this year. Many economists predict some of Iraq's greatest economic growth to come in 2006-2007. This combined with their ever increasing oil output and the climbing price of oil, and it is easy to see that Iraq is poised for dramatic growth.

The Iraqi government is calling on international companies to develop 11 oil fields in the south to increase oil production to 3 million barrels a day, said the manager of oil fields development at the Oil Ministry. At the end of this year, the Oil Ministry is expected to sign contracts with the international companies to develop the southern fields. Among the fields the ministry is trying to develop are the Majnoon field, which has reserves of 12 to 30 billion barrels, and the West Qurna field, which has reserves of 11 to 15 billion barrels.

Last year, the Iraqi Ministry of Industry issued 7,661 licenses for new businesses: 2,896 in the construction sector, 1,520 in food, 200 in textiles, 667 in the plastic and chemical industries, and 1,336 in mining and resources. This year, Adel Karim, a deputy minister for industrial development, has announced the government's intention to start the privatization program, with cement, brick and pharmaceutical factories being transferred into the private sector as a first step.

The government is also cutting taxes to boost economic activity. Iraq has slashed income tax to 15% from 49% and substantially increased the minimum sums individuals can earn net of tax. The progressive tax system replaces a 1982 law under which individuals had to pay 49% of income beyond certain salary brackets. The current tax system is progressive. It starts with 3% up to a maximum of 15%.

The US government has already invested 200 Billion Dollars into the future of Iraq. They have committed another 18 Billion in reconstruction Aid. That is more than $2000.00 per US Household. That does not begin to account for the additional US and foreign aid along with the ever increasing corporate investment going into Iraq. Are you positioned to profit from those investments? Why Buy Dinar explains exactly how you can capitalize on that growth by buying New Iraqi Dinar.

This is a similar situation to what happened in Japan and Germany after World War II. Their economies were rebuilding so you could buy up their currency very cheaply. Once their economies got back on track, anyone who had taken advantage of that opportunity became extremely wealthy.

Views are mixed on reasons for new Iraqi dinar's vigor

2005-09-14T04:38:00.000-07:00

By Bruce Stanley, Associated Press, 1/16/2004

BAGHDAD -- As the euro, yen, and other major currencies surge in value against the wilting dollar, even Iraq's bantamweight upstart -- the "Saddam-free" dinar -- is showing unexpected muscle.

The new Iraqi dinar, introduced last fall to replace notes bearing Saddam Hussein's image, has strengthened by about 25 percent in dollar terms.

The older notes had to be turned in by yesterday -- they had no value after that. Coalition authorities see the dinar's ascent as a vote of confidence in Iraq's economy.

Currency traders, however, blame speculators in neighboring countries for hoarding the dinar and driving up its value in the hope of later dumping it to earn a quick profit.

Much of the dinar's recent gain has come in just the last week.
"This indicates that people are demanding the Iraqi currency, which is really flattering for us. . . . This is now a currency that people want to hold," the deputy governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Ahmed Salman Jaburi, said yesterday.
One dinar was worth close to 2,000 per dollar when the new notes -- which depict Iraq's important scientific contributions, history, landscape, and economic life -- entered circulation. After trading early Wednesday at 1,400 to the dollar, the dinar spiked that afternoon to 1,100 -- an increase of 21 percent.

Some Iraqis said this was the biggest same-day change in their currency's value since late 1995, when the dinar strengthened as the United Nations prepared to relax the economic embargo then in effect against Iraq.

The rest you can find here.

Regards Marcel.

Iraqi Dinar overview

2005-09-13T00:16:00.000-07:00

Iraqi Dinar

Everyone is talking about the Iraqi Dinar, people are buying dinars, but is it a hoax or is the New Iraqi Dinar really a way to get rich quick? Iraqi Dinar facts, what you need to know, how to spot counterfeit dinars and what it should cost you is what you'll find here.

Many are speculating that the New Iraqi Dinar could make them millions within the next few years! Right now, you can buy a Million Dinar for as little as 870 US Dollars! Investors are speculating that once the Dinar hit’s the open market and the value of the Iraqi Dinar increases to that of the dollar, they will be millionaires!

In fact, I decided to speculate on the Iraqi Dinar as well and purchased 250,000 dinar for a great price. Before I purchased the new Iraqi Currency, I spent a lot (probably too much) time researching the pro’s and con’s of currency exchange.

It seemed almost impossible to get a straight answer as to the investment potential of the Iraqi Dinar, so I decided to take all the information I had gathered and create this website. I started this site in 2004 with the goal of providing you with the information you needed to make an informed decision.

I have had so many visitors ask me how much should they should pay for Dinar, that this month, I finally decided to start selling dinars. The information on the site hasn't changed, and I still say that the Iraqi Dinar is big gamble (one that I bet on), but if you decide to buy it, I have a better price than you'll find anywhere else. Follow this link to Buy New Iraq Dinars.

Dinar - The Fakes!

We provide you with information and resources to help buy Iraqi Dinar Safely. There are a ton of shady sites offering to sell you Dinar's below market price, that catch is many are fake! Counterfeit Dinars are big business and you need to know how to spot fake dinars.
We have some great pictures of the Iraqi Dinar, seals, watermarks and more. We'll explain how anyone can review their currency and verify dinar authenticity.

