Posted on 03/19/2007 2:35:34 PM PDT by jmc1969
The Bush administration has begun delivering more than $3 billion in U.S-made arms to Iraq in a new program to introduce American firepower into Iraq's aging Soviet-based arsenal.
When the Pentagon first began building the 320,000-strong Iraq Security Force in 2003, U.S. commanders decided to keep AK-47 rifles and other East Bloc gear. The theory was it would speed the training process since the Iraqis already knew how to use them.
Now, however, thinking has changed. Training Iraqis in American M-16 rifles, M-4 carbines and other weapons makes more sense if the U.S. wants to cement a long-lasting security cooperation.
"This is the first time they have actually started to buy our equipment in a big way," said retired Army Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis, a military analyst. "This is a major buy of U.S. equipment over there."
Iraq is spending more than $3 billion in 2006 and 2007 contracts through a U.S. program known as Foreign Military Sales, according to a March 14 internal document produced by the Baghdad command and obtained by The Examiner.
Besides small arms, the money will buy armored Humvee multipurpose vehicles, 5-ton trucks, ammunition, air surveillance radars and radios, the documents show.
The big U.S. weapons package marks the end of an era. For more than two decades, Saddam Hussein bought virtually every weapon in the Soviet arsenal: tanks, air defense artillery, ballistic missiles and MiG jet fighters.
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
The Iraqi Army which is the only decient Iraqi fighting force numbers about 134,000. The number has been constant for the past 7 months because the Iraqi Army reached the number the Pentagon planned for them in late 2006.
When the supplimental gets past the Army will start growing again.
The money is from Iraqi oil money.
America spent a fortune rebuilding Europe after WW2. It's kind of nice having a democratic European ally isn't it? America spent a fortune rebuilding Japan after WW2. It's kind of nice having a democratic Japan next to China isn't it?
We've got what? A democratic European ally,is that what they are? We have a disagreement on that one.As for Japan being next to China so what? you think they're like covering our flank? Actually they're just another country we have to worry about protecting. But your right about one thing,we certainly poured a lot of money into those places,however I don't think it appreciated much !!!
The M-16 is a good rifle but can't see why they would want to switch.
Missing are any of the U.S's most sophisticated weapon systems, such as the 60-ton M1 Abrams tank or Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Iraq's defense ministry lacks the money and expertise to maintain high-tech components, so for now soldiers will rely on old Soviet-era tanks.
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And no artillery,,,nothing that will hurt US...
M-16's won't last that bunch passed the first sandstorm,,,
The US has/will have the parts/ammo they require(Facts).
Bottom Line : We ain't goin' nowhere !...;0)
The US inticed them to spend close to a billion on our M-16s.
Go figure.
Skinflint isn't economy, economy is saving on what does not matter in order to have as much as wanted of what matters most.
Bottom line the US public wants us to leave so within 2 years we are going to leave.
No amount of progress on the ground can stop the MSM from cheering any attack whatsoever in Iraq.
If we don't help set up an Iraqi military that is able to defend the country by then the country will fall to Iran.
Your talking about yesterday,I'm talking about now.The dynamics have changed so don't waste my time with your foolish prattle.Our trade deficit is measured in billions and our security is based our own power period !!!
What we did in Korea.
Com' on! We spend that much a year on federal aid to education which, as a firmer teacher, I can tell you is money down a rathole.
True Dat,,,Just like 1975...again...But,,,VN didn't have
all that "AWL" production potential that iraq does...
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ will be on their minds first...;0)
Actually the thread is about what Iraq is spending on weapons,I just pointed out if they've got 10 billion just laying around maybe they can build their own libraries,schools and hospitals that's all !!!
What kind of question is that? Of course it's at least partially from us... here in the form of real money or blood.
The point is we are spending about 30 times that a year over there. Let's arm them.. give them the skills they need so that we can move on.
I pray to God that we can start taking the fight to the Syrians and Iranians so that they can get their hands out of Iraq.
Is not the name of the game security first? No point in building a library if some gang comes along to burn it.
Since these weapons will end up in the hands of insurgents it will lower the level of violence :)
The AR is highly configurable for special purposes including a squad level sniper version, and weighs considerably less. It's stunningly accurate, especially compared to an AK. Also the smaller bullet, while not uncontroversial, will allow more rounds to be carried in the field. Also, it's early reputation for being prone to failure is IMHO, overstated. In the 30 some years since Vietnam it has proven itself a highly reliable and dependable rifle.
In my experience, people complain not about the AR rifle, but about the smaller 5.56 nato round. The AR rifle itself is a first rate design, while most AK's look like they were made by me using hand tools in my garage.
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