Tony: Good morning, TNT! Today is Monday, January 12, 2015. I want to talk to you about something before we give you the good, the bad and the ugly. Let’s go back to Friday, when I tweeted out something I thought was very, very funny, to the little video that was dubbed over. I appreciated someone taking the time to do that, and it was hilarious. Some people didn’t like it, didn’t think I should be tweeting out jokes. To those people, I have to say “get a life”. Sometimes we have to relax; it wasn’t to offend anyone. It was really funny to me.
Here’s the other thing. On the weekends, there seems to have been an issue, and you really have to understand that we go through this 100 times more than you do. I know some people want more information, but I’ve done five conference calls already this morning. That continues over the weekend, during my wife’s birthday party and all weekend. DC has the same thing, and Ray on OpenMike and Pam in the chat room. We do this every day – we live it. One person asked what I do, and I said “a radio show” and they seem to think I only work two hours per day. I wish! We go out of our way to bring you anything significant, good or bad. We don’t get paid to do this. We get some donations to support the site, and that’s it. We don’t advertise on the site, we don’t get paid by any government or exchanger – we do this because it’s the right thing to do! Pam and I were talking about DC this morning, and how he came to us, and what he does. We were saying “whether he came or was sent to us, we must have been doing some right to have DC sent to us”. We must have been doing it for the right reasons – for the people. We are giving you what we can give you, honestly, and it’s not fair to demand stuff, whether they come on the call or upset the chat room, because you think you should hear something right at that moment, that I should stop whatever I’m doing and send out a tweet or do a call when we are taking ten minutes for our own lives. That is the last thing that should cause problems in the chat room when we are already doing the best we can.
Pam: I love the cartoon about being under the bus! I sent you a text on the same subject, also what we talked about this morning.
DC: East to west… it’s more of the same from Friday. Everyone is ready, everyone thought they were cleared to go, and we are still waiting on the US and don’t know what their timeline is. Abadi is doing a wonderful job, still trying to get the US onboard, and the US keeps dangling that carrot in front of their nose. They tweaked the budget again, with that MP that is always causing trouble, one of Maliki’s friends. They are griping, but someone always has to in any government. They have mostly got it done; the major issues were solved on 29th December at 3am, and there are just tiny tweaks. Second reading was done and ready to go, and they will not do a third as we understand it. A few little adjustments were made this weekend. Does it have to be done for the RV? No, they just have to continue to show maturity in the process.
Last week we talked about selling oil, with contract bids that they continue to adjust. On the security side, ISIL is being pushed into Syria, and Anbar is being released. The four generals we discussed, the plans to make them play ball and bring Sunnis into the fold continue to evolve and move forward. Meetings continued between the Kurds, Sunnies and Shi’as; on the television, they continue to say the economic reform must be done immediately. Everyone in Iraq is ready to go, and the CBI is beside themselves with frustration. They have gone through the lists and everything else; what else needs to be done? They are not getting a straight answers on that. That’s what the Iraqis are tell us as of this morning: “we continue to get ready.” One gentlemen who was educated in the US and the UK, and he reads the US papers every morning. He said that their country is doing better than we are, so why are we being held back? That is how a lot of Ministers feel, and they are getting really resentful of having the reins pulled back all the time.
Citizens are getting antsy. Cards are still at $3.58. The CBI has been given clearance on the RI rate. There may be an adjustment between $3.22—3.90, and that has been discussed with everyone. Even the CBI doesn’t know what rate they will choose. The cards still show $3.58, and exchanges have been at $3.58 or contract rates. At the CBI they are still taking dinar for credits, and that’s going quite well.
Tony: The budget is actually done, and articles have said the second reading has been done. They are putting out articles to show progress to keep their people calm. They are not letting the Iraqi people know that it’s all been done and they are being held back. They keep saying they need to do this immediately, but they need to this one more thing. It could happen any time. On Thursday, Iraq was asked to wait until Friday night. We actually expected this to be done today. That’s what they told us. This morning, they were told to wait and asked to stop putting all the stuff in the news! So the real bottom line is that they have completed the checklist and are absolutely being held back. We know by whom, and the reason has nothing do with Iraq – that’s the ugly part. So why are they being held back? It has nothing to do with us either.
