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Disclaimer: All information in this newsletter is not intended for investment decisions / purposes. Mnt Goat is not a financial analyst, planner, banker, attorney or associated in any role with giving out professional investment advice.
ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER:

December 16, 2025 Mnt Goat News Brief
Guten Tag everyone:
Bringing you more news. Which road will Iraq chose to follow?
GIVE A GIFT TO MNT GOAT
I decided to allow everyone to give a Free-will GIFT to Mnt Goat on PayPal if you so desire. Here is the link below. Please show your appreciation for all the hard work I do.
I recommend $10-$15 dollars a month or whatever you can afford. Do you realize I write eight (8) Newsletters every month. This is like a second job to me. The only way I know that people are reading and appreciating all the FACTUAL news I bring is through their appreciation. If I do not receive equal appreciation for all the hard work I do, I will simply end the Newsletter and save myself endless hours at the computer. I am tired of this RV saga just as you are. We are now down to the wire and the evidence is showing us the end is very near. I feel this would be a lousy time to end the Newsletter, but that is all up to you.
So, if you haven’t already shown your appreciation for December please reconsider.

Let’s all try to chip in!

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Psalm 37:4
“Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”
STATUS OF THE RV

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If I were you, I would keep the champagne in the frig. The show is not over until the fat lady at the circus sings….. lol.. lol.. 😊 It is early December and the CBI may still go ahead with removing the zeros in time for a January release. Oh… but remember it does not have to happen exactly on January 1st as there are thirty-one days in the month. They could also change the plan and remove the zeros in early January and release in late January. There are options.
I want to thank everyone for your comments in the blog and expressing how you feel about the RV timeline for Iraq. There are no “opinions”, we must look at the FACTS. We can clearly see that an attempt to reinstate the dinar according to Dr Shabibi’s plan is underway. What we don’t know of course is when. Will it happen in 2026 or 2027? There is much more evidence that everything is pointing to early 2026 for them to normalize the dinar and place it back on FOREX for trading.
We are told today that parliament will begin its first session on December 29th. WOW! That is very close. Remember parliament is the first of the three branches of the new Iraqi government that must formed and after the election. So, we see parliament will begin within the window for the early January CBI target. We also know that the new president of Iraq must then be announced and he will eventually introduce the new prime minister. See the recent article titled “A PRESIDENTIAL DECREE SETS THE 29TH OF THIS MONTH AS THE DATE FOR THE FIRST PARLIAMENTARY SESSION.”
The President of the Republic issued a presidential decree on Tuesday setting the date for the first session of the new parliament on December 29, to be chaired by the oldest member. Also see the article titled “FROM RATIFICATION TO GOVERNMENT FORMATION: CRUCIAL CONSTITUTIONAL STEPS IN THE PATH OF THE NEW IRAQ” for more information. What’s next?
- We have been told that Iraq is going to try the 3-year budget again and there will be another tripartite budget for 2026-2028 and it can’t be opened until it is voted on and passed in the new parliament. Will this be one of the first legislative tasks in the new parliament?
- Do they want to take up the Oil and Gas law and get this mandate completed? Will this be another one of the first legislative tasks in the new parliament?
- Remember the reasoning behind Dr Shabibi telling us that January is the “best opportune time to reinstate the dinar with a significant rate” is that the annual budget its supposed to be ready to open and allocated out to spend in January. But obviously, this may NOT going to be the case but it may be close. Is this maybe why we have not yet seen the removing of the zeros during the fall months as the CBI planned to do? Remember that the CBI is ready but the GOI has to always play catch up.
To show you just how close we are to the reinstatement in today’s Newsletter we will first be going through a past journey we all just experienced under Al-Sudani as the prime minister working with Ali Al-Alaq in the CBI. We will use a couple recent new articles about the White Paper. Yes, the White Paper sticks its head up again for us to notice about the reforms. What does it say and why are they bringing this up again in two recent articles? Ironically, it seems two economists are debating whether or not the White Paper began the reform process. It is all silly stuff as we all know by our study so far that it did and was the driving force.
If you recall from the White Paper on page 50 it says that the objective of the White Paper initiative is to get the dinar back trading on FOREX paragraph ( c) item 6. Of course I am paraphrasing. But again, there is opposition to the White Paper as these two articles are not very friendly to what the CBI has been doing over these last four years and since the White Paper initiative took hold. The White Paper was written in 2019-2020 but really did not take hold until 2023 when the GOI and CBI began their more positive move to implement it under al-Sudani.
Yes, there were necessary structural banking and financial changes. The reforms had to first take place before FOREX. We witnessed these reforms and so now it is time to move to FOREX. Do you recall these “Pillars of Financial Reform”?

You might want to revisit my link on the blog and refresh your memory on the White Paper. Yes, there is a LINK to actually read the entire White Paper. No guessing, no opinions and especially no TNT, Markz or Bruce rumors……
ITS TIME TO EXECUTE THIS PART OF THE WHITE PAPER!
- Opening other specialized markets in the country under the umbrella of the Securities
Commission, i.e. the commodity market, in cooperation with counterpart bodies in other
countries, and the currency exchange market (Forex).

CONTRADICTIONS.
So, let’s dive deeper into today’s key articles and take a look at the contradictions by the economists. The complete title of today’s controversial article is “DOLLAR RISE, SALARIES CUT, AND NO FOOD RATIONS… EXPERT: IRAQ HAS BEGUN IMPLEMENTING THE “WHITE PAPER”. “On Friday, December 12, 2025, economist Nabil Al-Marsoumi spoke about the repercussions of the “White Paper” adopted by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to manage economic crises in developing countries, which Iraq has begun to implement.”
It is obvious by the title alone that the author believes the FOREX move will rise the dollar, cut salaries and end food rations (food stamp program). And yes, it probably will do most of it. Hey Iraqi’s if you are reading my Newsletter today, I am telling you it is going to be much better on the other side once the dinar is on FOREX and investment money and jobs flow into Iraq. You will no longer need food programs designed only to help you through the war-torn embargo/sanctioned days so people didn’t starve. These days are over, get it? It is now time to step out of these dependencies. You will not need low-paying jobs with erratic payment schedules and NO the dollar will not rise as it will be squashed. This author is FEAR mongering.
Instead, the author should be encouraging what is about to happen and give the citizens the advantages as we have read in so many other recent articles. These economists need to educate not discourage the citizens.
I find it very interesting that the author points out a list of ten (10) items consisting in
the economic reform package (White Paper) adopted by the International Monetary Fund. Two of which I find are VERY interesting and consist of:
1.Reducing the exchange rate of the national currency and then floating it.
2.Liberalizing all prices and trade.
So, the author points out two parts of the reform package we, as investors, want to see happen. These two items on his list are the real guts of this article for me, how about you? They expose once again what the CBI is about to do and the author apparently does not like it and is criticizing it.
Then there is the second article titled “MY PERSPECTIVE ON THE DINAR AND ECONOMIC REFORM, BASED ON WHAT DR. NABIL AL-MARSOUMI WROTE ABOUT THEM”. Again most of this is just non-sense. He bashes Al-Marsoumi’s article but he too promises no real solutions for Iraq to progress. His “opinion” actually makes no sense and contradicts most of what the CBI is trying to accomplish. Doesn’t he also realize all the reforms already done and the ongoing Banking Reform Plan? Again, opinions with no real FACTS to back it up are just opinions. It again is short-term thinking. It is not visionary, forward thinking towards a western world of progress and only thinks about the Saddam Hussien era of living in a socialist society. Seems he wants this socialism to continue. I got to tell you I almost fell off my chair when I read such nonsense. Are these two economists Al-Marsoumi and Dr. Shawwan Zangana socialists?
