Sunday, December 19, 2010

The Market Samurai Key word Investigation Device is now Totally free even past the first free of charge trial period!

The Market Samurai Key word Investigation Device is now Totally free even past the first free of charge trial period!

The Market Samurai Key word Investigation Device is now Totally free even past the first free of charge trial period!

Simply download Market Samurai to check it out!

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The first time I heard about Market Samuri was when Frank Kern was raving about it at Mass Handle back in April.

Now Frank raves about a great deal of stuff (but in some instances, I’m rather impressed..
.Visitors Geyser was one more example of this!).

But in most instances, as well, Frank is commonly promoting instead pricy items. So, for just a keyword investigation tool I used to be expecting some Rolls Royce piece of application with a Rolls Royce value tag.

Primary, Market Samurai provided a free of charge 30 morning trial (no credit card even necessary).
At this time, I didn’t even appear on the price, I just was anxious to try it.

At primary, I observed Market Samurai kind of confusing. It wanted a single search term to begin. OK. I did that as well as the plan opened up a little bit.

It presented a bunch of methods. At this point, I admit to be a little bit baffled, but for the bottom from the window there had been links towards the video tutorials.

Oh, Market Samurai is a instrument that may be downloaded on your computer system and it runs locally, not within your browser. It even now desires a internet connection to obtain new data, though. And YES, it works on both a MAC and Windows PC!!

So when I started to watch a couple of with the videos, points went a great deal more rapidly along with the Market Samurai instrument really opened up for me!

Rank Tracker

“Where Do You Rank in Yahoo for the Particular Key phrase?”

Positive, you possibly can do searches all evening attempting to find this, but the Rank Tracker software from Market Samurai does it to suit your needs. Discover wherever you happen to be ranked for any entire list of key phrases in seek engines such as Search engines, Yahoo and Bing.

I use this tool to track my own Search engine optimization efforts as nicely as enjoy my competitors extremely closely. Also, simply because Market Samurai is often a neighborhood piece of application, you possibly can very easily save your lists and final results for later use. (This way, I can continuously update and analyze my lookup engine ranking using a click of an button!)

Search phrase Application

“What Keywords are the most Profitable”

Market Samurai uses the Yahoo and google search phrase application engine to complete most of the first search term exploration. This did not impress me (due to the fact the Search engines search phrase tool is free of charge). But when I went into analysis mode, I could not think all of the info it was capable to derive about each key phrase.

·?? ?PPC Analysis: Recent bid costs, recent advertisers, estimated clicks per day

·?? ?SEO Analysis: Worth of top rated positions, range of possible clicks for best positions, latest competors

·?? ?Keyword Analysis: Percent of people that buy items from this search phrase (Excellent!), Worth of an top rated position

Hours of search term analysis tied into a single, simple downloadable table.

Search engine optimization Competitors

“What Do I Need to perform to have on Page A single of Google?”

I’ve used these Website positioning opposition tables previously (I even now actually like Brad Callen’s Search engine optimisation Elite for comparable tasks). However the Market Samuri Seo Opposition table is extremely thorough and rapid (and consists of each on-page and off-page analysis).

Content material and Backlink Finder

I really did not consider I had been going to make use of the written content and backlink finder methods of Market Samarai (thinking about I do know how to utilize Yahoo), but I have observed myself drawn to undertaking fast searches (which have been particular to specified web sites like eZineArticles, and so on.) to accomplish some primary search engine optimization and social marketing investigation.

Finding authorities inside your niche does not arrive less complicated than this. Seek WordPress blogs or Forums or Squidoo Lens or YouTube videos on any niche and magically the authority internet sites and individuals surface really rapidly. It is significantly simpler and additional defined than any general look for engine exploration I’ve carried out during the past.

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Dr. Paul Zeitz: GLOBAL ACTION ALERT: Call for Wiki-Justice System for Inclusive, Divere Participation in "American Idea" and "Global Idea" Competitions Which are Planned to be Launched on 1 January 2011: Today is 30 Days Until Global Marches for Justice on 17 January 201

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Portable Multimedia DVD Player with 12 Inch LCD (16:9)

Portable Multimedia DVD Player with 12 Inch LCD (16:9)

Portable Multimedia DVD Player with 12 Inch LCD (16:9). Portable entertainment is here, there and everywhere you go!

