Lawrence Auls Chairman of MDi has Global Change in mind. I agree wholeheartedly and am determined to it about. - hershel daniels junior

MDi Co Founder
I am determined to bring about lasting change and with the current Chairman of McGraw Daniels, LLC [MDi] we are well positioned to accomplish this.

MDi's Chairman Lawrence Auls was the State of Ohio's first African American statewide computer systems integrator to carry Sun Microsystems and Oracle products and sell their services. This was during the period when FUD ran rampant and an African American owned business was not supposed to do what he was doing. This included a multipaged article in 1975 in Black Enterprise on one of his business ventures.

MDi is poised with this organization, OneCommunity and under his leadership and vision to develop the competitive advantage of the inner city.

Mr. Auls has over 45 years of community, business development, advocacy and negotiations at the ihborhood, municipal, state and national levels. He has said, "At this time in my life I am transferring the gained expertise of myself and others of my generation to the next generation(s) through our initiative of a "Virtual Faculty", and embedding it as means for future generations to do the same."

I've recently become aware that our [MDi's] Chairman and James Houghton the Chairman Emeritus of Corning, Inc. were Aspen fellows together at the then Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies (now the Aspen Institute, in the early 70's.

Much of his work are expansions of solutions [including those at MDi] based around the phrase Anticipatory Democracy. The phrase was coined by Alvin Toffler in his book Future Shock, and was expanded on in the 1978 book "Anticipatory Democracy: People in the Politics of the Future", edited by Clement Bezold, Phd. Mr. Auls was a contributing author of a chapter in the book and I hope is writing a historical text of his first hand experience of those days.

Other contributors included former President Jimmy Carter and former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Newt Gringrich. In that book, he [Auls] expanded on the thoughts garnered from his personal experience at the first in the United States of America neighborhood planning session that was principally African Americans who where looking 25 years into its future.

While at Aspen and with work at Alvin Toffler's house, he refined his thoughts on early Anticipatory Democracy, which is a theory of civics relying on democratic decision making that takes into account predictions of future events that have credibility with the electorate.

The then Aspen Institute's curriculum has been instrumental in the course of his activity in community change and Anticipatory Democracy. This work is vital to his current research on community change and continues to be a factor in his current work on Anticipatory Democracy.

We are now nearly 40 years from that time and have a new President dedicated to change as is MDi. One of the unfortunate consequences is that over the years Mr. Auls has lost touch with his contemporaries of that day.

I have taken it upon myself to get him in touch with them, with a focus on Mr. Houghton. Although they traveled different paths, each has a legacy and is still building the future with ideals, products and services that serve a global marketplace. In Mr. Auls case, this includes creating a fiber to the home [hence Mr. Houghton of Corning, the fiber cable company] implementation plan of action for the state of Ohio on top of already installed networks as private public partnership to "Erase the Digital Divide in Ohio".

I am looking forward to bringing them all together in a discussion of our mission statement "Erase The Digital Divide" before the next President comes to office and the stimulus package is decided. We feel the times require a conversation on this plan for 2009 implementation.

We expect great things to occur as a result of the type contributions to society by historically enlightened and visionaries like Mr. Auls, Houghton with MDi's President and Chief Engineer Fred Hargrove, Sr. PE, MBA, OneCommuntiy's President Scot M. Rourke and Mark T. Ansboury Senior VP & Chief Technology Officer along with the group that will be in any conversation about "Erasing the Digital Divide" in the United States.

A commitment to the idea of American unity in these times

I have a commitment to the principle idea of togetherness or American unity in these times. This principle is a life foundation; for without unity, neither the family nor the community can survive. As an American of African decent my unity begins with the family. I am starting an open discussion of family problems and what I see as their probable solutions.

Overall I am dedicated to service the African American family. I cannot forget the transgressions of the past but perhaps I understand them better in the light of where we are at now, all together. So in my minds eye this family is made up of over 80 million Americans by their genetic code. I believe that I, through MDi and its partners such as OneCommunity and The NET Video, can set up a health service organization in unity with members for this family and supporters of a system that is setup to service those left behind with no health care.

I will set up the first of a series of bio safe labs that can provide support genetic and bio diagnostic testing of people. They will have an emphasis on the people of Africa in America. These are to be part of a full service life cycle health care complexes. These labs in these complexes will be attached to centers of learning and health care that will partner with provider enterprises and professionals to create health information management organizations based on established operations in Ohio.

From our headquarters in Cincinnati, by 2012 we look to have a database of at least 500 million people in our regional health information organizational partners secure data services. Here we have a plan of action for 100 million dollar direct investment in the Cincinnati Empowerment Zone and or designated Empowerment Zone development area in addition to a 30 million dollar investment in over 180 million dollars in commercial construction with a goal of using Empowerment Zone residents in 75% of the work.

In addition we will create a broadband wireless network that will cover 95% of the north American market by 2020 through licensed and unlicensed frequencies with a fiber backhaul to regional multi media production and distribution centers, the first of which are in Ohio. We expect to have 20 million accounts by 2012. These are from those households aligned with my family through a digital social network infrastructure that connects to a secure new build public private joint venture built around meeting FCC requirements and the marketplace. It will be built on the ideals contained in my 2008 demonstration cities [Cincinnati, Akron and Cleveland] .

In Cincinnati we, MDi, will partner with Cincinnati Change through direct agreements and or Global Change Communications and Computing Company, Inc. [GC4] in the proposed joint operating vehicle. Cincinnati Change will hold 9% equity granted by the founders for the residents and employers in the 9 communities of the Cincinnati Empowerment Zone. We will bring together a digital round table with over 300 stakeholders by January 17th 2008 through the Cincinnati Change website that is to be relaunched on January 6th 2009.

In Akron I, through MDi, will propose to partner with the Knight Center in the creation of Akron Change. Akron Change will erase the digital divide in Akron with the Coalition of Black Trades unionists and a team. Akron Change is created to issue a Community Reinvestment Act compliant investment grade financial instrument as part of statewide plan to pump over 60 million dollars into the Akron economy in 2009.

This initiative lead by Akron Change will redevelop 6,000 homes with broadband wireless network access points that create a broadband wireless grid in Summit County. Akron Change will also remodel the assets [6,000 homes] for the next 30 years using HUD and other federal, state and local housing programs. We will bring together a 1,000 people by January 19th 2009 through the creation of a web site called Akron Change on 1 January 2009.

In Cleveland we will partner with Wilson Military Academy to develop a solution that meets the needs of stakeholders including the regions African American community, the state of Ohio, the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.

Another legend is dead, Eartha Kitt RIP

Eartha Kitt, a sultry singer, dancer and actress who rose from South Carolina cotton fields to become an international symbol of elegance and sensuality, has died, a family spokesman said. She was 81.

Kitt, a self-proclaimed "sex kitten" famous for her catlike purr, was one of America's most versatile performers, winning two Emmys and nabbing a third nomination. She also was nominated for several Tonys and two Grammys.

Her career spanned six decades, from her start as a dancer with the famed Katherine Dunham troupe to cabarets and acting and singing on stage, in movies and on television. She persevered through an unhappy childhood as a mixed-race daughter of the South and made headlines in the 1960s for denouncing the Vietnam War during a visit to the White House.

Through the years, Kitt remained a picture of vitality and attracted fans less than half her age even as she neared 80.

When her book "Rejuvenate," a guide to staying physically fit, was published in 2001, Kitt was featured on the cover in a long, curve-hugging black dress with a figure that some 20-year-old women would envy. Kitt also wrote three autobiographies.

Once dubbed the "most exciting woman in the world" by Orson Welles, she spent much of her life single, though brief romances with the rich and famous peppered her younger years.

After becoming a hit singing "Monotonous" in the Broadway revue "New Faces of 1952," Kitt appeared in "Mrs. Patterson" in 1954-55. (Some references say she earned a Tony nomination for "Mrs. Patterson," but only winners were publicly announced at that time.) She also made appearances in "Shinbone Alley" and "The Owl and the Pussycat."

