ERBIL — Kurdish factions in the Iraqi parliament are expected to sue the Iraqi former PM and current VP Nouri al-Malki over the corruption of the T-50IQ aircraft purchase which has wasted millions of dollars from the Iraqi federal budget.
Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday that the T-50 aircraft which the Iraqi government has bought from South Korea would soon be delivered. However, the government should have received the aircraft a year ago according to the contract.
The Iraqi government has been paying 1 million dollars to South Korea every month as a financial fine for not being able to receive the aircraft T-50IQ, according to a contract signed by former Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
In 2013, al-Maliki announced the signing of a contract with the Korean Ministry of Defense for the purchase of 24 T-50IQ aircraft.
According to the deal, the process of delivery of the aircraft would’ve begun in April of 2016 after the completion of the Swairah airport by the Iraqi government. The airport is however not ready yet and Baghdad needs to pay a fine for the delay in receiving the aircraft.
This deal is one of the biggest corruption case which occurred due to the lack of an airstrip for the aircraft and the fines paid by Iraq to South Korea as a result of the delays in the receipt of the aircraft is wasting public wealth.
Mohsen Saadun, a Kudish MP, told BasNews that Maliki needs to be prosecuted and this corruption case should be investigated by the Attorney General.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (middle) speaks with U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis (right) as they stand with other NATO defense ministers during a group photo at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday. | AP Photo
‘Americans cannot care more for your children’s future security than you do,’ Trump’s defense chief tells ministers.
On his first visit to NATO headquarters, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday delivered a blunt warning to America’s allies, telling them they must increase military spending or the United States will pull back from its commitment to the transatlantic bloc.
Noting that one of his predecessors, Robert Gates, had called for increased spending by NATO allies a decade ago, Mattis told his fellow defense ministers: “The impatience Secretary Gates predicted is now a governmental reality.”
It was a stark warning delivered on behalf of President Donald Trump, who had previously declared NATO to be “obsolete” and raised doubts about whether America would remain committed to the common defense clause that is the bedrock of the NATO treaty.
“No longer can the American taxpayer carry a disproportionate share of the defense of Western values,” Mattis told the meeting, according to prepared remarks distributed by the Pentagon. “Americans cannot care more for your children’s future security than you do.”
He added: “Disregard for military readiness demonstrates a lack of respect for ourselves, for the alliance and for the freedoms we inherited which are now clearly threatened. America will meet its responsibilities, but if your nations do not want to see America moderate its commitment to this alliance, each of your capitals needs to show support for our common defense.”
‘My second home’
The blunt threat cast an ominous cloud over a meeting that began with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warmly welcoming Mattis back to Brussels, where he had previously served two years as supreme allied commander for transformation.
Mattis, who had expressed his own steadfast support for NATO during and after his Senate confirmation hearing, had arrived at its headquarters with a positive message, declaring NATO to be “my second home.”
In a nod to Trump’s criticism of NATO during the presidential campaign, and his repeated demands that NATO countries pick up more of the financial costs of the alliance, Stoltenberg stressed that military spending by European allies and Canada had increased by 3.8 percent last year.
Mattis, in his brief remarks before the meeting, pointed to Russia’s invasion and annexation of Crimea, and its military intervention in eastern Ukraine in 2014 as a turning point for international security.
“The events of 2014 were sobering and we must continue to adapt to what’s being revealed to us in terms of our security challenges,” Mattis said.
Clearly seeking to reassure allies of U.S. commitment to NATO, he said: “The alliance remains a fundamental bedrock for the United States and for all the transatlantic community, bonded as we are together. As President Trump has stated, he has strong support for NATO. And NATO is in the midst of transformation. It has always been adapting to the security challenges, this is nothing new. Perhaps the pace of change has certainly picked up a bit, but this is something we can deal with.”
Mattis added, “I do have confidence that we will prove once again that we can react to the changing circumstances. We have done so in the past and there’s every reason for confidence that we will move out purposefully together once again. I am here to listen to my fellow ministers, to have an open conversation among friends and allies about where we’re going and our shared level of commitment.”
