Iraq Reconstruction News 1 February 2007

Iraq Reconstruction News
1 February 2007


1. Stuart Bowen, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (01/31/2007) http://switchboard.real.com/player/email.html?PV=6.0.12&&title=Washington%20Journal&link=rtsp%3A%2F%2Fvideo.c%2Dspan.org%2Fproject%2Firaq%2Firaq%5Fwj013107%5Fbowen.rm

2. Stuart Bowen, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, has just issued his quarterly report investigating waste, fraud and security problems in the reconstruction efforts. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7094969

3. Iraq Weekly Status Report 31 January 2007 http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/79813.pdf

4. IWPR Iraqi Press Monitor. http://www.iwpr.net/?apc_state=henmicrc-1-1170201600-2-1170288000-3-icr&o=c-1-1170201600-2-1170288000-3-icr&o1=month-1,year-2007&month=1&year=2007 and http://www.iwpr.net/?apc_state=henmicrmonth-2,year-2007&o=c-1-1170288000-2-1170374400-3-icr&o1=month-2,year-2007&month=2&year=2007

5. Status of Ministerial Capacity Development in Iraq. Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, 30 January 2007
http://www.sigir.mil/reports/pdf/audits/06-045.pdf

6. Audit Shows Millions Wasted In Iraq Reconstruction Aid. AP WASHINGTON -- Tens of millions of dollars have been wasted in Iraq reconstruction aid, some of it on an Olympic-size swimming pool ordered up by Iraqi officials for a police academy that has yet to be used, investigators say. The quarterly audit by Stuart Bowen Jr., the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, is the latest to paint a grim picture of waste, fraud and frustration in an Iraq war and reconstruction effort that has cost taxpayers more than $300 billion and left the region near civil war.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117024090365793552.html?mod=special_page_iraq_1

7. Winds of Change Iraq Report 29 January 2007 http://www.windsofchange.net/archives/cat_geo_iraq.php

8. CRS: Defense Contracting in Iraq: Issues and Options for Congress, January 26, 2007. http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33834.pdf

9. Turkey-Iraq oil crisis ends. Iraq National Oil Co. SOMO has sent an official statement to the Turkish Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade and stated that former provisions are still in effect and they will continue transporting oil to Turkey with former provisions. http://english.sabah.com.tr/0B52392DCEA8441B8849EF57514D83DF.html#0B52392DCEA8441B8849EF57514D83DF

10. Iraq bans Turkish oil and meat. BAGHDAD - UPI -- Iraq and Turkey are in a trade dispute over oil products and meat imports as tension between the neighboring countries continues. The BBC reports oil products shipments from two southern Turkish cities into Iraq have been suspended over a dispute with the central Iraqi government over resigning contracts. http://www.kurdishaspect.com/doc0131UPI.html

11. Transport Ministry denies news of Iraqi airplanes suspension in Syrian airports. DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Transport Ministry denied Wednesday what was reported by media about suspending the Iraqi airplanes' landing in the Syrian airports. http://www.sana.org/eng/21/2007/01/31/100088.htm

12. Turkish businessmen concerned about oil transportation problem with Iraq. http://www.thenewanatolian.com/tna-22174.html

13. Desperate Days for Iraq's Ambulance Drivers. Weekend Edition Sunday, January 28, 2007 · Baghdad's first responders are busy. But saving lives is nearly impossible in a deteriorating city. Ambulance drivers are often shot or arrested, road blocks impede rescues and there aren't enough ambulances in the first place. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7054512

14. UK gives £4 million to help tackle growing humanitarian needs in Iraq. The Department for International Development (DFID) has today announced that the UK will provide additional support to the International Committee of the Red Cross’ (ICRC) for its humanitarian efforts in Iraq.
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/pressreleases/iraq-humanitarian.asp

15. Iraqi Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs starts small loans program.
http://www.portaliraq.com/news/Iraqi+Ministry+of+Labor+and+Social+Affairs+starts+small+loans+program__1112438.html?PHPSESSID=981b1cb5ed488781a9b59c388f237ec0

16. Baghdad to embark on 500 service projects next month.
http://www.portaliraq.com/news/Baghdad+to+embark+on+500+service+projects+next+month__1112435.html

17. Minister of Industry and Minerals discusses with major American companies the opportunities of industrial investment in Iraq. http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=3058

18. Iraq's Kurds plan new Erbil airport. Region hopes to attract business and act as stopover hub. Iraq's northern region of Kurdistan is planning to open a new $300 million international airport next year, which the local government believes will be essential to attracting business to the area. While the Iraqi capital Baghdad remains highly volatile, Kurdistan's primary city Erbil has been relatively stable - although it suffered a twin suicide bombing three years ago that killed scores of people, including several high-ranking political figures, and another devastating bomb attack 15 months later. http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/01/30/211785/iraqs-kurds-plan-new-erbil-airport.html

19. Unemployment imposes unfamiliar jobs on university graduates Diwaniya, Jan 27, (VOI) - Wars, blockade and post-invasion conditions have given rise to new or say extinct phenomena Iraqis, namely university graduates, have never known before.These new jobs, which anyone can take for they do not need scientific or university skills, emerged as a result of crazy price hikes, tough living conditions, erosion of the country's middle class and maldistribution of salaries for state employees. http://www.aswataliraq.info/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=36047&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

20. Security conditions and the suspended Kuwaiti contract are behind the current fuel crisis in Iraq. An official source at the Iraqi Ministry of Oil attributed the current fuel crisis in the country to the difficulty in reaching Latifiyah warehouse by tankers transferring oil derivativess due to terrorist acts, as well as the suspension of the Kuwaiti contract to supply Iraq with fuel since last November due to cutting the road by the American forces and the new Kuwaiti conditions, causing a real crisis in fuel, especially petrol and its non-arrival to gas stations. http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=3050

21. 100 Iraqi Deputies call for the Kuwaiti National Assembly to cancel the debt of Iraq. http://www.iraqdirectory.com/DisplayNews.aspx?id=3047

END