Her first album, "RCA Victor Presents Eartha Kitt," came out in 1954, featuring such songs as "I Want to Be Evil," "C'est Si Bon" and the saucy gold digger's theme song "Santa Baby," which is revived on radio each Christmas.
The next year, the record company released the follow-up album "That Bad Eartha," which featured "Let's Do It," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "My Heart Belongs to Daddy."

In 1996, she was nominated for a Grammy in the category of traditional pop vocal performance for her album "Back in Business." She also had been nominated in the children's recording category for the 1969 record "Folk Tales of the Tribes of Africa."

Kitt also acted in movies, playing the lead female role opposite Nat King Cole in "St. Louis Blues" in 1958 and more recently appearing in "Boomerang" and "Harriet the Spy" in the 1990s.

On television, she was the sexy Catwoman on the popular "Batman" series in 1967-68, replacing Julie Newmar who originated the role. A guest appearance on an episode of "I Spy" brought Kitt an Emmy nomination in 1966.
Kitt was plainspoken about causes she believed in. Her anti-war comments at the White House came as she attended a White House luncheon hosted by Lady Bird Johnson.

"You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed," she told the group of about 50 women. "They rebel in the street. They don't want to go to school because they're going to be snatched off from their mothers to be shot in Vietnam."

For four years afterward, Kitt performed almost exclusively overseas. She was investigated by the FBI and CIA, which allegedly found her to be foul-mouthed and promiscuous.

In 1978, Kitt returned to Broadway in the musical "Timbuktu!" — which brought her a Tony nomination — and was invited back to the White House by President Jimmy Carter.

As recently as October 2003, she was on Broadway after replacing Chita Rivera in a revival of "Nine."

But she also said: "I don't carry myself as a black person but as a woman that belongs to everybody. After all, it's the general public that made (me) — not any one particular group. So I don't think of myself as belonging to any particular group and never have."

Kitt was born in North, S.C., and her road to fame was the stuff of storybooks. In her autobiography, she wrote that her mother was black and Cherokee while her father was white, and she was left to live with relatives after her mother's new husband objected to taking in a mixed-race girl.

An aunt eventually brought her to live in New York, where she attended the High School of Performing Arts, later dropping out to take various odd jobs.

By chance, she dropped by an audition for the dance group run by Dunham, a pioneering African-American dancer. In 1946, Kitt was one of the Sans-Souci Singers in Dunham's Broadway production "Bal Negre."

Kitt's travels with the Dunham troupe landed her a gig in a Paris nightclub in the early 1950s. Kitt was spotted by Welles, who cast her in his Paris stage production of "Faust."

That led to a role in "New Faces of 1952," which featured such other stars-to-be as Carol Lawrence, Paul Lynde and, as a writer, Mel Brooks.

While traveling the world as a dancer and singer in the 1950s, Kitt learned to perform in nearly a dozen languages and, over time, added songs in French, Spanish and even Turkish to her repertoire.

"Usku Dara," a song Kitt said was taught to her by the wife of a Turkish admiral, was one of her first hits, though Kitt says her record company feared it too remote for American audiences to appreciate.

Song titles such as "I Want to be Evil" and "Just an Old Fashioned Girl" seem to reflect the paradoxes in Kitt's private life.

Over the years, Kitt had liaisons with wealthy men, including Revlon founder Charles Revson, who showered her with lavish gifts.

In 1960, she married Bill McDonald but divorced him after the birth of their daughter, Kitt.

While on stage, she was daringly sexy and always flirtatious. Offstage, however, Kitt described herself as shy and almost reclusive, remnants of feeling unwanted and unloved as a child. She referred to herself as "that little urchin cotton-picker from the South, Eartha Mae."

For years, Kitt was unsure of her birthplace or birth date. In 1997, a group of students at historically black Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., located her birth certificate, which verified her birth date as Jan. 17, 1927. Kitt had previously celebrated on Jan. 26.

The research into her background also showed Kitt was the daughter of a white man, a poor cotton farmer.

Adoption of the principles behind the charter for MDi Global Change

It is a simple mistake for one to make who isn't aware of the true teachings of Kwanzaa, to assume that it's about African culture. Kwanzaa is clearly an American-made holiday with man-made principles and rituals. In no African culture will anyone ever have found the Nguzo Saba practiced by any African people before the creation of Kwanzaa. We interpret the Nguzo Saba which is a set of ideals created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 to the purposes needed to met the new day in America when on January 20th 2009 President Elect Barrack Obama becomes the 44th president of the United States of America.

We, at MDi which I help startup, subscribe to this as a spiritual guide, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" [Galatians 3:28] and that we work to implement the American though "We the people, in order to form a more perfect union."

That Union is based on the Constitution of the United States of America that has at its very core the ideal of equal citizenship under the law; a Constitution that promises its people liberty, and justice, and a union that could be and should be perfected over time in support for the pursuit of happiness.

We believe our time is now to outline fundamental changes for the next 40 years and we will over the next seven days adopt the principles behind the Nguzo Saba into a charter for Global Change.

While the Nguzo Saba are commonly linked to the yearly Kawanzaa celebration, they have year-round applicability that when embedded with the social principles contained in the Cincinnati Change charter create a force for collaborative change. We are sharing these principles in the hopes that we can refer to them often over the coming week leading to our annual Washington meeting on March 11th through the 14th..

UMOJA (00-MOE-JAH) UNITY - The first principle is a commitment to the idea of togetherness. This principle is a foundation; for without unity, neither the family nor the community can survive. National African American unity begins with the family. Open discussions of family problems and their probable solutions are very important.

The African American family is made up of over 80 million Americans by genetics. We will create a broadband wireless network that will cover 95% of this market by 2010 through licensed and unlicensed frequencies with a fiber backhaul.

KUJICHAGULIA (CO-GEE-CHA-GOO-LEE-AH) SELF-DETERMINATION - The second principle is a commitment to building our lives in our own images and interests. If we, as a people, are to achieve our goals we must take the responsibility for that achievement upon ourselves, for self-determination is the essence of freedom. This day calls for a reaffirmation of our commitment to struggle for all people of African descent, particularly those of us here in America, to build a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

Globally we have a market of over a billion people of African descent throughout the worlds 6.6 billion people. This will grow to over 2 billion people by 2020. The Americans of African descent in the United States will through MDi subsidiary in formation Global Change will take the responsibility for building our lives and that of our fellow humans to build a more meaningful and fulfilling life that meets the needs of our times.

We will create a digital world in which Afrocentricity is implemented as a visual representation of the thought and practice as we wish the world is, but which is rooted in the cultural image and human interests of African people.

UJIMA (00-GEE-MA) COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY - The third principle encourages self-criticism and personal evaluation, as it relates to the common good of the family/community. Without collective work and struggle, progress is impossible. The family and the community must accept the reality that we are collectively responsible for our failures, as well as our victories and achievements. Discussions concerning each family member's responsibility prove helpful in defining and achieving family goals.

We will create a open process that adheres to the rules of law. First and foremost that law as expressed in the Constitution of the United States of America, the rulings of the Supreme Court of the United States, the laws as signed by the President of the United States and the Federal Regulations along with any treaties, agreements and international rulings that implement those treaties and agreements.

Our process will be open and inclusive yet secure from the ground up with the responsibility of protection of the people’s collective work. We will invoke 360 degree digital review augmented through the reality that we are collectively responsible for our failures, as well as our victories and achievements.

We are asking our government for 3.48 billion dollars for 30 years so as to change the lives of over 300,000 Ohioans, with a focus on 60,000 African Americans who have lost and or are losing their home in Ohio.

UJAMAA (00-JAH-MAH) COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS - Out of the fundamental concepts of "African Communal Living" comes the fourth principle of Kwanzaa. In a community or family, wealth and resources should be shared. On the national level, cooperative economics can help African Americans take physical control of their own destinies. On this day, ideas should be shared and discussed for cooperative economic efforts to provide for needs as related to housing, education, food, day care, health, transportation and other goods and services.

We will bring to bear the expertise of over 100 institutions of change that includes the National Community Reinvestment Coalition and the Institute for Open Economic Networks.

