i discussed with promised al- maliki -- british companies to provide expertise to the oil industry. earlier this year mesopotamia patrolling countries signed a joint venture with $400 million, shell is working with the seven oil company to bring to market some of us cubic feet of gas, british companies are now competing for further contract and roles was an parkinsons' discussing with the ministry of electricity proposals for a new power generation infrastructure where an additional $200 million. british funding will support lending to thousands of businesses, a youth employment program to give training and work to young in basra could be rolled out as a result of its success brought the whole of iraq, and we are supporting the transport ministry for the resumption of civilian flights. working with a major education program. iraq has already identified the first 250 students, an early initiative and the contribution for the plan for 10,000 overseas scholarships for iraqi students. mr. speaker, issues and the region still confront us. iran is an independent nation that deserves our r

speaker, on the day of that last combat patrol i welcome prime minister maliki and his cabinet to london, we signed a declaration a partnership friendship and cooperation to find a new relationship between the two countries for the future. at the request of the iraqi government is on number of naval personnel will remain in iraq for long-term training of a iraqi army. royal naval ships will continue to protect the oil platform on which iraq's exports depend and will continue to offer cheney to the iraqi army as part of a wider nato mission and offer training opportunities elsewhere in the u.k. for an iraqi officers of high potential. but at the core of our new relationship will be the diplomatic trading and cultural links a building with the iraqi people supporting british and other foreign investors to play a role in the reconstruction of seven iraq. i have discussed with prime minister out i plan for british companies to provide as produce to the new oil ministry, earlier mesopotamia, but signed a joint venture with 400 million and shell working with the southern oil company to bring t

and now maliki seems to have cracked down on corruption so much so that people believe a lot of people inside iraq are fearing that he is using it as kind of a political intimidation. >> well, i think a lot of countries and iraq's state of economic development have so-called capacity problems. and one element of capacity problems is corruption problem. i think it's healthy that iraqis are talking about this and trying to address it. to the extent that there's concern about it being abused, i think that goes to the question of whether there are proper procedures in terms of what they're doing and law and order, whether indictments are well founded, whether there's an effort to make sure that warrants are properly excuted, et cetera. i think it continues to be something that we watch very closely and are in very close contact with the iraqi authorities about. >> thank you very much. >> a speech now on the recent iranian elections with remarks spoken yesterday at prayers. this is courtesy of iran state-run press tv. >> i recommend all the respected brothers and sisters who have attended t

i think family government -- i think the maliki government will have to strengthen its forces and engage in the political give and take leading up to the elections that we have been talking about for some time. i have not seen as much political process -- progress there as i would like to see. there are always going to be -- let me not say always. there will continue to the incidents of violence inside iraq for some time. they are at a much lower level than they were in the past. i think the biggest challenge right now will be less of those attacks by the remnants and insurgent groups. the bigger challenge will be whether they can resolve some of the major political issues having to do with federalism, boundaries, heavy oil revenues are shared. if those issues get resolved, i think you will see a further normalization of the security atmosphere inside of iraq. >> on iran, over the past few weeks, we have seen horrifying scenes of how the security forces there dealt with the demonstrators. we will not forget this. we want to identify the exact number of victims, who they worere, and how t

i got to appreciate the humanity of people like karzai, maliki, the king of jordan. someday, maybe you will too. but you need to go forward and appreciate the humanity of folks out there as well. you need to appreciate the geography. you cannot just look at a map and say that israel is a small country. you need to get on the helicopter at masada the place where several hundred were killed by romans at the end of the first century. get on the helicopter end in 20 minutes or so, flyover bethlehem, jerusalem, galilee, and land within sight of damascus. now, you have an appreciation that they do not have a strategic depth. you need to appreciate the history. you need to have your jordanian friend point over the ridge line to a trail going up from galilee. that is the one at st. paul was on going to damascus. -- that is the one that st. paul was on going to damascus. half of the cia agency has been hired since 9/11. we have a lot of junior people. i began to ask the experts along the take to build an analyst with 20 years of experience. they came back with an unacceptable

