The BIG Call
Iraq’s election was on Saturday.  4 days prior to that, the military and others set up billboards, almost 8000 in total, and added a bunch of digital billboards as well.  These had pictures of the lower denominations and a rate for the dinar as compared to the USD.  Individual pictures of the lower denominations also had a value for that denomination, relative to USD.  So, they can see the value of the new currency compared to the US Dollar.
 
About 5 am on the day of the election, 2 hours before the voting started, the Baghdad province billboards were revealed.
The people in Baghdad could see the new rate on the billboards before they voted.  The next day, Sunday at 5 am, the billboards were revealed in all 17 provinces.  This was after the election.  And that day, they could begin using the ATM machines and see the new lower denominations.
 
Even though the people in Iraq know what the new rate is, the rate is not available internationally.
WE know what the rate is. The rates were back on the bank screens on Monday morning.
We thought that we were all ready to go. But Yesterday, what was significant was the US Embassy being announced in Jerusalem.  Pres. Trump made a video announcement that was played there yesterday.  Mnuchin was there, Ivanka and Jared.
But what was significant was that when that presidential speech was played, that was the start of the GCR being revealed around the world.
 
So, even though we talk about a Shotgun start—that is a golfing term, when the golfers on all tees all start on the sound of a gunshot—we have used that term for years.  It appears that we have had that start yesterday morning, and we are waiting for our turn again.
 
There has been a lot of money moving, especially today, around the globe.
The shotgun start started in Hong Kong, Zurich, London, etc.  So that the paymasters accounts were fully liquid, and some of the paymasters have paid out the start of the groups.
 
We as tier 4 are pretty much lined up to go shortly.
I have people with several hours to go, and people talking about us receiving the 800 numbers within 48 hours.  We don’t necessarily have to wait the full 2 days.
 
It seems, based on what I am getting, that we are finally ready.
 
There were conference calls last week.  A big one on Saturday, with banks and exchange locations, went for 2 ½ hours.  A call on Sunday.  Yesterday there was a meeting that lasted almost 12 hours, from 10 am to 930 pm, in 3 parts.  It is hard to know what was discussed.  An issue about taxation was solved—in our favor-don’t worry about it.  Everything is moving along at good speed now.
 
As for what we are looking for, there was another check or two about my phone number so they can get hold of me.  Some people in some groups have been notified already.
We should be getting excited again!  We have NOT been here before, though we thought we were forever.  But the time has come where everything has been agreed upon, and we are moving forward.  Proximity looks really good.
 
We believe that al-Sadr will cede his power over to Abadi, but he wants assurance that the RV is completely done, and there is a timeline for that.  The final election results may reflect that.
 
The program that we are under, with receiving the 800 numbers foer Tier 4 is lined up and ready to go. 
We need to let the people at the redemption centers know what our humanitarian projects are.
 
We will need a lot of people in the building trades.  We will need to check with the trade schools and create scholarships to train some of them.  All over the country.  There will probably be a lack of some of these around the country.  US is at full employment rate now.
 
Mentorship and apprenticeship programs, tied to the trade schools.  We may have to open our own schools.

Elmer:
Not in today
Artmeister:
Not in today
Catnip:
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ARTICLE 1 (from PM Abadi's website

The Council of Ministers holds its regular session chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Haider Abadi

The Cabinet held its regular session on Tuesday 15 May 2018 under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Dr. Haider Abadi.

The Cabinet called on the political blocs and citizens to adopt legal methods to raise violations and appeals, and the Council of Ministers that the priority of the work of the Commission is the priority of the work of the Commission is Preserve the voter's will and vote.

The session witnessed the vote on the promotion of the Ministers of the rank of (Director General) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Council voted to open an honorary consulate of the Republic of Cyprus to the Republic of Iraq in the governorates of Basra and Erbil.
The decision to exclude the province of Baghdad from the Council of Ministers Resolution No. 348 of 2017 on the transfer of allocations of cleaning to the municipal institution.

The Council voted on the MIC bill.
A vote was taken to merge the Vocational Training Department with the Employment and Credit Department and to merge the National Center for Research and Studies with the Planning and Follow-up Department.

The Council of Ministers also voted on the plan of preparing human resources in the field of administrative, economic, financial and legal sciences to develop human cadres in the various departments of the state, as well as the teaching staff (teacher and teacher). The graduates of the graduates with the rates of 90% will be selected after interviewing and diagnosing their qualifications. Faculties of administration, economics and law within specific ratios and 1000 students in faculties of basic education.

The draft law on the accession of the Republic of Iraq to the Asian Investment Bank for Infrastructure was voted on.

The Council voted on the draft air transport agreement between the Government of the Republic of Iraq and the Government of the Republic of Ukraine.

The draft agreement on cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Iraq and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic was voted upon.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers also witnessed the approval of the minutes of the consultative meeting on activating the work of the pivotal scales.
 