Our compliance with the 4th principle is rooted is based on creating a local change organization that is based on a voluntary community of people contributing to common projects that implements its operations based on a public private sector partnership that Erases the Development Divide on a means tested basis over the next 40 years.

NIA (NEE-AH) PURPOSE - The fifth day of Kwanzaa is a day for reviewing our purpose for living. Each family member should examine his/her ability to put his/her skill or talent to use In the service of the family and community at large. Take time to reflect on your expectations from life: discuss your desires and hopes with family and friends. On this day you should try to determine if this purpose will eventually result in positive achievements for family and community.

Through the creation of a new portal called my life we will create a digital world for all 80 million people related to peoples of African decent by 2010 and for a billion people by 2012. We will in line with the 4th principle create a skills and talent bank that would through the local change organization put his/her skill or talent to use in the service of the family, to common projects and to the community at large.

KUUMBA (KOO-M-BAH) CREATIVITY - The sixth principle of the Nguzo Saba relates to building and developing our creative potential. It involves both aesthetic and material creations. It is essential that creativity be encouraged in all aspects of African American culture. It is through new ideas that we achieve higher levels of living and a greater appreciation for life. Each family member should find creative things to do throughout the year that will enhance the family as a whole. On this day, poetry reading, songfests, dance exhibitions and the like, can aid in promoting the importance of Kuumba.

The sixth principle of the Nguzo Saba will be implemented as we rebuild the lives of Ohioans who have had bankruptcies, foreclosures and or bad housing and or business loans through developing their creative potential by investing in them. We will involve both aesthetic [as a licensed Independent Social Worker and partner with a faith based coalition Churches Can Change NOW] and material [we will work through a Community Reinvestment Agreement that includes small business loans and individual investment accounts that support small offices home offices micro business] creations.

We will create a creative [aesthetic] class who will create poetry, songs, musics, dance and the like. Under the sixth principle we will implement a program of promoting the importance of Kuumba in rebuilding our communities. We will support family members in finding creative things to do throughout the year that will enhance the family as a whole.

IMANI (E-MAH-NE) FAITH - The seventh principle is belief in ourselves as individuals and as a people. Further, it is a commitment to the development of the family and the national African American community. African America's goal of freedom rests significantly on our belief in our own ability and right to control our own destiny. Without Imani (faith), there is no possibility of victory.

We have a President who has assembled a team for change that proposed a commitment to the development of the family and the national American community. We will concentrate on those African American Ohioans in need and who through our efforts shall not be left behind.

We believe this is only fair.

MDi who is a global partner through Global Change Communications and Computing Company

Merry Christmas

I got my wish!!!

30 Days till we present to then President Obama's administration the MDi Plan

We will start with the Small Business Administration

Karen G. Mills, the Obama nominated Director of the Small Business Administration, has been a principal in the private equity and venture capital industry since 1983 and has taken a leadership role in the growth of more than 20 companies in the consumer products, food, distribution, textile and industrial component sectors.

Mills was a co-founder and managing director of Solera Capital and Chief Operating Officer of E.S. Jacobs and Company. Mills chairs Governor Baldacci’s Council on Competitiveness and the Economy and is deeply engaged in economic policy for the state of Maine.

In 2006, she led the initiative for a $50 million competitive research and development bond which passed the legislature with strong bipartisan support, and was approved by public referendum. She also sits on the Governor’s Council for the Redevelopment of the Brunswick Naval Air Station, which recently went on the BRAC closure list, and serves on the boards of the Maine Technology Institute and the Maine chapter of the Nature Conservancy. Mills authored a Brookings paper on economic development clusters, and those recommendations were introduced as legislation by Senators Collins and Clinton in June 2008.

She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has been Vice Chairman of the Harvard Overseers. Mills has an A.B. in Economics from Harvard University (1975), and an MBA from Harvard Business School where she was a Baker Scholar.

Her background includes consulting in the U.S. and Europe for McKinsey and Co. and product management for General Foods. Ms. Mills is the lead director of Scotts Miracle-Gro and a director of Arrow Electronics, a $15 billion semiconductor distributor.

IN DC JAN. 20TH 2009

Weiji, is probably best translated as "dangerous moment", a pretty good definition of "crisis". OUR COUNTRY IS A CRISIS AND WE THINK WE HAVE SOLUTIONS.

Cincinnati Change shall under the leadership of our consultant team take the essence of crisis management from the Chinese word Crisis. It is born of their age old wisdom came to recognize that even at the level that the idea that a crisis is nothing more than a difficult, precarious opening, a chance to take a risk.

So we are going to take a risk an be on the national mall and stay about a hour away from DC. Its by bus and includes transportation to on Jan 19th and from on January 20th that night for $500. If you want a hotel room that costs 250 a night. We will be in DC for three nights the 19th, the 20th and the 21st. On the 21st we will be meeting with DC Change at NCRC HQ.

CINCINNATI CHANGE believes that America must lead the world through progressive internationalism -- the bold exercise of U.S. leadership to foster peace, prosperity, and democracy. Working with allies from Cincinnati and international institutions makes us stronger, not weaker.

Cincinnati Change plans to create with I-Open financial instrument[s] capable of financing a revolutionary statewide broadband network and telMED health care prototype infrastructure for Ohio, based on established technology. It will be capable of supporting people nationwide with best practice health care and open source economic development tied to a comprehensive housing program that Erases the Digital Divide by embedding technology into homes that reduces their long term operating cost and improve the lives of residents.

We are a government of citizens in the midst of historic change. Over the next 4 years, the 44th president will be able to set policy for the next 100 years, like another President did, 100 years ago.

In Cincinnati, we will raise funds to create the vehicle to buy 20,000 troubled and/or foreclosed mortgages in Southern Ohio as part of our solution to erase the Development Divide. This will be done in conjunction with property owned by investors who are willing to work with Cincinnati Change and its partners, negotiating the restructuring existing debt will have the option of exercising subscription rights to new debt.

We plan to issue new debt instruments that will be used to put people to work. We will use our open Web 2.0 study of the current tax code to maximize a program that puts people to work in Southern Ohio. We will concentrate principally in infrastructure with a focus on MSD [through 2029], health care, education, technology, energy and reconstruction in Southern Ohio through tax increment financing and other revisions to the tax code through Open Source Solutions to Erasing the Development Divide and American financial crisis.

Cincinnati Change will appeal to all levels of government and use in its application US government programs that can be executed by the public/private alliance Cincinnati Change is assembling.

To implement this, our attorneys will be required to develop, under OMB A-76 Authority, an order that will support export growth based on a 4 year plan to service people around the world starting with the Cincinnati Empowerment Zone with its 50,000 residents and 68,000 employees working for over 3,000 employers.

Our offerings will be centered around digital services in support of economic development, career support, social [L.I.S.W.] services, human [The NET Video] and health care [OneCommunity] that supports a super set of International Standards Organization [ISO] 26000.

This Cincinnati Change Chairwoman, Wanda J Lloyd Daniels, will work with Unions while the AEC/GM team will be led by Fred Hargrove Sr. PE, MBA [who is also a licensed master plumber] and the contracted HUD and Tax Code programs will be directed Dr. Robert Day.

The workshop was presented at the William Howard Taft National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Site) Dec.11th and 12th, 2008.

Breakfast at McDonald's

Another post from a friend PV who sent me this and it captures what I think we as Humans should be about -

Breakfast at McDonald's

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.

The last class I had to take was Sociology.

The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.'

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.

I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake,

Literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.

It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.

We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.

I did not move an inch...an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling'

His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.

He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.

He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.

That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.'

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope.'

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope..'

We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

We are not church goers, but we are believers.

That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.

I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it.

Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?'

I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to

LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS -

NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.

There is an Angel sent to watch over you.

In order for her to work, you must pass this on to the people you want watched over.

An Angel wrote:

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart

To handle yourself, use your head..

To handle others, use your heart.

