Daily Links — Thursday Evening, September 17, 2026

The Thursday evening desk: the arms-control fight sharpens after the Maysan incident, with reports that al-Zaidi has overturned the rules on dealing with weapons — a project experts call an 'existential concern' for the centers of influence. Al-Zaidi is set to deliver Iraq's speech to the UN General Assembly in New York, and the finance ministry — with the CBI governor present — completed the mechanism for pre-paying customs duties. On the wider board, Trump concedes he must soon decide his Iran 'end game,' Pakistan pushes to implement the Mecca Pact, and European militaries ramp flights near Russia's border. At home, a big Memphis task-force operation, a House vote on federal-fraud data, and more. Here's the evening drop.

Iraq & the Dinar

• After the Maysan incident: al-Zaidi overturns the rules on dealing with weapons; experts say his project has become an 'existential concern' for centers of influence — Observer Iraq (Arabic)
• Spokesperson: President al-Zaidi will deliver Iraq's speech to the UN General Assembly in New York — Observer Iraq (Arabic)
• With the Central Bank governor present, the finance ministry completes the mechanism for pre-payment of customs duties — Observer Iraq (Arabic)

Money & Markets

• Q&A: is the endless CLARITY Act debate a distraction while it moves behind the scenes? 'The answer is in the name of the legislation.' — X

Around the World

• Trump concedes he must soon decide on the Iran end game: 'annihilate them or not' — ZeroHedge
• Pakistan's defense chief says the time has come to implement the Mecca Pact — ZeroHedge
• Dangerous escalation: German, French, and UK militaries ramp up flights near the Russian border — ZeroHedge

Home Front

• 189 children found and more than 12,000 arrested in Memphis task-force operations — The Epoch Times
• The US House passes a bill forcing states to hand over data the Attorney General demands to investigate fraud in Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and unemployment — X
• Judge refers the Soros-backed Philadelphia DA for a criminal probe — Modernity
• Sen. Paul introduces a birthright-citizenship amendment — Jonathan Turley

Links are shared for discussion. Not financial advice — always do your own research.