Although Dr Zangana does make one sound point and I quote from his article: “Corruption and mismanagement have brought Iraq to this state, and its continuation means the inevitable failure of reform measures. I think the time has come for the marginalized class of the national elite and entrepreneurs in the markets to take their place in the constructive and effective contribution to managing the course of the economy in Iraq, whether those in power accept it or not.” This statement makes me believe this guy lives in his own bubble of a world from the past and has not yet grasps the magnitude of the changes (reforms) that have already occurred over these last four (4) years and are still ongoing with the CBI Banking Reform Plan.
I also do not understand his opening statement and I quote “The “White Paper” was never a reform paper, and it never will be.” To me this statement alone tells us just how out of touch Dr Zangana really is with reality in Iraq. Is he playing politics or economics in his statement? Is he really an educated economic professional?
If he would only take the time to actually read the White Paper, he would clearly see it was a recipe to reform from the standpoint of the three main ‘Pillars of Financial Reform”. The document even goes in-depth on the what has to be corrected. Yes, the White Paper does not address all the solutions but it clearly states it is a “working paper” designed as a starting point to begin the reforms and what areas needed to be addressed. How can this not be about reforms? The CBI has also addressed directly the White Paper in its statements on the reforms taking place. Remember this picture? It was formulated by the CBI.

How many times have I referenced this picture to you? The main driving reforms are right out of the White Paper page 47. Go read it yourself. The picture I present to you is from the CBI as it described these three main areas of concern in a report on this matter in 2023, which they didn’t want to talk about the White Paper perse as it was from another administration. Yes, politics again. They wanted their own version of the White Paper. But the principles and doctrine is the same. In fact, they really never came out with a similar document and just reengineered the White Paper in their actual reform program under al-Sudani. My question now is that al-Sudani has to continue the reforms all the way through and we know he must support the CBI in the removing of the zeros and the reinstatement. I do not want to think about what would happen if the forward-thinking al-Sudani does not get a second term and another prime minister is selected thinking like these two economists Al-Marsoumi and Dr. Shawwan Zangana. Oh boy!
CHANGE IS HARD.
Why do these economists fight this change so much? This is what Ali Al-Alaq, the governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has to contend with. It is obvious that these many economists in Iraq are not neutral in their “opinions” and they are bias towards social programs that drain Iraq and were keeping it back from any progress forward.
This is a reason why I keep telling you it is an uphill battle to finally “normalize” the Iraq dinar and bring it back to its glory days. These economists are short-sided, unprofessional in their studies and do not realize (or want to realize) the true potential of the Iraqi dinar in moving back to FOREX. They don’t realize what is at stake and must first take place and that there is going to be some pain in the process. Or maybe they do realize it and just want try to stop any real progress with their propaganda messages. Are they also backed by Iranian influences and so of course they do not want any real change to their system of opportunities for money laundering to Iran. The ultimate proof of the reforms is the inflation rate and it has been less that 1% for years. This is in part the IMF criteria for STABILITY and yet they don’t even recognize it in any of their analysis.
Remember also many of these economists in Iraq studied and grew up under Saddam Hussien’s socialist economy and so they are used to giving away freebies to the people as a means of controlling the people. It is apparent their thinking in a capitalistic, free market economy has not yet adjusted and grown. In a free market the people’s wealth comes from the earnings from job salaries, benefits and entrepreneurship. It is not given as handouts. Everyone should have a fair chance to move ahead to the next layer of social standing and wealth class. It should be the government that monitors and helps the process to ensure the constitution and republic is sustained to provide these things.
These economists do not seem to be educated in this thinking. Are these social handouts now what is hurting Iraq and hindering its success as billions have to be paid out each month on government salaries and benefits. Is this choking Iraq? This money can’t be used to rebuild the war-torn Iraqi cities. Everyone seems to work for the government. This is the ‘rentier’ economy that must change. Iraq is too dependent on the oil revenues to keep the economy going. If oil slips so does Iraq. It is funny how in these two economists they do not talk about this, do they? They offer no solutions only more free handouts. By reading these articles today one can’t help but think that people like these short-sited economists in Iraq are really “part of the problem” and “not the solution”.
WHAT ELSE IS IN THE NEWS?
So, this negative news is mostly propaganda and we can pick out some good aspects from it. As if this news about the resurrection of the White Paper was not enough fake negative news we read in another article titled “HANTOUSH: INTERNATIONAL FINANCING DIFFICULTIES AND EXCHANGE RATE CHALLENGES THREATEN THE STABILITY OF THE IRAQI ECONOMY.” “Economic and banking expert Mustafa Hantoush confirmed on Thursday that Iraqi companies and the private sector are facing significant difficulties in obtaining international loans to finance major projects due to Iraq’s low credit rating and the high costs of guarantees and interest rates on foreign loans.” Really? Is Hantoush just bashing Iraq again? Yes, yet another economists, a downer, that does not truly understand Iraqi economics. Is he too part of the problem and not the solution? I will prove my point when the following article below came out just after Hantoush’s commentary.
😊Then in another article comes out about the Iraq credit rating of a (B-) and again challenges what was said in the other article. This rating is not so bad if you ask me considering that the dinar is still suppressed and the country is growing the way it is. Also, in the recent news about the Iranian militia and the U.S. stance on it. See article titled “FITCH AFFIRMS IRAQ’S CREDIT RATING AT (B-) AND PRAISES “INTERNAL STABILITY”
I quote from the article “The Iraqi Ministry of Finance announced on Monday that the international credit rating agency Fitch has affirmed Iraq’s sovereign rating at (B-) with a “stable” outlook. The ministry said in a statement, received by Shafaq News Agency, that this step reflects international confidence in the ability of the Iraqi economy to maintain its financial and credit stability despite the current global and regional challenges.”
Why is Hantoush so down on Iraq? Is this more propaganda? Again, change is hard.
What I did like about Hantoush’ s article is his statement and I quote “He also noted the existence of “huge amounts of cash held in homes, estimated at 70 to 80 trillion dinars, which have contributed to speculation in the real estate market and an unjustified rise in prices, necessitating a sound monetary policy to control the markets.” He concluded by emphasizing that “the continuation of the current situation without genuine reforms will lead to a deterioration of economic and social conditions, with increased poverty rates and greater pressure on salaries and market liquidity.” So, the pressure mounts even from the economists that realize this stashed cash must be freed up to liquify the banks. As investors following this RV saga we know this probably will not happen until they execute the deletion of the zeroes project and force they to turn in these hordes of money.
Like the U.S. in its last election, Iraq too could never be at a more critical time in its modern-day history, than right now. The results to their last November election will either make or break Iraq. I believe that Iraq will make the correct choice and chose prosperity and growth over the terrorist organizations residing in Iraq. To me it makes common sense they would but we all know this is often not applied in politics…lol..lol..lol… ☹
In the article titled “WHAT AWAITS IRAQIS IS “WORSE THAN OCCUPATION”… A SUMMARY OF WASHINGTON’S MESSAGES AND ACTIONS TOWARDS BAGHDAD – URGENT.” We can see once again the double-edged sword with the dollar. Of course the U.S. is going to use the dollar as leverage to create some sanity in this last election cycle.
How much news have we read about Iraq in ditching the dollar over these last couple years? Yes, they de-dollarized Iraq (except for the black market) and after reading this article today you will fully realize why. I encourage everyone to go read it. It is long and I can’t take up too many pages here to analyze it. I will just add a few comments below.
So, we can clearly see yet more progress today of Iraq stepping out of the sanction mode and moving to the global economy once again and the resistance to it. Yes, it is an uphill battle. We should all know the resistance is caused by too many years in the unwarranted sanction mode and the mindset that set in of thinking that corruption was going to be the future of Iraq and even the rule of law, as just this year parliament was going to take up a bill to legalize and fund the Iranian militia. Of course the U.S. stopped this nonsense. But we must ask what the hell is going on in Iraqi thinking.
