Another Glimmer

There are signs of life in Iraq's oil sector and a big windfall for the government which now has a chance to distribute some of the wealth directly to Iraqi citizens. Money quote from Mohammed at Iraq the Model:

Yesterday al-Sabah brought the news that the parliament is discussing a suggestion to set aside 30 percent of oil sales income to distribute among the citizens of Iraq. The draft law sets 3 classes of payments according to age and subsequent needs and responsibilities; from one month to 6 years, from 6 to 18 years and the third one 19 years and older. People who migrated from Iraq, those with salaries higher that 1 million dinars/month and convicted criminals will be excluded from the payment program, the report added.

The people here met the news with some delight, hope and some skepticism too although the announcement came through the government's paper.

If this plan comes to materialize I think it can reflect positively on the security situation to some extent. The economy is part of the problem and also part of the solution and the government should move forward with reforms that involve economy and infrastructure as well as, of course and above all, security.

I feel for the first time in a very long while actually encouraged by some news from Iraq.