As long as we have these men we will survive

From a email from a friend PV: PO2 (EOD2)(Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Mike Monsoor, a Navy EOD Technician, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq , giving his life to save his fellow Seals.

During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego, as his coffin was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEALs were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of twos, with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin.

The slaps were audible from across the cemetery; by the time the coffin arrived grave side, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all the Tridents pinned to it. This was a fitting send-off for a warrior hero.

Stafford Foundation Announces 'People's Inaugural Project' at Washington's Historic JW Marriott

Stafford Foundation Chairman Earl W. Stafford, Sr. Announces 'People's Inaugural Project' at Washington's Historic JW Marriott

WASHINGTON, Dec 04, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Foundation extends invitations for hundreds of disadvantaged Americans to join festivities

The Stafford Foundation, a private foundation committed to helping underserved, marginalized and distressed individuals, has announced its unprecedented inauguration celebration plans at The JW Marriott Washington, D.C. hotel, located between the Capitol and the White House.

"Our foundation is thrilled about the unprecedented opportunity to bring Americans of every walk of life together for a momentous celebration," said Earl W. Stafford, Sr., who founded the Stafford Foundation in 2002.

"We are committed to giving the underserved a chance to prosper and thrive, and these events will offer them a front-row seat to our nation's historic celebration in downtown Washington."

Thanks to the foundation's $1 million investment, participants will attend the events and stay at the JW Marriott free of charge. A third of the tickets for all the Stafford Foundation events will be distributed to hundreds of marginalized Americans who have demonstrated a positive example by embodying hope and facilitating change in their communities. The Marriott will serve as the central point to welcome the group of diverse people who come to celebrate America's new president.

Mr. Stafford added, "The People's Inaugural Project offers the underprivileged in our society a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come to our nation's capital and join in the watershed inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. It's a historic investment for our foundation."

The day's events will include:

--- Prayer Breakfast on the morning of January 19, which will provide hope and prayer for our country, its financial stability, our troops in battle and especially President-elect Barack Obama.

--- Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon on the afternoon of January 19, which will celebrate the realization of Dr. Martin Luther King's inspirational vision.

--- The People's Inaugural Ball on the evening of January 20, which will bring together citizens from all walks of life.

--- The Inaugural Youth Ball on the evening of January 20, which will allow the next generation of Americans to celebrate this historic event.

The Stafford Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2002 to help improve and lift up the lives of underprivileged citizens in America. They are focused on helping those who are marginalized and underserved in society, to help themselves and, in turn, help others. The Foundation is committed to all individuals regardless of race, religion, culture, nationality or ethnicity.

Earl W. Stafford is Chairman and CEO of Universal Systems and Technology (UNITECH), a company he founded in 1988. UNITECH provides telecommunications systems integration for engineering, business support systems, and simulation and training services, serving federal, state, local, and commercial customers. After graduating from UMass Amherst, Mr. Stafford served 20 years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.

He serves on the board of directors of the Air Traffic Controllers Association; the INOVA Health Systems Foundation; and is a Director of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation.

Aids and Orphans

We declare war on the poverty induced on the children born of AIDS.

Happy belated day of birth [Nov. 28th] to Me.

What About a Smart Grid ?

Department of Energy Smart Grid Concept

Download Diagram (PDF 116 KB)

The electric grid delivers electricity from points of generation to consumers, and the electricity delivery network functions via two primary systems: the transmission system and the distribution system. The transmission system delivers electricity from power plants to distribution substations, while the distribution system delivers electricity from distribution substations to consumers.

The grid also encompasses myriads of local area networks that use distributed energy resources to serve local loads and/or to meet specific application requirements for remote power, village or district power, premium power, and critical loads protection.

My company MDi is going to partner with an electrician and her company[s] to make this happen in southern Ohio and the midwest. She is a journeywoman of The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

“The Smart Grid: An Introduction ” is a publication sponsored by DOE’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. It is the first book of its kind to explore – in layman’s terms – the nature, challenges, opportunities and necessity of Smart Grid implementation.

DOE is conducting a series of Smart Grid E-Forums to discuss various issues surrounding Smart Grid including costs, benefits, value proposition to consumers, implementation, and deployment.

The Federal Smart Grid Task Force was recently established under Title XIII of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to coordinate smart grid activities across the Federal government.

Grid 2030 vision (PDF 1.1 MB) calls for the construction of a 21st century electric system that connects everyone to abundant, affordable, clean, efficient, and reliable electric power anytime, anywhere. We can achieve this through a smart grid, which would integrate advanced functions into the nation's electric grid to enhance reliability, efficiency, and security, and would also contribute to the climate change strategic goal of reducing carbon emissions. These advancements will be achieved by modernizing the electric grid with information-age technologies, such as microprocessors, communications, advanced computing, and information technologies.

Electric grid stakeholders representing utilities, technology providers, researchers, policymakers, and consumers have worked together to define the functions of a smart grid. Through regional meetings convened under the Modern Grid Strategy project of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), these stakeholders have identified the following characteristics or performance features of a smart grid:

• Self-healing from power disturbance events
• Enabling active participation by consumers in demand response
• Operating resiliently against physical and cyber attack
• Providing power quality for 21st century needs
• Accommodating all generation and storage options
• Enabling new products, services, and markets
• Optimizing assets and operating efficiently

Smart Grid Activities >

My 2009 Plans

As a Nati Lt. Cdr. , sorta like a Ky. Col. only created for this historic time, I will work with my wife a real Ky. Col. to create a 500 state web 3.0 global governance electronic connectivity backbone within two years in support of continuity of governments allied with the United States of America based on open work started with Cincinnati Change, Inc. with MDi-I-Open source economic development campaign under leadership of Fred Hargrove, Sr. PE MBA with a million partners at $1,000 a partner, by December 15 2008, through Cincinnati Change.
Cincinnati Change will have three trustee's [I am the trustee who will oversee Operations] and twelve directors [Including two Colonels and lead by Cincinnati Change Board of Directors Chairman Dr. Robert Day] based on agreements in place for a orderly transfer to leadership under the organizations founding Chairwoman Wanda J. [Andrews] Lloyd-Daniels.

Status of Forces Agreement between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America [Arabic Version]

An Agreement between the Republic of Iraq and the United States of America regarding the Withdrawal of the American Forces from Iraq and Regulating their Activities During their Temporary Presence in it

PREFACE

The United States of America and the Republic of Iraq - which will hereafter be referred to as the two parties - recognize the importance of strengthening their joint security and participating in global peace and stability, fighting terrorism in Iraq and cooperating in the fields of security and defense to deter aggression and threats directed towards the sovereignty and unity of Iraq and its constitutional, federal, democratic system;

They hereby confirm that this cooperation is built upon the basis of mutual respect for each other's full sovereignty and according to the objectives and principles of the UN mandate;

And according to the wish of both parties to reach a mutual understanding to enhance cooperation between them;

Without encroaching upon the sovereignty of Iraq, upon its soil, water or airspace, and upon the basis of being two independent, equal states of sovereignty, have agreed to the following:

Article OneScope and Purpose

This agreement defines the basic rules and requirements that regulate the temporary presence of the American Forces in Iraq, their activities in it and their withdrawal from Iraq.

Article TwoDefinition of Terms

"The installations and areas agreed upon" refers to the Iraqi areas used by the U.S. Forces while this agreement is valid."

"U.S. Forces" refers to the entity that includes all the personnel of the American Armed Forces, the civilian personnel connected to them and all their possessions, installations and equipment present on Iraqi territory.

"Member of the U.S. Forces" refers to any person that belongs to the army of the United States, its navy, air force, marine force or coast guard.

"Civilian element member" refers to any civilian working for the U.S. Department of Defense. And this term does not include the personnel usually resident in Iraq.

Contractors with the U.S government" and "those who work for the contractors with the United States of America" refer to the legal non-Iraqi persons or entities and their workers who are either American citizens or third country citizens present in Iraq to provide commodities, services and security for the U.S. Forces or on behalf of them, in Iraq, according to a contract or a sub-contract with or for the U.S. Forces. These two terms do not include the legal persons or entities usually resident upon Iraqi soil.