Yes, a proxy Iranian puppet state funneling their oil revenues to Iran, meanwhile cities, schools, churches, hospitals, essential services are lacking. The economists today in the articles even complain about the situation in lack of services for the average citizens. But do they realize why? Do they realize trillions, not billions have been stolen from Iraq and how Iraq could have been rebuilt twice over will all this money. Yet Iraqi citizens stay in poverty. Oh boy… sounds like what they wanted to do in the U.S. too feeding and housing all these illegal immigrants, yet there are homeless and hungry American citizens. So, who is behind all this irrational thinking?
In Iraq the main driving force, if you really think about it, is the hinderance of stopping this madness by the continuance to sell oil for dollars only (petro-dollar). This idea was instituted to, so-called help Iraq get through the embargo and then the Chapter VII sanctions. But these sanctions are all over now and so Iraq keeps asking why are we still selling oil for petro-dollars? I ask the same question too…. lol.. lol.. lol.. ☹ Let’s now also forget that right now the dinar is still on the sole de facto peg to the US dollar. Is the dollar really helping or hindering Iraq at this point in time? Is it time to “fully” ditch the dependency on the dollar in all aspects? Yes, all aspects! We see that trade payments have taken a partial step away from the dollar as Iraq is not allowed to pay for imports in any currency. But again, I have to add that the process of dollars has been in place too long already and “so change is hard.” So, this article today is giving us yet more reasons why Iraq has to totally ditch the dollar. The U.S. might use it currently to bribe Iraq once again to do its bidding but this only adds more gasolene to the fire and motivates Iraq even more to DITCH THE DOLLAR. Remember that Iraq can’t ditch the dollar entirely until it changes it sole peg to a basket of currencies, goes back to FOREX trading, floats the dinar. The U.S. knows this is inevitable too.
This always bring me to yet the point I need to make once again. The point I need to make clearly today is this – is this stagnation and slow movement out of the sanction mode (now almost 4 years) really the reason why Dr Shabibi wanted to remove the zeros and reinstate the dinar way back in 2012-2013? Did he know something back then that we are now only realizing?
Folks that was twelve (12) years ago even before ISIS invaded Iraq and the Iranians moved in. Get it? Then the ISIS war began the following year – coincidental? Did some entity behind the scenes see that it was to becoming more and more increasingly harder to hold back the liberation of the Iraqi dinar under Dr Shabibi? Is this why they ousted him from the CBI and created this ISIS war scenario? Of course, we all should realize by now the December 2012 allegations of corruption in the CBI was a narrative served by Nori al-Maliki probably either by the CIA or the Iranians. Is this why the Obama foreign policy in the middle east actually favored the Iranians so much? Think about it – he pulled all US troops out of Iraq in December 2012 leaving the door wide opne for ISIS. Didn’t CIA intelligence tell him that ISIS was already in Syria operating and could infiltrate Iraq soon? Of course, this intel came out now. We must step back, clear our minds and ask was this ISIS war intentional and to serve a purpose for Iran. Was it to seed the militia inside Iraq. Is it now time, under Trump, to un-seed these militia out of Iraq? Yes, more corruption that has to be undone. So, this article today really helps us think about what is going on in Iraq.
😊 So, this next article is really all-telling to us investors it is titled “IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER: ENDING THE UNAMI MISSION IN IRAQ REFLECTS THE PROGRESS AND STABILITY ACHIEVED.” WOW! WOW! WOW! Could this be the proverbial ‘icing on the cake’ that sounds the alarm to us investors that Iraq is moving to a more normalized phase. A phase better than even before the 1991 invasion? Well folks it has to happen sometime and so why not now. This again is yet more evidence we may in fact be in for a reinstatement soon.
In summary, here we sit it’s December 16, 2025 already and so the RV may still be on target for early January. Who moved my cheese? Nobody has moved the cheese yet. We can clearly see the movement of the GOI towards early January to get the government formed. Remember as long as they don’t open the budget they can still reinstate and even if they do, it’s just easier to manage it when they start the new fiscal year with a new rate. Think about it. They used this same tactic in 2020 when they declared the devaluation of the dinar on December 20, 2020, but it was not effective until January 1, 2021. I plan to talk more on Thursday about this situation once I review it with my CBI contact on Wednesday. Stay tuned.
Is somebody going to move our cheese again?

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Having read my RV Status for this period when do you think the RV will happen?
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Their words not mine…..No Rumors, No Hype, No Opinions ,,,,,
Just the FACTS!
PRAYING WITH SINCERITY
Many may ask why their prayers are not being answered. Our new Shepard in Rome Pope Leo XIV has given us some direction.
You can purchase a nice pair of Rosary Beads here to pray:


These prophecies are more important now more than ever. They give us the strength, perseverance and hope that a better time is coming and that God’s Hand is at work behind the scenes. If you just take a second even to look around you at these past three election cycles, how can you deny that God is at work? Are you sleeping or what?
It is amazing and there is no other way that these events could have happened the way they turned out. But there is more to come, much, much more, I assure you! Now that God has his biblical David re-elected, we need to pay attention to what He does next.
NOTE: These prophecies just keep getting better and better, giving us HOPE of a brighter future. But the real reason why I listen to them is that we can actually see what God says He will do is taking place right in front of our noses. It is a confirmation to me that God is real and is still with us forever just as in biblical times.
I am bringing you three prophecies today all dealing with the coming massive shaking. In my blog for years, I talked about resolving the corruption first within both Iraq and the U.S. Don’t we see this now? The U.S. is not allowing Iranian influence within Iraq to takeover. It is going after these terrorist organizations that have taken hold through the militias. Remember that you are not being told everything that is happening behind the scenes. In the U.S. the reason why we are seeing many politicians deciding to not run for re-election office and instead they retire, is that accusations of corruption is on their heels. Watch how God handles these radical Muslim organizations in America. There is a new breed of politicians coming, some are already here. There is a new party(s) that will evolve. It is no longer going to be a two-party corrupt system.
Prophetic Words from prophet: Julie Green
“Big Banks, Big Pharma And Big Insurance Companies Will Soon Be Brought To Nothing”
You can start watching the video at the 18:36 mark. From Dec 7th.
“The Earth Will Shake Like Never Before”
You can start watching the video at the 17:00 mark. From Dec 13th.
I have been waiting for this period of time since the 1980’s when I first read about it in prophecies. The prophecy today coincides with two other prophecies I have heard decades ago. One is by Kim Clement delivered in 2014. The other is in a book called Phoenix Rising by Mary Summer Rain. So, when Julie Green talks about ‘birth pains’ in her prophecy today, my ears opened up, I paid attention. Then you have to listen to Clement’s prophecy to fully understand what Julie and Mary are talking about when God says the earth will be shaken. like never before. I believe this ‘shaking’ part can be viewed in two ways: literal massive earthquakes and the shaking of the corrupt establishment (through more exposure and justice) that finally breaks their backs once and for all.
We are at the end of 2025 and so it is uncanny, almost scary in what is in these prophecies today. I call this a ‘convergence of prophecies’ and I have been waiting for this period for so long. No, I do not welcome it, and I wish it did not have to happen, but it is now here, and God has a purpose for it.
KIM CLEMENT: A PROPHETIC WORD
“A WARNING THE FOR END OF 2025″
Will we see this prophecy now? We are at the end of 2025 and so is this shaking going to magnify? I think he is talking about Yellowstone National Park and its activity. Geologists say that this area used to be an ancient volcano that could blow and would destroy much of the surrounding area. God says through Julie Green’s prophecy today that God will limit the damage as it has the potential to destroy half of America in full force.
We are now witnessing the fall in the season of fall, that he mentions.
Listen how he talks about December, I believe it is the month we are in right now. God is going to release resources and we shall rejoice.
