From Haider Ajina:

Greetings,

The following is my translation of an Article in Iraq's Azaman March 14 2008:

Government to create 800,000 new jobs
By Hadeel al-Jawari

The government’s announcement that it was creating 800,000 new jobs is a sigh of relief amid nearly a five-year-succession of bad news, Iraqi economists said. They said the jobs if distributed fairly and equitable should alleviate rampant unemployment which they partly blamed for fueling the current cycle of violence in the country.

“The allocation of 800,000 jobs will certainly reduce the current high jobless rates substantially if they are distributed in an equitable and natural manner,” said Isam al-Mahawili. The government said it was keen to slash unemployment levels in the country and use soaring oil revenues to put the nation to work. Mahawili, one of Iraq’s top economists, said the government took the right decision, adding that reducing unemployment was “one of the most effective ways to revive the economy.” But he warned that ambitious plans like these had little chance of success unless the government reinstated stability and peace first.

Ali Khalifa, a Baghdad University economist, described the move as the right step in the path of combating violence. “Most of the bloody and violent events we see can be attributed to skyrocketing jobless rates in the country. “Accommodating the jobless will contribute to stability and lead to economic prosperity,” he said. Khalifa urged the government to encourage private sector entrepreneurs to re-open their factories most of which have been idle since the 2003 U.S. invasion.

Alnahrain 3-17-08
Iraqi Air force is averaging 300 sorties a week

General ROBERT R. ALLARDICE, who is in charge of re-developing and advancing the Iraqi air force, announced that by the end of 2007 the Iraqi air force was able to carry out 300 sorties per week. This means that substantial and significant developments have been achieved in revitalizing the Air force.

General Allardice added, in a closed security TV interview with the DOD on Monday the 17th, the Iraqi Air force academy has graduated its first pilot group and trainers. The Iraqi air force has transformed it self from a dream on paper to a real legitimate weapon with its duty to serve and protect Iraq. The general affirmed that the Iraqi air force is being trained to combat terrorism and insurgency. He pointed out that since the decline of violence, many have returned to their jobs in the air force. US Air force commanders are working hard to help their Iraqi counter parts.

The mission of the multi national forces is to build and Iraqi Air Force capable of protecting Iraq, we have opened an Air Force Academy to train pilots and specialist in Air operations, this mission will take s few years.

Arbil - Voices of Iraq
Monday , 17 /03 /2008 Time 11:52:06
5 minutes' silence observed in Arbil over Halabja victims

Arbil, Mar 16, (VOI) – Life came to a standstill for five minutes in the city of Arbil, capital of the Iraqi Kurdistan region, on Sunday over the 1988 chemical attacks on Halaja, where more than 5,000 people were killed.

"This five-minute mourning is observed in recognition of the people who gave their souls for the sake of the anti-Kurds persecution perpetrated by the former regime on that day 20 years ago," a media figure, Hamza Hamed, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

Halabja, a city 83 km southeast of Sulaimaniya province, came on March 18, 1988 under chemical attacks by the former Iraqi regime, resulting in killing more than five-thousand Kurds and injuring more than 10,000 others.

Haider comments,

In spite of the recent escalation in violence in Iraq it remains much more secure than it was in late summer, early fall of 2007. The terrorists in Iraq have escalated their attacks as we approach the fifth anniversary of operation Iraqi freedom. Our forces and the Iraqi forces (now much better trained) and the awakening committees are much better prepared to deal with these terrorist and many of them are being turned in and captured. A number of arrests have been made for the bombing in Karbala of the 16th and Iraqi security forces have set up a special task force to find the killers of the Chaldean bishop of Mosul. There has been much condemnation from Muslim, Christian clergy as well as political leaders. Iraqis commemorated the dark day of the gassing of the Kurds by Saddam’s regime on the 17th of March twenty years ago. All provinces in Iraq observed this day of national mourning. Iraqi refugees who left the country when Saddam was in power are beginning to return to Wasit province south east of Baghdad.

As the fifth anniversary of operation Iraqi freedom approaches, we see Iraqis living in a country ruled by law and governed by politicians elected by Iraqis. Many Iraqis express strong hope for their future and the future of their children. Much has been achieved over the last short five years thanks to the hard work of our men and women who have served and who are serving in Iraq and the Iraqis who are stubbornly holding on to their new found freedom.

Regards
Haider Ajina
McKinleyville CA