Ali Baba

Below are excerpt from The New York Times article Allegations Lead Army to Review Arms Policy April 27, 2008 with my emphasis added.

If it was America’s money then America is showing us how “Freedom and Democracy” works!!!. If it is Iraqi or Afghani money then they should compensate us for throwing our money down the drain.!!!

Afghanistan and Iraq with foreign arms, prompted by an allegation of fraud and questions about the competence of the main private supplier of ammunition to Afghanistan.>

shipping aged Chinese rifle cartridges and claiming they were Hungarian.>

<> His father, Michael, incorporated the company in 1999. In 2004, AEY listed Efraim Diveroli as an officer.>

January 2007, the company was awarded a contract, potentially worth $298 million, that made it the primary munitions supplier for Afghan security forces in the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban.>

The New York Times, first reported last month, found that the company had shipped to Afghanistan tens of millions of decades-old Chinese cartridges that had been repackaged in flimsy cardboard. >

NATO and the State Department have determined to be outdated and obsolete, and have spent millions of dollars to have destroyed.>

. He later conducted business with a shell company in Cyprus and two international arms dealers on the federal watch list. He was also recorded in a phone conversation that suggested corruption in arms purchases in Albania.>

Chinese rounds from Albanian depots and were made as long ago as 1960.>

Alice in the wonder land

Last week my friend Tony Femino of Radio Station KTAR sent me a message about 'Disneyland' comes to Baghdad with multi-million pound entertainment park. Here is my reaction to it. I am adding that there actually 2 existing amusement parks other than Al-Zawra park several kilometers away from the American Green Zone.

Maybe they are developing it for the Americans and those “Iraqis” living with them in the Green Zone. With few animals added they will call it the Green ZOO

Dear Tony

Thank you for sending the link to this important article. I am very grateful for the Americans for transforming Iraq into “Alice in the wonder land” country!!!

A bit of history of Al-Zawra park in Baghdad: It used to be an old Iraqi Military camp (built in the 40s) now right at the center of Baghdad. I served at that camp (during my military service 1969). The camp was converted into a park around 1970. The park had lakes, restaurants, playing fields, cafes, swimming pools … and Baghdad Zoo. It used to be (and still is) THE place for people of Baghdad to go out and enjoy life. The attached Satellite image of the park shows the Park as is before the intended American privatizing of the LUNG that the Baghdadis breath fresh air.

The park being just across the street from the green zone will serve as a natural extension to the green zone which will be bracketed by blast walls. Any talk about converting it to an Amusement park is bull-shit. The company will build hotels and probable will make room for “other” embassies that cannot find a single empty house in the already crowded green zone!!!

Last year I sent you the following message concerning the Al-Zawra and Baghdad Zoo. I am sending it again after marking the Sat image to show you the relation of the Zawra to the Green Zone.

While Saddam granted the people of Baghdad a FREE access to the park The Americans are giving OUR park to an American investor to charge US to go in and enjoy OUR park FOR THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS!!!!! Privatization of Enjoyment!?!?

This could only happens in the magical kingdom of “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves”!!!!

Regards

Ghazwan

PS: The American investor might be a Democrat this is why he accepted 50 years instead of the 100 years advocated by the Republican McCain

From: GhazwanAl-Mukhtar
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 4:00 AM
To: Anthony Louis
Cc:
Subject: Achivments

Dear Tony

If you are looking for ACHIVMENT in Iraq here is one from the horse’s mouth!!! Baghdad Zoo opens new horse stables, pool

Please Tony look at the picture of the pool and t

ell me if the pool is half empty or half full??? THEY DID NOT TELL US if they fixed an existing (Saddam Era pool) or is it a new pool!!!!!!! Oh God since when fixing a thing was a great ACHIVMENT

I am sure that the people of Baghdad (in fact Iraq ) will be thrilled by such achievement and will swim FULLY clothed with BOOTS despite the cold weather just to celebrate with the whole world such HUGE achievement in “liberated Baghdad” !!!!

This is an image from Al-Zaora park in Baghdad (just next to our house) you can see the Saddam era swimming pools!!!

Best regards

Ghazwan

Letter to a Listener

Dear Nick

Thank you for send your question sent to VTA program. In response let me make the following points.

1- There are many factions of the Iraqi society that did NOT participate in the "political process" when it started few years ago. Those are independent Nationalist groups or parties that oppose the US occupation and opposed the cooperation with the occupiers right from the beginning. They compose of Sunnis, Shies , Kurds and Turkuman. They formed the bases for the Iraq opposition to the occupation since 2003.

2- On the other hand those who accepted to cooperate with the occupation entered into the "political process". Again it included Sunnis, Shies , Kurds, Turkuman and secular parties. They formed a sectarian government that could not function properly which led to troubles within the ruling coalition. The first to leave the government (ministries) were the Shie parties, the Saderist movement and al-fadela party followed then by the Sunni parties.

3- Over the last 2-3 years America had been trying to draw people from the "nationalist" group (that were out of the "political process") to join into the political process by talking about "reconciliation conference". The First conference held in Baghdad had ALL the political parties that participated in the government. The second conference (held few months ago) was boycotted by parties that were part of the political process. In effect it showed that instead of having MORE people joining the political process now they have LESS people in the political process. At best I do not think that any significant group were added. The conference was a JOCK!!!

4 Now those who have left the government MIGHT consider rejoining the government does not change the fact that THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT FIND IT APPROPRIARE join the corrupt political process. I read now that definitely Al-Sader movement will NOT join. If that is correct the we still FEWER people than we started 2005!!!! Even if they do go back then we are back to square ONE!!!!

5- Over the last few year more and more people have LOST trust in the failed political process advocated by American appointed government. This will led to some parties to leave the political process at the same time does not induce others to join.

Thank you, Nick, for your question. Please do not hesitate to write and tell me more even if it is BAD news.

Best regards

Ghazwan Al-Mukhtar

Name: Nick Thoennes

Message:SOME GOOD POLITICAL NEWS?

PERHAPS SOME OF THE DISASTER IS ENDING?

The return of the Sunnis

One of the clearest signs of victory in a counterinsurgency is when the insurgents lay down their arms to join the political process. Reuters reports that the Sunnis are formally getting set to rejoin the government.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Parties that walked out of Iraq\'s government last year have agreed to rejoin, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Thursday, in what could amount to a long-awaited political breakthrough.

The main Sunni Arab bloc, the Accordance Front, said it intended to submit a list of candidates for cabinet positions within days and could be back in Maliki\'s government soon. Its return has been a major goal of the United States.