Posted on 02/15/2009 1:08:53 PM PST by SandRat
BAGHDAD — The Government of Iraq is taking tremendous steps to rebuild and strengthen the Iraqi Security Forces and bolster the nation’s self-sufficiency during the transition from Coalition to Iraqi-led operations in support of the Security Agreement between Iraq and the United States.
To this end, the Government of Iraq has spent more than $5 billion to buy military equipment, supplies and training from the U.S. through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
This week, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq’s Security Assistance Office hosted representatives from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, Navy International Program Office, and the Iraqi Ministries of Defense and Interior for a financial management review of the Iraqi FMS program.
“We’ve been trying for three years to make this happen and this is the first time that we all have been able to meet,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joe Lontos, DSCA, Iraq Country Program Manager. “During this five-day review, we looked at FMS cases with the Iraqi Financial Managers so they can see how things are progressing. It also gives the Iraqis a chance to voice their concerns and make changes to their program if they need to.”
Approximately 20 members of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, representing the Iraqi Army, Navy and Air Force programs and budgeting offices, as well as representatives of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior took part in the financial review. “The process is going great…very well,” added Lontos. “The Iraqis are fully engaged in this review.”
According to U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kimberly Enderle, SAO chief of transportation logistics and accountability, the Iraqi Security Forces have already received approximately $1.5 billion in services, vehicles, aircraft parts, small arms, uniforms, and training through the FMS program and have made commitments for an additional $3.5 billion in FMS purchases. “The strategic partnership between the U.S. and Iraq is growing,” said Enderle.
John Moseley, regional duty for Middle East, South Asia Division, DSCA, also sees the FMS program as a way to strengthen the ties between the U.S. and Iraq. “When a country buys billions of dollars worth of equipment from you, it signals a commitment to a long-term relationship,” he said. “This relationship is good for both nations and helps to bring stability to the region.”
Brig. Gen. Charles Luckey, MNSTC-I’s deputy commanding general for Security Assistance, summed it up by saying, “The close partnership between Iraq and the United States will, in large measure, be etched into the future through a collaborative approach to fielding and sustaining major systems and in focusing on the critical training associated with that equipment. The interoperability between U.S. and Iraqi equipment will, in the long run, give each nation a wide variety of combined training opportunities. This conference is a long stride on the road we walk together.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.