IRAQ

did not want to be «FREE»!!!

العراقية -el الجمهوريةCumhūrīyyetü'l-‘Irākīye

Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); the Council of Representatives approved this flag in 2008 as a compromise temporary replacement for the Ba'athist Saddam-era flag. Note: Similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band.

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait

Border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km.

Constitution ratified on 15 October 2005 (subject to review by the Constitutional Review Committee and a possible public referendum) Legal systembased on European civil and Islamic law under the framework outlined in the Iraqi Constitution; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Executive Branch Chief of state President Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005); Vice Presidents Adil ABD AL-MAHDI and Tariq al-HASHIMI (since 22 April 2006); note - the president and vice presidents comprise the Presidency Council)Head of government Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI (since 20 May 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Rafi al-ISSAWI (since 19 July 2008) and Rowsch Nuri SHAWAYS (since 11 January 2010)CabinetCouncil of Ministers consists of 36 ministers appointed by the Presidency Council, plus Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI and Deputy Prime Ministers Rafi al-ISSAWI and Rowsch Nuri SHAWAYS

Electionspresident elected by Council of Representatives (parliament) by a two-thirds majority vote to serve a four-year term (eligible for a second term)election results: President Jalal TALABANI reelected on 22 April 2006; vote count.

Population29,671,605 (July 2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 40 Population growth rate 2.449% (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 34

Ethnic groups Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian, or other 5% ReligionsMuslim 97% (Shia 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3% Languages Arabic (official), Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Turkoman (a Turkish dialect), Assyrian (Neo-Aramaic), Armenian

Political pressure groups and leaders

Sunni militias; Shia militias, some associated with political parties

Political parties and leaders Badr Organization [Hadi al-AMARI]; Da'wa al-Islamiya Party [Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI]; Da'wa Tanzim [Hashim al-MUSAWI branch]; Da-wa Tanzim [Abd al-Karim al-ANZI branch]; Fadila Party [Hashim al-HASHIMI]; Future; Hadba Gathering [Athil al-NUJAYFI]; Iraqi Charter Assembly [Ahmad Abd al-Ghafur al-SAMARRIIraqi Constitutional Party [Interior Minister Jawad al-BULANI]; Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Salih al-MUTLAQ]; Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP [Usama al-TIKRITI]; Iraqi Justice and Reform Movement [Shaykh Abdallah al-YAWR]; Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Iraqi National Movement or INM [former Prime Minister Ayad ALLAWI]; Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or ISCI [Ammar al-HAKIM]; Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Kurdistan Regional Government President Masud BARZANI]; National Gathering [Deputy Prime Minister Rafi al-ISSAWI]; National Reform Trend [former Prime Minister Ibrahim al-JAFARI]; Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]; Renewal List [Vice President Tariq al-HASHIMI]; Sadrist Trend [Muqtada al-SADR]; Sahawa al-Iraq [Ahmad al-RISHAWI]; Solidarity Bloc [Qasim DAUD]; Tawafuq Front.

note: numerous smaller local, tribal, and minority parties

Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

Agriculture - products wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, cotton;sheep.

Industriespetroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing Industrial production growth rate 3.1% (2009 est.)

Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which provides over 90% of government revenue and 80% of foreign exchange earnings. Oil exports have returned to levels seen before Operation Iraqi Freedom and government revenues have rebounded along with global oil prices since mid-2009. Iraq is making modest progress in building the institutions needed to implement economic policy. Iraq has held serious discussions with both the IMF and World Bank for new programs that would help further strengthen Iraq's economic institutions…

Iraq will need to upgrade its refinery and export infrastructure to enable these deals to reach their potential. The Government of Iraq is pursuing a strategy to gain foreign investment in Iraq's economy. This includes an amendment to the National Investment Law, multiple international trade and investment events, as well as potential participation in joint ventures with state-owned enterprises.

Inflation has decreased consistently since 2006 as the security situation has improved. However, Iraqi leaders remain hard pressed to translate macroeconomic gains into improved lives for ordinary Iraqis. Unemployment remains a problem throughout the country. Reducing corruption and implementing structural reforms, such as bank restructuring and developing the private sector, would be important steps in this direction.

Oil - production 2.399 million bbl/day (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 12 Oil - consumption 687,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 25

Exports - commodities crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels, food and live animals Exports - partners US 27.62%, India 14.45%, Italy 10.14%, South Korea 8.62%, Taiwan 5.61%, China 4.23%, Netherlands 4.13%, Japan 3.99% (2009)

Imports - commodities food, medicine, manufactures Imports - partners Turkey 24.99%, Syria 17.36%, US 8.66%, China 6.79%, Jordan 4.17%, Italy 3.98%, Germany 3.97% (2009)

Oil - exports 1.91 million bbl/day (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 11 Oil - imports 116,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 61 Oil - proved reserves 115 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 4

GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 9.6%industry: 62.8%services: 27.6% (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate 15.2% (2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 154 18% (2006 est.)note: official data; unofficial estimates as high as 30%

Budget revenues: $52.8 billionexpenditures: $72.4 billion (2010 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (2009 est.)

Media

The number of private radio and television stations has increased rapidly since 2003; government-owned TV and radio stations are operated by the publicly-funded Iraqi Public Broadcasting Service; private broadcast media are mostly linked to political, ethnic, or religious groups; satellite TV is available to an estimated 70% of viewers and many of the broadcasters are based abroad; transmissions of multiple international radio broadcasters are accessible (2007)

Al Fourath, Iraq Daily News… etc.

Milestones of Iraq History

Ancient Iraq Islamic Golden Age Mongol Invasions Ottoman Empire British Occupation Kingdom of Iraq Republic of Iraq 1958 Iraq- Iran War 1980-88 Gulf War 1991 Disarmament Crises Invasion of Iraq

IIraq- Iran War1980- 1988

Halabja

Gulf War…

After the American Invasion of Iraq, 2003…

2003, Umm Qasr

Hussein Mosque, Kerbela

Tikrit

Turkey- Iraq After 2003…

1st March Event The Hood Event ( 4th July 2003)

2010 Elections in Iraq

Turkish Companies in Iraq Economy

190 Turkish firms in Erbil Totally 300 Turkish firms are working in Iraq ( especially building sector, railway sector,irrigation system and construction of land routes… etc)

From Wikileaks

The reports detail 109,032 deaths in Iraq, comprised of 66,081 'civilians'; 23,984 'enemy' (those labeled as insurgents); 15,196 'host nation' (Iraqi government forces) and 3,771 'friendly' (coalition forces). The majority of the deaths (66,000, over 60%) of these are civilian deaths.That is 31 civilians dying every day during the six year period.