PROPHECIES FULFILLED—ANTI AMERICAN
We will have to face the radical Muslim communities situated in America sooner or later, but we will have to do something about them. Why not sooner. They have infiltrated America through lack of immigration law enforcement. More evidence that the leaders of these communities want more than to live free and raise families. They want control and power to instill Sharia law. Anyone who apposed it must die. This is their teaching. This is as radical as it gets.

IS THE FEDERAL RESERVE BEING REPLACED?
It’s coming – Scott Bessent reveals what should REPLACE the Fed Reserve. There may be some major changes next spring. Let’s see what happens. Isn’t this exciting?
THE EXPOSURE OF CORRUPTION IN MINNESOTA HAS ONLY BEGUN.
You simply have to see this video to get an idea on just how bad and corrupt Minnesota really is and this is only the beginning. God, through his prophets has said it will all be exposed and justice will prevail and so it is.
OPERATION ‘TWIN SHIELD’ IS WINDING DOWN AND HERE IS WHAT IT FOUND. JUST A TASTE…
LET THE CLOWN SHOW BEGIN…
HOW DID SHE GET ALL THAT MONEY?
For politicians on both sides of the isle we must begin to ask how they gained so much wealth in such short periods of time. For Ilan Omar it’s $30M in such a short period of time (3 years). Today let’s take a look at one in particular who put herself in the spotlight and deserves to be investigated along with others. Will this be her ultimate doom? Did she take some of that $1B “Feeding Our Future” welfare fraud money? How deep is she into this fraud? So how did she get all that money?
‘TREASON?’: ILHAN OMAR ACCUSED OF EXPLOSIVE CRIME
Is this all just hype? Can they really deport her? The pressure is building as more and more FACTS come out about who she really is and what she really represents.
CORRUPTION IN CALIFORNIA IS MUCH WORST THAN MINNIAPOLIS
Oh boy…. $24B missing! No one knows where it went? You won’t BELIEVE what the FBI just found on Gavin Newsom!!! Actually, it’s not so hard since we all know the guy is a dirtbag. so much for his governorship as a steppingstone to the Whitehouse. It’s so laughable I want to cry. How could this be happening in America?
By Dr. Steve Turely

SURPRISE! SURPRISE! HALF OF MINNESOTA VISAS ARE ‘FRAUDULENT’
LEAKED VIDEO OF ILHAN OMAR FUND RAISING RALLY RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS
What country is she really loyal to? Is it the U.S. or Somalia? Was Trump right?
This video should scare the pants off of everyone. Who the hell do these people think they are? Look carefully as Omar is beside him smiling and supports at what he says. This is her fund-raising rally.

I have created a brand-new “Post RV Workshop” page in the blog. I included my own personal tips on investing post-RV and also organizing and protecting your estate. Here is the LINK. Going forward I will only post new and exciting information and opportunities here on the Latest Newsletter as they come along. Later I will transfer it to the ‘Post RV Workshop’ page in subsequent Newsletters for your future reference.
Just so you know I absolutely DO NOT adhere to high-risk investments where you can lose it all in a flash. Look at it this way – you are going to have all this money. Most of us investors waited decades for this RV to happen and so why would you even think about pissing is all away in some high-risk gamble of an investment. Yes, there are going to be scammers out there but let’s talk about legitimate investment opportunities only. These scammers can suck you dry and there is not a damned thing you can do about it. Go to a legitimate wealth manager associated with your bank. Let the licensed experts advise you. Please, please stay away from idiots like MarkZ, TNT Tony, Bruce on the Big Stupid Call, etc. , etc.
TRUMP FLOATS ZERO INCOME TAX PLAN STARTING WITH BIGGEST REFUNDS EVER
The Trump administration is slowly rewriting the entire federal tax code.
Give it time as the country will finally realize that with the right-offs half the country does not pay income tax anyhow. It makes common sense that if you keep adding exceptions and eliminate taxes in the tax code, they why even have an annual filing process? Yes, we can see what is happening. A slow methodical breakdown and then replacement of how revenue is to be collected for the federal government in the near future. But these changes will have to get through congress and congress must remain within the conservative power base.

DOLLAR RISE, SALARIES CUT, AND NO FOOD RATIONS… EXPERT: IRAQ HAS BEGUN IMPLEMENTING THE “WHITE PAPER”
(Mnt Goat: It is important to remember that when in many of these articles they normally talk about ‘raising the rate” of the dinar they actually mean raising the sanctioned rate i.e. 1320 to 1440 and this is a devaluation. And when they normally talk about ‘ reducing the rate” of the dinar they actually mean lowering the sanctioned rate i.e. 1320 to 1166 and this is a revaluation)
On Friday, December 12, 2025, economist Nabil Al-Marsoumi spoke about the repercussions of the “White Paper” adopted by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to manage economic crises in developing countries, which Iraq has begun to implement.
In a blog post followed by Al-Jabal, entitled “The First Option for Economic Reform (The White Paper)”, Al-Marsoumi said that “the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank believe that economic crises in developing countries are caused by errors in macroeconomic policies in developing countries, and that correcting this requires making fundamental changes to these policies, even if it is at the expense of social goals and the poor.”
He added, “The economic reform package adopted by the International Monetary Fund consists of:
1. Reducing the exchange rate of the national currency and then floating it.
2. Raising the interest rate and setting credit ceilings.
3. Gradually reducing government subsidies for government goods and services.
4. Reducing public spending on goods and services.
5. Reducing the salary budget and limiting the appointment of graduates in government institutions.
6. Restructuring and privatizing loss-making public sector institutions.
7. Reducing social transfer expenditure items, particularly with regard to subsidizing the prices of essential food commodities.
8. Raising energy prices to the level of global prices.
9. Raising tax rates, increasing tax revenue, reorganizing and creating other tax bases, imposing direct taxes or policies related to indirect taxes, as well as increasing the taxpayer base, reducing tax exemptions, developing collection methods, and combating tax evasion.
10. Liberalizing all prices and trade.
Al-Marsoumi pointed out that “Iraq actually began implementing the IMF reform program, under the banner of the White Paper in 2020, after the collapse of oil prices as a result of the spread of Corona and the closure of the global economy. The White Paper was supposed to implement the following measures:
1. Reduce the wage and salary bill from 25% of GDP to 12.5% within three years.
2. Restructuring the public sector salary scale by halting new recruitment and replacement processes in the public sector.
3. Applying income tax to employee allowances, incentives, bonuses, and other benefits.
4. Reducing total government support from 13% of GDP to 5% over three years, which extends from electricity and fuel fees to canceling the ration card and limiting it to those covered by the social protection network after its rationalization, which ultimately means higher prices for fuel, electricity and food, and consequently higher levels of inflation in the Iraqi economy.
5. Raising the exchange rate of the dollar against the Iraqi dinar, which actually happened in Iraq and which had a negative impact on the poor and even middle class in Iraq after the government raised the dollar exchange rate by 23% against the Iraqi dinar.
Al-Marsoumi concluded his post by saying: “In general, implementing the White Paper reforms entails a heavy social cost borne by the poor and those with limited income, and this will push us to publish another possible option that could be a national option for reform.
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MY PERSPECTIVE ON THE DINAR AND ECONOMIC REFORM, BASED ON WHAT DR. NABIL AL-MARSOUMI WROTE ABOUT THEM.
By Dr. Shawwan Zangana
12.14.25
With all due respect to you, my dear professor Dr. Nabil Al-Marsoumi, and with all due appreciation for your knowledge and expertise, from which I have always benefited, I hope you will allow me to present the following points to you, in response and commentary on what you wrote about economic reform a few days ago, as follows:
- The “White Paper” was never a reform paper, and it never will be. In it, the wrong measures and government corruption were imposed on the people, as they were exposed to inflation due to the reduction in the exchange rate of the dinar, and stagnation prevailed in the markets due to the contradictions in the economic measures, not to mention the exploitation of the economic crises by those in power and their entourages to make profits and accelerate the wheel of smuggling.