"Official vehicles" refers to the commercial vehicles that may be modified for security purposes, and that are designed originally to transport individuals on different terrains.

"Military vehicles" refers to all manner of vehicles used by the U.S. Forces that were originally designed for combat operations and carry special distinctive numbers and signs.

"Defense equipment" refers to the systems, weapons, ammunition, supplies and materials used in traditional warfare exclusively, that the U.S. needs in connection to the activities agreed upon in this agreement, and that are not related directly or indirectly to the weapons of mass destruction systems (chemical weapons, nuclear weapons, radiological weapons, biological weapons and the wastes connected to such weapons).

"Storing" refers to keeping the defense equipment that the U.S. needs in relation to its activities agreed upon in this agreement.

"Taxes and charges" refers to all the taxes and charges (including customs tariffs) and all charges of any kind that the Iraqi government, its establishments or provinces levies in accordance with the Iraqi laws and regulations. This term does not refer to the funds that are collected by the Iraqi government, its establishments or provinces for services requested by and rendered to the U.S Forces.

Article 3The Laws

U.S. troops and the members of the civilian element commit to the necessity of respecting Iraqi laws, customs, traditions and conventions while conducting military operations in accordance with this agreement, and will refrain from any activities that are not compatible with the spirit of this agreement. The U.S. is obliged to take all the necessary measures for this purpose.

With the exception of U.S. troops and the members of the civilian element, it is not permitted for the U.S. to transport anyone into Iraq or out of it on board the ships or aircraft included in this agreement unless in accordance with valid Iraqi laws and regulations including any executive arrangements that the Iraqi government may agree to.

Article 4The Missions

The Iraqi government requests temporary assistance from the U.S. Forces to support its efforts in keeping peace and stability in Iraq, including cooperation in conducting operations against al Qaida and other terrorist groups and outlaw groups and the remnants of former regime.

All military operations conducted in accordance with this agreement are conducted with the approval of the government of Iraq. Full coordination will take place with the Iraqi authorities regarding these operations and the Joint Military Operations Coordination Committee (JMOCC), which is to be formed according to this agreement, is to supervise the coordination of all the military operations. Any issues regarding proposed military operations that the Committee cannot resolve will be referred to the Joint Ministerial Committee.

All these operations will be conducted with the necessity of fully respecting the Iraqi Constitution and Iraqi Law, and conducting these operations will be without overstepping the sovereignty of Iraq and its national interests as determined by the Iraqi government. It is the duty of the U.S. to respect the laws of Iraq, its customs and traditions and valid international law.

The two parties will continue their efforts to enhance Iraq's security capabilities, as agreed upon by both sides, including training, provision, support, supply, building and updating logistic systems, including transport, accommodations and provisions for the Iraqi security forces.

Both parties retain the right to legitimate self defense within Iraq as is described in valid international law.

Article 5Ownership of Property

Iraq owns all the buildings and installations, the nontransferable structures on the ground that are located in the areas and installations agreed upon, including those the U.S. utilizes, constructs, changes or improves.

At withdrawal, the U.S. will return all the installations and the agreed upon areas allocated for the use of the U.S. combat forces according to two lists (of inventory) to the Iraqi government. The first of these is to be submitted covering the installations and agreed upon areas as soon as the agreement is implemented. And the other list is to be submitted no later than June 30, 2009, the appointed date for U.S. Forces withdrawal from cities, towns and villages. And the Iraqi government has the right to permit the U.S. Forces to use some necessary installations for this agreement's purposes at withdrawal.

The U.S. bears all the costs of building, modification or renovation in the installations and agreed upon areas allocated for their exclusive use. The U.S. will consult with the Iraqi government as to building, modification or renovation works and must seek the approval of the Iraqi government regarding major modifications and construction projects. And in cases of joint utilization of installations and agreed upon areas, both parties will bear the cost of construction, modification or renovation according to the percentage of use.

The U.S. will bear the cost of the services it requests and receives in the installations and agreed upon areas for its exclusive use. And both parties will bear the cost for requested and received services in the installations and agreed upon areas and according to percentage of each party's use.

When a historical or cultural site is discovered, or a strategic resource is found within the installations and agreed upon areas, all construction, modification and innovation works are to stop immediately, and the Iraqi representatives in the Committee are to be informed in order to determine the appropriate steps in regard to it.

The U.S shall return the installations and agreed upon areas and any other installations, or non-transportable structures that it erected, fixed or used during the validity of this agreement according to mechanisms and priorities defined by the Joint Committee; and these installations and areas are to be returned to the Iraqi government free of debts and any financial obligations.

The U.S. Forces shall return to the Iraqi government the installations and agreed upon areas of traditional, moral and political importance and any other fixed structures that the U.S. Forces may have built, assembled, or installed according to mechanisms and priorities and a time period to be agreed upon in the Joint Committee, and with no financial obligations.

The U.S. shall return the rest of the installations and agreed upon areas to the Iraqi government when the validity of this agreement comes to an end or when it is terminated, or at any time prior to that, agreed upon by the two parties, or when the U.S. no longer needs the installations in accordance to what the Committee decrees, without debt or financial obligations.

The U.S. and the contractors with the U.S. retain the ownership of all the equipment, materials, supplies, transportable installations and other transportable property imported to Iraq or acquired in Iraq legitimately and in connection to this agreement.

Article 6Usage of the Installations and the Agreed Upon Areas

With full respect for the sovereignty of Iraq, in the framework of exchanging points of view between the two parties regarding this agreement, Iraq guarantees that the U.S. Forces and contractors with the U.S Forces and the workers employed by these contractors and the personnel and other entities can reach and use the installations and agreed upon areas according to what both parties agree upon.

Iraq permits the U.S. Forces, according to this agreement, to exercise inside the installations and agreed upon areas all rights and authorities that may be necessary to build, use and secure these installations and agreed upon areas. Both parties are to coordinate and cooperate as to how these rights and authorities may be practiced in the installations and agreed upon areas that are joint utilities.

The U.S Forces control the entrances to the installations and agreed upon areas that are allocated for their exclusive use. Both parties are to coordinate the control of the installations and agreed upon areas of joint use, and according to mechanisms approved by the Joint Committee to coordinate joint military operations. Both parties are to coordinate the guard missions in the areas adjacent to the installations and the agreed upon areas through the Joint Committee for coordination of military operations.

Article 7Installing and Storing Defense Equipment

U.S. Forces may install inside the installations and agreed upon areas and in other temporary sites agreed upon by both parties, defense equipment and supplies and materials the U.S. Forces need in connection to activities agreed upon in this agreement. The U.S. is to use and store this equipment in a manner appropriate to their temporary mission in Iraq and in accordance with article four of this agreement, on condition that it has no direct or indirect connection to weapons of mass destruction (chemical weapons, nuclear weapons, radiological weapons, biological weapons and the wastes related to such weapons). And the U. S. is to control the use and transport of the defense equipment owned by it that is stored in Iraq. It (the U.S.) is to guarantee that no explosives or ammunition are to be stored in installations near residential areas, and that it is to move materials stored in installations near residential areas. The U.S. is to provide the Iraqi government with the necessary information regarding the quantities and types of these stored materials.

Article 8Environmental Protection

Both parties are to execute this agreement in a manner consistent with protection of the natural environment, health and human security. And the U.S. commits again to respecting the laws of the environment and Iraqi laws in implementing its policies for the purposes of this agreement.

Article 9

Movement of Vehicles, Ships and Planes

With full respect for the rules of safety in land and marine movement, vehicles and ships used by the U.S Force and those that are administered on its account exclusively, may enter and depart and move within Iraqi territory for the purposes of implementing this agreement. The Joint Committee is to coordinate joint military operations and lay down the appropriate rules and procedures to facilitate and regulate the movement of vehicles.