Iraqi Dinar - Facts

The old dinars with the picture of Suddam are not the money you want to purchase and invest in. It's the new Iraqi Dinar issued by the Central Bank of Iraqi on October 15, 2003 that investors are buying. Dinar denominations of 50, 250, 1000, 5000, 10000, & 25000 are available.

These new dinars printed by De La Rue, contain some of the most up-to-date anti-counterfeit features, including watermarks, a security thread, raised letters, an optical variable ink and other variations to thwart off counterfeiters.

Buy Iraqi Dinar - Legal?

There is a lot of controversy over buying Iraqi Dinars. Presidential Order 13303 allows US Citizens to invest in the New Iraq. Under this Order and the Coalition Provisional Government Order 39, a US citizen has the same rights to investments as an Iraqi citizen.
In other words, people looking to invest in the Iraqi Dinar are no longer faced with restrictions.

Read the rest here.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity

Today's article: about Iraq Foreign Debt Forgiveness

2005-09-10T02:01:00.000-07:00

Iraq Foreign Debt Forgiveness at 80% from $38.9 billion to $7.8 billion.
November 23, 2004

Iraq’s major creditor countries have agreed to cancel 80% of the debt Iraq owed.

This agreement will cut the outstanding debt from $38.9 billion to $7.8 billion to the Paris Club. Members of the Paris Club include the United States, Japan, Canada, Germany, Britain, France and Italy, as well as other Western European states, Russia and Australia.

“We believe ... it was necessary to accelerate the reconstruction of the Iraqi economy and to have an agreement which allows the Iraqi authority to have no more financial obstacles to this reconstruction.” commented Jean-Pierre Jouyet, president of the Paris Club.

George Bush, in comments while in Chile, said the deal represents a major international contribution to Iraq's political and economic reconstruction.
Other creditors who are not in the Paris Club but could follow its lead include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Eastern European states.

Taken from http://www.proinvestdinar.com/

Regards Marcel.

Dinar boosted by growing confidence in Iraq recovery

2005-09-09T00:13:00.000-07:00

Good day again!

This is a good one to read!
_______________________________

Dinar boosted by growing confidence in Iraq recovery
Reuters, 01.12.04, 6:36 AM ET

By Suleiman al-Khalidi

BAGHDAD, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Iraq's dinar currency climbed back to 1,500 to the dollar last week, the postwar high reached a month after the fall of Baghdad, helped by growing confidence that the country is on the path to recovery, traders said.

The dinar has risen steadily in recent months after falling back to 2,200 last year on concerns about security. It was at 2,000 during the final year of Saddam Hussein's rule.

Currency traders say that for the first time since the end of major combat last April more Iraqis are holding on to the dinar as a savings vehicle after years of hoarding dollars.

"Before, at the end of a working day, I wouldn't keep my Iraqi dinars and would change them to dollars. Now I am increasingly keeping my holdings in the dinar," said hotel owner Alaa Jabari.

Demand for the dinar has been boosted by a surge in currency smuggling which has seen hundreds of millions of dinars taken to Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and the other Arab states, traders said.

"There is strong demand from neighbouring countries. They think the dinar is undervalued compared to the dollar and they expect the dinar to rise in the medium and long term," said Mohammad Hassan al-Jashmae, who runs a currency exchange firm.

Bankers say that by pushing the dinar to around 1,500 to the dollar, Iraq's central bank has attained its initial target to bolster the local currency, a step towards beefing up the incomes of state employees whose salaries are now paid in dinars.

Read more here.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity

Nice overview of Iraqi Dinar

2005-09-07T00:22:00.000-07:00

Iraqi dinar

The Iraqi dinar (ISO 4217: IQD, pronounced: di-'när) is the legal currency of Iraq.

The Old Iraqi Dinar

Banknotes issued prior to October 2003 show the picture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Following the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq's currency was printed both locally and in China using poor grade woodpulp paper (rather than cotton or linen) and inferior quality lithography (some notes were reputedly printed on presses designed for printing newspapers). Counterfeited banknotes often appeared to be of better quality than real notes. Despite the collapse in the value of the Iraqi Dinar, the highest denomination printed until 2002 was 250 Dinars. In 2002 the Central Bank of Iraq issued a 10,000 Dinar banknote to be used for "larger, and inter-bank transactions".

During the 1990s, the self governing Kurdish minority in northern Iraq had issued their own version of the Iraqi dinar, commonly called the "Swiss Dinar".

Following the deposition of Saddam Hussein in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Iraqi Governing Council and the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance began printing more 250-dinar notes. Saddam Hussein appeared on all post-war Iraqi dinar banknotes, aside from the reprinted "Horse herd" 25 Dinar note.

Read the rest here.

Regards Marcel.

A new dinar rises from the ashes

2005-09-06T02:17:00.000-07:00

Good day to you!

Today I found this nice article:
____________________________________
A new dinar rises from the ashes
Michael Phillips in Washington and Alexei Barrionuevo in Baghdad report on US plans for bringing order to the Iraqi currency

American authorities in Iraq announced in early July that they are preparing to create a new currency for the country - one that is free of Saddam Hussein’s image. Paul Bremer, who heads the occupying authority, told Iraqis in a televised address that the move shows the US-led coalition “is determined to improve the economy of this country, and the lives of all its citizens”. But the decision appears to have had a strong political component as well. Bremer has opted for a currency plan that favours the people of central Iraq, the epicentre of the increasingly violent resistance to occupation forces.