2- I agree with you, my dear professor, that the economic crises in developing countries are caused by errors in macroeconomic policies, and I also agree with you on the necessity of cooperating with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. However, I do not agree with you, nor with the pillars of the Iraqi government that approved the “White Paper” prepared by the World Bank, with nominal Iraqi participation, regarding many of the items and measures contained in the ill-fated White Paper.
I do not agree with placing the plans to address the Iraqi economic crises under the authority of the World Bank or others. Rather, I call for the solutions to be purely Iraqi, in cooperation with international financial institutions, as Iraq is full of good economic personnel, both inside and outside the government.
3- In my view, seeking to reduce the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar is an economic crime that should only be resorted to in extreme emergency situations, when other means are exhausted. Iraq has multiple available means to address its economic crises, such as borrowing, rationalizing the budget, reforming food rations and social welfare, regulating salaries, limiting appointments, and eliminating underemployment, among others. These measures will be painful, as you mentioned, but they are certainly better than the effects of stagflation, which will burden the rich before the poor.
4- Floating the Iraqi dinar, in the current state of the Iraqi economy, contradicts the most basic rules of economics, not to mention its contradiction with reason and logic. Economically, floating occurs in a balanced free market where there is a real opportunity to achieve a fair exchange rate. This is impossible to achieve in the current Iraqi economy, as the only party that possesses dollars and hard currencies is the Central Bank of Iraq. As for the Iraqi market, it obtains hard currencies from the Central Bank, because Iraq is an importing country and not an exporting one, and most traders do not possess hard currency because they do not export, but rather they depend on the Central Bank to provide foreign currency liquidity. Consequently, there is no balanced market in which hard currency is available to everyone, and it is a market governed by what the Central Bank provides of hard currency, so competition becomes impossible, and achieving a fair exchange rate becomes impossible.
5- Promoting the idea of floating the dinar and reducing its exchange rate in the markets and among the general public is extremely dangerous. It is a preemptive move for possible future measures that may not happen, and if they do happen, they may not be soon. Occupying the markets with this type of idea presented as a solution is harmful and not beneficial. Therefore, I recommend staying away from it and leaving the idea of floating the dinar and reducing its exchange rate to the next government.
6- The economic reform process will be harsh and costly for the poor and those with limited and middle incomes, as you mentioned. The government must strive to alleviate the burden of this harshness and cost by improving economic, security, and social performance, and by formulating a national reform paper, with the participation of the concerned parties, the government, society, and markets, and with the assistance of local, international, and UN financial institutions.
6- Economic reform measures will not be effective unless they are accompanied by good intentions from those who take them. Corruption and mismanagement have brought Iraq to this state, and its continuation means the inevitable failure of reform measures. I think the time has come for the marginalized class of the national elite and entrepreneurs in the markets to take their place in the constructive and effective contribution to managing the course of the economy in Iraq, whether those in power accept it or not.
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HANTOUSH: INTERNATIONAL FINANCING DIFFICULTIES AND EXCHANGE RATE CHALLENGES THREATEN THE STABILITY OF THE IRAQI ECONOMY.
Economic and banking expert Mustafa Hantoush confirmed on Thursday that Iraqi companies and the private sector are facing significant difficulties in obtaining international loans to finance major projects due to Iraq’s low credit rating and the high costs of guarantees and interest rates on foreign loans.
Hantoush added, in a statement to Al-Maalouma, that “the Iraqi banking system is going through a difficult period, with the possibility of several banks exiting the market, which limits the ability of domestic financing to cover major projects.” He pointed out that “international financing depends heavily on sovereign guarantees provided by the state, which remain limited in Iraq.”
He noted that “the cost of external financing has risen significantly, with interest rates increasing from 5% to approximately 8-9% due to the risks associated with Iraq’s credit rating, placing additional burdens on Iraqi investors.”
Regarding the dollar exchange rate, which has reached 2,000 dinars, Hantoush affirmed that “Iraq is experiencing relative monetary stability, and the Central Bank has no intention of changing the exchange rate at present, despite speculation about the incoming government’s intentions in this regard.”
He warned that any “exchange rate adjustment without addressing the root causes of the country’s financial problems would be a half-measure, potentially leading to widespread negative consequences, including increased poverty rates and a decline in the value of salaries, thus exacerbating the suffering of large segments of the population.”
He explained that “Iraq possesses substantial resources in the form of government assets estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars, in addition to vast tracts of land and real estate, but the weakness in combating corruption and activating tax collection hinders the effective utilization of these resources.”
He pointed out that “seriously confronting corruption and activating domestic revenues could reduce the need to adjust the exchange rate or resort to temporary solutions that could harm the economy and society.”
He also noted the existence of “huge amounts of cash held in homes, estimated at 70 to 80 trillion dinars, which have contributed to speculation in the real estate market and an unjustified rise in prices, necessitating a sound monetary policy to control the markets.” He concluded by emphasizing that “the continuation of the current situation without genuine reforms will lead to a deterioration of economic and social conditions, with increased poverty rates and greater pressure on salaries and market liquidity.”
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Deadly weapon….
WHAT AWAITS IRAQIS IS “WORSE THAN OCCUPATION”… A SUMMARY OF WASHINGTON’S MESSAGES AND ACTIONS TOWARDS BAGHDAD – URGENT
While political forces in Baghdad are preoccupied with negotiations to form a new government and address post-election obligations, an Iraqi voice from Washington, privy to the inner workings of American decision-making, paints a harsher picture. Intifadh Qanbar , a resident of the US capital and privy to the behind-the-scenes workings of the Iraqi situation, succinctly summarizes these fears with a shocking statement: what awaits Iraq could be “worse than occupation,” because the next battle may not be fought with tanks on the ground, but rather with a financial weapon: cutting off the dollar supply to Baghdad if the political class fails to meet the conditions presented by US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Mark Savaya. This assessment raises a weighty question: what does it mean for the flow of dollars from the US Federal Reserve to become a central bargaining chip in Washington’s relationship with Baghdad under the current Trump administration, and how might such a battle impact a fragile economy that is almost entirely dependent on the US currency?
From America to Baghdad… a warning about a “deadly weapon”
In numerous media appearances and commentaries, Intifadh Qanbar emphasized that Iraq faces not so much the threat of a new military invasion as it does a financial one that could paralyze the state from within. His warning is not about a theoretical possibility, but rather an escalating trajectory whose signs began to appear years ago when the US Treasury and the Federal Reserve tightened restrictions on the currency auction and excluded several Iraqi banks from dollar transactions under the pretext of their involvement in currency smuggling and financing networks linked to Iran. From this perspective, Qanbar’s talk of “something worse than occupation” becomes an attempt to describe a scenario that requires no soldiers on the ground: it would suffice for Washington to gradually or suddenly tighten the flow of dollars, and for employee salaries, food and medicine imports, the value of the dinar, and the daily lives of citizens to become hostage to a political-financial decision made in New York and Washington.
The Iraqi dollar dilemma… when oil revenues pass through the Federal Reserve gate
Since 2003, a special mechanism has been in place for managing Iraqi oil revenues. The funds are deposited in accounts at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York before being used to finance Iraq’s imports and meet the budget’s dollar needs. This arrangement has made the United States an involuntary partner in Iraq’s financial cycle, and the Fed accounts a mandatory gateway for every dollar entering Baghdad.
Simultaneously, the Central Bank of Iraq continued to operate a currency auction to cover imports and private sector transfers, which opened the door to smuggling, corruption, and exploitation of the gap between the official and parallel exchange rates. With mounting suspicions that billions of dollars were leaving Iraq for neighboring countries through money laundering and the financing of sanctioned networks, Washington began to view this as a vulnerability that could be used as both a tool for punishment and control.
