Comments on: What You Won’t Find in the Petraeus Report http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/ Speak Victorian, Think Pagan Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:31:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: tequila http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378604 tequila Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:01:48 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378604 Interestingly, most of this new investment is Turkish money. The KRG's economy is built on two things: Turkish trade/smuggling/investment and oil money. http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/85808B77-58B8-4C00-866C-7F38FEB253A7.htm Zeki Fattah, a senior economic adviser to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil, the northern Iraqi capital, said: "If you want to see what's really going on, go down to the border. "At the border you'll see a queue of trucks, stretching for over 20km, bringing with them all manner of goods from Turkey." Since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, business between these two former warring neighbours has mushroomed. About 70 per cent of all government and private sector contracts issued in the KRG area have been to Turkish firms, according to the KRG's Kurdistan Development Corporation (KDC). Mia Early, the KDC's head of investment promotion said: "At the end of 2006, the Erbil Chamber of Commerce had 385 active international companies registered. "The majority of them were Turkish." The Kurdistan Region in Iraq ”“ as the KRG calls the three, predominantly Kurdish northern Iraqi governorates under its jurisdiction ”“ relies a great deal on this trade with Turkey. "There are four to five million people here in the region," Fattah said. "We do maybe $2bn to $3bn of trade with Turkey every year ”“ it's our main partner. Interestingly, most of this new investment is Turkish money. The KRG’s economy is built on two things: Turkish trade/smuggling/investment and oil money.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/85808B77-58B8-4C00-866C-7F38FEB253A7.htm

Zeki Fattah, a senior economic adviser to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil, the northern Iraqi capital, said: “If you want to see what’s really going on, go down to the border.

“At the border you’ll see a queue of trucks, stretching for over 20km, bringing with them all manner of goods from Turkey.”

Since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, business between these two former warring neighbours has mushroomed.

About 70 per cent of all government and private sector contracts issued in the KRG area have been to Turkish firms, according to the KRG’s Kurdistan Development Corporation (KDC).

Mia Early, the KDC’s head of investment promotion said: “At the end of 2006, the Erbil Chamber of Commerce had 385 active international companies registered.

“The majority of them were Turkish.”

The Kurdistan Region in Iraq ”“ as the KRG calls the three, predominantly Kurdish northern Iraqi governorates under its jurisdiction ”“ relies a great deal on this trade with Turkey.

“There are four to five million people here in the region,” Fattah said. “We do maybe $2bn to $3bn of trade with Turkey every year ”“ it’s our main partner.

]]> By: The Glittering Eye » Blog Archive » The Economist on Iraqi Kurdistan http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378440 The Glittering Eye » Blog Archive » The Economist on Iraqi Kurdistan Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:10:13 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378440 [...] wanted to draw your attention to a recent article from The Economist on Iraqi Kurdistan (hat tip: Coming Anarchy). I think the article is balanced, sensible, and well worth your time. I’m particularly [...] [...] wanted to draw your attention to a recent article from The Economist on Iraqi Kurdistan (hat tip: Coming Anarchy). I think the article is balanced, sensible, and well worth your time. I’m particularly [...]

]]> By: Rommel http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378429 Rommel Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:35:50 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378429 One man's "East Bumfuck", as you so tactlessly put it, is another man's New York or London. Besides, some of us are just interested. One man’s “East Bumfuck”, as you so tactlessly put it, is another man’s New York or London.

Besides, some of us are just interested.

]]> By: Danny Vega http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378424 Danny Vega Tue, 11 Sep 2007 06:20:34 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378424 Probably because it's insignificant in the scope of things. More troops are dying despite there being more of them. As said before, a couple of buildings doesn't mean squat. Yeah, global interconnectedness, that's adorable. Come back to reality, the one where Iraq is chaos. Probably because it’s insignificant in the scope of things. More troops are dying despite there being more of them. As said before, a couple of buildings doesn’t mean squat. Yeah, global interconnectedness, that’s adorable. Come back to reality, the one where Iraq is chaos.

]]> By: Maryland Pok Guy » Blog Archive » Destination… Kurdistan? http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378415 Maryland Pok Guy » Blog Archive » Destination… Kurdistan? Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:14:30 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378415 [...] all seriousness, what I’ve heard about Iraqi Kurdistan lies in stark contrast to the experience of the remainder of Iraq.  It seems [...] [...] all seriousness, what I’ve heard about Iraqi Kurdistan lies in stark contrast to the experience of the remainder of Iraq.  It seems [...]

]]> By: Jimm http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378414 Jimm Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:09:58 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378414 Let's not forget that Iraqi Kurdistan's "success" has been a much longer slog (1991-2007) than Iraq's, and is rather tenuous. Let’s not forget that Iraqi Kurdistan’s “success” has been a much longer slog (1991-2007) than Iraq’s, and is rather tenuous.