The new banknotes will look much like the pre-Gulf War national currency still circulating in the Kurdish north - bills nicknamed “Swiss dinar” because of their relative stability and strength. The Swiss dinar was trading at about 6.7 to the dollar in early July. But the new dinar will have different colours and will be worth only as much as the “Saddam dinar,” which is used in the rest of the country and is worth 1,480 to the dollar. Northerners will have to buy the new dinar at a price of 150 new dinars per Swiss dinar, about a third less than the going market rate for Saddam bills. Other Iraqis will swap their Saddam dinar one-for-one for the new notes.

Go here for the rest.

Regards Marcel.

The Benefits of the New Iraqi Dinar

2005-09-04T23:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

This is an article written in 2003 but still very nice!
_____________________________________

The Benefits of the New Iraqi Dinar
Author: Brad Setser

August 7, 2003
Iraq Reconstruction Report

The Coalition’s decision to print a fresh batch of Saddam dinar notes this June drove home the urgent need to select the currency and monetary institutions for post-Saddam Iraq. The decision to introduce a new dinar rather than to dollarize or create a currency board was the right one.

The immediate advantages of introducing new dinars are clear. Saddam’s face won’t be on them. Moreover, the “Saddam” dinar only comes in two sizes. The 10,000 dinar note (worth a bit more than five dollars) is tainted by rumors of counterfeiting and is too large for everyday transactions. In contrast, the 250 dinar note (worth between a dime and a quarter) has not only continued to circulate, it has also appreciated in value relative to both the dollar and the 10,000 note. There is simply no practical alternative to small dinar notes in an economy where many people live on less than a dollar a day. With many payments being made in dollars, more dollars were chasing the same set of dinars. But even in an economy where $50 a month is a good salary, it is not terribly practical to pay salaries in dimes and quarters. New bills in a wider range of denominations should make day to day life in Iraq easier.

The long-term advantages of a new currency backed by a respected central bank are potentially even more important. The Saddam dinar was never a viable candidate for Iraq’s future currency. The only real question was how quickly it would be replaced, and with what. But there were a range of possible replacements other than a new currency and an independent central bank. The Saddam dinar could have been replaced with the dollar, the pound or the euro or a new dinar that was permanently tied to the dollar (or another anchor currency) through a currency board. A currency board effectively would put an Iraqi face on the dollar while locking Iraq’s into following the U.S. monetary policy. In a currency board, monetary policy is committed solely toward the maintenance of a fixed parity between the local currency and the anchor currency. Dollarization requires the immediate commitment to spend scare funds to buy back existing dinar, and a currency board requires an equal commitment of reserves to back a new dinar.

Advantages Over Dollarization

However, there are good reasons to think that neither outright dollarization nor a currency board would be superior in the long-run to an independent Iraqi currency that can float against the dollar. Why? The simple answer is that it makes little sense for an economy that relies heavily on oil exports to adopt the currency of an oil importer. For example, tying Iraq’s monetary policy to that of the United States is a problem when an oil supply shock drives up the world price for oil, slowing the economies of major oil importers while putting additional cash in the pockets of oil exporters. Right now the stagnant U.S. needs relatively low interest rates, while most oil producers are flush (Iraq excepted, given its limited current oil production) and need relatively high interest rates.

Click here for the rest of the article.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity

Iraq's currency solution: the importance of adding oil to the equation

2005-09-03T02:08:00.000-07:00

Well-functioning monetary arrangements are as important as other aspects of the infrastructure in putting Iraq back on the road of economic development. After the unification of the two kinds of dinars that have been circulating, the next order of business will be to decide what should determine the value of the currency. What exchange rate regime is appropriate for Iraq, at this key juncture in its history?

WHAT'S WRONG WITH PROPOSALS TO PEG TO THE DOLLAR OR EURO?

Given instability in the region and the absence of credible institutions, the Iraqi dinar requires an anchor of substantial credibility. Some have proposed a rigid peg to the dollar, as via a currency board or outright dollarization (see Steve H. Hanke, "An Iraq Currency Game Plan," in the previous issue of TIE). But this idea has major drawbacks. That it would mean giving up the ability to set monetary policy independently is not such a big cost, as few governments have been able to use such discretionary policy well anyway. But there are other big disadvantages.

One big drawback of a fixed exchange rate is that it means giving up the automatic depreciation that a floating currency would experience during periods when the world market for the country's exports are weak. In the case of Iraq, the major export is of course oil. Large fluctuations in the world price of oil have wrought havoc on the economies of other major oil-producing debtors such as Indonesia, Nigeria, and Venezuela, often entailing a serious currency crisis before a change in the terms of trade is accommodated. A second major drawback of fixing the dinar to the dollar would be the introduction of gratuitous volatility when the dollar fluctuates against other major currencies. Argentina's version of the currency board notoriously collapsed two years ago, not just because the straitjacket was so rigid, but because the rigid link was to a currency, the dollar, that had appreciated strongly against the euro and other trading partner currencies during the second half of the 1990s, imposing a huge loss in competitiveness on Argentine exports at a time when world market conditions were already weak. A third drawback is that to impose the dollar on Iraq might tend to play into widespread fears of U.S. imperialism. The politics would get even worse if the arrangement came to tears as it did in Argentina, for example, as a consequence of a future increase in U.S. interest rates.