Earlier in the day, Stoltenberg responded to reports that Russia had deployed a new cruise missile by stressing the importance of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which Russia may have violated.
“I will not comment on intelligence issues,” Stoltenberg told reporters in response to a question about the alleged Russian breach. “What I can say is that any noncompliance of Russia with the INF treaty would be a serious concern for the alliance.”
“The INF treaty is very important,” Stoltenberg continued, “because the INF treaty eliminated a whole category of nuclear weapons, weapons which could threaten Europe and NATO allies until they were eliminated by the INF Treaty at the end of the 1980s. Compliance with arms control agreements is of great importance, especially when it comes to treaties concerning nuclear weapons.”
Fight against ISIL
Mattis spent much of the day holding one-on-one meetings with colleagues on the sidelines of the formal conference.
U.K. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said he met with Mattis for about 50 minutes and they agreed on the need for increased spending by the majority of NATO countries that do not meet the alliance’s benchmark of 2 percent of annual GDP.
Fallon said he and Mattis also discussed the need to bring senior leaders of the Islamic State to justice. With Western allies close to defeating ISIL in its remaining strongholds in Iraq and Syria, Fallon said he stressed to Mattis that it was of paramount concern to European governments to track ISIL fighters who might seek to return to their homes in Western Europe.
Fallon said NATO defense ministers expected the U.S. to soon release proposals for the future of the joint military campaign against ISIL.
Overall, Fallon said he supported the call by Mattis for quicker decision-making by NATO and for the alliance to upgrade its capabilities to respond to modern-day threats. “The threats are evolving more rapidly than the alliance,” Fallon told reporters.
This article first appeared on POLITICO.EU on Feb. 15, 2017.
BAGHDAD — Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi former PM and current VP, is suspected to be behind the violence that erupted between the protesters and the security forces during Saturday’s demonstrations in Baghdad, which resulted in the death of five people and wounding of around 200 others.
The followers of Sadrist Movement, led by the Shi’ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, on Saturday organized a large-scale demonstration in the center of Baghdad, demanding changes in the electoral commission and ending corruption in the Iraqi government.
The officials of the electoral commission of Iraq are believed to be affiliated with Maliki, thus he is endeavoring to block any reforms in the commission as he intends to take over the Iraqi PM’s position in the upcoming election.
Faiq Sheikh, member of the Iraqi parliamentary legal committee, stated Maliki has urged his supporters to blend into the crowd of the protesters and to open fire at the security forces to cite violence between the protesters and the security members.
The current electoral commission is in Maliki’s favour, Sheikh said, arguing that most of its staff members are working under his command.
History of edits:: 2/15/2017 23:28 • 32 visits readable
{Mtabah- Euphrates News} revealed US general for modifying artillery forces in northern city of Mosul, in preparation for the battle to liberate the right side of the city.
Said Lt. Col. Patrick and hip commander of the Second Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division , in an interview with Reuters Television in a artillery sites in northern Mosul , “it ‘s getting harder every day here.”
We and hip “We continue to put pressure on Daesh in the West on a daily basis , and narrow the noose on their resources and put pressure on the logistics command and control points and attack weapons.”
And he took over the brigade led by hip and leadership in Mosul six weeks of theSecond Brigade of the band by the 101st Airborne.
He said American General, said that “artillery support will be important in the next battle because it is possible to launch in all weather conditions , ” adding that ” the American artillery positions were modified after a battle east of Mosul. The
US and the army about 5260 troops in Iraq , including 1700 paratroopers from the band and hip.
