“In January 2006, Iraq issued its first ever international bond, with a value of $2.8 billion, a twenty-two-year term and a coupon of 5.8 per cent in settlement of nearly $19 billion claims by commercial creditors. The London Financial Times described the debt deal for Iraq [on July 16, 2006] as an ‘effort to remove an obstacle to Iraq’s economic recovery [that] has been one of the few successful projects undertaken in post Saddam Iraq.’ “ [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Ali A. Allawi, The Occupation of Iraq, Page 429