DC: In the US, the banks are ready, running tests and doing private exchanges. They are not getting a clear signal. The UST have been running leak checks and basically not getting straight answers to the bankers either. They are obviously trying to slow things down and cover themselves. It’s frustrating, and we just hope there is a bigger picture that they are not sharing with us. The dates we hear are soon, but it’s hard to put any faith in those dates, because they have been doing this one-day, two-day delays for so long. It’s when the US agrees Iraq can do this. They said they would go last Wednesday night, but the US said to hold off on the announcement until Friday night. Then Iraq was ready to go, and the US said to hold off on the announcement until Sunday or Monday. Today we were told to hold off a little longer for some unspecified time, for an unspecified reason. There is some maneuvering going on and a lot of perfectionism going on. When will that end? I don’t’ know, and only a few people know when it’s “up to date”, whatever that means.
Tony: That is confusing, because we’ve always said Iraq can do this whenever they want. They’ve done everything we have asked. But now they can only do an RI, and the US is not agreeing to an announcement. The Iraq says they are ready to do it, but the US is still not allowing it. We hear every kind of threat there is, but nothing has happened yet, and that give the US more confidence that their permission is required. We don’t’ think it has anything to do with Iraq or with us, the reasons it’s been held up. They are not trying to use up all the contract rates or for the dollars to be devalued. That doesn’t make sense. Over the weekend, people were saying “Oh, they are not doing this until February, March or April…!” Iraq has a functional government, they have announced it to their people, and they need to do this immediately to maintain credibility. Someone is saying all this to get you in a panic, to join a group or whatever…
DC: Iraq is ready, banks are ready, UST is not clear about when this will get through and everyone is getting irate in the Iraqi parliament, council of ministers and the CBI. I’m sorry to say that is where we are at.
Tony: It’s not so far that it cannot happen today, tomorrow or this week. It was supposed to happen by noon today! There is nothing to be done, the budget has been completed, and that is waiting on the RI, not the other way round. The final budget has been published at the old 1166 rate, but that also says “upon implementation”.
Tony: If Iraq wants to put off the RI for another few months, they can, but they want to bring out the RI and the budget together. Why would they want to do that when they are bringing in investors and making agreements at the new rates?
DC: One thing we haven’t talked about in a while is that there is an immense number of contracts waiting to be finalized when this goes through: roads, condos, another dam, utilities, all kinds of things are waiting on this. They will hire hundreds of thousands of people very quickly once they can do this. So many companies are putting pressure on the US and the CBI to get this done. The big international companies who do business with Iraq are telling them to come on, already! They are arguing over tiny details when they could be employing so many people. That adds a lot pressure to the situation.
919 caller: I can’t believe I’m on the call! This is North Carolina, and you guys rock! When we talk about going into the banks, WF, shopping around, etc., will our first
appointment be with the exchangers or the wealth managers?
Tony: You’ll meet the exchanger first, then the wealth manager within 72 hours. From what has been going on, let me just say this: Nothing beats a failure but a try. I will try.
Caller: I have my go-bag ready. I know that we are doing an exchange, I would like to verify the rate, I will accept the rate, they will put that credit in my account, and then I will make an appointment with my wealth manager, right?
Tony: We don’t’ have the package so we don’t know for sure. They have changed this so many times, we don’t know what will happen on the day. WE give you the information based on those who have already exchanged. Some were able to change the rate and fees, and at later appointments were offered higher rates based on certain criteria. I don’t know if that is what will happen with five million people, or even the internet people. I hope they will give us the package ahead of time, so you can go in informed and not getting frustrated at bankers who don’t know all the answers. You need to dress and act professionally; don’t go into your appointment and say “Tony said…” Do NOT do that! Be respectful.
Caller: Winston, DC, you mentioned someone exchanged at 2.41…
DC: That was pounds sterling, and that is $3.41 USD; others have exchanged at higher rates in London over the last ten days. In the UK, some have managed to exchange at international rates; they were people who walked through appointments with wealth managers. I know people who have exchanged in Germany, but the bank called them.
