Lower Taxes Anyone? --- Good News From Iraq

A quick message that should be passed on to our cylopedian Chancellor Gordon Brown.

Since 1997 the government's take from income tax has risen by 109%. This year we will pay £145 billion in income tax. In 1996-97 we paid £69 billion, according to Grant Thornton. We also pay 125% more Inheritance Tax than in 1997. The number of higher rate tax payers has risen by 62% because thresholds have not risen quickly enough. So let no one tell me we shouldn't be making the case for lower taxes. All power to the elbow of the Taxpayers' Alliance. Also at the Taxpayers Alliance site I found this:

A new report by Ernst and Young has revealed that the tax burden excluding North Sea Oil revenues is set to reach its highest ever level in the next few years. This measure of the tax burden - which gives a more realistic reflection of how much British families and business pay in tax - will reach 37.8 percent in 2007-08 and rise to 38.1 percent in 2010-11. The previous high was 37.7 percent, reached in 1982-83.

The two main parties each have their own reasons for not wanting to talk about tax very much. Labour because of their record under Brown, the Conservatives because of their ongoing rebranding exercise. But this report is yet another example that tax should be at the very heart of the debate surrounding this Budget. After all, this report has come after recent comments from all the main business organisations calling for lower taxes, a new report by Patrick Minford highlighting the true scale of how much people really pay in tax, and a new KPMG report showing that Britain has begun to lose its competitive advantages. This is the issue that Gordon Brown should be forced to address on Wednesday.

** Maybe it would be a start if the one eye'd one thought first and foremost about looking after our own people rather than doleing out our money to corrupt dictators and other shiftless barbarians in the 3rd world. After all if they can afford guns to fight endless wars in Africa and the middle east they sure as hell dont need our tax money.

GOOD NEWS FROM IRAQ. UPDATED 21st March 2006

Release A060320a
ISF, MND-B discuss plans to safeguard Arba'een pilgrims

FOB KALSU, Iraq — Securing Iraq is a major task for the Government of Iraq and its security forces. Making its residents and guests feel safe is a demanding job for any government.

Arba'een, a Shi'a religious holiday that attracts five to six million pilgrims from all over the Middle East to the city of Kerbala , is currently taking place. Leaders from the Iraqi government and security forces met with Coalition Forces leaders during the past week to discuss security procedures and to see for themselves how the plan is working.

Col. John Tully, commander, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, held security meetings March 16 in Kerbala with Akil al-Khazali, the governor of the Kerbala province, and Gen. Razzak, Kerbala provincial police chief.

“We have had a great relationship with Coalition Forces in the past, and the good feelings toward each other continue,” said al-Khazali.

It was the first meeting between Tully and al-Khazali since the Warhorse brigade assumed Kerbala and the surrounding provinces as its area of responsibility. The two leaders spoke at great length on security for the holiday.

The threat of terrorism and sectarian violence has made securing the area for the participants a major challenge, said al-Khalazi. Some Iraqis walk as much as 600 kilometers along the roads to Kerbala to take part in the festival. Ensuring their safety and making them feel comfortable in the province is a top priority.

“Iraqi Security Forces have clearly taken the lead in providing security for the Arba'een,” Tully said. “We are here to support them if they ask.”

The majority of those making the pilgrimage stay in close proximity of the Hussein shrine downtown, one of the most revered shrines in the Shi'a religion. The area could become a target for violence. “My forces are well-prepared to secure the festival,” said Razzak.

Kerbala has been relatively peaceful for some time now. As an example, more than 100 Sunni families from Fallujah settled in Kerbala recently to feel safe, said al-Khalazi. The province lives as one family, regardless of religious or tribal affiliation.

The hope is that Iraq can move past the recent violence and Sunnis and Shi'a can work together, Tully said. Kerbala is a shining example of that.

Razzak said he has held several meetings in the past few days with his officers on how to stick to their duties and deter terrorist threats. So far, few crimes have been reported.

Coalition Forces have provided aerial support in the area, and ISF from surrounding provinces have been brought in to aid in the security for those walking.

Security looked very good on the roads from Musayib to Kerbala, said Tully. ISF were checking cars for anything suspicious, and there were plenty of tents and water provided for travel-weary pilgrims to use. “The plan looks very good,” he said. “I have no doubt that the ISF will provide the needed security to allow the pilgrims to enjoy their holiday.”