In the car! On the plane! On a cruise! No matter where you’re going, or how you’re getting there, don’t forget to bring along this portable multimedia DVD player to add a whole new level of fun and excitement to your trip. With this one device, you and the whole family can enjoy all your favorite DVD’s and videos on a widescreen 12 inch LCD display. The 180-degree swivel screen lets you easily fit this attractive tablet-style DVD player into cramped flights, cars, and cabins.

This multimedia player supports a wide number of disc types and file formats to let you play all your favorite media files, including MPEG-4 and DivX. When you want to watch your own video files, just plug your memory card or USB key straight into the player. Or use the AV In port to display input from your smaller media player. Even if you are on a long trip and run out of your own DVD’s and media files, take advantage of the built-in analog TV receiver to surf the local channels. This DVD player also comes with a retro games console function and free NES style games to provide even more fun for the whole family.

Wide compatibility of disc and file formats, a high quality display, remote controller plus full selection of buttons and ports, and an unbeatable price make this portable multimedia DVD player a guaranteed hit on your next trip. Grab yours today! Resellers, order in bulk to stock up for your store or online shop and enjoy even more savings and more profit. From your best source of high quality, low price electronics, Chinavasion.

At a Glance…
Model CVIB-E22 Portable Multimedia DVD Player Large 12-inch TFT LCD Screen Analog TV functionality (PAL, SECAM, NTSC) Supports a wide range of disc types and file formats Built in speakers Easy to use interface with remote control or on-board controls

Manufacturer Specifications

Primary Function: Portable Multimedia DVD Player with 12 Inch LCD (16:9) Color: Black Aspect Ratios: 16:9, 4:3 Screen Resolution: 800×480 Compatible Disc Formats: DVD, DVD+R/-R, DVD+/-RW, VCD, CD, CD-R/W Supported Video Formats: VOB, MPG, AVI, MPEG 1, MPEG 2, MPEG 4, DIVX, XVID Supported Audio Formats: MP3, WMA Supported Picture Format: JPEG Power Supply: AC power adapter or battery Battery Life: 90-120 minutes Dimensions (mm): 310 (L) x 219 (W) x 59 (H) OSD Languages (9): English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Simplified Chinese Analog TV Systems: SECAM BG, SECAM DK, PAL BG, PAL DK, PAL I, NTSC, AUTO Receiving Channels:
- VHF-L: 48.25MHz – 161.25MHz
- VHF-H: 160.25MHz – 464.25MHz
- UHF: 463.25MHz – 863.25MHz Input/output/connectivity:
- Power Input
- Antenna
- AV IN
- AV OUT
- Earphone
- Gamepad 1
- Gamepad 2
- USB input
- SD/MS/MMC Card input Built in Stereo Speakers (2 x 2W) Manufacturer Ref: GGDQTLVLG1

Product Notes

Adjustable 180 degree Swivel Screen Power Consumption: 25W

Package Contents

Model CVIB-E22 Portable Multimedia DVD Player with 12 Inch LCD (16:9) Power Supply (100-240V, 50/60Hz) Car Charger AV Cable Remote Control USB Gamepad TV Antenna Mini-CD with games Instruction Manual – English

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

What disc formats does this multimedia player support?
DVD, DVD+R/-R, DVD+/-RW, VCD, CD, CD-R/W

Login for Wholesale Discount Price Written by: B.H.
Visit the website: http://www.electronicschinawholesale.com
You will find much more. Current Reviews: ?? This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 11 August, 2009.

The Best Distributor Of Chinese Wholesale Electronics.
China Electronics Wholesale and Dropship: Gadgets, Cell Phones, Car DVD Players, Digital Cameras, Digital Camcorders, MP4 Players, MP3 Players, Spy Cameras, Security Products, PC Accessories, and more…
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Friday, December 17, 2010

Mature Skin And Anti Aging Skin Care Products

Mature Skin And Anti Aging Skin Care Products

An important aspect that needs utter care and attention is the skin.? Age is known to be the skin’s worst enemy.? Effective anti aging skin care products are really needed.? They are solutions expected to deliver fine results.? These anti aging skin care products are a blended combination of anti wrinkle cream and high quality moisturizer.

