Posted on 05/17/2014 4:14:09 AM PDT by Strategy
If Israel really wants to bomb Iran's nuclear sites, maybe it better do that in the next three months - because in September the United States will start sending Iraq F-16s to build its Air Force.
Except for some helicopters and small planes, Iraq has not had an air force since the United States buried it in 2003. Until the United States withdrew from Iraq two years ago, the US Air Force protected the skies of Iraq.
But for now, the sky is open for Israeli jets to fly back and forth over Iraq if they choose. To strike Iran, Israel would have to refuel its combat jets once along the way. A logical plan would have the combat planes suck up fuel from aerial tankers over Iraq where there is no threat. But starting in September, those tankers will be sitting ducks.
The Israelis must still whiz across Jordan. They could face a threat coming back when the Jordanians would have been alerted. But, on the other hand, Jordan might not want to object to an attack on Iran the way a Shia-led government in Iraq would feel a need to object.
(Excerpt) Read more at iran-times.com ...
Israel and Saudi Arabia reportedly have a plan In place to allow Israeli planes to overfly and refuel in Saudi airspace.
The article presupposes those Iraqi F-16’s will pose an immediate threat as soon as their pilots lay eyes on them. It will take at least a year before they become marginally proficient.
What a relief. I was worried we had stopped pouring our tax dollars down the Iraqi rathole.
I have a gut feeling those pilots are already being trained in the USA......................
Even so, they will never be really proficient in them. No Middle East Air Force with the exception of the Israelis has ever been very good. That’s not even considering the capabilities of the aircraft itself. The F-16 is pretty limited when it comes to air to air combat.
Wish they would.
“I have a gut feeling those pilots are already being trained in the USA...................... “
That’s an evil thought.
One, I suppose, our Mahdi-in-Chief has put into play.
Good Grief! Why in the hell are we pouring more money into that rat hole.
We might as well just arm the iranians.
Maybe the iranians think we did. Can't forget the captured drone.
Won't happen as long as the Backstabber-in-Chief is in office.
Recently there was another large “explosion” in Iran
It may be that the war of threats and words is covering the actual war in country that is containing the Iranian nuclear threat.
CBS's Steve Kroft in Iran: 'We Didn't Talk to Anybody Who Believes They're Building a Bomb'
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2014/05/16/cbss-steve-kroft-iran-we-didnt-talk-anybody-who-believes-theyre-buildi#ixzz31yUKOVBV
I wanted Israel to do it well before the 2008 election. I don’t think there is a sense of urgency on this attack, despite the catastrophic costs of the continuing delay.
Who are “we” ? Iraq has ordered F-16s, AH-64s, C-130s etc. and will pay billions for them.
Iraq is sitting upon billions of dollars of oil and can afford anything they wish. We need to become very active selling to them to recoup the money lost in that hell hole.
We better get the F16 money upfront, because Israel will be sending its best pilots, and they are very experienced world class pilots.
Israel’s pilots have trounced Syrian, Egyptian and even some Russians in the past and against newbee Iraqis, they have no chance.
All their planes will be shot down, better get the cash upfront
From the article: To date, 11 Iraqi pilots have trained to fly F-16s at Tucson, according to the Air Force. Capt. Mohammed Hama Ameen became the first Iraqi pilot to graduate Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training for the Iraqi Air Force F-16 program in March 2012. ...
Whatever our weapons companies are sending to Iraq, the Israelis know two things. For one, they know more about the F16 then anyone, including us. Two, Israel has thousands of man years experience fighting in this terrain.
Those jets are symbolic and if anything will go the way of Iran’s F14’s.
Trained to fly and land, or just fly?
If Israel attacks Iran all hell will break loose, world markets will collapse and the United States will morph from our current contained depression into a real and protracted depression. Iran is not Iraq.
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