The USG is not funding ISF artillery.
I have heard unconfirmed reports of shopping in western Europe, South Africa, and South Korea.
We only funded 20% of the ISF last year and most of that was transfering used US Army HMMWVs to the ISF. This year’s budget is even less.
The US Iraqi Security Fund was used to purchase used US Army HMMWVs already in Iraq at new prices. The US Army used that money to buy new ones in the states. As MRAPs replaced HMMWVs in our units, the HMMWVs are transfered. 8,500 total with the last transfers done by July.
This accelerated delivery of HMMWVs to the Iraqis, while the US Army got new ones. And the price of shipping was saved since they are already there. They got around the congressional restrictions by removing the restricted items. Radios and weapons. The Iraqis are buying a lot of radios and .50 Cal MGs seperately with their money.
The weapons purchases are all GoI now.
Which makes the low oil prices a problem.
99% of GoI’s revenue is from oil sales.
Why can’t we interest them in some of our older, second tier artillery? Given all we’ve done, the USA ought to be the first place they shop for new stuff.
Screw the Europeans. They don’t want to do the hard work, just collect the rewards.
Think we can sell them the “Palladin” plans that were scrapped?