In recent years, the US Treasury has translated this vision into concrete steps:
Tightening controls on the electronic platform for foreign transfers, barring several banks from accessing dollars, imposing rigorous scrutiny on every transfer transaction, and even rejecting requests suspected of being linked to sanctioned entities or smuggling networks. This experience has shown Iraqis, in practice, what it means for the life of the economy to hang by a single thread called “Federal Authority approval,” and it has given Qanbar’s words today added weight, because Iraqis have seen firsthand how a series of US measures can drive up the dollar on the parallel market, disrupt markets, and put pressure on the government within weeks.
Savaya’s conditions… from factions to the dollar
At this critical juncture, Trump’s envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, arrived with a list of demands that reportedly represent the new administration’s core thinking toward Baghdad: a unified state and a single armed force; a halt to the funding of armed factions with public funds; control over the smuggling of dollars to Iran, Syria, and Lebanon; and a clearer definition of Iraq’s role in the equation of the conflict between Washington and Tehran. While these conditions have not been officially announced in full, they are being circulated behind the scenes as the “ceiling” of the American position in the coming phase, with the Federal Reserve’s leverage and the dollar’s influence being the most effective tools to push Baghdad toward this ceiling.
From this perspective, Qanbar interprets the situation as a shift from a phase of “advising and warning” to one of “dictating through financial instruments.” If the dominant forces in Baghdad—politically and militarily—accept the American conditions, the dollar can continue to flow with some restrictions and controls. However, if they decide to persist in their duplicitous stance, Qanbar believes that the American response this time will not take the form of statements and protest notes, but rather a gradual tightening of dollar channels, which could, at its most extreme, lead to a severe restriction or near-freezing of the use of Iraqi dollar reserves.
What does “cutting the dollar” mean in practice?
When Qanbar warns against “cutting off dollars to Iraq,” he is not necessarily referring to a complete and immediate halt to all transfers, as this would be a costly scenario for everyone and would unleash global financial chaos, something Washington does not want. What he is talking about is closer to a gradual punitive approach, which could include:
A wider crackdown on Iraqi banks and the denial of more of their ability to deal in dollars, which turns them into local institutions unable to finance foreign trade; tightening the ceilings on transfers allowed through the platform, which pushes traders to the black market, raises the exchange rate and weakens the dinar; and perhaps at an advanced stage, using the reserves card itself, by imposing certain formulas for their use or threatening to freeze part of them if it is considered that the Iraqi government is proceeding with policies that contradict American demands.
In such a scenario, the difference between military occupation and financial pressure becomes clear: the former destroys infrastructure and leads to direct armed clashes, while the latter gradually strangles the state from within, turning every issue—from salaries to electricity to food—into a bargaining chip on the political table. It is precisely here that Qanbar’s talk of “something worse than occupation” seems more like a warning of a silent collapse, one where tanks aren’t visible in the streets, but citizens witness it daily in a soaring exchange rate, stalled projects, and a government unable to fulfill its obligations without federal approval.
Does Iraq have any real options for escaping the grip of the federal government?
Faced with this scenario, there is much talk in Baghdad about “diversifying partners” and turning towards China and Russia, settling transactions in currencies other than the dollar, or even building reserves in other currencies. However, these ideas clash with a number of hard realities: Iraqi oil is still priced in dollars, global markets still use the dollar as the benchmark currency, and the Iraqi banking system is structurally weak and, in its current state, incapable of managing the shock of a sudden transition to a new settlement system. Furthermore, any significant shift away from the dollar requires a different international political framework and a considerable amount of time to build the confidence of markets and financial institutions—a luxury that seems unattainable given the fragile economic and social situation and mounting internal pressures.
In this sense, talk of “escaping the grip of the Federal Reserve” may be a long-term strategic goal, but it is not a realistic shield against the rapid pressure scenarios that Qanbar warns of. In the short term, Iraq remains largely exposed to American leverage, making the real arena for maneuver not only economic but also political: Where does Iraq stand in the struggle between the axes, how does it distribute the cost of its relations with Washington and Tehran, and what discourse does it use to manage the issues of factions, weapons, and the state?
The question of the moment: Will Baghdad learn before it’s too late?
Qanbar’s warning is based on the conviction that Washington, in its new iteration, does not intend to maintain the status quo; and that Savaya’s visit to Baghdad is not a courtesy call but rather the beginning of a serious pressure campaign whose objective is “either a genuine change in the behavior of the Iraqi state, or facing a system of harsh pressure, foremost among which is the weapon of the dollar.” In contrast, Savaya presents himself, in his statement, as a “partner ready to support,” affirming that the United States, “under the leadership of President Trump, stands fully prepared to support Iraq during this critical phase,” and that he and his team are “committed to working closely with Iraqi leaders to establish a strong state, a stable future, and a sovereign Iraq capable of shaping its own destiny in the new Middle East.”
Between Qanbar’s warning of “something worse than occupation” if the federal system is used as a punitive weapon, and Savaya’s talk of a “unified and rational option” that opens the door to American support, a new framework of pressure on Baghdad is taking shape: the stick of the dollar on one hand, and the carrot of “support and partnership” on the other. In this narrow space, the Iraqi state faces a new test: Does it possess the ability to formulate a unified and balanced position that spares the country a scenario of financial strangulation and prevents its reserves and oil revenues from becoming a tool for reshaping its political decision-making? Or will continued hesitation and internal conflict give Washington the pretext to use its harshest tools, leaving Iraqis suddenly at the heart of a suffocating financial crisis, unlike occupation in its outward appearance, but potentially surpassing it in its profound impact and its ability to shatter what remains of the state’s capacity to control its economic and political destiny?
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IRAQ’S OIL REVENUES ARE A PLENTIFUL ASSET, BUT THEY REQUIRE STRUCTURAL REFORMS.
Iraq’s oil revenues indicate a financial surplus sufficient to cover expenses, but the challenges in managing public funds and developing projects and services call for comprehensive reforms to ensure the achievement of sustainable development.
Jamal Kojar, a member of the Finance Committee, confirmed on Friday that Iraq’s oil revenues are sufficient to cover operational financial needs, noting that the country needs reforms, as it does not rely solely on the budget, but also needs projects, development, services, and other things.
Koger explained that “the current government is legally obligated to prepare the draft budget by October 15, 2025, according to the Financial Management Law, and the government is in place until that date, while the next government will be tasked with putting its stamp and comments on the draft and proceeding with its approval.”
The Iraqi economy is heavily dependent on oil revenues , which constitute the largest part of the state budget, while non-oil revenues represent only a small percentage.
Despite the abundance of these revenues, Iraq faces significant challenges in managing public funds and developing projects and services, highlighting the need for comprehensive structural reforms.
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WILL HALF OF IRAQ’S BANKS DISAPPEAR?
Is facing a sensitive stage with the start of the implementation of the comprehensive reform plan developed by the Central Bank, which, according to estimates, may lead to the exit of a number of private banks through mergers or withdrawal from the market.
These developments come at a time of escalating depositor concerns, particularly following past failures, which threaten confidence in the banking system.
As the debate intensifies regarding the future of dozens of small or struggling banks, Wadih al-Hanzal, head of the Association of Iraqi Private Banks, stated that Arab and Gulf banks have expressed a genuine and serious desire to enter the Iraqi market. In remarks to journalists, al-Hanzal added that Iraq is currently undergoing one of its most profound phases of banking reform, based on a roadmap developed by the Central Bank to restructure the sector. This process may lead to significant mergers or divestments to ensure compliance with international standards and strengthen the banking sector.