Read on here.

Regards Marcel.

Iraqi Dinar by MainEarth

2005-09-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

Today another good info article:

The Old Iraqi dinar

Banknotes issued between 1990 and October 2003, along with a 25 dinar note issed in 1986, bear an idealized engraving of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Following the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq's currency was printed both locally and in China using poor grade woodpulp paper (rather than cotton or linen) and inferior quality lithography (some notes were reputedly printed on presses designed for printing newspapers). Counterfeited banknotes often appeared to be of better quality than real notes.

Despite the collapse in the value of the Iraqi dinar, the highest denomination printed until 2002 was 250 Dinars. In 2002 the Central Bank of Iraq issued a 10,000 Dinar banknote to be used for "larger, and inter-bank transactions". This note was rarely accepted in practice due to fears of looting and counterfeiting, forcing people to carry around stacks of 250 dinar notes.

The other, smaller bills were so worthless that they largely fell into disuse. This situation meant that Iraq, for the most part, had only one denomination of banknote in wide circulation.

Currency printed before the Gulf War became known as the "Swiss dinar" and after a change over period the government disendorsed the old currency. However the old currency still circulated in the Kurdish regions of Iraq until it was replaced with the new dinar after the second Gulf War. During this time the Swiss Dinar retained its value, whilst the new currency consistently lost value (sometimes at 30% per annum).

The Swiss dinar gets its name from the fact that the printing process relied on Swiss technology that was not available after the economic sanctions following the first Gulf War.

Go here for the rest of the article.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity

About Iraqi Dinar

2005-08-30T04:25:00.000-07:00

Dear friend,

This piece is taken from the freedinar site and gives you a good overview:

How would you like to turn $100 into $32,000?
It's happened before, and it can happen again!

Prior to the Gulf War the Iraqi Dinar was valued at $3.22 per Dinar. This was under Saddam's rule, with huge world debt and little if any foreign reserves.

Right now you can buy 100,000 of the New Iraqi Dinar (IQD) for about $100. The reason for this is because the IQD's value hasn't been determined or set by the world bank.

Kuwait's dinar was valued as high as $3.00 prior to The Gulf War. After the war Kuwait printed new currency the World Bank set the value at 10 cents per Kuwait dinar. Now that value has again risen to $3.49.

Imagine if you had bought $1,000 in Kuwaiti Dinar you would have made $34,900.

If you do research you will find that after any major conflict dramatic drops in the country's currency takes place. The currency usually rebounds as the country rises from the rubble of war.

Today Iraq is actively working to build a strong foreign reserve. This is key in having a strong international exchange rate. Their first step in this effort was to deposit 5 billion U.S. dollars with the U.S. Treasury, earning them over 150 million dollars a year in interest.

Today Iraq's world debt has continued to shrink. The U.S. has forgiven all Iraqi prewar debt and all post war reparations. The Paris Agreement has led to a majority of countries, including Russia, forgiving Iraq 85% of debt owed to them.

Iraq is a country with vast resources not only in gas and oil. With two great rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates running through Iraq, it has huge amounts of fertile land. With investments growing in Agricultural programs Iraq is poised once again to be the bread basket of the Middle East.

Continue reading here.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity

Iraqis relieved over 'stable dinar'

2005-08-29T05:18:00.000-07:00

Again, enjoy this article!

July 25, 2005

A market-driven monetary policy has reduced the Iraqi dinar's vulnerability to political upheaval and is keeping the exchange rate stable, Central Bank Governor Sinan al-Shabibi said.

A $5 billion build-up of central bank foreign reserves, after its assets were mostly looted following the 2003- invasion, has helped maintain the rate at 1,465-1,475 dinars to the dollar, Shabibi said. 'We are very comfortable with the present exchange rate,' said Shabibi, who was on a visit to Jordan. 'It is a boost to the donors because it introduces predictability, stability and maintains the external purchasing power of the currency,' Shabibi said, referring to billions of dollars of international aid flows for reconstruction.

Despite the postwar violence that has badly delayed economic recovery, the dinar remained stable for more than a year compared with violent fluctuations during Saddam's rule, when it was battered by wars and crushing UN sanctions. In its heyday in the 1980s, one dinar fetched almost three dollars compared to 2,000 dinars to the dollar in the final years of Saddam's rule. The build-up in foreign exchange reserves -- under arrangements dictated by the International

Monetary Fund -- was from oil sales, support from the government and returns on investments, he added. 'The reserves have been very important to decide the exchange rate and its stability because they make intervention possible,' Shabibi added. Shabibi said currency stability also helped bring inflation down to 20 per cent-25 per cent compared with 40 per cent -50 per cent last year with the bank improving management of money supply by introducing more varied monetary instruments.

