Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09BAGHDAD522, SHOW ME THE POWER," SAYS EAST BAGHDAD BUSINESSMAN

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09BAGHDAD522.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09BAGHDAD522 2009-03-01 09:04 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Baghdad
R 010904Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1921
UNCLAS BAGHDAD 000522 
 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL ASEC IZ
 
SUBJECT:  "SHOW ME THE POWER," SAYS EAST BAGHDAD BUSINESSMAN 
 
1.  This is a Baghdad EPRT-2 reporting cable. 
 
2.  SUMMARY:  Electricity is now the biggest problem for 
manufacturers in eastern Baghdad.  In the continuing absence of 
reliable power from the national grid, many manufacturers must 
generate their own power but cannot buy an adequate supply of fuel 
at the official (subsidized) price.  One big company owner thinks he 
could add fifty jobs to his payroll if the company could get more 
fuel or reliable power at a lower price.  Under the present system, 
in which the GOI sets an official fuel price too low to align supply 
and demand, companies must turn to unofficial suppliers who often 
sell adulterated fuel.  The GOI's failure to complete liberalization 
of the fuel market inhibits growth and promotes corruption.   END 
SUMMARY. 
 
MANUFACTURING IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD 
 
3.  The Aladeen Water Heater Company (AWHC) factory is situated in 
the Kamaliyah Industrial Park in eastern Baghdad's 9 Nissan 
district, which borders Sadr City.  According to local wisdom, 
"everything that goes into and comes out of Sadr City goes through 9 
Nissan."   Historically, and even recently, 9 Nissan has been a 
launching point for rockets aimed at the International Zone and 
other parts of Baghdad.  The residents of 9 Nissan are typically 
lower-middle class, and socio-economic status declines the farther 
east and north one goes in the district, which terminates in the 
outlying Shawra Wa Um Jidr area. 
 
4.  The situation in the Kamaliyah Industrial Park is bleak after 
years of absent security and terribly insufficient electricity, both 
of which are crucial for the operation of factories.  Currently 90 
percent of the factories in the Kamaliyah Industrial Park are 
closed.  Industrialists evacuated Kamaliyah largely because of the 
bad security situation and the lack of financing.   Most of the 
remaining businesses and factories are small in scale, with the 
exception of AWHC.  While Kamaliyah has the distinct rustbelt 
atmosphere of defunct factories, AWHC hums with the tune of business 
as usual.  During several recent EPRT visits, employees were busy 
working, machines roared, and the place was clean. 
 
FACTORIES NEED LOWER FUEL COSTS TO EXPAND 
 
5.  AWHC's owner and manager, who goes by the name Abu Ahmed, 
explained during a recent visit that his company now employs 125 
"laborers" and 17 "employees" full-time.  This makes AWHC the 
largest private employer in 9 Nissan by a large margin.  At full 
capacity in decades past, Aladeen employed 430 full time workers in 
two shifts.  Laborers now earn $250 per month.  He is the sole 
owner; the GOI has no stake in the business.  Due to improvements in 
security, Abu Ahmed said, "ten people per day walk in and ask for a 
job."   His factory produces approximately 2,800 hot water heaters 
per week, which he sells throughout Iraq through a network of 
private distributors. 
 
6.  Abu Ahmed said he spends at least $10,000 per month on diesel 
fuel for the generator that powers his factory.  When asked what he 
needed in order to expand his business and hire more workers, Abu 
Ahmed replied, "I desperately need reasonably-priced fuel."  Like 
every other business owner in Baghdad, Abu Ahmed is unable to get 
his full allocation of government-priced fuel and is therefore 
forced to buy from the black market.   He said that if he could 
access reasonably priced fuel, he could immediately increase his 
employment by 50. 
 
GOI NEGLECTS 9 NISSAN 
 
7.  Historically, the GOI has neglected to provide the Baghdad 
district of 9 Nissan with good essential services, and in recent 
years the situation has only grown worse.  Currently the Kamaliyah 
Industrial Park gets electricity from the national grid for only two 
QIndustrial Park gets electricity from the national grid for only two 
or three hours during business hours (0730 - 1530).  The main street 
of the Kamaliyah Industrial Park is in such poor condition it is 
nearly impassable.  In all, Abu Ahmed said, "the GOI does not 
support industrial sites." 
 
8.  Asked if any politicians or political parties advocate on behalf 
of private industry, Abu Ahmed replied, "The GOI is useless. The 
politicians speak nice words but don't act on them.  Politicians 
acknowledge the 'import problem', but haven't helped the situation. 
We are able to compete in this business because of our good product 
and reputation, even though our product is a little bit more 
expensive."   He noted the GOI had issued a tender to supply 100,000 
solar heaters through the Ministry of Trade - but the GOI was going 
to give the business to the Chinese. 
 
9.  Abu Ahmed said if the U.S. really wanted to help, the best way 
would be to help him get his "rightfully allocated Ministry of Oil 
subsidized fuel."  He opened a folder and pulled out a paper from 
the Ministry of Oil that authorized him to purchase 18,333 liters of 
fuel per month at the official price.   In all, Aladeen factory 
consumes 32,000 liters per month.   "You know how many liters I was 
able to purchase last month?" Abu Ahmed asked.  "Two thousand.  The 
other 16,333 are stolen."  As a consequence, he had to purchase the 
remaining needed fuel at the black market price.  "It is terrible 
quality fuel that damages my generators." 
 
COMMENT 
 
10.  The travails of AWHC and Abu Ahmed starkly illustrate how the 
GOI's failure to remove subsidies for energy - whether fuel for cars 
and generators or electricity for homes and factories - distorts the 
efficient operation of a free market and impedes economic 
development in Baghdad and beyond.  While the GOI eliminated direct 
subsidies for nearly all fuels at the urging of the International 
Monetary Fund, it has not followed through with full liberalization 
of the fuel market.  Similarly, Iraq has no price mechanism to bring 
the demand for electricity in line with the supply.   As long as the 
GOI avoids tackling these problems, they will continue to inhibit 
productivity gains and any hopes for job growth in the Baghdad 
rustbelt. 
 
 
BUTENIS