Mr. Maliki's assertions were the latest in a series of glowing reports he has offered since the start of the security plan in February. And while his assessment of the decline in violence matches that of American military commanders, it was not clear how he had tallied the number of returning families, which officials say have been exceedingly difficult to locate. The significance of the returns is also a subject of debate.
Most of the capital's displaced people have yet to return, and the number of those leaving still outpaces those returning, according to Dana Graber Ladek, the Iraqi displacement specialist for the International Organization for Migration.
Over a million Iraqis have fled their homes in the past year and a half, she said, nearly three-quarters of them from Baghdad. And though the Iraqi government is offering one million Iraqi dinars, or roughly $812, to each Baghdad family that returns, she said, only a fraction of residents has done so.
Most of the capital's displaced people have yet to return, and the number of those leaving still outpaces those returning, according to Dana Graber Ladek, the Iraqi displacement specialist for the International Organization for Migration.
Over a million Iraqis have fled their homes in the past year and a half, she said, nearly three-quarters of them from Baghdad. And though the Iraqi government is offering one million Iraqi dinars, or roughly $812, to each Baghdad family that returns, she said, only a fraction of residents has done so.
The above is from Cara Buckley's "Iraq Premier Sees Families Returning to Safer Capital" in this morning's New York Times. Where does al-Maliki see that? In his conspiracy fueled mind? On his single photo-op trip through a non-Green Zone section of Baghdad?
It's not happening. And for all the talk of 'safety in Baghdad,' the reality is that most organizations have moved outside it. Amman, Jordan is one popular spot.
al-Maliki is a US installed puppet and he's one that hasn't gotten the results the White House wants and has 'presided' over international scandals. While the world may not have known last Christmas about the Blackwater shooting, he did. And he did nothing. It was only the September 16th shooting of this year that roused him to speak (strong words that never panned out). So he pushes a mass return that just isn't happening.
Maybe it will distract from the reality of Reuters' report:
The cabinet agreed on a draft in February and sent it to parliament for approval, despite disagreement over the rights of regions to negotiate contracts with foreign oil companies and whether the federal or regional governments would control the oil fields.
Maliki said the bill, which will provide a legal framework for foreign firms to do business in Iraq, had since been sent back to cabinet for more talks to iron out the disputes.
The prime minister said there was still disagreement over the exploration of undeveloped fields and production-sharing agreements, as well as contracts that had already been signed with some foreign companies.
Maliki said the bill, which will provide a legal framework for foreign firms to do business in Iraq, had since been sent back to cabinet for more talks to iron out the disputes.
The prime minister said there was still disagreement over the exploration of undeveloped fields and production-sharing agreements, as well as contracts that had already been signed with some foreign companies.
The White House wants that theft of Iraqi oil passed. al-Maliki swore he could get it through. Swore that in the spring of 2008.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
the new york times
cara buckley