Prime Minister 's Media Office
15 May-2018

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ARTICLE 2

Tweets from Government of Iraq twitter account; all posted on 5-15-2018, around 1:15 pm Eastern:
  1. PM @HaiderAlAbadi: Acting on intelligence, yesterday the Iraqi Air Force carried out air strikes on Daesh positions in Syria. We remain concerned at the presence of this terrorist group on the Syrian side of the border and will take all measures to end this threat
  2. PM @HaiderAlAbadi: The next Iraqi government must ensure that the rights of all Iraq’s communities are protected, and that Iraqi women participate fully in the political process
  3. PM @HaiderAlAbadi: This @IraqiGovt will continue to provide strong leadership, discharge its duties and safeguard the interests of Iraq until a new government is formed

  4.  15h15 hours ago
    PM @HaiderAlAbadi: The Independent Electoral Commission must deal with local complaints and appeals about election results swiftly and transparently as mandated by law
  5.  15h15 hours ago
    PM @HaiderAlAbadi: The @IraqiGovt provided all necessary support to ensure that the elections were a success, and that the Iraqi people were able to vote in a safe & secure environment
  6.  15h15 hours ago
    PM @HaiderAlAbadi: I congratulate the Iraqi people on the success of the parliamentary elections on 12 May
  7.  15h15 hours ago
    PM @HaiderAlAbadi holds his weekly press conference in Baghdad, briefs media on recent parliamentary elections and other dev
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ARTICLE 3

Masoum: I call on everyone to pay attention to those with limited income and to provide more basic services to citizens

     BAGHDAD, May 16 (Xinhua) - President Fuad Masum congratulated Muslims and Muslims in Iraq and the world by Ramadan and wished all mankind the best of peace and progress, calling for greater efforts to improve the living conditions of low-income and displaced people and to provide more basic services For citizens during the blessed month.
     He added: "On the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, we extend our warmest congratulations and sincere congratulations to all Muslims and Muslims in Iraq and the world. We ask God Almighty to restore it to all Muslims and all mankind with good, Yemen and blessing and to accept their fasting and make their lives full of hope, peace, prosperity and solidarity.
     On this blessed occasion, we emphasize the need for special attention to those with limited income and to provide more basic services to the citizens during the blessed month and to redouble efforts to alleviate some of the suffering of the Iraqis living in the camps of displacement so far and pray to God to end their plight at the earliest time. Our country on the road to progress, security, stability and prosperity. Ending

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ARTICLE 4

The arrest of the accused of belonging to the "dodgy" and found stacks of equipment in the Qaim

     NINEWA, May 16 (UPI) - Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Saad Maan announced that the security forces of the Ninewa Police Directorate have managed to combat crime.
     Maan said that "the defendants are issued arrest warrants according to article 4 terrorism of one of them was arrested on the basis of documents and records of gangs and called (the form of affiliation) and were arrested two of them in the city of Mosul and the other control of the eastern gate of Tal Afar west of Mosul."
     In addition, the detachments of the Directorate of Military Intelligence in the 32nd Infantry Brigade, with precise intelligence information, found a cache of weapons hidden in an abandoned area in Husaybah area in al-Anbar province. Seven improvised explosive devices, 6 120 mm mortar rounds and 6 81 mm mortars And 5 detonators, and detonated on site by the engineering detachment of the band. " AH

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ARTICLE 5

Rafidain clarifies the circumstances of the arrest of accused of embezzling one billion dinars
11/16/2018 11:53 • 11 times read
[Ayna-Baghdad]
     The Rafidain Bank, the circumstances of the arrest of one of its employees in the province of Najaf in the case of the theft of more than one billion dinars.
     "The issue of misappropriation of one billion six hundred thousand dinars from one of its branches has been more than two years and was not the result of the moment as is common in the media," the bank's media office said in a statement received by the agency All Iraq.
     "The bank is the one who disclosed this theft and the judicial authorities were informed of the necessary action against the accused."
     "An employee and some of her accomplices were arrested and charged with embezzlement and manipulation of bank accounts of citizens in government banks," the statement said.
     The Office of Investigation Commission Integrity in the province of Najaf Ashraf revealed last Monday on the implementation of the arrest warrant against the accused embezzlement billion and six hundred thousand dinars from Rafidain Bank, indicating that the number of lawsuits against her amounted to 13 criminal appeal.
     The office said in a statement that "the arrest warrant issued against the defendant in accordance with the provisions of articles [315 and 316/47 - 48 - 49] sanctions implemented in cooperation with the security authorities, especially the Directorate of Intelligence and the fight against terrorism in the province."
     He pointed out that "the accused, who was working as an employee in the Rafidain Bank - the branch of Muslim bin Aqeel, attributed to the charges related to embezzlement and manipulation of bank accounts of citizens in government banks.

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ARTICLE 6

Arab countries and Iran announce Thursday the first day of Ramadan
2018/5/15 21:23 • 3 times read
[Ayna-Baghdad]
     Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan, Sudan and the Sunni Waqf in Lebanon, Iraq and Iran announced Thursday the first day of Ramadan.
     The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia could not see the crescent of the month of Ramadan on Tuesday to be Wednesday complementary to the two and Thursday morning of the holy month of Ramadan.
     In the UAE, the committee responsible for investigating the crescent of the holy month of Ramadan announced that Wednesday is the end of the month of Shaaban 1439 Hijri and that Thursday is the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.
     Kuwait's Sharia Vision Authority announced on Thursday the first day of the holy month after the moon could not be seen on Tuesday.
     In Egypt, the Egyptian Fatwa House announced Wednesday that it is the end of the month of Sha'baan and that the first day of Ramadan is on Thursday.
     "There is a great possibility of seeing the crescent of Ramadan on Wednesday, so that Thursday will be the first day of the holy month," said a senior member of the Supreme Leader's office in Iran, Ali Reza Meuhad Nejad.