Clare – Dinar Guru Article: “Washington Times: Iraq’s success in controlling weapons makes it an important economic center in the Middle East” Quote: “Iraq faces one of the most impactful tests in the post-2003 era..A key obstacle remains the continued existence of armed power centers that are not fully under the authority of the Iraqi state…No investment worth tens of billions of dollars can be sustained without the rule of law, contractual security, and political stability. From this perspective, placing all weapons under state control is a prerequisite for rebuilding state authority and establishing a stable economy …Iraq has the potential to become a key player in the Middle East’s energy security system, but achieving this status requires Baghdad to demonstrate its ability to protect its energy resources and pipelines, and, most importantly, to guarantee its economic independence.“