US Vice President Meets German Chancellor and other leaders to rally international support BAGHDAD / Shaima Rashid – Murtaza Salah Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi leave at the head of a senior Iraqi delegation to participate in the work of the 53rd session of the annual Munich Conference on Security Policy, which begins on Friday and lasts two days for the duration of February 17 to 19 with the participation of more than 500 senior political figures from all over the world to discuss the fight against “Daesh” terrorist and policy issues, security and Alaammar.omn scheduled to Prime Minister delivers a speech at the conference, explaining the Iraqi done in the fight against terrorism and to mobilize international support to support Iraq militarily and economically and humane. Politicians and stressed that “My terrorism and the reconstruction of liberated areas,” the most prominent al-Abadi would expose him in the Munich conference, calling on world countries to fulfill their obligations towards Iraq, which Ringer terrorism for years. He said government spokesman d.Saad al-Hadithi told the “morning”: that “it is scheduled to Prime Minister Haidar al-Abbadi heads the head of a high ministerial delegation on Friday to Germany to attend the annual Munich Conference on Security and Political World, which will start its work for the period from February 17 to 19 this at the invitation of Chancellor German Chancellor Angela Merkel. “ Sabri pointed out that “The prime minister will meet on the sidelines of the conference, heads and officials of a number of participating countries, including a meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss global policy issues of security, along with a number of leaders and leadership in the international community.” He explained newborn, that the delegation, which will be headed by al-Abadi to the Munich conference of the ministers of planning, defense, national security and a number of senior officials, as will deliver the Prime Minister speech during the conference, which provides a detailed explanation of the Iraqi government’s position and its actions in the fight against “Daesh” terrorist and victories troops recently Iraq in Mosul, in addition to clarify Iraq’s position on the nature and the importance of coordination that must mounts with the international community in the areas of support and backing in the war led on behalf of the world, as the Prime Minister will give an explanation on government steps to achieve the unity of the national ranks and solving political problems and cope with the crisis economic experienced by the country and the reform measures undertaken by the government in this context, in addition to the forms of support from the international community for Iraq on the military, economic and humanitarian level and the reconstruction of liberated areas. “
To meet with leaders The prime minister had said at the weekly press conference yesterday Tuesday, “Iraq’s participation in the Munich Security Conference and global policy to discuss the provision of support for Iraq,” noting “his intention to hold a number of meetings with heads of state and leaders, including the vice president of the United States Mike Pence and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the heads of a number of countries that provide support for Iraq in its war against terrorism. “ For his part, head of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Fouad Hussein: “The prime minister will meet with the region’s president, Massoud Barzani, on the sidelines of the Munich Conference on Security 2017, which begins Friday in Germany.”
The views of parliamentary And on the participation of the prime minister at the Munich Conference, he sees the House of Representatives by Habib Terminal that “among the most prominent files that will be raised is terrorism and drain its resources file and support the countries of Iraq, as well as economic issues, and reconstruction devastated” Daesh “terrorist.” The Terminal “morning”: “The al-Abadi presence in this gathering will present the obligations of States towards Iraq, who fought on behalf of the world, and when defeated terrorism in Iraq is defeated in all the world as threatened terror” Aldaasha “all nations,” he added, “must be the world’s obligations material and moral commitment to Iraq, “and noted that the terminal,” the subject of a conference of donor countries would not be a long argument about the Prime Minister in a meeting with State officials, especially that the world is sympathetic to Iraq what it did “Daesh” their land “gangs. For his part, said member of parliament Ahmed Salal al-Badri told the “morning” that “Abadi him to deliver many messages to the world during his visit to Munich,” said: “We have to address the international community to provide financial support for Iraq,” he said, adding that “organization” Daesh “terrorist nearing extinction, and that the next phase will be the reconstruction of liberated areas, which require the support of countries and set up a conference to rebuild its infrastructure phase.” In turn, MP Ibtisam al-Hilali explained the “morning” that “the visit Abadi to Munich from within the visits by the rebuilding of Iraq to his privileged position in the two situations regionally and internationally”, said: “The fight against terrorism in Iraq and to mobilize international support and the path of the Iraqi-American relations, It will be one of the most prominent files that will put Abadi world leaders. “
500 Personal And it hosts the German city of Munich on Friday, the conference which is being held since 1963, with the participation of 500 personal including 100 heads of state and governments foreign and defense ministers, including 47 foreign and 30 minister and defense minister, and the presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s new secretary-general, United Nations Antonio Guterres and Vice US President Mike pence, and defense Secretary James Mattis, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, while not confirmed the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Issues and developments The chairman of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Aychenjr in a panel discussion in the state of Bavaria on Wednesday that “the future of Europe in the light of international developments and the war in Syria will be the most prominent Melvin in the conference.” Sees Aychenjr, he said that “the international security system today is probably more volatile than in any other point after the end of World War II,” giving the first of the topics security conference in Munich and offer new security report titled: profile “after the fact, post and the West in the post system “, the report combines a variety of analyzes, data and statistics, charts, and maps on the developments and key challenges in the area of international security, as the President of the German Bundestag Norbert Lammert in Bavaria hearing the same report topics the President and said:” there were already three notable events illustrate the challenges namely; the change of administration in the United States, Donald Trump’s inauguration speech; formally asked Britain to leave the European Union, the impending constitutional reform in Turkey. “ Although the focus of the conference on European issues and international relations of its variables in the United States, Russia, and the file of the Syrian crisis, but the issues of fighting terrorism and the war on “Daesh” in Iraq and international cooperation in this area, will be among the international conference program The important.