With full respect for the related rules of safety in flight and aviation, permission will be given for the aircraft of the U.S. government and the civilian aircraft at the time to fly in the Iraqi airspace that are operating in accordance with a contract with the Department of Defense of the U.S. exclusively, and to re-fuel in the air exclusively for the purposes of implementing this agreement; and to land and take off within Iraqi territory for the purposes of implementing this agreement. Iraqi authorities will annually issue a permit for the aforementioned aircraft to land on Iraqi territory and take off from it for the exclusive purpose of implementing this agreement. The aircraft, ships and vehicles of the U.S government and the civilian aircraft exclusively working at the time in accordance with a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense will not permit any party aboard them without the consent of the U.S. Forces authorities, and the related joint subcommittee is to agree upon the appropriate procedures to facilitate regulating the traffic.

Iraqi airspace control and monitoring will be transferred to the Iraqi authorities immediately as this agreement becomes valid.

The Iraqi government has the right to request the temporary support of the U.S. Forces for the Iraqi authorities in controlling and monitoring Iraqi airspace.

U.S. government aircraft and civilian aircraft at that time working in accordance with a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense exclusively are exempt from any taxes, or any similar charges including the flight, aviation, landing or waiting at the airport charges by the Iraqi government. And also exempt from any taxes, government collections or any other charges are the vehicles owned by the U.S. Forces or are being used exclusively by the U.S. Forces for the purposes of implementing this agreement. And this includes the ports run by the Iraqi government, and these vehicles, aircraft and ships are exempt from registration demands inside Iraq.

U.S Forces are to pay for any services it requests and obtains.

Each of the two parties is to provide the other party with maps and other available information regarding locations of mine fields and other obstacles that may obstruct movement within the Iraqi land and waters or endanger it.

Article 10

Contracting Procedures

U.S. forces have the right to choose contractors and have contracts with them, according to American law, to buy materials and services in Iraq, including reconstruction and building services. U.S. forces can have contracts with Iraqi suppliers for materials and services when they have competitive tenders and value. U.S. forces should respect Iraqi law when they have contracts with Iraqi suppliers and contractors, they should inform Iraqi authorities of the Iraqi contractors and suppliers and the value of their contracts.

Article 11Services and Communications

U.S. forces can produce and supply water and electricity and any other services for the installations and areas agreed upon in coordination with the Iraqi authorities through the related Joint sub-committee.

The Iraqi government owns all frequencies. The Iraqi authorities specialized in frequencies allocate frequencies for the U.S forces according to coordination between the two sides via a Joint Military Operations Coordination Committee (JMOCC).The US forces should return the allocated frequencies when they have finished using them at a date no later than the last day of this agreement.

U.S. forces will operate their communications system with full respect to the Iraqi constitution and laws, and according to the text of communication regulations in the International Union of Communications for the year 1992, including the right to use means and special necessary services related to their system to guarantee the full capacity to operate the communications system.

For the purposes of this agreement, U.S. forces are exempt from paying any government collection for using the transmission waves and frequencies now in use or those which will be allocated to them in the future, including administrative and any other charge.

U.S forces should obtain the Iraqi government's approval regarding any infrastructure projects for communications located outside the installations and areas agreed upon for the exclusive purposes of implementation of this agreement according to Article 4, unless there is an actual combat operation, in which case use Article 4.

U.S. forces should use the communication system exclusively for the purposes of this agreement.

Article 12Jurisdiction

In recognition of Iraq's sovereign right in defining and enforcing the principles of criminal and civilian law on its land and in view of Iraq's request for temporary assistance from U.S. forces as explained in article 4 and as is consistent with the obligation of U.S. forces' and the members of the civilian element to respect Iraqi laws, traditions, customs and values, both parties agreed to the following:

Iraq has the primary right to exercise jurisdiction over members of the U.S. forces and members of the civilian element regarding major and premeditated crimes, according to item 8, when these crimes are committed outside installations and areas agreed upon and off duty.

Iraq has the primary right to exercise jurisdiction over private contractors which have contracts with the United States and their employees.

The United States has the primary right to exercise jurisdiction over members of the U.S. forces and members of the civilian element regarding matters that take place inside the installation and areas agreed upon and during duty outside the installations and areas agreed upon and circumstances not included in the text of item 1.

According to a request from either party, both parties will assist one another to carry out an investigation into incidents and to collect evidence and to exchange them to guarantee justice.

When a member of the U.S. forces or the civilian element is arrested or detained by the Iraqi authorities, the authorities of the U.S. forces should be informed immediately and the detainee should be handed over within 24 hours from the time of detention or arrest. When Iraq practices its jurisdiction in implementation of the text of item 1 of this article the authorities of the U.S. forces then undertake the detention of the accused from the members of the U.S. forces or the civilian element. Then the authorities of the U.S. forces are to submit the accused person or persons to the Iraqi authorities for the purpose investigation and trial.

The authorities of either side may request the authorities of the other side to forgo their primary right of jurisdiction in a specific case. The Iraqi government agrees to exercise jurisdiction according to item 1 above only after informing and notifying the U.S. in writing within 21 days of discovering the alleged crime, its practice of jurisdiction has a special significance.

In cases where the U.S. has the right to exercise jurisdiction according to item 3 of this article, the members of the U.S. forces and of the civilian element have the right to have the legal criteria, procedures and guaranteed protection under the American law and constitution. In case a crime is committed which falls under item 3 of this article and the victim is not a member of the U.S. forces or of the civilian element, both parties agree upon procedures through a joint committee to inform the persons involved of the investigation in an appropriate way, the status of the investigation of the crime, the charges against the accused, a date of trial and the results of the deliberations regarding the suspects situation, the opportunity to hear the accused's statements in open sessions during which he will be sentenced, consultation with the lawyers of the prosecution to follow up the case and to assist in presenting a request according to article 21 of this agreement. The U.S. authorities will seek to hold a trial for cases such as these inside Iraq. And in case trials of such cases are held in the United States, efforts will be made to facilitate the victim's presence personally in the court.

In the cases where Iraq exercises jurisdiction according to item 1 of this article, members of the U.S. forces and the civilian element have the right to the legal criteria, procedures and guarantees that are consistent with those enjoyed under American and Iraqi law. The joint committee will lay down procedures and mechanisms to implement this article, which includes a record of major and premeditated crimes that fall under item 1 and procedures according to the criteria of legitimate trial and guarantees. It is not permitted to exercise jurisdiction according to the text of item 1 of this article unless the mentioned procedures and mechanisms are in place.

The U.S. authorities will state according to items 1 and 3 of this article whether the alleged crime was committed on duty. In cases in which the Iraqi authorities believe that the circumstances call for revision of this account, both parties will deliberate immediately via the joint committee, and the authorities of the U.S. forces will take into full consideration the facts, the circumstances and any other information the Iraqi authorities may submit and that might have an effect upon the report of the authorities of the U.S. forces.

Both parties will review the provisions of this article every six months, including any suggested amendments of this article, taking into consideration the security situation in Iraq and how engaged the U.S. forces are with military operations, the growth and development of the Iraqi judicial system and changes in the American and Iraqi laws.

Article 13Carrying Weapons and Wearing Official Uniforms

Members of the U.S. forces and the civilian element have the right to possess and carry weapons that belong to the U.S. during their presence in Iraq according to the authorization given to them, the orders given to them and according to their needs and duties. Also the U.S forces should wear their official uniforms while on duty in Iraq.

Article 14Entry and Departure

For the purposes of this agreement, members of the U.S. forces and members the civilian element may enter and depart Iraq through the formal passages of entrance and departure. They need only to carry identification and travel orders issued to them from the United States. The joint committee handles the task of laying down procedures and mechanisms to check which the specialized Iraqi authorities will implement.

Iraqi authorities have the right to check and verify the names on lists of members of the U.S forces and the civilian element entering Iraq and departing directly into and out of the installations and areas agreed upon. These lists are to be delivered to the Iraqi authorities by the U.S forces.

For the purposes of this agreement, members of the U.S forces and the civilian element may enter and depart Iraq via the installations and areas agreed upon and will not be required to submit anything other than their identification issued in the United States. The joint committee is to lay down the procedures and mechanisms for checking and verifying these documents.