crackdown on corruption so much that people believe -- a lot of people inside iraq are fearing that maliki is using it as a political intimidation. >> well, i think, you know, a lot of countries in iraq's state of economic development have so-called capacity problems, and one element of capacity problems is is a corruption problem. i think it's healthy that iraqis are talking about this and trying to address it. to the extent that there's concern about it being abused, i think that goes to the question of whether there are proper procedures in terms of what they're doing in law and order, whether indictments are well-founded, whether there is an effort to make sure that warrants are properly executed, etc. i think it continues to be something that we watch very closely and are in very close contact with the iraqi authorities about. >> thank you very much. >> thank you. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2008] is >> tomorrow night is the annual radio and television correspondents dinner in washington. c-span will bring you live coverage, including president obama's speech, b

composed military reports for the daily telegraph and penned several books, including "the story of the maliki field force," "the river war," "liberalism and the social problem" and "history of the english speaking peoples." the memorial library was constructed in 1964 and open to the public in 1969. it is a historic church in fulton, missouri, on the campus of westminister chedge where churchill made his famous speech. the facility is home to numerous art facts and information on sir winston churchill. in addition to the story it tells, the museum provides a venue for artistic and historical bits, in addition to numerous social and cultural. it is an important part of westminister campus, with students utilizing its resources for research. i want to thank representative mire for bringing this important resolution forward. i bring my -- i ask my colleagues to support this resolution and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. mrs. mcmorris rodgers: mr. speaker, i would like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman

speaker on the day of that let's combat patrol in april, i welcome the prime minister maliki and most of his cabinet to london for kubli sign together a declaration of partnership, friendship and cooperation defining a new relationship between our countries for the future. at the request of the iraqi government is small number of british navy personnel, will

this is something i have talked about the prime minister maliki on a number of different occasions. i have preston to take an interest in this matter directly and he has, so we are determined to secure the safe release of the hostages. it is permanently on our desk is an issue that has got to be dealt with in something that for the safety of these five people were doing everything in our power to make sure they can come home. >> mer remind the prime minister he is yet to into the question on oath. in his presentation of the operation charts, one could be forgiven for believing it's something to do with the preparation and planning of that operation. when the truth of the matter is it took place in a british responsibility without notice to less and it was the most graphic demonstration that our troops have been invited to take a role, way in advance of the political influence of their leaders and when advances of the resources that the nation was willing or able to devote to support them in a world they were asked to undertake. the number of fatalities in afghanistan is sadly looks

this is something i have talked to prime minister maliki on vacation and pressed him to take an interest in this measure directly and he has and we're determined to secure the safe release of the hostages, some progress made in a great deal to be done but it is permanently on our desk is an issue that's got to be dealt with in something that for the safety of these five people we are doing everything in our power to make sure they can come home. >> can i remind the prime minister he has yet to ask about evidence on oath. in his presentation of the operation charge of the nuys one can be forgiven for believing we have something to do in preparation of planning of operation. when the truth is it took place in a british responsibility without notice to us and the most graphic demonstration and that our troops have been invited to take a role way in in advance of the political influence of their leaders and away in vans of the resources that the nation was willing or able to vote to support them in a role there asked to undertake. the number of fatalities in afghanistan is sadly about to ove

security forces and supported by the courage and vision of those within iraq led by the prime minister maliki, iraq is emerging from the shadow of 30 years of brutal dictatorship and in conflict. today prime minister netanyahu and the government can work for a prosperous future and that they can do so is the old image to be two all who served and iraq to the skills, commitment and sheer professionalism to their great entering courage in conflict and there is a measurable contribution to reconstruction and peace and i commend this statement to the house. >> thank you mr. speaker. can enjoy in the prime minister and paying tribute to speak -- lt. paul mervis and pte. robert mclaren were killed in afghanistan. in the course of the iraq conflict 179 servicemen and women lost their lives, they came from all three services, the army to my navy and air force and also included one civilian. and, of course, it iraq, could cause great division in our politics, parliament and country the things we can all united over and their professionalism and bravery of our armed forces, the service that they gave t