]]> By: ramapajama http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378413 ramapajama Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:03:01 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378413 I think Americans should be enthused about these buildings because they are a tangible example of progress being made. While the rest of Iraq is being consumed by violence, Kurdistan is proving itself stable enough to be a place for foreign investment. A greater degree of stability there means that is just one less area American forces in Iraq have to worry about. Besides, I'm sure not many American's visit Japan every year, but I doubt anyone would consider the peace and prosperity it experienced after WWII to be no big deal. I think Americans should be enthused about these buildings because they are a tangible example of progress being made. While the rest of Iraq is being consumed by violence, Kurdistan is proving itself stable enough to be a place for foreign investment. A greater degree of stability there means that is just one less area American forces in Iraq have to worry about. Besides, I’m sure not many American’s visit Japan every year, but I doubt anyone would consider the peace and prosperity it experienced after WWII to be no big deal.

]]> By: subadei http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378412 subadei Tue, 11 Sep 2007 01:52:33 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378412 "I don't see why Americans should be enthused about how some place they are never going to visit has a bunch of new towers." I suspect it's both the infrastructure and the global connectivity that these new towers represent that we find exciting. “I don’t see why Americans should be enthused about how some place they are never going to visit has a bunch of new towers.”

I suspect it’s both the infrastructure and the global connectivity that these new towers represent that we find exciting.

]]> By: TGGP http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378411 TGGP Tue, 11 Sep 2007 01:33:33 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378411 Why do you assume that about the report? Also, even if it isn't American tax dollars going into those buildings, I don't see why Americans should be enthused about how some place they are never going to visit has a bunch of new towers. Why do you assume that about the report?

Also, even if it isn’t American tax dollars going into those buildings, I don’t see why Americans should be enthused about how some place they are never going to visit has a bunch of new towers.

]]> By: Alfred Russel Wallace http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378407 Alfred Russel Wallace Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:39:25 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378407 Interesting that Hunt Oil, a privately held independent US oil company, and the Kurdish regional government said Saturday that they had signed a production-sharing contract for petroleum exploration in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. I think this is the first significant US oil exploration company to break ranks and do a deal in 'Kurdistan'. Interesting that Hunt Oil, a privately held independent US oil company, and the Kurdish regional government said Saturday that they had signed a production-sharing contract for petroleum exploration in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. I think this is the first significant US oil exploration company to break ranks and do a deal in ‘Kurdistan’.

]]> By: subadei http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378401 subadei Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:12:26 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378401 I, too, think snow's on the right track. Though I'd add Turkey to the equation. A bit analogous to the Taiwan/China balancing act. If Bush trumpets the Kurdish success (the silver lining of the war, imo) he further excites both Kurdish separatism and the consequent Turkish alarm/action. I, too, think snow’s on the right track. Though I’d add Turkey to the equation. A bit analogous to the Taiwan/China balancing act. If Bush trumpets the Kurdish success (the silver lining of the war, imo) he further excites both Kurdish separatism and the consequent Turkish alarm/action.

]]> By: Curzon http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378399 Curzon Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:02:53 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378399 How is commending development state worship? And I read "Lebanese investors" as the sponsors of the hotel, not US taxes. Please reduce the level of crazy in your comments. As to the alleged credit crunch, there's still lots of liquid capital floating around the world economy looking for something to invest in. How is commending development state worship? And I read “Lebanese investors” as the sponsors of the hotel, not US taxes. Please reduce the level of crazy in your comments.

As to the alleged credit crunch, there’s still lots of liquid capital floating around the world economy looking for something to invest in.

]]> By: Mark http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378382 Mark Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:36:37 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378382 You state-worshipers are always good for a laugh. Who cares that they built a strip mall in East Bumf@#k? Is that what the US army, and more importantly, US taxes, should be doing? The credit crunch and deflation will hopefully make such wasteful spending impossible. You state-worshipers are always good for a laugh. Who cares that they built a strip mall in East Bumf@#k?
Is that what the US army, and more importantly, US taxes, should be doing?

The credit crunch and deflation will hopefully make such wasteful spending impossible.

]]> By: Mihnea Dumitru http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378378 Mihnea Dumitru Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:09:21 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378378 completely agree with snow completely agree with snow

]]> By: snow http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/comment-page-1/#comment-378374 snow Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:38:38 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/09/10/what-you-wont-find-in-the-petraeus-report/#comment-378374 It is interesting that the bush admin hasn't trumpeted the positives of the Kurdish region. Perhaps they're afraid that any praise may give a boost to those who want to break the country apart? It is interesting that the bush admin hasn’t trumpeted the positives of the Kurdish region. Perhaps they’re afraid that any praise may give a boost to those who want to break the country apart?

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