Release A060320b

Storage tank project supports fresh water for Iraqis

TAJI, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers tested water storage tanks March 20 in four communities north of Baghdad, signaling the successful completion of the vital project to supply the local citizens with fresh drinking water.

Soldiers from 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment and Company A, 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, are building relationships with the Iraqi citizens of local communities by assisting them with infrastructure improvements and providing essential services designed to improve their quality of life.

“We are happy,” said Sheik Modar Thamir, the leader in one of the communities. “Now we have fresh drinking water.”

“This is the first project we've started and completed,” explained Maj. Herb Joliat, civil military operations officer for 1st Brigade Combat Team. “The immediate impact was the storage tanks. (The previous unit) put in the compact water treatment units, but they couldn't be used because they weren't connected to anything.”

The water pump takes the water from the canal network, and the compact water treatment unit purifies the water. Generators provide electricity to run the pump and the CWTU. The new tanks store the purified water and have faucets on the outside to allow the local population to fill household containers and bring the fresh water home with them.

The communities serviced by the water storage tanks are Al Raood, Banat Al Hasan, Tarbulia and Uhm Najim. “This (project) is something we gave them,” added Joliat.

In the 1st BCT area of Iraq , relationships are being built daily between the citizens and the Coalition Forces. The Iraqi Security Forces, supported by the Coalition Forces, are helping the people of these villages by providing infrastructure and essential services in addition to providing a safe and secure environment to set the stage for a prosperous future.

Release A060320d

Iraqi citizen's tip leads to seizure of weapons cache

BAGHDAD , Iraq – After providing a tip to the whereabouts of a weapons cache, an Iraqi citizen led Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers to the site.

While en route, the Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, in coordination with Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment., 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, observed a terrorist trying to set up a heavy machine gun March 19 at approximately 2:40 p.m. near Iskandariyah.

The Soldiers quickly reacted to the threat, killing the anti-Iraqi terrorist, detaining two other terrorist suspects, and seizing the weapons cache.

Four 55-gallon drums filled with weapons were confiscated.

Release A060320c

Combined operations continue in Salah Ad Din Province

TIKRIT, Iraq- Operations by units from the Iraqi Army and Task Force Band of Brothers continued in Salah Ad Din province.

The operation, named Swarmer, yielded an additional three caches of small arms ammunition and rocket-propelled grenades. Three more men who are suspected of terrorist ties were also detained. Since its start, the operation has been aided by tips from local citizens.

Combined operation participants include the 1st Commando Brigade, 1st Brigade of the 4th Iraqi Army Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division, and 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry of 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division.

This operation has demonstrated the continued level of proficiency of the Iraqi Security Forces and their outstanding cooperation with Coalition Forces as they continue to assume more responsibility for Iraq 's security needs.

Release A060320e

Soldiers detain 46 suspected insurgents

KIRKUK, Iraq – Bastogne Soldiers from two battalions of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, detained 46 suspected insurgents during numerous cordon and search missions with Iraqi security forces in Kirkuk and Hawijah, Iraq, within the last week.

With engagements occurring almost on a daily basis, Bastogne Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, have killed two terrorists, wounded one, and detained 25 suspects during this seven day period.

“The combination of aerial and ground patrols is paying huge dividends,” stated Captain Tim Meadors, an operations officer from the 1st Battalion.

In one incident, aviators spotted four men emplacing an improvised explosive device next to a truck parked alongside a road. Two of the men jumped back in the truck and headed to a nearby village, while the other two took off on foot toward yet another nearby village. The pilots radioed their sighting to commanders on the ground and then followed the men until ground forces arrived at both locations. In the end, Bastogne Soldiers detained 11 military-aged males for questioning.

While Soldiers of 1st Battalion have been capturing those emplacing IEDs, Bastogne Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, have conducted numerous combined cordon and searches with Iraqi Police in Kirkuk, resulting in the detention of 21 suspected insurgents.
These searches, leading to the confiscation of IED materials, weapons, and false documentation, have also provided Soldiers with additional information on many different insurgency cells (groups).

“Most detainees are leading to more suspects,” commented Sgt. 1st Class Lawson Adkins, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the intelligence shop for 2nd Battalion. “Eventually we would like to degrade the cells to become non-existent.”

Although the two battalions have different missions, they work towards the goal of reducing the insurgency threat for the civilians in Iraq.