Caller: Dinarland, the TNT team has taught us, and everyone with a 12th grade education can follow all this. Professionalism goes a long way. Don’t go in demanding anything. Tony, you said that if you had a dollar you can make a dollar. [Appreciation]
Tony: I am so glad you are the first caller, and from NC rather than Texas! We are going to California now…\
415 caller: You have said “rich people don’t take up arms for a fight”. Are those delaying this individuals?
DC: These are the ones the President delegated to deal with this, and they are holding up the timing.
Caller: They continue to hurt other people; why aren’t they considered terrorists?
DC: That is a word to use circumspectly. Basically, they hold the keys – they can put that in the hole and start to turn, but until they actually turn the key in the lock, it’s not going to get done.
Tony: I want to stay something. I want people to have a bigger vision here. The other night I was at my wife’s party, and I had two corrections guys and an LAPD cop around me. We were discussing why people get arrested, and everyone had a different perspective. The corrections guys felt it was the attitudes of the cops, and yet I can see the perspective of the cops – every day they put on that badge and they don’t know what will happen. We have to put ourselves in the other person’s position, otherwise I cannot understand where the conflict is or how we can come together and resolve it.
We get that the US is holding this up, but we don’t know the reason they are holding it up. Is the reason to inflict on the Iraqi citizens, or US citizens, or another global issue that we don’t know about? WE know that everything is done in Iraq, and some people are being exchanged, so the issue must be something else. Does it make a difference to all the people who will NOT benefit from this? If we knew what it was, and if we talked about it, would that affect the situation? We are all miserable with this. We were told it would be Friday, then today, so we go through the same pain as you do. So we cannot blame them until we have something to blame them for. If some one person is holding this up just by being an *******, then we have something to blame them for.
DC: Most of this is political posturing, but what else is going on?
Caller: It does sound more like that every day, so hopefully someone with a bigger hammer will tell them to let it go!
DC: Here is what happens: everything is beautifully lined up, and then political posturing or self-righteous nonsense happens, and then elder statespeople come and calm down the situation and move it forward. Iraq is so frustrated, and the US has exchanged so many people that we need to move down the road and declare a win and let it go. I assume that some retired Democrats and Republicans are stepping in to resolve this.
Tony: If we do find out something blatant is going on that we do something about, then we will tell you.
DC: Some of these guys have a personal issue with Tony and with me, and I don’t get that at all. We are two guys with a radio show, and why they are taking this personally I simply don’t understand. We are not accusing anyone of anything. If it’s just political posturing as we are being told by both sides yes we are going to say it. WE are not trying to accuse anyone personally, but they are taking it personally, and we are just saying them to back off, bubba. The statesmen are telling everyone to calm down and move forward, and I imagine that is what they are doing right now.
817 caller: You all are talking about individuals who are holding this up, and I understand you can’t talk about it too specifically. Do you see an end to this any time soon?
DC: Yes, we hear everyone wants to get this done. Even those holding it up know they have to do it and quickly; they just haven’t told us the time they intend to do this. They are happy with Iraq’s progress.
Tony: In the past, they have always come up with one more thing, and they have run out of those excuses. They cannot just keep changing the time that has been agreed! If you give them 24 hours, that is 23 hours too much! Just agree a time and do it!
Caller: My 80-year-old mother is having knee surgery tomorrow, and she is worried this will happen while she is in rehab. Is there a solution to that?
DC: Sure! My father-in-law just had that, and you get a wheelchair…
Tony: She can also give someone power of attorney to act for her.
Caller: I’ll bet 50% of the people out there don’t have their receipts, so when you say everyone has to have receipts, I wonder if that is a way for the bankers to refuse ot work with you because they don’t like the way you look or talk.
Tony: That could happen. It is about how you present yourself. If you want to exchange millions, they may want to know where it came from! They will want documentation.
248 caller: I’ve been on the line for seven hours! [Appreciation] I have dinar and dong; is it possible to go to the bank with my dinar and exchange a small amount at $3.58?
Tony: Today? Some people are exchanging, but as with the UK and Germany, those were people who were contacted by the bank in Mississippi. Different states are doing different things. I cannot tell you how to get on their list; I don’t even know how they are picking people. We cannot get ourselves on the list, much less anyone else – I would if I could! I can tell you this: someone sent me receipts who walked into the bank at the right place at the right time, they exchanged and walked out. I’m not telling everyone to run to the bank and try it, but every now and then there is that anomaly, and they exchanged.
