Iraqis flock to Jordan to buy real estate, gold and vehicles

AMMAN, Jordan, July 29 - AP

Postwar chaos in Iraq has helped to boost real estate sales in neighboring Jordan, an official said Tuesday.

An increased in property sales for the month of June can be attributed to purchases by non- Jordanians, with people from Iraq topping the list, said Abdul-Munem Samara, director general of the Department of Lands and Survey, said Tuesday.

Most of the buying was in June, soon after a U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein. The invasion was followed by spiraling street crime, attacks on occupying forces and water and electricity shortages.

In the past, people in Iraq have sought to invest in neighboring Jordan during hard times in their homeland, Samara said.

Besides real estate, Iraqis have been snapping up vehicles and gold, driving up prices, officials and businessmen said.

Banish bush From Texas Too

The Iraqi's homeland is being occupied and trashed. What would you do under the circumstances? With a few bucks, I'd do the same thing!

The tragedy is that the U.S. has caused so much upheaval and destruction throughout the Middle East. And, the poor have no options at all.

:-(