Article 15Importing and Exporting

For the purposes of implementing this agreement exclusively U.S. forces and contractors with the U.S. forces may import into Iraq and export from it materials that have been bought inside Iraq, and they have the right to re-export and transport and use in Iraq any equipment, supplies, materials and technology on the condition that the materials they import or bring are not prohibited inside Iraq, from the date this agreement takes effect. Importing such materials and re-exporting, transporting and using these materials would not expose them to searches. Also these materials are not subject to licensing or any other restrictions or taxing or customs or any other charges imposed in Iraq in accordance with the definition in item 10 of article 2. U.S authorities have to file to the Iraqi authorities the suitable documents ensuring that these materials are imported by the U.S forces or those contractors with the U.S. forces for the use of the U.S. forces in implementing this agreement exclusively. According to available security information, the Iraqi authorities have the right to ask the U.S forces, in their presence, to open any container which has imported materials to check its contents. The Iraqi authorities will respect while submitting its request the security requirements of the U.S. forces and will accept if the U.S. forces requested that the verification operations should be carried out in the installations used by the U.S. forces. Iraqi goods exported by the U.S. forces and the contractors with the U.S. forces are not subject to any searches or any restrictions except the requirements of a license. The joint committee with the Ministry of Trade according to the Iraqi law will facilitate the requisition of a license for the purpose of the U.S forces to export goods or commodities that they have bought in Iraq for the purposes of this agreement. Iraq has the right to request a review of any matter related to the implementation of this item. The two parties are to discuss immediately such cases via the Joint Committee, or if necessary, via the Joint Ministerial Committee.

Members of the U.S forces and members of the civilian element can import, re-export, and use the materials and personal equipment for consumption or personal use. Importing, re-exporting, transporting and using such imported materials in Iraq is not subject to licensing, or any restrictions, taxes, collections, or any other charges imposed in Iraq as is illustrated in item 10 of article 2. The amount of the imports should be reasonable and suitable for personal use. The U.S authorities should take measures to guarantee that any valuable cultural materials or historical materials related to Iraq are not exported.

Any searches referred to in item 2 by the Iraqi authorities must be carried out quickly in an agreed upon location according to the procedures laid down by the Joint Committee.

Taxes and custom fees, as defined in item 10 of article 2, will be levied upon any imported material that is exempt from custom fees and any other fees according to this agreement and any other fees at the point of sale to individuals or entities not included in the tax exemption or special privileges for import. The buyer should pay these taxes and fees, including the customs fee, for the materials that have been sold. The amount of tax and customs paid will be estimated at the time of their sale inside Iraq.

Importing and using the materials referred in the above mentioned items of this article are prohibited for commercial purposes.

Article 16Taxes

No taxes, charges or government duties are levied as defined in item 10 of article 2, which are estimated and levied on Iraqi territory for commodities and services bought inside Iraq by the U.S. forces or on their behalf for official purposes. And no other levy is placed on commodities and services that are bought inside Iraq on behalf of the U.S. forces.

Members of the U.S forces and the civilian element do not bear the responsibility of paying any tax, charge or government collection whose value is determined and levied inside the Iraqi territory unless in exchange for services requested and rendered.

Article 17Licenses and Permits

Valid driving licenses issued by U.S authorities to the members of the U.S. forces and the civilian element and employees of contractors with the United States are accepted by the Iraqi authorities. Those who carry these licenses do not have to take a test or pay any fee to drive their vehicles, ships and planes that belong to the U.S forces in Iraq.

The valid driving licenses issued by the U.S authorities to the members of the U.S forces and the civilian element and the employees of the contractors with the United States are accepted by the Iraqi authorities when they use their own cars on Iraqi territory without taking a test or paying a fee.

All the professional licenses issued by the U.S authorities to the members of the U.S forces and the civilian element and employees of contractors with the United States are accepted by the Iraqi authorities on the condition that these licenses are related to the services they perform within the frame of performing their official or contracted duties to support the U.S forces and the members of the civilian element and contractors with the United States and the employees who work for those contractors, according to the conditions agreed upon by both parties.

Article 18Military and Official Vehicles

The official vehicles are to carry Iraqi license plates, which are agreed upon between the two parties. The Iraqi authorities, upon the request by the authorities of the U.S. forces, will issue license plates for the official vehicles of the U.S forces without fees and according to procedures approved by the Iraqi armed forces. The U.S authorities pay the Iraqi authorities the cost of the license plates.

Licensing and registration authorizations issued by the authorities of the U.S forces for official vehicles of the U.S. forces are accepted by the Iraqi authorities.

Military vehicles used by the U.S. forces exclusively are exempt from the licensing and registration requirements and these vehicles are to be marked by clear numbers.

Article 19Support Activities Services

The U.S forces or those who act on behalf of the U.S forces have the right to build and administer activities and entities inside the installations and areas agreed upon through which they supply services to the members of the U.S. forces and the civilian element, the contractors with the United States and the employees of the contractors with the United States. These entities and activities include; military mail, financial services, stores for selling food, medication and other commodities and services, other places for providing entertainment, wire and wireless communications, including cable and radio broadcasting. Constructing these services does not require a license.

The entertainment, media and radio services, which are outside of the installations and areas agreed upon, fall under Iraqi law.

These supporting activities and services are limited to the members of the U.S forces and the civilian element, contractors with the United States and their employees and individuals and entities the two parties agree upon. The authorities of the U.S. forces should take suitable measures to prevent the misuse of the services mentioned above and to prevent the sale or re-sale of the services mentioned above to persons who are not permitted to reach these entities and benefit from the services they present. The U.S forces determine the broadcasting transmissions for radio and television program for the authorized receivers.

The entities and activities mentioned in this article enjoy the same financial and customs exemption as do the U.S forces, including the guaranteed exemptions in articles 15 and 16 of this agreement. Running and administering these entities and activities that provide services according to United States regulations will not require taxes or any other charges for the activities related to their operation.

Mail sent through military mail services should have the verification of the United States authorities, and this mail will be exempt from searching, examination and confiscation by the Iraqi authorities with the exception of unofficial mail that may be monitored electronically. The Joint Committee will handle such issues that stem from the implementation of this item and they will be settled by the agreement of the two parties. The related joint sub-committee will regularly search for the mechanisms by the U.S. authorities to verify military mail.

Article 20Currency and Foreign Exchange

The U.S. forces have the right to use any amount of U.S. currency or financial assets whose values are determined by American currency for the purposes of this agreement exclusively. The use of the U.S forces of Iraqi currency and private banks should be according to the Iraqi laws.

The U.S forces are not permitted to export Iraqi currency from Iraq and are to take measures to guarantee that none of the members of the U.S forces and the civilian element, contractors with the United States and the employees working for the contractors with the United States to export the Iraqi currency from Iraq.

Article 21Claims

Except for claims that stem from contracts, both parties forgo their right to demand the other party to compensate for any damages, loss or destruction of properties of the armed forces or the civilian element of either party or to demand compensation for injuries or deaths that may happen to members of the armed forces or the of civilian element that are a result of carrying out their official duty in Iraq.

U.S. authorities should pay fair and reasonable compensation to settle entitled claims for any third party, that may stem from actions of members of the U.S. forces and the civilian element or as a result of their negligence, malfeasance or during their official duty or may be related to non-combat activities of US forces. U.S. authorities may settle entitlement claims that do not stem from performing their official duty as quickly as possible according to laws and regulations of the United States. When settling the claims, the authorities of the U.S. forces take into consideration any report regarding an investigation or opinion issued by Iraqi authorities concerning the responsibility or volume of damages.

Both parties consult immediately through the Joint Committee or if it is necessary through the Joint Ministerial Committee in the cases that need revision and that have been mentioned in item 1 and 2 above, according to the request of one of the parties.

Article 22Detention

It is not permitted for the U.S. forces to detain or arrest any person (except the detention or arrest of a member of the US forces or the civilian element) unless it is in accordance with an Iraqi decision issued under Iraqi law implementing Article Four.

If US forces detain or arrest persons as is permitted under this agreement or under Iraqi law, they should be turned over to the specialized Iraqi authorities within 24 hours of their detention or arrest.

