Iraq Reconstruction News 25 February 2007

Iraq Reconstruction News©
25 February 2007


1. I Miss Iraq. I Miss My Gun. I Miss My War. Here's an article those of us on the non-kinetic side of reconstruction can understand. http://www.esquire.com/features/essay/ESQ0307ESSAY-3

2. Brookings Iraq Index 22 February 2007 http://www.brookings.edu/fp/saban/iraq/index.pdf

3. IWPR Iraqi Press Monitor
- http://www.iwpr.net/?apc_state=henmicr&o=c-1-1171843200-2-1171929600-3-icr&o1=month-2,year-2007&month=2&year=2007
- http://www.iwpr.net/?apc_state=henmicr&o=c-1-1171929600-2-1172016000-3-icr&o1=month-2,year-2007&month=2&year=2007
- http://www.iwpr.net/?apc_state=henmicr&o=c-1-1172016000-2-1172102400-3-icr&o1=month-2,year-2007&month=2&year=2007
- http://www.iwpr.net/?apc_state=henmicr&o=c-1-1172102400-2-1172188800-3-icr&o1=month-2,year-2007&month=2&year=2007

4. War News Radio: High Budget, Low Budget http://warnewsradio.org/

5. Kurdish leader says he now accepts new oil law, a major benchmark for progress in Iraq. SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq: Kurdish authorities have agreed to back a draft law to manage and share Iraq's vast oil wealth, removing the last major obstacle to approving the measure and meeting a key U.S. benchmark in Iraq, a top Kurdish official said Saturday. Massoud Barzani, president of the self-governing Kurdish administration in the north, made the announcement at a joint press conference with U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and President Jalal Talabani. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/24/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Oil-Law.php

6. Iraqi ministry casts doubt on oil law - BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Oil Ministry cast doubt Sunday on statements indicating the Kurds had agreed to support a draft oil law that would divide revenues among all Iraqi factions and meet a key U.S. benchmark in Iraq. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070225/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_oil_law_4;_ylt=AiaZA.qjt1ZeAOmHUtCVvceAsnsA

7. Technocrats Urge Iraq Govt Don't Sign Oil PSAs Over Security -- AMMAN (Dow Jones)--Prominent Iraqi oil technocrats Thursday urged the Iraqi government not to sign production-sharing agreements, or PSAs, with foreign companies until the security situation in the country improves. They have also voiced opposition to a number of articles in the controversial draft hydrocarbon law that is expected to be finalized this week by the cabinet of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki before submitting it to parliament for final approval. http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidDN20070222004362/SecCountries/pagIraq

8. Kurds support new oil law, a key benchmark. Agreement to share oil wealth could open economy to new investments - SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq - Kurdish authorities have agreed to back a draft law to manage and share Iraq’s vast oil wealth, removing the last major obstacle to approving the measure and meeting a key U.S. benchmark in Iraq, a top Kurdish official said Saturday. Approval of a new oil law could help open the way for international oil companies to invest billions to upgrade Iraq’s decrepit wells and pipelines and exploit the country’s reserves, among the world’s largest. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17318630/

9. Calibre Energy Provides Update on Bina-Bawi 1 Exploration Well in Kurdistan.
http://www.oilvoice.com/Calibre_Energy_Provides_Update_on_BinaBawi_1_Exploration_Wel/8892.htm

10. Iraq rebuilding short on qualified civilians. Reconstruction hampered by violence and turf wars between U.S. agencies. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17309199/

11. Iraq poised to hand control of oil fields to foreign firms. Baghdad under pressure from Britain to pass a law giving multinationals rights to the country's reserves. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,2020560,00.html

12. Syria and Iraq discuss means of cooperation http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/14750

13. Istanbul Workshop Brings Consensus on Draft Secured Transactions Law. USAID economic advisors provide GOI with technical assistance for commercial legal framework. As part of efforts to facilitate economic reconstruction and policy reform in Iraq, the USAID-funded Economic Governance II project is working with the Government of Iraq (GOI) to implement a sound and transparent commercial legal framework that fosters the rule of law and promotes a burgeoning private sector. A workshop held January 7-10, 2007, in Istanbul, Turkey, focused on educating key Iraqi stakeholders on the importance of a modern Secured Transactions Law and significantly assisted project advisors and their Iraqi counterparts in developing a final draft of such a law. http://www.usaid.gov/iraq/accomplishments/eg_ss0107_stl.html

14. U.S., Iraqi Leaders Promote Business Opportunities in Northern Iraq -- Irbil, Iraq -- U.S. and Iraqi officials have launched a series of talks aimed at promoting private investment in Iraq's struggling economy. Government officials and businesses executives from the two countries have gathered in Irbil, Iraq, to discuss opportunities for American companies in northern Iraq. VOA's Barry Newhouse attended Tuesday's meeting, and has this report. The talks are officially called "Iraqi Business Gateways" and the first round is aimed at highlighting the merits of Iraq's northern Kurdistan region. But American and Iraqi officials also want companies to come here with a plan to expand into the rest of the country. http://radio.weblogs.com/0116902/2007/02/21.html#a5093

15. Wolfowitz May Bring Bank Back to Iraq - WASHINGTON, Feb 22 (IPS) - World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz may appoint a new resident director for Iraq soon, a move that sources inside the Bank say could contradict the institution's policies on engagement in conflict-stricken areas and put his role in the 2003 U.S. invasion back into the limelight. The move by Wolfowitz, the former number two official at the Pentagon and a main architect of the U.S.-led war, likely means the Bank would release new loans to the occupied Arab nation, despite the deteriorating security situation and recent disclosures of massive corruption in reconstruction efforts. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=36690

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