I'll help!
Posted on 11/24/2004 11:14:53 PM PST by naturalman1975
Iraq will reopen its embassy in Australia on Friday, 18 months after it was abandoned as US-led forces invaded the Middle East country.
New ambassador Ghanim Taha Ahmad al-Shibli, a former ambassador to the United States and Iran in the 1980s and 1990s, officially began his new role Thursday when he presented his credentials to Governor-General Michael Jeffery.
A flag-raising ceremony will mark the opening on Friday despite refurbishment work still being done to the modest embassy, its garden still overgrown and its telephones still not connected.
Australia became one of the first countries to restore diplomatic ties with Iraq when it reopened its mission in Baghdad in May last year. It has a heavy emphasis on trade, with Australian wheat growers keen to maintain their market dominance over American and Canadian producers.
Al-Shibli, who left an academic career in the United States to return to Iraq in April last year and take up senior roles with the Iraqi Governing Council, urged Australians to visit his war-ravaged country.
"I'd say, you're welcome. Iraq needs investment badly," al-Shibli told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. "Iraq needs people to come in and help the Iraqi people; we need joint ventures; we need capital coming in."
He added, "Iraq will be a tremendously good market for Australians and I'll encourage them enthusiastically."
While the Australian government warns its citizens against travelling to Iraq, al-Shibli said the security situation was improving.
Australia sent 2,000 troops to support US and British forces in the Iraq invasion last year.
Baghdad's former ambassador, Saad al-Samarai, was expelled on the eve of the war in March.
Australia maintains about 900 military personnel in and around Iraq.
I'll help!
How can this be? We are losing. Iraq is in chaos. I question the timing of this charade. Next thing you know they'll be claiming they are having elections in Iraq.
(/sarcasm)
haha........MSM bad news travels in excess of the speed of light -yes?
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