Moisturizing and anti wrinkle skin care products have an anti aging properties and the major concern behind these products is proper skin care.

Special anti aging skin care products as great anti-aging items are required by mature skin.? Extra time spent caring for the skin is also required.? The outcome is glowing skin that looks ten years younger, if and when taking care of mature skin is learned.

It is known that skin begins to age after turning 25.? The skin has the ability to retain moisture but such ability starts to dissipate and it creates less estrogen after the age of 25.? The rate at which the skin begins to age depends on various genetic and environmental factors. Proper skin care also helps to slow down signs of aging skin.

The hands of time can’t be stopped altogether, but by making sure that few simple rules are followed you can certainly slow them down.? Whilst drinking plenty of water, getting a good amount of sleep, watching what is eaten and protecting the skin from the sun are all good strategies to care for the mature skin, there are other products that are also necessary.

Anti-aging ingredients that will nourish and replenish the skin should be looked for.? These include proteins, antioxidants, collagen and other natural nutrients.? For the skin to begin changing throughout life with age is completely normal.? As your skin ages you need to change the skin care products that you use to suit your stage of life.

Lots of anti aging skin care products are on the market right now. The problem is that many of them can actually make wrinkles and age spots worse, not better. There are ingredients contained in many of them that are harmful to aging skin.? Look for anti aging skin care products that contain natural ingredients, plenty of nutrients and essential collagen.? Mature skin needs high quality skin care products to provide nourishment.

Finding great anti aging skin care products is merely a part of growing older.? We don’t have to deal with tight skin, tiny lines and sagging eyes.

Follow Me on Twitter: twitter.com Skin care Products I use: The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover: www.thebodyshop-usa.com Clean and Clear Morning Burst Face Wash: www.cleanandclear.com CLINIQUE TONER Comb-dry skin: www.clinique.com MaryKay Intense Eye Creme MaryKay Anti-Aging Moisterizer MaryKay Night Time Solution

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Patricia Handschiegel: The New Power Girls: 5 Habits Business Travelers Must Have Today

It was a simple enough trip. A business traveler, on the way home from a few days of meetings in a remote city, is stranded by way of an airline with the reputation of rarely getting passengers to their destination, let alone on time. The option of two hotels are offered, and the Sheraton Airport Hotel Tempe, near Phoenix, is selected -- after all, it's a Starwood hotel, the same company that owns the Westin and other properties. By no means the highest of the lodging food chain but by no stretch usually horrible. The idea of forgoing the airline's options and selecting a separate hotel was considered, but it was late and had been a long day. The flight was delayed, then had mechanical failure, then ran out of food after keeping passengers on the runway for over two hours. The stay at the hotel would be less than eight hours, less than the average work day.

It wasn't surprising afterward to read the reviews online about the hotel being "dirty," "in need of cleaning" and "lice infested." That was the near exact experience. One guest shared that they found a pair of men's underwear in plain sight in the bathroom, clearly due to the room they were in never being cleaned. Another talked about there being hair in the drain of the sink. In fact, more reviews referenced the hotel being filthy and poorly maintained than anything else. It was stunning that the airline would put its passengers in such a dirty and poorly managed place.

It's not the first horror story you've heard about business travel. Today entrepreneurs and executives aren't just being hit by airlines cutting back and increasing costs, security measures and other obstacles, but dirty hotels, bed bugs and a whole host of other things. The Sheraton is an example. Here's what you can do about it:

1. Google search all hotels before you stay in them, and include the words "lice," "bed bugs," and "scabies." Fortunately sites like Trip Advisor and Yelp give candid details about the experience consumers have, good or bad. While bed bugs can spread to even the cleanest hotels, there are a bunch of sites dedicated to alerting travelers of hotels that have infestations.

2. Take note of the room, bed, etc. the minute you get in. While you may have a particular hotel you like to stay in and are confident in its management, the hotel an airline puts you in might be another story. Regardless, take stock of the room the minute you walk in, including foul odors, dirty surfaces, etc. If the room doesn't seem up to par, ask for another immediately.