“Hopefully we will see a drop in activity and reduce the current threat,” Adkins stated. In just three years, the people, the Government and Security Forces of Iraq have made tremendous and steady progress: the elimination of a brutal dictator, the democratic election of an Iraqi Government, the development of an Iraqi Constitution, the restoration of Iraq’s infrastructure beyond pre-war levels and the establishment of an increasingly effective Iraqi Security Force that in time will be able to take over from Multi-National Force - Iraq.

As their march towards a stable democracy continues, the United States Embassy – Iraq and Multi-National Force – Iraq remain committed to the people and Government of Iraq while it shapes and seats its new government, a government in which all Iraqis have a voice and their rights are protected and acts as a partner in the war on terror.

WAR ON TERROR

Before the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq, under the control of Saddam, was an enemy of the U.S. and the civilized world; today it is an ally of both as well as a global partner in fighting terror.

The aim is to defeat the terrorists and their allies at the heart of their power - and Coalition Forces are achieving that goal. Coalition and Iraqi Security Force Operations in Iraq continue fighting the terrorists and regime remnants in Iraq, who seek to overthrow a democracy, claim a strategic country as a haven of terror, destabilize the Middle East, and strike America and other free nations with ever increasing violence.

Since 2003, Iraqi Forces have fought alongside Coalition Forces in Najaf, Samarra, Fallujah, Baghdad, North Babil, Mosul, Al Anbar, and a host of other locations. Although Iraqi Forces have endured thousands of casualties, have been attacked multiple times each day, and have suffered losses through brutal intimidation attacks, there remains no shortage of volunteers ready to step up and defend the sovereignty and freedom of their nation.

Fighting the enemy here in Iraq makes it more difficult for them to strike us in the U.S. We can decisively weaken the ideological extremists, led by bin Laden, Zawahiri and Zarqawi, by stabilizing Iraq, and actively helping Iraq help themselves against this threat.

Now that the people of Iraq are permitted to choose their own destiny and advance by their own energy the terrorists are being marginalized; last year, tips to Coalition or Iraqi Security Forces regarding terrorist activity or locations only numbered about 400 a month, by year’s end more than 4,500 calls per month provided information on terrorists or resources whereabouts.

Operations continue to degrade the terrorist network. Since January 2005, we have killed or captured more than 122 key leaders of Al Qaeda in Iraq. Information compiled from White House reports, 2006 MNF-I press conference transcripts, and MNF-I Report “2005 Year in Review”

IRAQI GOVERNMENT
General Governance

The Iraqi people took responsibility for their government with the transfer of sovereignty and the establishment of the Interim Iraqi Government on June 28, 2004, the December 2005 elections more than 300 parties and coalitions were registered, and roughly 11 million voters participated, including many who had opposed the constitution and boycotted elections in January.

The Council of Representatives (CoR), the parliament elected under the new Iraqi constitution,
convened on Thursday, March 16, at the Parliament Center in Baghdad. 275 representatives were sworn into Iraq’s new four-year government. The formal seating or convening of this CoR symbolizes an important step in Iraq’s pathway to democracy. This representative body will serve as the basis for establishing a broad-based government of national unity for Iraq.

In 2003, the authoritarian control of Saddam’s regime allowed few of Iraq’s 18 Governorates any real authority. Today, those 18 Governorate Councils, in addition to 90 District Councils, 194 city or sub-district councils, and 437 neighborhood councils established since the start of OIF equate to and promote a decentralized governance system that provides more than 19 million people the means to engage in local policy discourse.

It is unknown if civil society organizations even existed under the totalitarian regime of Saddam; however, now in 2006, there are more than 561 civil society organizations in 18 governorates established as part of a campaign targeting grassroots democracy.

Today, there are more than 40 countries and international organizations with Embassies and Missions established in Iraq, cementing Iraq’s position in a cooperative, global community. Information provided by MNF-I, DCS STRATEFF, Policy Division

Ministry of Education
In 2003, approximately 6.1 million children were enrolled in Iraq’s lower education system. Of these only about 2.96 million were expected to graduate from secondary school. Now, in 2006 nearly 25% of the Iraqi population either attends a school of, or is directly employed by, the Ministry of Education. With a 2006 budget of $1.9 million (up 66% from 2005), the ministry oversees more than 20,000 school sessions in over 14,731 school buildings, administrative offices, and educational facilities nationwide. The MoED provides the oversight and training needed to support 500,000 teachers in their work with 6.28-6.4 million K-12 students a 3-5% increase from 2003.