Al-Hanzal revealed that the Iraqi banking sector may witness a wave of mergers or significant divestments, indicating that the number of banks, currently around 60, “may be halved or less,” in response to directives from the Central Bank, which he described as “clear reform messages,” even though they have not been officially announced. He affirmed his support for this approach, stating that it will lead to a stronger and more efficient banking sector.
This proposal is consistent with the statement issued by the Central Bank of Iraq, which affirmed its commitment to proceeding with comprehensive reform, and its keenness to enhance financial stability and focus on structural reforms that maximize local revenues and support the government’s directions in diversifying the economy.
A suitable environment for reform
Samir Al-Nassiri, advisor to the Association of Iraqi Private Banks, confirmed that the Central Bank’s procedures and efforts, in partnership and consultation with private banks, have resulted in creating a suitable environment to begin implementing the goals and programs of the banking reform project, which is being carried out in coordination with the government and the global consulting firm Oliver Wyman.
He explained to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that this project aims to build a strong, modern and flexible banking sector, capable of supporting the rapid growth of the national economy, contributing to raising the gross domestic product and enhancing the market value of the banking sector.
Al-Nassiri stressed that there are efforts to empower and grow the private banking sector during the period 2025–2028, through developing the banking system and its compliance with international standards, building a flexible and modern sector, enhancing citizens’ confidence and international recognition of its transparency.
He emphasized the need to rehabilitate restricted and weak banks to fully resume operations, and to restore banks to their core role of financing and lending to promote financial inclusion, drive the transition to a digital economy, and draw funds out of the banking system. He explained that the reform will also include restructuring the banking sector and merging banks that wish to create large banking entities capable of attracting institutional investors, in accordance with the ownership structure ratios adopted by the Central Bank.
Bank mergers
Financial and banking expert Mahmoud Dagher stressed that the banking reform plan was developed to improve the performance of Iraqi banks and improve their international ranking, explaining that the consulting firm “Oliver Wyman” in cooperation with the Central Bank drew up the details of the reform plan and its stages without including any intention to reduce the number of banks.
Dagher told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the plan targeted one of the most important requirements for improving performance: increasing capital, in line with global trends, where international banking institutions possess substantial capital reserves. He added that the plan offered banks the option of mergers as a tool to bolster their capital, while also allowing viable banks to continue operating independently. He emphasized that it is impossible to predict a reduction in the number of banks “by half or a quarter,” as this is not the primary objective of the reform. He explained that one of the factors improving bank performance worldwide is mergers, which increase their resilience and ability to withstand risks. He stressed that reforming state-owned banks must precede reforming private banks, given that state-owned banks control 85% of deposits in Iraq and 90% of banking assets, making them the largest and most influential players in the banking system.
Depositors’ concerns
For his part, economic researcher Mustafa al-Faraj affirmed that depositors’ concerns represent the greatest challenge to the reform process, especially after the experiences of some banks defaulting on deposits, which has generated a growing crisis of confidence among the public. Al-Faraj emphasized that protecting depositors’ funds has become a direct responsibility of the Central Bank of Iraq, as the licensing and supervisory body for banks, and it must fully guarantee their rights during any merger or restructuring process.
He explained to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the number of private banks, which exceeds 60, does not reflect the strength of the sector, but rather reveals fragmentation and weakness in capital efficiency, because some of these banks do not provide actual banking services and do not contribute to lending or real economic activity, and rely in their work on limited activities or ineffective speculations.
Al-Faraj explained that the merger, despite the reservations of some shareholders, constitutes a reform step that gives the banking sector a higher ability to compete, raises the level of public confidence, and transforms banks into effective tools in supporting the economy instead of remaining mere nominal or inactive entities.
Banks under threat
In this context, economic researcher Ahmed Sabah confirmed that the Central Bank’s plan to restructure the banking sector will push a number of weak banks to merge or exit, especially banks that have faced sanctions or restrictions from the US Treasury Department or have failed to meet compliance and capitalization requirements, making their continued presence within the financial system a matter that requires radical review.
He explained to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the danger posed by these banks is not limited to their poor operational performance, but extends to their use, in some cases, as potential channels for money laundering and dollar smuggling. This is due to the absence of internal controls and weak auditing and governance systems, which has led international bodies to take a stricter approach towards them. Sabah stressed that the continued operation of these banks poses a direct threat to market stability and depositors’ confidence, emphasizing that their restructuring or exit from the market has become essential to protect the financial system, enhance transparency, and ensure a stronger banking environment capable of supporting the national economy.
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TODAY, SUNNI FORCES ARE HOLDING AN “IMPORTANT” MEETING TO DECIDE ON THE NOMINATION OF THE SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT.
The “National Political” Council, which unites the Sunni forces that won the 2025 parliamentary elections, intends to hold an “important” meeting on Thursday to decide on the nomination of the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament.
A senior official in the council told Shafaq News Agency that “the leaders of the National Political Council will hold an important meeting this evening, Thursday, at the home of the leader of the Azm Alliance, Muthanna al-Samarrai, in the presence of all the council’s leaders, to decide on the nomination of the next Speaker of Parliament in a consensual manner among all the Sunni political forces.”
The source, who asked not to be named, added that “the most prominent candidates for the presidency of the House of Representatives are (Mohammed al-Halbousi, Muthanna al-Samarrai, Thabit al-Abbasi) and perhaps new names will be put forward during today’s meeting, including (Haiba al-Halbousi, Mahmoud al-Qaisi).”
He pointed out that “the leaders of the council are in contact with the leaders of the Shiite Coordination Framework to coordinate positions and prevent any veto on the name of any figure that the Sunni political leaders may agree on, in order to prevent opposition to them and to ensure a vote in favor of whoever is chosen in the first session of the new parliament.”
On Wednesday, Azam Al-Hamdani, a leader in the Al-Azm Alliance, revealed that the date for the third session of the National Political Council had been set, and indicated that it would be dedicated to discussing the candidate for the presidency of the Iraqi parliament.
Al-Hamdani told Shafaq News Agency that “the National Political Council will resume its sessions that it held last week at the home of the head of the Progress Party, Muhammad al-Halbousi,” indicating that “the next session will be the third and will be held at the home of the head of the Azm Party, Muthanna al-Samarrai, and the meeting is expected to be held tomorrow, Thursday, or next Sunday.”
He explained that “the third session will be held to resolve the issue of entitlements within the Sunni bloc, and what is related to the presidency of the House of Representatives and the rest of the other positions within the government formation, in addition to completing the process of building the state through building the Iraqi government with the participation of everyone.”
Last month, the Sunni alliances and parties that won the elections announced the establishment of the “National Political Council”.
This came during an expanded meeting held at the initiative and invitation of the head of the Sovereignty Alliance, Khamis al-Khanjar, in Baghdad, with the aim of unifying visions and positions regarding major national issues and strengthening joint work between political leaders and blocs, according to a statement issued at the time.
According to the final election results, Sunni forces won 77 seats, making the reshaping of alliances a crucial factor in the negotiations to form the next government.
Last Monday, the Independent High Electoral Commission sent the final results of the sixth parliamentary elections to the Federal Supreme Court (the highest judicial authority in Iraq) for ratification.
Shafaq.com
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IRAQ ACHIEVES A SIGNIFICANT LEAP IN ITS OIL EXPORTS TO AMERICA, SURPASSING SAUDI ARABIA.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration announced on Thursday that Iraq’s oil exports to the United States totaled more than 7 million barrels during November, an increase of more than 2.5 million barrels over the previous month.
The administration stated in a table seen by Shafaq News Agency that “Iraq exported 7.920 million barrels of crude oil to America during the month of November, up from the month of October, in which Iraqi oil exports amounted to 4.495 million barrels.”
She added that “Iraq exported an average of 149,000 barrels per day of crude oil to America during the first week of November, while it exported an average of 92,000 barrels per day in the second week, an average of 397,000 barrels per day in the third week, and an average of 435,000 barrels per day in the fourth week.”