3. Invest in a hard case suitcase. You've got a better chance of protecting yourself and your items from bugs and other problems with hard case luggage over fabric and other materials. While bugs can still get in by way of zippers, etc., they won't be able to sneak through fabric fibers, etc. There are also luggage and travel bags that seal in your clothing and bags available online and in stores.

4. Do not unpack, and do not put your suitcase on the floor. A lot of people immediately unpack their clothes in their hotel rooms, or throw their suitcase on the floor. Avoid this, as clothing in drawers, etc. can be exposed to insects, while suitcases on carpeting can suffer the same.

5. Act immediately. If you feel something crawling on you in the bed at night, chances are there is something crawling on you. Immediately get up, remove your clothing and take a hot shower. Put the clothing in the sink so that nothing else you own is affected, then have it bagged in a sealable bag and if you can, keep it out of your luggage. Do not bring your suitcase or any of its contents into your home once you've returned. Either leave it in the car for a few days (the heat or cold should kill most bugs) or remove everything from it and wash immediately in the hottest water you can.

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Michael Giltz: DVDs: Peanuts & Other New Holiday Titles

Okay, you already own It's A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story and some Rankin Bass. But maybe you need a new title or two to spruce up your holiday DVD collection. Here are some recent releases to consider:

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PEANUTS HOLIDAY COLLECTION ($42.98 BluRay or $39.98 regular; Warner Bros.) -- Okay, if you own any TV specials at all you probably own one of the previous DVD collections that features the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. But the myriad Peanuts specials have been packaged and repackaged so many times it's impossible to keep track of them all. So what's the draw here? Well, BluRay of course, not to mention a deluxe version with a snowglobe and some other doodads. The prints have always been taken care of by Warner Bros., so the improvement of these very old TV shows isn't dramatic, but they do look good. The sale price of the BluRay edition costs almost TWICE as much as the regular DVDs, which is ridiculous. After all these years, just give us one definitive set of every Peanuts special ever made and be done with it. If money is no object and for some reason you don't already own that Peanuts classic, this set contains it and It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (their other major classic), A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and three bonus specials.

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THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS ($24.98; Warner Bros.) -- One of the best Rankin/Bass specials, you wouldn't know it by the packaging but this set also contains the so-so Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey and Rudolph's Shiny New Year. Add in some extras and you've got about two hours of entertainment. Of course, if your kids aren't around you'll just jump to "Heat Miser" and sing along. BluRay looks better but not dramatically so; no surprise on such old titles made for TV.

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A CHRISTMAS CAROL ($39.99; Disney) -- I'm still not down with director Robert Zemeckis and his modern spin on rotoscoping -- live actors do a scene and then it gets animated. As with his earlier film The Polar Express, the animated characters seem stiff and a little dead in the eyes. The work is improved but still not ready for prime time. However, overlooked in the technological boundary-pushing is the fact that Jim Carrey gives one of his best performances in years as Scrooge. His work is subtle, funny, menacing and real. Too bad it's hidden in a film that thinks the timeless classic by Charles Dickens needs jazzing up by shrinking down Scrooge and send him rocketing down streets or up into the night sky. Absurd.

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IT'S A VERY MERRY MUPPET CHRISTMAS ($14.98; Universal) -- A Muppet spin on It's A Wonderful Life with Kermit finding out that indeed the world would have been worse off if he had never been a little tadpole, not better. The draw here for this so-so Muppet entry is a nine song CD with the gang caroling through holiday standards like "Deck The Halls."

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SANTA CLAUS: THE MOVIE ($14.98; Lionsgate) -- A stodgy precursor to the Will Ferrell comedy Elf (which is quite good), Santa Claus: The Movie fails on several levels. First, a movie about Santa Claus shouldn't spend half the film focusing on an elf, even if the elf is played by Dudley Moore. On the other hand, trying to recapture the magic of Superman: The Movie by replicating the formula of that classic film. Unfortunately, rather than elevating the Superman myth by treating it like an epic, almost Christ-like origin story, doing the same with Santa Claus just seems tiresome and vaguely absurd. Still with me? Probably not. And the movie doesn't hold your attention any better.