In 2003 there were 14,731 kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools, most of which suffered from years of neglect by the Saddam regime, an insurgency intent on intimidating teachers and students, and the damage caused by war. Over the last three years nearly 6,000 of those schools have been renovated or undergone some form of rehabilitation.

In 2003, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MHESR) consisted of 22 universities, 46 institutes or colleges within the Community College system, 2 commissions and 2 research centers. Since 2003, MHESR has, in addition to continuous work on its facilities and infrastructure that had been largely destroyed by war and looting, has been able to install nearly a dozen new colleges within its university system. Information provided by Iraq Reconstruction Management Office

Ministry of Health
Iraq's Ministry of Health (MoH) on 4 September 2004 initiated the first polio immunization program in the country since the start of the war in March 2003, in an effort to protect 4.7 million children from the infectious disease. After two rounds of National Polio Immunization Days in the summer of 2005, 98% of Iraqi children under five have been vaccinated for polio.

With support from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU), who contributed over US $2.5 million, the Iraqi authorities succeeded in immunizing the vast majority of children in the first three days of the campaign, UNICEF said. A total of 25 million doses of vaccine were purchased with help from a $3.2 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Information compiled from the MNF-I Reports “2004/2005 Year in Review” and Iraq Reconstruction Management Office report “Rebuilding Iraq” (Feb 06)

IRAQI SECURITY FORCES
General Security
Today, ISF independent operations account for more than 36 percent of total operations conducted.

Since 2003, 34 Forward Operating Bases out of a peak total of 110, have been transferred to the Iraqi Transitional Government, transferred to the ISF or closed.

Controlling its national borders and preventing infiltration of terrorists and foreign fighters wishing to use Iraq as a safe haven or conduct acts of terror, was possible due to operations in Al Anbar, Tall Afar, and the Western Euphrates River Valley area. These operations, along with the establishment of 258 border forts resulted in the successful restoration of border control to the people and government of Iraq in late 2005.

Since 2003, 258 Border facilities, 309 police stations, 14 academies and branch schools, 26 unit headquarters, and 67 fire stations have been built or rehabilitated. Information compiled from 2006 MNF-I press conference transcripts

Ministry of Defense
After being formally dissolved May 23, 2003, the first 1,000 recruits of Iraq’s new Army began training Aug 2, 2003, today the Ministry of Defense forces now number 112,900; with 99,500 in the Army, 600 in the Air Force, and 800 in the Navy, and 10,800 in various support force units.

The Iraqi military was rebuilt from scratch since 2003. The Iraqi Army absorbed the Iraqi National Guard to form 10 Iraqi Army combat divisions. There are now 101 trained and equipped combat battalions in the Iraqi Army – all of them are in the fight. This includes a (Special Operations Forces) Counter-Terrorist battalion, a Commando battalion, and Strategic Infrastructure battalions. Most recently, the Counter-Terrorism battalion rescued a retired Iraqi Army Brigadier General who had been kidnapped and was going to be killed by his captors. Today, 49 Iraqi Army combat battalions, 13 Brigade headquarters, and two Division headquarters control their own battle space.

Iraq’s Navy is now operational with a Patrol Boat Squadron with five Predator-class Patrol Craft, an Assault Boat Squadron with 25 Fast Assault Boats (FABs), and a Marine battalion, all of which serve to defend Iraq’s coast, territorial waters, vital ports and offshore assets against both external and internal security threats.

Iraq’s Air Force has five fully operational squadrons capable of conducting a variety of airlift, utility, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The squadrons include one C-130 transport squadron, two ISR squadrons with CH2000, Compair, and Seeker aircraft, and two helicopter squadrons with UH-1s and Bell Jet Rangers. The IAF recently purchased 10 Mi17 Hip helicopters which will soon form another helicopter squadron.

Iraq’s three Military Academies are committed to professionalizing the Iraqi Military.
Rustamiyah has graduated 73 from the Sandhurst model course, Zahko has graduated 411, and Qalachoun currently has 188 enrolled. Between the three institutions, 653 have graduated from the 3-week newcomer’s course.

