A slow mid-year by any measure.
The real MntGoat has posted systematically. MntGoat’s blog is here. She says, and I agree, that progress has been made in areas that support the inevitable IQD re-instatement. Also, we read of an emerging Middle Eastern trading coalition, including Iraq, which plans to periodically recalculate the relative value of each member-country’s currency — can’t do that if IQD isn’t floating!! January, 2022, is a likely target but must be preceded by “the project to delete zeroes” in early December.
Election: The Iraqi federal election has gone well but results are not final as vote-recounts proceed and the risk is still high that Iran-backed Shia militias (who lost support and representation) will cause trouble (as they regularly threaten to do). al-Sadr has consistently and effectively acted to bring all the militias under government control. Corruption was a major election theme and anti-corruption efforts continue to gain support.
Sovereignty: Iraq’s ability to manage its own affairs continues to suffer, and they publically reject true hands of friendship.
Economy: Living conditions in Iraq prompt increasing numbers of people to flee at any cost. Too bad for them since after a perilous journey they are not eagerly embraced at their destination.
Security: Iraq’s ability to contain the terrorists in its midst remains questionable but occasionally effective. Indeed, ‘civil’ society has a different meaning there as towns attack their neighbors for ‘justice’.
A floating and stable Iraqi currency should bring many benefits to the country which would improve the lives of all Iraqis. Fingers crossed.