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PHINEAS AND FERB: A VERY PERRY CHRISTMAS ($19.99; Warner Bros.) -- This is a good bargain: you get an amusing P&F Christmas special along with a batch of other episodes and a welcome number of extras like a karaoke function that lets you sing along with Perry, Christmas wish lists for all the characters and more. Cheeky humor with pop cultural references put this in the Looney Tunes vein. The only shame is that fans of the show don't have the option to purchase an entire season of episodes. But kids shows almost always seem to get divvied up into multiple sets for some reason.

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NATIVITY! ($14.98; Freestyle) -- Decent family fare that mixes Glee with the holidays by having a hapless high school teacher mount a musical Nativity special. The main draw here is Martin Freeman, charming as always. He's enshrined forever thanks to the UK version of The Office, but when you toss in the current modern spin on Sherlock Holmes (he plays Dr. Watson) an the upcoming film(s) The Hobbit, with Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, and you've got a genuine pop culture icon in the making. This doesn't spruce up his resume but it's no embarrassment either.

ALSO OUT:

NUTCRACKER SWEET ($14.98; Lionsgate) -- My little friend Katie Rose absolutely LOVES Angelina Ballerina and she's sure to eat this up when I give it to her. Reviews are meaningless in this context.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, OLIVIA ($16.99; Paramount) -- I'm a big fan of the Olivia books by Ian Falconer but still can't quite buy Olivia in this computer-animated version. Still, the holidays bring out the pushy best in Olivia.

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS ($19.98; Warner Bros.) -- The magic of Rankin/Bass did not transfer to animation: stop-motion is the format where they shine. Plus, 24 minutes of minor R/B for $20 is simply far too much.

CHANUKAH: THE MISSING MENORAH ($14.95; Shalom Sesame) -- Grover's bringing the latkas...but where's the menorah? Given the paucity of Jewish-themed holiday specials, this is especially welcome.

*****
Thanks for reading. Michael Giltz is the cohost of Showbiz Sandbox, a weekly pop culture podcast that reveals the industry take on entertainment news of the day and features top journalists and opinion makers as guests. It's available free on iTunes. Visit Michael Giltz at his website and his daily blog. Download his podcast of celebrity interviews and his radio show, also called Popsurfing and also available for free on iTunes. Link to him on Netflix and gain access to thousands of ratings and reviews.

NOTE: Michael Giltz is provided with free copies of DVDs to consider for review. He typically does not guarantee coverage and invariably receives far more screeners and DVDs than he can cover each week. Also, Michael Giltz freelances as a writer of DVD copy (the text that appears on the back of DVDs) for some titles released by IFC and other subsidiaries of MPI. It helps pay the rent, but does not obligate him in any way to speak positively or negatively of their titles.

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Iraq Sanctions: UN Security Council Lifts Key Restrictions

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council gave a unanimous vote of confidence Wednesday to the significant strides Iraq has taken by lifting 19-year-old sanctions on weapons and civilian nuclear power.

The council also decided to return control of Iraq's oil and natural gas revenue to the government next summer and to settle all remaining claims over the controversial oil-for-food program, which helped ordinary Iraqis cope with sanctions imposed after Saddam Hussein's army invaded Kuwait two decades ago.

Although some sanctions will remain in place until Iraq and Kuwait settle outstanding issues from that war, Wednesday's vote was a major step to restore Iraq's international standing a year before the U.S. is to pull its last troops out of the country. It came a day after a power-sharing agreement ended a lengthy deadlock on forming a new Iraqi government.

Vice President Joe Biden, who presided over the meeting, told the council the move marked "an important milestone for the government of Iraq and people of Iraq in their ongoing effort to leave behind their troubled past and embrace a much brighter future."

"The three resolutions we've passed bring an end to the burdensome remnants of the dark era of Saddam Hussein," he said.

Biden's presence was a sign of the importance the Obama administration gave to the vote. The U.S. holds the Security Council presidency this month.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said the adoption of the resolutions "marks the beginning of the end of the sanctions regime and restrictions on Iraq's sovereignty, independence and recovery."

"Our key focus has been to unburden Iraq from the heavy legacy of non-compliance with international law and to break its isolation and regain its rightful place among the community of nations," he told the council.