Iraqi authorities can request assistance from U.S. forces for the purpose of detaining or arresting wanted persons.

The U.S. forces shall provide the Iraqi Government with the available information about all the detainees when this agreement is implemented. The specialized Iraqi authorities shall issue arrest warrants for those who are wanted. The U.S. forces will coordinate completely and effectively with the Iraqi government for the handover of the wanted people to it, according to valid Iraqi arrest warrants and release all other detainees in an organized and secure way unless the Iraqi government requests otherwise under article 4 of this agreement.

U.S. forces are not permitted to search houses or other premises unless it is in accordance with an Iraqi judicial order issued for this purpose with complete coordination with the Iraqi government, except in cases where there is actual combat which comes under Article 4.

Article 23Implementation

The implementation of this agreement and the settlement of resulting disputes regarding explanations and implementation are the responsibility of the following commissions:

Forming a Joint Ministerial Committee whose members are persons on the ministerial level determined by both parties. This Joint Ministerial Committee undertakes reviewing and resolving the basic necessary issues to explain and implement this agreement.

The Joint Ministerial Committee will undertake the formation of the Joint Military Operation Coordinating Committee (JMOCC) that is composed of representatives of both parties. There will be a Joint Chairmanship of the Joint Military Operation Cooperating Committee (JMOCC) from the two parties.

The Joint Ministerial Committee also forms a joint committee composed of representatives chosen by the two parties and jointly headed by a representative from each party. This committee undertakes reviewing and resolving all the issues related to this agreement that is not the specialization of the Joint Military Operations Coordinating Committee (JMOCC).

The joint committee forms according to item (3) of this article joint subcommittees in various fields who undertake reviewing the issues that stem from this agreement according to their specializations.

Article 24Withdrawal of American Forces from Iraq

Admitting to the performance of Iraqi forces, their increased capabilities and assuming full responsibility for security and based upon the strong relationship between the two parties the two parties agreed to the following:

All U.S. forces are to withdraw from all Iraqi territory, water and airspace no later than the 31st of December of 2011.

All U.S. combat forces are to withdraw from Iraqi cities, villages, and towns not later than the date that Iraqi forces assume complete responsibility of security in any Iraqi province. The withdrawal of U.S. forces from the above-mentioned places is on a date no later than the 30 June 2009. The withdrawing U.S. forces mentioned in item (2) above are to gather in the installations and areas agreed upon that are located outside of cities, villages and towns that will be determined by the Joint Military Operation Coordinating Committee (JMOCC) before the date determined in item (2) above.

The United States admits to the sovereign right of the Iraqi government to demand the departure of the U.S. forces from Iraq at anytime. The Iraqi government admits to the sovereign right of the United States to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq at anytime.

The two parties agree to put a mechanism and preparations for reducing the number of U.S. forces during the appointed period. And they are to agree on the locations where the forces are to settle.

Article 25The Procedures of Lifting Article Seven from Iraq

Recognizing the Iraqi government's right not to request the renewal of the United Nations mandate and the authorization granted to the Multi-National Force Iraq according to chapter seven that is included in the International Security Council's resolution number (1790) (2007) the authorization that will expire on 31 December 2008,

And referring to the two letters directed to the International Security Council: the letter from the Iraqi Prime Minister and the letter from the American Secretary of State dated 7 and 10 December 2007, respectively and they are annexed to resolution (1790),

Noting the third part of the Declaration of Principles regarding the cooperation and long term friendship that was signed by the President of United States of America and the Prime Minister of Iraq on 26 November 2007 which registered in history the Iraqi call for extending the period of the above mentioned mandate for the last time to end on a date no later than 31 December 2008,

Admitting to the great and positive developments in Iraq and reminding that the situation in Iraq is basically different than the situation that was prevalent when the Security Council adopted the resolution number (661) in (1990), and especially as the danger that the Iraqi government used to represent to international peace and security is gone:

The two parties emphasize, as to this issue, that at the end of the working day on 31 December 2008 which terminates the mandate and authorization granted to the Multi-National Force Iraq according to Chapter Seven, that is included in the resolution of the International Security Council number (1790), Iraq should regain its legal and international position that it enjoyed before adoption of resolution (661) (1990) by the U.N. Security Council. And they confirm that the United States will do its best to help Iraq to take the necessary steps to achieve that on 31 December 2008.

Article 26Iraqi Assets

In order to enable Iraq to continue developing its national economy by rehabilitating the Iraqi economic infrastructures and also to provide the basic vital services for the Iraqi people and to continue to preserve Iraqi resources such as petroleum, gas and other resources and also to preserve its financial and economic assets abroad, including the Development Fund of Iraq, the United States of America guarantees its best effort in order to:

Support Iraq to cancel its international debts that resulted from the policy of the former regime.

Support Iraq to reach a final and comprehensive decision regarding the demands of compensation that Iraq inherited from the former regime that have not been resolved yet, including the demands of compensation that was imposed on Iraq by the International Security Council.

Admitting to the concern that Iraq shows towards the demands based upon the actions committed by the former regime and in understanding of this matter, the President of the United States will use his authority to provide the protection for the Development Fund of Iraq and other specific assets that Iraq partly owns from the American judicial system. The United States will stay committed in a complete and effective way with the Iraqi government to continue this protection and in regard to those demands.

Based on a letter that will be sent from the President of the United States to the Prime Minister of Iraq, the United States will remain committed to helping Iraq in regard to the demand it submitted to the Security Council to extend the protection and other arrangements regarding petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas produced in Iraq and the resources and commitments that stem from these sales and the Development Fund of Iraq, these are the arrangements defined in the two resolutions of the Security Council (1483)(2003) and (1546)(2003).

Article 27 Deterrence Security Dangers

In order to support the security and stability in Iraq and to contribute to establishing international peace and stability, both parties seek actively to strengthen the political and military abilities for the Republic of Iraq and to enable Iraq to deter the dangers that threaten its sovereignty and political independence, the unity of its land and its democratic federal constitutional system, they agreed upon the following:

When any external or internal danger emerges against Iraq or an aggression upon it violates its sovereignty, its political stability, the unity of its land, water, and airspace or threatens its democratic system or its elected establishments and according to the request of the Iraqi government, the two parties will immediately start strategic talks and according to what they will agree on between them the United States will undertakes the appropriate measures that include diplomatic, economic, military or any other measure required to deter this threat.

Both parties agree to continue their strong cooperation to strengthen and maintain the military, security and democratic political institutions in Iraq in accordance with what they agree upon, cooperation, supplying and arming the Iraqi Security Forces for the prevention of local and international terrorism and outlaw groups, upon the request of the Iraqi government.

It is not permitted to use Iraqi land, water and airspace as a route or launching pad for attacks against other countries.

Article 28The Green Zone

When this agreement takes effect the Iraqi government undertakes complete responsibility of the Green Zone.

The Iraqi government may request limited, temporary support from the U.S. forces for the Iraqi authorities regarding the mission of securing the Green Zone and when submitting such a request the related Iraqi authorities are to work in collaboration with the U.S. forces regarding security in the Green Zone during a time period determined by Iraq government.

Article 29Arrangement for Implementation

Whenever there is a need, both parties lay down appropriate mechanisms for the implementation of the articles of this agreement including the articles that do not include specified mechanisms for implementation.

Article 30Time Period of Validity of this Agreement

This agreement is valid for three years unless it is terminated by one of the parties before that period ends in accordance with item (3) of this article.

This agreement is not to be amended unless by formal written approval of both parties and in accordance with the constitutional procedures in both countries.

The validity of this agreement will terminate after one year from the date that either of the two parties receives written notification for termination.

This agreement will take effect on the first day of January 2009 after both parties have exchanged diplomatic memorandums concerning the completion of necessary procedures for both parties to implement the agreement in accordance with the valid constitutional procedures of both parties.

This agreement has been signed in Baghdad on the 17th day of the month of November, 2008 in two original copies in both the Arabic and English languages and both texts are equal in legal procedures.