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First reports are always wrong. The initial reports were of $4.2 billion in Russian arms buys with 42 Pantsir-S1 units and 30 Mi-28NE helicopters. That led to the following 3 possibilities: A big rip-off. More equipment being bought but not reported. Lower price than reported. The $4.2 billion reported price tag comes from Russian press and was based on Iraq buying everything that was on the table – they didn’t. PM Maliki has denied Russian fighter buys: "we are buying defensive weapons only, air defence equipment and helicopters for anti-terrorist use, not sukhois or migs." There had been previous reports...

The Iraqi Army is modeled on a modified US Army division structure. While the motorized and infantry divisions are still pre-modular, the heavy brigades are organized on the modular pattern. Recent information [not all confirmed] on purchases, training, and the distribution of newly acquired armor point towards a target of 17 IA heavy brigades and an armor training brigade by the end of the Phase 2 upgrades [2011-2016]. This indicates 4 armor divisions and a heavy brigade or [more likely] 1 armored and 4 mechanized divisions plus a heavy brigade [not including the armor training brigade] are planned for the...

This Iraqi Security Force (ISF) update provides a summary of changes to the ISF during July 2010. The Iraqi Security Force Order of Battle is updated as of 31 July 2010. During July, 2 articles extrapolating future Iraqi Army Armor Forces were written: The 1st [more conservative] “Speculation on Iraqi Army Armor Forces by 2014” and the far more speculative “SWAG on Iraqi Armor Distribution”. An article breaking down the Iraqi Army Air Corps split from Iraqi Air Force was also published and the details will not be addressed in this update. Highlights in this update include: Iraqi Request for...

There is a common mistake made when analyzing information. This is especially true when you have incomplete data. This is an important factor to consider as it is the most common mistake made in analysis. When you expect something to happen, you tend to fit items of information into that framework. That can skew analysis badly wrong since no two people think alike and priorities/plans change. The psychology term for this is Projection. You are projecting your beliefs as to what is happening as being the same as what they are thinking/doing. My first estimate of the reported purchase of...

<p>1. Russians Suspected in Shooting of Kremlin Critic Near D.C.</p> <p>One year ago, Kremlin critic Paul Joyal was gunned down in the driveway of his suburban Maryland home. The case remains unsolved — but some see the hand of Russia in the shooting.</p>