Shabibi said interest rate liberalisation, various deposit facilities and a secondary treasury bill market were all in place as part of postwar monetary reforms. 'We enjoy more flexibility now. The Central Bank leaves foreign currency dealings to market forces but intervenes to prevent fluctuations,' he said. Shabibi said a foreign exchange auction in operation for a year and a six-month old treasury auction were effective.

'In the auction buyers ask for dollars and the central bank satisfies this demand generally with the goal of ensuring the stability of the exchange rate,' Shabibi added. 'The treasury auction has been meeting the government's financing needs plus determining interest rate levels in the market,' Shabibi said.

The central bank's enhanced autonomy had helped it deal with the political upheavals of postwar Iraq, he said. 'Now the independence of the central bank is not violated and is strengthening day by day. We decide for example the exchange rate not the government.'

Read the rest here.

Regards Marcel.

Again, nice Iraqi Dinar reading here!

2005-08-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hi again!

Nice reading here:

_____________________________________________

The CPA insists that the Iraqi dinar is very stable. However, I'm uncertain how to interpret the short-term volatility. (Check out the pictures in the link above). UPDATE: The best collection of images and links on the New Dinar can be found at globalsecurity.org. A whole bunch of people are speculating on the New Dinar:

Steve Foran headed to Iraq in January for risky but lucrative work as a truck driver, running a fuel tanker on dangerous highways with a soldier riding shotgun and hopes of banking $60,000 or more for the year.

But now he thinks he has found an Iraqi payday that could dwarf his Halliburton contract.

Like thousands of other U.S. contractors and troops -- and stateside Americans drawn by Web pitches from newborn businesses with names like BetOnIraq.com -- Foran is taking a chance on the new Iraqi dinar.

Today, the colorful currency that replaced banknotes bearing the portrait of Saddam Hussein isn't worth much. A dollar will buy about 1,000 dinars -- more if you're in Iraq, fewer if you're sitting safely in the United States.

But next month? Next year? Once Iraq is a stable democracy pumping oil like nobody's business? Who can say what the payoff might be?

Read the rest here.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema

*******************************
Take Control Marketing
www.take-control.org
www.iraqi-dinar-opportunity.com
*******************************

Iraqi Dinar Conference Calls

2005-08-25T05:05:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

Tonight there will be another great conference call about the Iraqi Dinar Opportunity!

Here are the times:

9:00 PM Thu (East Coast - ET)
6:00 PM Thu (West Coast - PT)
2:00 AM Fri (London GMT+1)
11:00 AM Fri (Sydney)

Conference Number: 646-519-5860
Pin: 7942

This is hosted by FreeDinar.

Regards Marcel.

Another important note on Iraqi Dinars.

2005-08-24T04:46:00.000-07:00

Dear reader,

Of course not everybody is positive about 'investing' in dinars.
In my opinion you should read their opinion too in order to make
a wise descision.
_____________________________________________

Information on the IQD Iraq Dinar

A number of people have begun touting so-called "investment" opportunities in the Iraq Dinar as a "sure way" to make a lot of money with little or no risk. Many of our clients have asked our opinion on the legitimacy of this.

Is "investing" in the Iraq Dinar a sure way to profit? We don't think so. In our opinion, buying the Iraq Dinar is a high risk investment with a poor outlook.

A Little History

The official rate of the old Iraq Dinar, $3.22 USD (U.S. Dollars), was set in 1982 by Saddam Hussein. The old Iraq Dinar could not be freely traded, so this rate was never tested or upheld on the world market.

The current Iraq Dinar (IQD) was introduced between October 2003 and January 2004 by the Coalition Provisional Authority in close consultation with financial experts from Iraq and the international community. The IQD is currently valued at a little less than seven hundredths of a US cent. (1 USD = 1460 IQD). The old "Saddam" Dinar has no current value and is worth only what a collector is willing to pay for it.

Read the rest of the story, click here.
____________________________________________

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity
Take Control

Iraq's Economic Overview

2005-08-23T04:48:00.000-07:00

Dear Friend,

Today I found this interesting article about the economy of Iraq.

Enjoy!

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity
_______________________________________

Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s, financial problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran led the government to implement austerity measures, borrow heavily, and later reschedule foreign debt payments;

Iraq suffered economic losses of at least $100 billion (G$) from the war. After the end of hostilities in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities.

Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic sanctions, and damage from military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic activity. The government's policies of supporting large military and internal security forces and of allocating resources to key supporters of the regime have exacerbated shortages.

The implementation of the UN's oil-for-food program in December 1996 has helped improve economic conditions. For the first six six-month phases of the program, Iraq was allowed to export limited amounts of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods. In December 1999, the UN Security Council authorized Iraq to export under the oil-for-food program as much oil as required to meet humanitarian needs.

Oil exports are now about three-quarters their prewar level. Per capita food imports have increased significantly, while medical supplies and health care services are steadily improving. Per capita output and living standards are still well below the prewar level, but any estimates have a wide range of error.

Iraq's economy is characterized by a heavy dependence on oil exports and an emphasis on development through central planning. Prior to the outbreak of the war with Iran in September 1980, Iraq's economic prospects were bright. Oil production had reached a level of 560,000 m³ (3.5 million barrels) per day, and oil revenues were 21 G$ in 1979 and 27 G$ in 1980. At the outbreak of the war, Iraq had amassed an estimated 35 G$ in foreign exchange reserves.

