Yesterday afternoon the Los Angeles Times' Raheem Salman and Ned Parker reported at the paper's blog (Baghdad & Beyond) on the issue of provincial elections in Iraq, noting that the Parliament had created a working body "to strike a compromise" on legislation that would address the issue.
Meanwhile Sam Dagher's "Iraq Seeks Fighter Jets as Gates See 'Endgame'" (New York Times) informs:
Here in Baghdad, the Iraqi defense minister, Abdel Qader Mohammed Jassim, said buying the jets would be a crucial step if Iraqi forces were to assume more responsibilities from American soldiers. Officials in Washington, however, said any possible sale was at a very preliminary stage.
Dropping back to the August 1st snapshot:
It's been a busy week for the puppet -- a regular spending spree. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency started the week with the announcement that they "notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of Armored Security Vehicles as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $206 milliion." Wednesday included "The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of Light Armored Vehicles as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $3 billion" and "The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of technical assistance for construction of facilities and infrastructure as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $1.6 billiion" and "The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of Helicopters and related munitions as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $2.4 billion." Thursday brought this announcement, "The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of M1A1 and Upgrade to M1A1M Abrams Tanks as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $2.16 billion."
Those announcements above are required by law. So it's not surprising the news of the F-16s had 'officials' in DC (in the administration) stating that this was all preliminary talks. Congress isn't supposed to be informed of pending sales from the newspaper. The law requires the Defense Security Cooperation Agency to inform Congress and to issue a public notice.
Meanwhile Sam Dagher's "Iraq Seeks Fighter Jets as Gates See 'Endgame'" (New York Times) informs:
Here in Baghdad, the Iraqi defense minister, Abdel Qader Mohammed Jassim, said buying the jets would be a crucial step if Iraqi forces were to assume more responsibilities from American soldiers. Officials in Washington, however, said any possible sale was at a very preliminary stage.
Dropping back to the August 1st snapshot:
It's been a busy week for the puppet -- a regular spending spree. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency started the week with the announcement that they "notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of Armored Security Vehicles as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $206 milliion." Wednesday included "The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of Light Armored Vehicles as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $3 billion" and "The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of technical assistance for construction of facilities and infrastructure as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $1.6 billiion" and "The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of Helicopters and related munitions as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $2.4 billion." Thursday brought this announcement, "The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of M1A1 and Upgrade to M1A1M Abrams Tanks as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $2.16 billion."
Those announcements above are required by law. So it's not surprising the news of the F-16s had 'officials' in DC (in the administration) stating that this was all preliminary talks. Congress isn't supposed to be informed of pending sales from the newspaper. The law requires the Defense Security Cooperation Agency to inform Congress and to issue a public notice.
Meanwhile Andrew E. Kramer and Campbell Roberton offer "Iraq Canels Six No-Big Oil Contracts" which is about a press conference Tuesday, held by Hussain al-Shahristani (Iraq's Minister of Oil) at OPEC's meet-up, where it was announced that the contracts with western corporations (including Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total and BP) were being cancelled which the coporations "confirmed on Wednesday." From the article:
While not particularly lucrative by industry standards, the contracts were valued for providing a foothold in Iraq at a time when oil companies are being shut out of energy-rich countries around the world. The companies will still be eligible to compete in open bidding in Iraq.
The six no-bid deals were for work to increase Iraqi oil production from existing oil fields by half a million barrels a day -- the same amount by which OPEC countries agreed Tuesday to reduce output. After its cancellation of the deals, Iraq reduced by 200,000 barrels per day its goal of producing 2.9 million barrels per day by the end of the year.
The six no-bid deals were for work to increase Iraqi oil production from existing oil fields by half a million barrels a day -- the same amount by which OPEC countries agreed Tuesday to reduce output. After its cancellation of the deals, Iraq reduced by 200,000 barrels per day its goal of producing 2.9 million barrels per day by the end of the year.
Yesterday Ron Paul, who ran for the Republican Party's presidential nomination, surprised some by not endorsing GOP candidate John McCain for president. Instead he held a press conference in DC with Ralph Nader (independent presidential candidate, now to be on the ballots in 45 states), Cynthia McKinney (Green Party presidential candidate), Chuck Baldwin (Constitution Party's candidate) and Bob Barr (Libertarian Party presidential candidate). The Detroit Free Press reports:
"Presidential elections turn out to be more of a charade than anything else," said Paul, adding there was no difference between the major-party candidates, Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Barack Obama.
"We represent the majority of the American people," Paul said, referring to the 60% of eligible voters who don’t cast a ballot.
With Paul at the news conference were independent candidate Ralph Nader; former Georgia Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party candidate; and Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution Party candidate. Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate, was invited but said at his own news conference later that he declined because Paul didn't endorse one candidate.
"We represent the majority of the American people," Paul said, referring to the 60% of eligible voters who don’t cast a ballot.
With Paul at the news conference were independent candidate Ralph Nader; former Georgia Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party candidate; and Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution Party candidate. Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate, was invited but said at his own news conference later that he declined because Paul didn't endorse one candidate.
Lewis notes this from Team Nader:
Nader and Ron Paul with Wolf Blizter on CNN Today
Ralph Nader and Ron Paul will appear this afternoon on CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.
CNN says the segment will run sometime between 4:15 and 4:40 p.m. EST today.
Hope you get a chance to see it.
The press conference with Ralph and Ron Paul and other independent candidates this morning went great.
LISTEN TO PRESS CONFERENCE HERE
Thank you Ron Paul for hosting it and for your determination to bust up the two party system.
C-Span was there and will run the event in its entirety. (Check schedule here or the C-SPAN Video Library here.)
We'll be posting some highlights from the press conference here soon.
And tomorrow, Ralph Nader will appear on CNN with Lou Dobbs for his Independent Convention.
Onward to November
The Nader Team
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
iraq
the los angeles times
raheem salman
ned parker
sam dagher
the new york times
andrew e. kramer
