Does the Iraq oil contract with Chinese has implied further significance? By Iraqog.com

 It is said that that the Chinese have accepted “tough” terms in the $3 billion deal to develop the relatively modest Ahdab oil field in Wasit province some 170 Km south of Baghdad.

It is the obligation of the Oil Ministry to the Iraqi people to announce the terms of the contract which are still unknown except for its being a service contract and not production sharing. The details should clarify the mutual roles of the China’s state owned CNPC and the Iraqi NOC in developing the oil field, hopefully, in a way which ensures Iraq’s control and interest.  

 If the terms of the contract are fare to Iraq, it should set an inescapable example and template as to how future contracts may be struck, hence sending an important message to the International oil companies.

 Another important message to the IOC’s, is that while they waver and talk, others like the Chinese and may be the Russians are ready to move in and work inside the country.

 I hope that the cynics are for once wrong in their thinking that the oil deal with the Chinese is intended as a smokescreen to pass controversial heavy weight contracts with the IOC’s

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Iraq plans 'Baghdad Eye' to draw in tourists, Wikinews

Iraqi officials are planning on having a ferris wheel built as a tourist attraction to the nation's capital, Baghdad. The wheel would be called 'Baghdad Eye' and is planned to sit over 650ft above the Tigris River. Adel al Ardawi, a Baghdad municipality spokesman said that "[t]his wheel will be taller than the iconic 443-foot London Eye." He failed to comment on construction cost or a time line of how long it would take to build the wheel.

Uniglobe first agency network with presence in Iraq, http://www.traveldailynews.com

Uniglobe Travel International LP recently signed a Global Partner agreement with Dahlan Travel & Tours, a privately agency with locations in Amman, Jordan and Iraq poised to service American and European companies taking part in the reconstruction effort. In addition to corporate travel management services, Dahlan Travel & Tours (DTT) also specializes in inbound travel to Jordan, Meetings & Incentive travel planning and is a GSA to several regionally based airlines.

Green Zone newspaper Al-Sabaah expects a visit from George Bush to Iraq in the coming days for SOFA negotiations according to the newspaper parliament source saying:

Bush may visit Iraq soon to discuss the security agreement between Iraq and the U.S., during his visit there will be a declaration that all controversial points are resolved.

I am not sure if the Americans or George Bush understand that the situation is out of Maliki’s hands, and they must negotiate with the supreme-clerics.

Here is Adel Abd Al-Mahdi after meeting Sistani confirmed that the supreme-cleric’s instructions is that a timetable for the withdrawal is a “must be” in the agreement.