The Iran-Iraq War depleted Iraq's foreign exchange reserves, devastated its economy, and left the country saddled with a foreign debt of more than 40 G$. After hostilities ceased, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and the restoration of damaged facilities.

Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international sanctions, and damage from military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic activity. Government policies of diverting income to key supporters of the regime while sustaining a large military and internal security force further impaired finances, leaving the average Iraqi citizen facing desperate hardships.

Implementation of a UN oil-for-food program in December 1996 has improved conditions for the average Iraqi citizen. Since 1999, Iraq was authorized to export unlimited quantities of oil to finance humanitarian needs including food, medicine, and infrastructure repair parts. Oil exports fluctuate as the regime alternately starts and stops exports, but, in general, oil exports have now reached three-quarters of their pre-Gulf War levels. Per capita output and living standards remain well below pre-Gulf War levels.

Iraq: Money exchange continues without hiccups

2005-08-22T05:06:00.000-07:00

Dear visitor,

I found this article about the exchange of Iraqi Dinars in Iraq.
Good to read and consider that it is now 2005!

Baghdad, Iraq Press, October 17, 2003 –

The largest money exchange in Iraq's history is proceeding smoothly and no incident has been recorded in the 250 bank branches swapping former tattered banknotes for the new currency.
"Everything is proceeding according to plan. Our 1,250 staff involved in the exchange have reported no problems so far," Faleh Dawood Salman of the Iraq Central Bank said.

There are 80 exchange points in Baghdad alone, Salman said, adding that the bank was determined to complete the exchange by January 15 when old notes bearing the face of the ousted leader Saddam Hussein would be no more.

In the next three months the bank officials are expected to recycle four trillion dinars of the new currency carrying portraits of Hammurabi, an ancient Iraqi ruler and a Middle Ages Iraqi mathematician as well as archaeological landmarks.

"We are satisfied and pleased with the progress of the swap. The Iraqi people are aware of their interests and they realize the new dinar will contribute to economic stability and security," Salman said.

There were expectations that saboteurs and terrorists would try to undermine the exchange. There have been several suicide bomb attacks in Baghdad and lack of security is still a major problem facing both the US and local authorities.

Central Bank officials say the main hindrance occasionally delaying the exchange is the large quantities of fake notes in circulation.
The officials charged with administering the swap have instructions to reject faked dinars of the old regime but sometimes it is hard to identify them because most of the printing materials and machines were looted in the chaos that followed the fall of Baghdad to US troops on April 9.
Hours after the banks began the exchange, the dinar firmed slightly against the US dollar. It rose to 2040 from 2090 and traders expect it strengthened further once the money swap process is completed successfully.

Saddam Hussein began printing money locally after the United Nations sanctions were imposed on Iraq for his 1990 invasion of Kuwait and billions of banknotes were issued without anti-counterfeiting safeguards such as watermarks.

Older bills without Saddam's image continued to circulate in the north of Iraq but these also are being swamped for the new currency.

Meantime, Central Bank Governor Sinan Shabibi has said that privatization of the state-owned banking sector is under consideration and may take place soon.

Iraq's two government-controlled banks – al-Rafidain and al-Rasheed – hold about 90 percent of Iraqi deposits and Shabibi said he intends to open them up for private investors.

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
http://iraqi-dinar-opportunity.com
http://myfreedinar.com/actnowornever

2005-08-20T05:25:00.000-07:00

Dear opseeker,

I wanted to give you some information to chew on about Iraq and the Dinar.
The situation is only getting better and better and the Credibility is awesome.
Take some time to review the following links.

Presidential Order 13303: Signed by President Bush in 2003 c lick here (PDF)

State Department=> http://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/25881.htm

Iraq Embassy=> http://iraq.usembassy.gov/iraq/041024_dinar.html

CIA Information about Iraq=> http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/iz.html

Regards,

Marcel Heersema
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity

Great Audio Messages at my FreeDinar site!

2005-08-19T07:41:00.000-07:00

Dear friend,

I just received a very good update with a link to 3 very good audio messages!

Regards Marcel.

****************************************
WOW! That was a powerful call last night. If you were unable to be on the call, you really missed out. I was able to share some powerful new information about other examples in history. But don't fret! We have it RECORDED. :) So, look for that recording up on audio some time next week.

Also, for the past 2 months I have been working on the best way to share this with others. Trying to find out how to share it, what to say, and how to say it. I believe I've nailed it down! Thanks to those who participated Greg Stewart & Keith Wellington! I appreciate it. I want to share with you a new tool for sharing this business with others.

www.myFreeDinar.com/actnowornever/audio

This is part of your Corporate Site and will help you share the power of the Dinar. In addition, this is a great way to learn as well! Don't worry about trying to explain everything to folks. Send them to these 3 audios, and let them explain it for you. No one can use the excuse that they can't explain the Dinar, because now... I explain it for you!

And if you can believe it... MORE GOOD NEWS! Because of demand and the progress being made in Iraq we are selling over 100 Million Dinar each day! People are excited about the positive movement forward and everyone is trying to secure as much dinar as they can now, because there is no way to really know exactly when the World Bank will peg the value of the Dinar.