Since 2003, construction on 12 major military training facilities was completed and 10 other projects are ongoing. Information provided by MNSTC-I Public Affairs

Ministry of Interior
In 2003, Iraq had a dilapidated internal security force. Today the Ministry of Interior has over 127,845 professionally trained and equipped members. Of those, over 88,962 are trained and equipped regular police officers and the other approximately 38,883 are assigned to National Police Forces, Commandos, Public Order Division, Mechanized Police Brigade and Border Enforcement.

In November 2003, Iraq’s only formal police training academy opened in Jordan, today, there are 12 police training academies including 8 basic police academies that instruct the10-week basic training course, designed to better prepare the police for the challenging environment in which many will serve.

In 2003, Iraq was unable to independently provide security for its own borders, today 20,391 border enforcement personnel have completed training and 258 border forts have been built, or are currently under construction, to help Iraq’s Border Enforcement officers patrol and secure Iraq’s borders.

Since 2003, 20 provincial SWAT teams of 32 personnel each have been trained and equipped, and one more is scheduled to complete training by December 2006.

Since 2003, 277 Iraqi Police construction projects were completed across the 18 provinces and 11 major cities. This included 37 Police Headquarters, 187 Police Stations, and seven Highway Patrol Stations. Information provided by MNF-I/Ministry of Interior Liaison Officer

IRAQI ECONOMY
When Coalition Forces began Operation Iraqi Freedom, they entered a country whose energy infrastructure had deteriorated over many years. The U.S. Embassy and MNF-I set out to help the Iraqi government restore oil facilities, increase production, and improve refining, natural gas production, and pipeline facilities, by year-end 2005, 179 oil projects have been pursued worth $1.16 Billion, 42 have been completed worth $110 million. Production is on par with prewar levels at 2.0 million barrels of oil per day (bpd) and exports of 1.3 million bpd. Over 350 pipelines have been repaired and revenues are up to $24.5 billion from postwar levels of $5.1 billion in 2003.

The U.S. Embassy and the Government of Iraq continue to address the issue of Iraqi unemployment, today, about 1.5 million Iraqis are employed under reconstruction efforts, working on schools, clinic, roads and numerous other infrastructure projects, and the overall national unemployment dropped in 2005 to 28% (as reported by COSIT) or 12-18% (as estimated by MNF-I).

Since 2003, 32,574 new Iraqi businesses have been registered. Information provided by MNF-I, DCS STRATEFF, Economics Division
RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

The Iraq Relief & Reconstruction Fund ($2.5 billion) and supplemental Appropriations ($18.4 billion) have been committed to the re-building of Iraq. As of 7 March 2006, $18.6 billion (of which $11.4 billion is obligated for DoD projects) has been obligated on Iraqi reconstruction.
Since March 2003, more than 11,600 construction projects have been started. More than 9,340 projects, valued at $9.3 billion, have been completed.

Since March 2003 $9.6 billion (IRRF 1 - $2.5 billon, IRRF 2 - $7.1 billion) has been focused on providing reliable essential services (electricity, water, transportation, telecommunications, and oil). More than 2,412 essential service projects are either completed or underway.

Before March 2003, Iraq averaged 4,300 MW of peak electricity generation, supplying Baghdad with 12-24 hours of power a day by diverting power from the rest of Iraq, left with 4-8 hours of power, however today the average Iraqi citizen has 7 hours of electrical service in Baghdad and 10-12 hours in the rest of the country. It is expected to be 12 to 14 hours over the next year.
Before March 2003, only 5.5 million of Iraq’s 25 million citizens had access to a safe and stable water supply. Iraq’s cities suffered from inadequate sewage systems, today nineteen potable water treatment facilities have been built or rehabilitated, providing a standard level of service to about 2.7 million more Iraqis. In addition eight centralized sewage treatment facilities have been rehabilitated, adding capacity to benefit 4.9 million Iraqis.

Health care for some ethnic groups was almost nonexistent under Saddam's regime, today there are over 300 new health care facility projects across Iraq and over 270 projects underway to be completed by mid-year 2007 allowing an additional 7 million Iraqi citizens, regardless of ethnicity, geographic origin, gender, or religious affiliation, access to health care that was unavailable under the old regime. Information complied from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

Gulf Region Division, Public Affairs and IRMO Feb 06 report “Rebuilding Iraq”

** Thanks to Clarity & Resolve for the pic of Omar "Camel Abuser" Bakri above....Nice to see him getting his islamic nuts kicked in there.

Good News From Iraq
MNF Iraq
Iraqi Army
Omar Bakri

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