Caller: I do plan to open an account with Wells Fargo, and I want this to last a long time, so I want their help. I do have wealth manager; should I take them with me to exchange?
Tony: If you have a wealth manager, he should be able to do your exchange!
Caller: Oh! That’s good news. I’ve been talking to him for a while and I trust him. Oh, and it’s my birthday today!
Tony/DC: You’re supposed to start with that! Happy Birthday! I hope you get the best gift every, because today is not over yet!
718 caller: You say they selected you to host this show and they give you the intel; they have been exchanging since October 31st. Why would they not give you the package and let your group go through at least?
Tony: They selected us because we are ‘less full of shoot’ than the others!
DC: Let’s talk about the selection process. For those who don’t know this, I have some background in all this, and I offered to help out for a few weeks. So I called a few friends and asked who had the best information and intentions out there, and they said Tony was less full of shoot than the rest. I am no aligned with any banks, for instance. I have tried to get the dinar folks through quietly, like the folks in the forum, and always the answer is no, that we have to wait until the public go through. They don’t consider us “friends and family”.
Caller: Do you see this coming up soon? Are they serious?
Tony: They do not consider us friends. My name and DC’s name was going through DC and around the country, and it got really personal with some people who should never have heard my name. That’s what we were joking about before; it shouldn’t be that personal because we are just trying to help. They have done the numbers and know who has the most callers and who has the most influence.
DC: Some people at the banks wanted us to go through, because we have the biggest influence. They approached us and we are happy to help. Unfortunately, their attorneys said that they couldn’t take responsibility because we are not bank employees. The UST doesn’t like us for some reason, but then they and we asked how to educate everyone. That’s why we are back in the picture, so that we can help get information out to get people in the door in an organized way.
Tony: We are happy to help because it’s YOU, we have been here this long and we believe in you and in this event. We’ll do the best we can if they allow us to. We can’t go through before everyone else goes because they say we are too high profile. Some people tried to get us on the list and that just prevented the rest of that group going through. There is nothing we can do about that. DC and I know people who have been paid already but we cannot, because we are so visible. I don’t know why they haven’t given us the package and the training so we could be informing you guys. Of course, every two days, it changes…
Caller: My sister-in-law bought currency here in the US but she is in the UK…
DC: She needs to make sure she has receipts and also follow the UK process for that.
Tony: DinarTrade has a UK site, so I don’t know who she is purchasing it from.
DC: All the big banks will be handling this. Where is she? London? There are a ton of spots in London to exchange. She has to wait until it goes live and then enquire. That is what should be in the package, but we cannot talk about that until it’s live.
281 caller: We send our thoughts and prayers to the Jewish people in France this weekend. I’m saddened by our own country’s political wrangling, because they have not made the effort to step forward to resolve this issue for the people of Iraq. How much are they paying for a loaf a bread because their currency has not been recognized at this point? When Iraq has done everything they needed to do, jumping through hoops in ways that no one could imagine, and they are still suffering daily because of hypocrisy of our own country is not in tiptop shape yet we are demanding that of them. I think it is despicable, actually. I hope we can get to a better state of mind. As we continue to delay this day after day, with promises being broken, it is hard to continue to think of this as the greatest country in the world. The eyes of the world are looking at us, and we could position ourselves as the greatest thing since sliced bread, but we are not! We are the heel, the donkey’s ass, and everyone knows it. Leadership starts from the top. I am pleading with our President, for the people of Iraq, and people who own this currency and have pinned their hopes and dreams to get past this mindless political maneuvering. It leaves bad taste in our mouths.
Tony: You are correct in what you say. If it’s truly politics and posturing, somehow trying to get something better for themselves personally, if we are holding up a country and the entire world for their petty goals, then they should be ashamed of themselves. It will come out eventually. If there is a greater responsibility to the world economy or something in the background, then that is something totally different. That affects civilization, IF that is truly the issue. The other countries have to know that, though. We don’t see other countries raising hell or voting against them, and somebody must be letting them do that, for whatever reason. It is definitely affecting us and the Iraqi people. If it’s just about greed, though, enough is enough.
