Republican National Committee Release - 71 7 2006 Iraqfacts

NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 17, 2006

“Iraq And The United States Signed A Commercial Cooperation Agreement Monday To Move The Country Toward A Market Economy After Decades Of State Planning.” (Ryan Lenz, “Nations Sign Commercial Cooperation Deal,” The Associated Press, 7/17/06)

Iraqi Trade Minister Abed Falah Al-Sudani: “This agreement will be one of the important agreements that encourages the Iraqi economy to move from centralized economy to free economy.” (Ryan Lenz, “Nations Sign Commercial

“The Mid-June Survey Of Nearly 3,000 Iraqis, Conducted For The Washington-Based International Republican Institute (IRI), Found That 78 Percent Of Iraqis Either Disagree Or ‘Strongly Disagree’ With The Idea Of Segregating The Country By Religious Or Ethnic Sect.” (David R. Sands, “Iraqis Dismiss Split, Approve Of Al-Maliki,” The Washington Times, 7/19/06)

“About 55 Percent Of Iraqis Approved Of The Job Mr. AlMaliki Had Done In His First Month …” (David R. Sands, “Iraqis

Cooperation Deal,” The Associated Press, 7/17/06)

Dismiss Split, Approve Of Al-Maliki,” The Washington Times, 7/19/06)

“[A] Structure For Recovery Is In Place. Two Years Ago, Iraq Created An Independent Stock Exchange. Cell Phone Subscribers Have Grown To More Than 7 Million, And The Airport In Baghdad Offers Commercial Flights, Though With Limited Destinations.” (Ryan Lenz, “Nations Sign

“89 Percent Said The Formation Of A National Government Including The Country’s Main Ethnic And Religious Communities Was ‘Extremely Important To The Future Peace And Stability Of Iraq.’” (David R. Sands, “Iraqis Dismiss Split, Approve Of Al-Maliki,” The Washington Times, 7/19/06)

Commercial Cooperation Deal,” The Associated Press, 7/17/06)

“With Blaring Trumpets And Rattling Drums, U.S. Forces Have Been Doggedly Handing Over Chunks Of Territory To Iraqi Forces.” (Borzou Daragahi, “Iraqi Forces Take Over Territory From U.S.,” Los Angeles Times, 7/17/06)

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“This Month It Was The Former Insurgent Stronghold Of Tall Afar And The Entire Province Of Muthanna, A Peaceful Stretch Of Desert And Marshland.” (Borzou Daragahi, “Iraqi Forces Take Over Territory From U.S.,” Los Angeles Times, 7/17/06)

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“Last Month It Was A 400-Square-Mile Piece Here In Iraq’s … Sunni Triangle.” (Borzou

“Iraqi Engineers Have Significantly Lifted Crude-Oil Output Capacity In The Country’s Southern Fields, Delivering A Short-Term Shot In The Arm To Baghdad’s New Government And Underscoring Its Oil Supply's Vast Geologic Potential …” (Chip Cummins and Hassan Hafidh, "Iraq Lifts Oil Output In South," The Wall Street Journal, 7/19/06)

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“The Recent Output Gains In The South Come From New Or Long-Shut-Down Wells That Are Flowing Again, Representing The First Significant Capacity Gains Since The Fall Of Saddam Hussein.” (Chip Cummins and Hassan Hafidh, "Iraq Lifts Oil Output In South," The Wall Street Journal, 7/19/06)

Daragahi, “Iraqi Forces Take Over Territory From U.S.,” Los Angeles Times, 7/17/06)

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