The U.S. Energy Information Administration explained that “Iraq ranked third in its exports to America last month, after Canada, which ranked first as the country exporting the most oil to America, followed by Mexico.”
The administration noted that “Iraq came in first place among Arab countries as the largest exporter of oil to America, ahead of Saudi Arabia, which came in second with exports of 7.380 million barrels, and Libya came in third with exports of 1.440 million barrels.”
Shafaq.com
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IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER: ENDING THE UNAMI MISSION IN IRAQ REFLECTS THE PROGRESS AND STABILITY ACHIEVED.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his pride in the ongoing cooperation with Iraq on Saturday, while Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein affirmed his country’s appreciation for the international organization’s role during previous phases.
A statement from the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that “Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein received the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, upon his arrival at Baghdad International Airport.”
The statement explained that “this visit came on the occasion of the announcement of the end of the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), after years of carrying out its tasks in supporting the political process, promoting stability, and providing advice and assistance in various fields.”
During the reception, the Minister affirmed the Iraqi government’s appreciation for the role played by the United Nations and UNAMI in supporting Iraq during previous phases, noting that “the termination of the mission’s work reflects the progress and stability achieved, and embodies Iraq’s ability to manage its national affairs and strengthen its sovereignty and constitutional institutions.”
For his part, the Secretary-General of the United Nations expressed his “pride in the existing cooperation with Iraq,” stressing “the continued support of the international organization for Iraq through new cooperation frameworks that are appropriate for the next stage, and that enhance sustainable development and international partnership.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Baghdad this morning to participate in the official ceremony marking the end of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq.
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FROM RATIFICATION TO GOVERNMENT FORMATION: CRUCIAL CONSTITUTIONAL STEPS IN THE PATH OF THE NEW IRAQ
Member of Parliament, Muhammad Jassim Al-Khafaji, revealed today, Sunday (December 14, 2025), the constitutional steps for forming the Iraqi government after the Federal Court approved the lists of elected MPs in the sixth session.
Al-Khafaji explained in a statement received by “Baghdad Today” that “the ratification of the lists of deputies by the court may be imminent, with the possibility that the court will ratify all the names or exclude some of them.”
He added: “After ratification, the President of the Republic calls for the first session of the House of Representatives to be held within a period not exceeding 15 days, during which the 329 representatives will take the constitutional oath, and then the Speaker of the House and his two deputies will be elected, with each member having the right to nominate himself.”
He added that “after that, the nomination process for the presidency will be open for three days, according to the conditions of the law, which include that the candidate must be over 40 years old, have a university degree, political experience, and a good reputation. The president will be elected during a session that does not exceed 30 days from the first session.”
He continued: “In the final stage, the new president of the republic tasks the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc, currently the coordinating framework, with forming the government. The tasked candidate presents the ministerial program within 30 days, to be voted on and a new government is formed with full constitutional powers, while the parliament begins to exercise its oversight and legislative role.”
Al-Khafaji pointed out that “this scenario follows the constitutional timelines, with the possibility of the political reality differing for multiple and well-known reasons.”
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AFTER THE FEDERAL COURT’S APPROVAL, PARLIAMENT WILL CONVENE ON THE 9TH OF NEXT MONTH.
Member of Parliament Baqir al-Saadi confirmed that the Federal Supreme Court’s ratification of the final results of the general elections represents a crucial constitutional turning point for the new parliament to begin its work and paves the way for its first session to be held within the specified timeframe.
Speaking to Iraq Observer, al-Saadi explained that the ratification will be officially recorded within ten days, immediately followed by the swearing-in ceremony for the members of parliament. He predicted that the first session would be held at the beginning of next month, specifically on the ninth, in accordance with the established constitutional timelines.
He noted that the coming period will witness accelerated political activity, particularly with leaks circulating about potential candidates for the position of Prime Minister, amidst ongoing consultations among political blocs aimed at reaching a consensus formula for forming the new government.
The Federal Supreme Court had previously announced its ratification of the final results of the parliamentary elections, thus establishing the constitutional framework for the subsequent political processes and the formation of the legislative and executive branches.
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Just In….
A PRESIDENTIAL DECREE SETS THE 29TH OF THIS MONTH AS THE DATE FOR THE FIRST PARLIAMENTARY SESSION.
The President of the Republic issued a presidential decree on Tuesday setting the date for the first session of the new parliament on December 29, to be chaired by the oldest member.
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SUDANI: OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WASHINGTON IS WITNESSING CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stressed to US Chargé d’Affaires Joshua Harris on Sunday the need to complete the economic, trade and investment cooperation achieved between the two countries, while the termination of the United Nations mission in Iraq was also discussed.
A statement from his office, received by the Mail, said that Al-Sudani “received today, Sunday, the US Chargé d’Affaires to Iraq, Joshua Harris, where bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to develop joint cooperation were discussed, as well as reviewing developments in the regional and international situation, while emphasizing the importance of joint coordination to confront existing challenges in a way that contributes to imposing stability and security in the region .”
He affirmed that “bilateral relations are witnessing continuous development and progress, given the mutual keenness and interest to continue developing them in various fields and sectors, in order to achieve mutual interest and benefit.”
Al-Sudani pointed to “the importance of continuing to work and build on the economic, trade and investment cooperation achieved between the two countries, in light of the memoranda of understanding and joint agreements, and in a way that contributes to supporting various development and service paths.”
For his part, the US Chargé d’Affaires congratulated Iraq on “the end of the UN mission’s mission, which indicates that it has entered a new phase of stability, prosperity and development, stressing his country’s keenness to continue cooperating with Iraq in its efforts to achieve development and stability.”
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Fuad Hussein: The US has given Baghdad a list of armed groups
The Iraqi Foreign Minister has revealed the details of Washington’s sensitive messages to Baghdad, saying the United States has submitted a list of names of individuals and groups to the government.
Iraqi Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Fuad Hussein has spoken to Hadas TV about the formation of a new government and relations with Washington.
He said the US side has submitted a list of names of a number of individuals and armed groups to the Iraqi government, according to Fuad Hussein, Washington will not discuss these names with any party and will act according to its policies and laws.
Regarding the participation of these groups in the elections and the government, the Iraqi foreign minister explained that it is an internal issue of Iraq, but admitted that Washington’s sanctions policy is clear and they will implement it without discussion. He also attributed Iraq’s economic problems to the participation of one party in the government, but to mistakes in the country’s economic principles and policies.
In another topic of the press conference, Fuad Hussein revealed the contents of his meeting with Tom Barack, the US special envoy for Syria and Lebanon in Doha, in the meeting, the US envoy presented a view, stressing that the federal system in Iraq has failed.
Hussein said that although the talks will continue, but some of the proposals put forward by the US team, do not comply with the constitution and political reality in Iraq.
On the security and regional levels, the foreign minister warned that Israel’s threats to Iraq are not over and are part of the military tensions in Lebanon, Syria and Hezbollah.
“The direction of events is not towards dialogue, but towards challenge. Although Iran does not want war, it is preparing to respond,” he said.
These comments come as the new US administration is formulating a new policy for the Middle East, the appointment of Mark Savaya as special envoy to Iraq and Tom Barack for Syria and Lebanon, clear indications of a radical change in Washington’s approach to Baghdad.
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Their words not mine…..No Rumors, No Hype, No Opinions ,,,,,
Just the FACTS!
Disclaimer: All information in this newsletter is not intended for investment decisions / purposes. Mnt Goat is not a financial analyst, planner, banker, attorney or associated in any role with giving out professional investment advice.
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Mnt Goat






































































































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