Be sure that you don't put off securing your dinar before it is too late! Set a goal for the amount of dinar you would like to have, and pace yourself. Buy a chunk of Dinar each month until you reach your goal.

Because of the growing demand the 1 Million Dinar and 10 Million Dinar packages have slightly gone up in price. 1 Million is now $860 and 10 Million is now $8350.
Over the next 4-6 months the price will increase from time to time based on demand and value set. Be sure you don't wait!

Things are heating up folks! This is the time to really push. School has already started in some places and is just about to start in others. We are entering the best time of the season to develop a business. People are settling back into a routine and life is less hectic. Summer vacations are over and folk are back to the grind and wishing there was a better way...
You know what that "Better Way" is. Don't keep it to yourself!

Share Dinar...

To Your Success,

Mel AtwoodVice President of Communication

Where to exchange the Iraqi Dinar in the future?

2005-08-18T03:01:00.000-07:00

Hi again,

I receive a lot of emails about where to exchange the Iraqi Dinar once it has risen.

Well, I can be very short about this.

As soon as the World Bank accepts this currency, the regular banks will follow
and then you can exchange the dinar just the same as you would do with euro's
against dollars for example.

News From Iraq!

As a side note to all this news; today a Barrel of Oil Peaked in after hours trading at an all time high of OVER $65 per Barrel. That is good news as Iraq is now pumping out more oil than ever, and in July the Oil Ministry of Iraq had an ALL TIME HIGH earnings! The economy is picking up speed.

Iraqi Natural Resources News:

1.6 million barrels of oil daily: August 10, 2005 Iraq's oil minister Ibrahim Baher al-Oloum said that Iraq is to exporting 1.6 million barrels of oil daily in this phase, besides the local consumption estimated at 600,000 barrels daily.

For More: Click here (Arabic News)

Largest Ever Oil Revenues: August 8th, 2005 At the beginning of the news conference, the minister makes a statement on the Oil Ministry "recent achievements". "...The average increase in the production of liquefied Gas and gasoline was between seven and 10 per cent. As for gas oil and paraffin, the increase in July was between 18 and 20 per cent..."

Asked finally where the Iraqi oil revenues go, given the huge amount of oil sales and the poor conditions of the Iraqi people, the minister says: "God be praised, after the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis on 28 June of last year, I would like to assure you, as a person responsible for the oil sector, that all the revenues of the Iraqi crude oil are handled by Iraqis and go directly to the Iraqi development fund.

For More: Click here (Red Nova)

Iraqi Political News:

Iraqi Constitution On Track: June 28, 2005 Although Iraqi lawmakers acknowledge that drafting a permanent constitution is one of the biggest challenges facing the country, the team charged with producing the document are cautiously optimistic that they will complete the job on time.

For More: Click here (IWPR)

Iraq Clerics Call on Sunni Arab Minority to Vote: July 4, 2005 Several Sunni Muslim clerics have prepared a decree calling on members of Iraq's disaffected Sunni Arab minority to vote in coming elections and participate in the writing of a new constitution, a prominent Sunni leader said Monday.

For More: Click here (Washington Post)

Iraqi Financial News:Credit Card's now in Iraq: June 29, 2005 Al Basra province (south of Iraq) has started dealings in commercial markets using Al Fayha credit cards, which is issued for the first time by the Iraqi central bank.

For More: Click here (Iraq Directory)

4 New Banks to Open in Iraq: July 7, 2005 - After the establishment of two new banks in Iraq, Iraqi investors announced the formation of two other banks. The four private sector banks have a combined capital of $100 million.

For More: Click here (Iraqi Economy)

Enjoy!

Marcel Heersema

25 Things You Can Do With Iraqi Dinars

2005-08-17T06:38:00.000-07:00

Dear opportunity seeker,

Here are some great ideas for you to do with Iraqi Dinars:

1- Give all family members 25,000 to 50,000 Iraqi Dinar for birthdays, (your cost $25 to $50) Imagine giving to a 10 year old telling them this can buy them a new car their 16th birthday.

2- Do you have large credit card debit? Then buy Iraqi Dinar now to assure you can pay it off in the future.

3- Imagine giving Dinar as a birthday gift to pay for a Childs college education.

4- Imagine giving an Iraqi Dinar note to pay for a future wedding. Imagine giving it as a wedding gift to purchase a home or a cruise in the future.

5- Imagine giving to the family of a newborn, stating "do not cash until you are 18", it could buy the baby a home, a car or college.

6- Do you and your friends want your children to have braces, private school, and a new car at 16? Then buy Iraqi Dinar now.

7- Give Iraqi Dinar as Birthday gift to a 40 or 50 year old so they can retire early.

8- Give Dinar as a baptism gift for a secure financial future of the child. ie: private school, braces, and a nice car at 16.

9- You can let people know you are a millionaire when you buy One Million in Dinar.

10- Give it as an anniversary gift this year knowing it will be able to purchase diamonds, trips and travel, payoff mortgages, automobiles and life insurance in the future.

11- Use it for future expenses you and other family may insure for aging loved ones that will need nursing care in their later years.

12- Gift it now with instructions to hold and then purchase a multi-million dollar life insurance policy.

13- Fund your retirement program with it.