History of edits:: 2/15/2017 22:52 • 46 visits readable
BAGHDAD {Euphrates News} stressed commander of the armed forces, the prime minister, Haider Abadi, “we are in the final stages to defeat Daesh terrorist gangs.”
A statement by the Information Office of the Prime Minister and the Euphrates News Agency {} received a copy of it, that Abadi “chaired a meeting with the leaders of the popular crowd in the presence of security and military commanders to discuss the organization of the work of the crowd in the light of customs clearance in the popular crowd the law.”
Abadi stressed “the importance of today ‘s meeting to organize the crowd and walk it on a sound footing, noting that the great sacrifices made by our children in the crowd and the rest of the squad are contributed to the liberalization of land and must guarantee their rights.”
“We are in the final Mrahalna to defeat gangs Daesh Whenever we approach thefinal victory escalate fashions to stir up trouble and division and these should not be a place for them among us, because we now we have proved that we are a single row in our fight against terror Daesh gangs.”
The prime minister said ” the crowd should represent all Iraqis , ” he said . “We will not allow the use of the name the crowd to offend him and his fighters heroes.”
History of edits:: 2/15/2017 22:33 • 56 visits readable
[Oan- Baghdad]
announced that the Ministry of Communications, that the doors launch a satellite sovereign.
The Minister of Communications Hassan Kadhim Al – Rashid in his speech during the opening of the second GITEX , which opened today on the land of the Baghdad International Fair “within the important strategic projects for the Ministry of the satellite , Iraqi sovereign project and the extent of its importance and that will bring Iraq ‘s great scientific leap in for a world of space and promote telecommunications infrastructure ceremony space in Iraq , in addition to enhancing the security side. ”
Al – Rashed said “progress in talks with the French Air bus company where several rounds of talks held but because of the economic crisis faced by the country prevented the implementation of this project.”
He pointed to “the progress made in this area during the meeting which took place recently at the ministry ‘s headquarters with a French company in the past week and the offer from them the possibility of implementation of the project through the payment on credit within the French – Iraqi agreement.”
He pointed to a ministry statement that “this satellite , Iraqi sovereign project will provide many services to Iraq ,including satellite communications services, satellite television broadcast to the Iraqi satellite channels and the development of scientific and research side and enhance the security side and the other.”
Twilight News / media reported military cell on Wednesday the killing of three leaders of organized Daesh including a Saudi national air strikes launched by the international coalition aircraft on the headquarters of them in the right coast of the city of Mosul.
She said in a statement the cell responded to Twilight News, it’s us at the Directorate of Intelligence Information military aviation international coalition bombed the headquarters of the Doaash On July 17, the right side of the area of Mosul, killing the following leaders, they are:
1- Hammadi Ahmad sumac / responsible for the money transfer.
2- Hamid Ahmed Ibrahim aka (Abu Ouf Almslaoa) and to the connector.
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