Zebari said in an interview with The Associated Press that Biden's presence and the resolutions "showed continued American engagement with Iraq – that it's not abandoned."

Iraq has been pressing the Security Council for several years to end sanctions and cancel more than 70 resolutions adopted after Saddam's war against Kuwait.

Zebari said following the council's votes Wednesday only about a dozen resolutions remain, all related to outstanding issues between Iraq and Kuwait.

The council expressed confidence in Iraq's commitments to nonproliferation by lifting sanctions against acquiring weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles or pursuing a civilian nuclear power program.

Iraq's constitution bars the country from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, and Baghdad is a party to most of the main nuclear, chemical, biological and missile treaties.

The council had said in February that it would lift the ban on Iraq's use of civilian nuclear power after it ratified several additional international treaties along with a protocol that allows the International Atomic Energy Agency to carry out unannounced inspections.

Iraq has not done so, mainly because of the failure to form a new government. On Wednesday, the council urged Iraq to ratify the protocol and the nuclear test ban treaty "as soon as possible." It also asked for a progress report in 12 months.

Zebari said in the interview that lifting these sanctions was "very, very significant" because it will enable the Iraqi ministries of higher education, health and agriculture to import technologies, pesticides and other materials that were banned because they had both civilian and military uses.

Ending sanctions will also enable the defense ministry to buy artillery or missiles with a range beyond 150 kilometers (90 miles), which "means that Iraq again would be a normal country like any other country," he said.

Zebari said every country should have the right to a civilian nuclear program, "but for a country like ours that has been the victims of Saddam's policies and belligerence and aggression and defiance, I think we'll think twice before going down any road close to that."

A second resolution, adopted unanimously, ends the international management of the Development Fund for Iraq on June 30, 2011. The fund was set up after Saddam's regime was toppled in 2003 to try to ensure that the proceeds of the country's gas and oil sales were used to help its people and restore its economy.

The resolution, which will end Iraq's immunity from claims on the proceeds, calls on Iraq to set up a successor mechanism. The resolution ensures that 5 percent of oil and gas revenue will still go into a compensation fund, used mainly to pay Kuwaiti claims from the war, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.

The third resolution, terminating all remaining activities of the oil-for-food program, was adopted by a vote of 14-0 with France abstaining. France's U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud said it "did not include all of the safeguards we thought was necessary for our support."

The resolution authorizes U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to ensure that $20 million from the account is retained in escrow until Dec. 31, 2016, for U.N. expenses related to ending the program, and another $131 million to meet all other activities related to the fund including outstanding contracts.

The council said the rest of the money in the program – which U.S. officials estimate at about $650 million – should be transferred to the Development Fund for Iraq "as soon as possible."

The oil-for-food program, which ran from 1996 to 2003, allowed Iraq to sell oil so long as most of the money went to buy humanitarian goods. It was aimed at easing Iraqi suffering under U.N. sanctions and was a lifeline for 90 percent of the country's population.

But an 18-month U.N.-sanctioned investigation led by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker found massive corruption in the program. Its final report in October 2005 accused more than 2,200 companies from some 40 countries of colluding with Saddam's regime to bilk $1.8 billion.

In May 2003, weeks after the U.S. invaded Iraq, the council lifted economic sanctions, opening the country to international trade and investment and allowing oil exports to resume. In June 2004, the council lifted an embargo on the sale of conventional weapons to the government.

Iraq's outstanding issues with Kuwait include the major obstacle of demarcating their border as well as accounting for 600 missing Kuwaitis, returning missing property and archives, and the estimated $22 billion Baghdad owes Kuwait as reparations for the invasion.

Zebari told the council "there has been positive cooperation and exchange between our two governments to resolve and settle all pending issues," but he said "Iraq still has some way to go" reach a final agreement.

Saddam's invasion of Kuwait came as the country was just recovering from a draining eight-year war with Iran. Baghdad had long been a regional power and cultured society with the highest literacy rate in Arab world – but with violence lurking just under the surface.

A U.S.-led force drove Saddam's army out of Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War, and the U.N. then imposed the sanctions. The second war – when a U.S.-led force invaded Iraq and toppled the regime in 2003 – was ostensibly to stop Saddam from developing weapons of mass destruction. Such weapons were never found.

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