14- Gift it now for final expenses of aging loved ones so the burden is not on the family. (have each family member buy a small amount of dinar to cover expenses for the aging loved ones you care about)

15- Donate to your favorite charities with instructions to hold it. (you could be the largest benefactor if they hold it long enough)

16- Gift it in your name to Silent auctions and events that raise money for charitable causes with instructions to hold it until it is worth a large value. (you could be the largest benefactor if they hold it long enough, and take the benefactor credit from the organization)

17- Do you have a small business, yet a big dream for it? Buy a small amount Iraqi dinar to hold for 3,4,5,6 years to expand your business and or buy out your competitors.

18- Most Churches, schools, charitable organizations, universities, hospitals etc. have growth plans of expansion looking 10 years to the future ie: new buildings, wings, gymnasiums, athletic fields, music buildings, science and art buildings, pool complexes etc. How would you like to have that new building or wing dedicated to you?

19- Start a fund drive for all to purchase a small amount of Iraqi Dinar, have all gift it to the cause with instructions to have the cause hold it and in 10 years you have a wing, building, athletic field, music or art building, pool complex, name after you! (ask the organization if they will name the wing, building, athletic field, music or art building or pool complex in your behalf if you raise the needed money. Realize many people buying small amounts of Iraqi Dinar will bring 10 to 20 million dollars and more if held.

20- Create a fund drive for whatever cause you wish to fund, raise the money first, telling the Iraqi Dinar growth potential story, then buy Iraqi Dinar and hold it, to accomplish the need. (with you receiving the credit for raising millions of dollars)

21- If you have a child that you wish to have a secondary education from an Ivy league school or any fine school such as Stanford or Berkley etc. Buy Iraqi Dinar now.

22- Do you have large credit card debit? Then buy Iraqi Dinar now to assure you can pay it off in the future.

23- Did you refinance your home with a negative amortization loan, interest only loan, or any loan that ties to future prime rates that are increasing and will continue to increase? Then buy Iraqi Dinar now to protect your home and cover the increased payments and or balloon payment to come.

24- Many of your friends have refinanced their home or investment property and are facing increased mortgage payments, they need to buy Iraqi Dinar and should hear about from you!

25- The idea is simple. Buy some Dinar. Put it in a nice box or envelope (unsealed) and include this letter or a similar one. This was written as an addition to a child's future education funds. But, you could use it as a gift for nearly anything. Imagine how your niece or nephew or son or daughter or grand children or brother or sister will feel when they open it up 5-15 years from now and find out that it'll cover their whole education, trip's around the world, a mission, or even a nice start in a NEW home with their spouse when they get married.

This was taken from the FreeDinar site.

Regards Marcel

www.iraqi-dinar-opportunity.com

More Iraqi Dinar Info

2005-08-16T04:38:00.000-07:00

Dear visitor,

I just found a good article you should read:

NEW YORK (CNN/Money)
- I'm considering buying Iraqi currency as an investment. Is that a good idea?

— Ray Hammond, Dayton, Texas

Judging by the number of pitches I see from Web sites flogging the new Iraqi currency, not to mention dozens of people on eBay, there are at least some people out there who think investing in the Iraqi dinar that was introduced last October makes sense.

My take is unequivocal. Given the difficulty of predicting currency movements, I'm not even a big proponent of investing in established currencies like the euro or the yen.
And when it comes to buying and selling the fledgling currency of a fledgling government in one of the most chaotic parts of the world, that goes beyond mere speculation. I'd call it gambling.

To read the complete article click here.

Regards Marcel.
Iraqi Dinar Opportunity

More info on the Iraqi Dinar Opportunity

2005-08-15T01:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Internet Friend,

Welcome to my blog about the Iraqi Dinar.

Here are some findings about why I believe this can turn out
to be a great investment. Taken from my site.

=> Iraq's massive oil and gas reserves:

Iraq has the largest gas and the second largest oil reserve in the world! That's like having pure gold in your soil. The oil alone is good for $10 trillion. Do you think it will do the Iraqi dinar any good?

=> $70 billion economy potential:

With their oil and gas reserves, foreign investors, aid, highly educated population, regional agreements and Iraq's great access to fresh water for agriculture it has the potential to become one of the richest countries in the world.

=> Independent Central Bank of Iraq:

The Central Bank of Iraq isn't affected by any political party in any way because it is an independent agency. They also offered their first treasury bonds and most of the private commercial banks in Iraq participated.

=> Booming real estate market:

Because money starts to flow and everybody in Iraq is now entitled to buy (instead of only Saddam's inner circle) houses wherever they want this market will be enormous in the coming years.

=> Great security features of the new Iraqi Dinar:

When there is confidence in this currency, stability and growth will follow. The security measures of the Iraqi dinar are very good. Writing that is only visible in ultra violet, color changing symbol, metallic ink, watermarks and more!

=> New stock market of Iraq:

Opened recently and of course very important for developing a country. More foreign investors will be attracted to Iraq this way.

=> Since introduction up by 25%:

The new Iraqi dinar has risen from 3500-4000 to 5000-5500 for a dollar from 2003 till now. A successfull Iraq will bring it up more and also to an international recognized currency.

For more information you can go to my informational site:

http://www.iraqi-dinar-opportunity.com/

Regards,

Marcel Heersema