DC: In my opinion, a lot of folks are using a specific minor thing as the ‘reason du jour’. Today, it’s about the Kurds saying they have been here since1500 or whatever – little things that don’t matter. Has Iraq fundamentally demonstrated they have a stable government? Yes, and everyone is amazed how quickly they have done that. ISIL has been moved out at a faster pace than expected. Iraq is taking steps against corruption, too, so it’s difficult for me to hear that “we need a little more on the budget, or amnesty”. No. They are so close that I don’t’ see any issue of real merit being realized. I don’t really understand what the guys holding this up are thinking about. One option might be that they want this done perfectly; the other is making minor issues into major issues because they feel like playing politics with their own internal system.
Tony: They have run out of minor issues or excuses, so now they are telling Iraq to just wait. We don’t know if it’s internal politics or world politics. If I’m going based on what DC says, then we are going to get mad tomorrow, because if that is the reason it’s ridiculous to hold all this up for pride, influence or being power-hungry.
Caller: Thanks for weighing in on that. The other thing is that our country is allowing all these cynics to influence. I am very cautious who I listen to, but those cynics say this wouldn’t happen until January – but here we are!
Tony: But we shouldn’t be. It should have gone through 100 times if it were not for those who think their views should rule the world.
Caller; Did ISX open? Is there an expiration date on the contracts you mentioned? Is there a world event that would muddy the waters even more, if there isn’t a live rate?
DC: Yes. The finance ministers, the Council of Ministers and the CBI all begged the US to let the rate be LIVE when the ISX opened. They got everything ready, but yet again the rate is not live. However, they can adjust that rate very easily and quickly.
The contracts don’t’ have an expiration, so there is not a timing rate than makes the RV go. They are open when they can buy them. If the oil credits are in a sale, China will continue to buy as many as they can. As they get delayed, the US lets them have more contracts and they calm down again. That’s how it’s done.
615 caller: The reality is this – if the US doesn’t have a good reason, this can only be a BS reason. It is what it is. I do have a question, though. The US is holding back us and (more importantly) the Iraqi people back. If the cards show $3.58, haven’t they RIed?
DC: It is a weird system, where some have had their RI. However, there are five different rates. Iraqis can buy something with their cards, and the companies/banks/merchants show whatever their rate is on the cards. Some people have taken coins or notes and stuck them in the back for when the rate changes officially. The general public is still on 1166 for 17 months, so their frustration levels are now very high. Our intelligence agencies are warning their bosses that they are pissed because they have five different currency rates and they can only use notes under 100 dinar. What is running on the television is also causing frustration, but the Iraqi government wants to educate people about the RV. But the US has made this into a complete mess! These poor folks have been bludgeoned in the past, and that has kept the riots way down, but it’s still highly frustrating for them. A lot of economic development is not happening because most people are saying “I’ll wait until the rate changes.” They are getting frustrated because they don’t even know what game is being played. They know the US is holding it back and that is causing tremendous aggravation.
Tony: They were rioting when Maliki was in power, and he brought in ISIL as a distraction. Then they get a new government in place, and they want to give him a chance. Abadi is achieving his goals and he’s being very transparent about it, so that calmed people down. The US came in to get rid of ISIL, and we are seen as heroes instead of the evil ones. However, the US is still blocking the RV, so although Iraq has the power to go against the US, it might be a good idea. So Iraq is trying to force this along by giving dates, and now the government is looking bad because they keep passing those dates. At what point do they say, “this is enough, and we are putting it in the news and getting this done; the people will figure out sooner or later that the US is holding this up, because we have done everything you have asked!” I don’t know what the next thing is; some things happen and some things are made to happen.
Caller: The responsibility for exchanging 300,000 worldwide is all on the US.
816 caller: I just want to make one comment – the administration has never been perfect before, so why are they trying to be perfect now? I have a friend who gave me dong last year, with a gift letter, and she died last summer. She told me to follow you! She bought her dinar and dong from Sterling, but I have no receipts, nor any way to get one. She was a very generous person; we are both pro-military. Her husband died of cancer from Agent Orange. She did a lot of work for veterans. [Appreciation]
Tony: Go in with your gift letter. That’s all you can do. I don’t think you’ll have a problem.
