Hi all,
 
Hope this e-mail finds you all well and may you all have a prosperous 2012!! I
am chinese, so my new year only starts tomorrow. "The year of the dragon!!" lol
 
I would like to share the following information with you all with regards to the
situation in Iraq. In the past year I have travelled through Baghdad, Irbil and
Basra.
 
This information I am not thumb sucking! I am on a daily basis on these roads
and can find myself anywhere in Iraq. I believe we should start helping each
other as far as possible.
 
1. Checkpoints - ensure that your visa for Iraq is in date! If your visa has
been expired, you will be arrested and deported. No other identification will
work and you will be arrested.
 
2. Movement Letters for the specific area. eg. Basra you do need a movement
letter. Amara also needs a movement letter. And when you moving into any
oilfield in Basra, the authorities will require a movement letter from the SOC.
 
3. Vehicle registration - Please ensure that your vehicle registration is in
date and the vehicle is registered. Also ensure that your driver has a valid
drivers license.
 
4. Iraqi Police checkpoints - They require a movement letter from the Minister
of Interior for that specific area.
 
5. Iraqi Army checkpoints - Lately they are requesting a letter from the MOD,
however it's only in specific areas.
 
6. Lately the fixes and interpreters have little influence. Sometimes they are
arrested for trying to diffuse the situation. The Iraqi armed forces have taken
over.
 
7. A smile and offering a coke or water is the best solution at some
checkpoints. The next time they see you, their attitude has changed. WARNING!!!
Do not be arrogant!! You will be arrested. Remember you are in his country.
 
8. Cameras - some checkpoints want to confiscate and some dont, so always try to
diffuse the situation with your Iraqi available.
 
Hope this helps and if you need any int, I am always available, however it will
cost you a beer from now on. Enjoy your stay in Iraq!!
 
Kind regads
Byron Fawcus

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