323 caller: What is the going rate for the dong right now?
DC: Last I checked it was $1.20 contract, $0.47 international.
Caller: If I want to donate dinar to someone, what do I do?
Tony: Just give them a gift letter BEFORE the announcement.
301 caller: I’m glad the budget went through; do you really think it will go by the end of the month? Millionday says to look at the 20th…
DC: No one knows the date. No one has a date when the US gets comfortable. Iraq has done everything they have asked for.
Tony: This is what’s different about today: there is no window, date or time. It was supposed to happen by noon today and it didn’t. Right now, there isn’t even a window. This could be the quiet before the storm. There is no reason we know for this NOT to happen at any minute today, tonight, tomorrow. They just put that date out to keep people calm. Nobody is saying this is happening ‘by this date/time’ apart from a few idiots who are saying February, March or April!
DC: For well over a year, this has been a 24-48 hour delay. It’s been a tactical day-to-day fight. Even the guys with the authority to say that have not said, “It will be this month because I say so”. In the government and in DinarLand, they will just pick another three months out, just pulling a number or date out of their ass. They don’t have any intel to back it up. When they had so much trouble with Maliki back in June, when he knew he wouldn’t form the next government, he let in ISIL and that caused hell. The other world leaders went to the US and said this needed to be worked out with a new government. Diplomats do not put hard lines in the sand; they have road maps and key goals instead. They demand progress instead of X, Y and Z: they told Iraq to get rid of ISIL, and work towards unity, etc. So whomever the President delegated this to asked some staffers “how long do you think this will take?” They didn’t know Iraq, they pulled January out of their ask, and their boss then said, “Okay, we’ll tell everyone six months to calm them down.” It’s not just the Obama administration, in ANY administration these things gather momentum, and by God, now it’s January. Abadi took control much faster then anyone expected, and now there are these arbitrary dates and times that people are working to. It was something someone through up on the wall and it stuck. Iraq had accomplished the first steps by August and the rest by the end of October, and is why they started letting people exchange for a good third quarter. They said it was good by October 31st. It is just a matter of time before they say, “Okay, let it go”. It’s not a master plan! We are not that good, no matter what you see at the movies!
Caller: What about the Anbar situation?
DC: There are three main issues in Anbar: 1) the budget, because the infrastructure is getting blown to hell by ISIL. They need more funding, and also more funding, so the government is solving all that. There are daily briefings on that. 2) The bad generals and Maliki let ISIL in, and that is why ISIL has all US equipment from the keys that were left openly for them. Those bad guys are in two camps – some are going to jail, and some are fleeing to Iran and Pakistan. About four generals are saying “Okay, I might have helped ISIL, but I didn’t kill anyone”. They will get “community service”; they will use their connections to pull people into the unity government. 3) There is still tactical fighting going on with the coalition partners, and ISIL is getting beaten down. There will be flareups for a year or so, and they will continue to beat ISIL down with a hammer. But the security issues continue to improve (although the US might still use this as an excuse).
713 caller: I’ve been in this since 2003. You are right on point. They never wanted this to become this popular. This was never intended for us. [More of the same]
DC: Iraq is ready to go. Iraq has made a lot of progress and it waiting for the US to let them go. We are not getting a straight answer when that will happen. They are highly frustrated and putting pressure behind the scenes for that to happen. When we hear more detailed information we will let you know.
Ray: Continue to enjoy this Marvelous Monday.
Tony: there you have it. WE are still in a good position, and Iraq it trying to push it, we just don’t know when. This is the first call where we don’t even have a window. It was supposed to go at noon tonight. That means it could go at any minute. If the issue is something bigger than us, that’s okay. If this is just the US holding it up for personal or petty political reasons, then that is wrong. We are just trying to figure it out. After our calls, when we find out what really happened, we do have options. They are counting on most of us not caring afterwards, but we do. Let’s hope they are doing this for the right reasons. If we get more information, we will tweet or do another call. We are getting updated information every hour, but it depends on whether it’s enough to send it out. Enjoy the rest of your day. I hope to talk to you tomorrow.
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