U.S. plans $4.2 billion arms sale to Iraq

[24107]

The Pentagon has proposed selling arms worth $4.2 billion to Iraq as it drives to bolster the country's new-era military amid the U.S. withdrawal and to provide Persian Gulf states with massive infusions of advanced weaponry to stand up to Iran.The package proposed by the Department of Defense this week includes 18 Lockheed Martin F-16 strike jets, Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air, heat-seekingmissiles for dogfighting, laser-guided bombs and reconnaissance equipment.

The Pentagon said the sale would make Baghdad "a more valuable partner in an important area of the world as well...

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http://www.spacewar.com/

 

[RoccoR]

et al,

I get more confused every day.

View attachment 67112511
.....
Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense

(OBSERVATION)

Let's see if I got this right.

We've spent about a Trillion Dollars over there in Iraq.

There is an ongoing insurgency.

The Elections were late. After the elections, PM al-Maliki had to make a deal.

Now, more than 6 months after the elections (late to start with), it looks like Muqtada Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, ruthless band of Ali Baba's, that took up arms against American forces during the early stages of occupation, and has been a pain-in-the-ass ever since, is going to be a key part of the new government.

• We've equipped the Son's of Iraq (Sunni Bad Guys) and paid them not to shoot us.
• And now, Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, in order to form a more perfect union, is reaching out to Muqtada Al Sadr (Shi'ite Bad Guys) in order to get a sufficient block of power.
• So, we end-up with former insurgents and terrorist on the left-hand, and former terrorist and insurgents on the right-hand.
• AND NOW, another brilliant mind has suggested that we make a "massive infusions of advanced weaponry."

We've paid-off the Sunni's.
We've paid-off the Shi'ite.
We've allowed the GOI to steal from us for over 7 years.
Now we're going to drump more guns into the game.

Would somebody please explain the brilliant strategy here. I'm missing it.

Most Respectfully,
R

 

[WhyteRash]

et al,

I get more confused every day.

​

(OBSERVATION)

Let's see if I got this right.

We've spent about a Trillion Dollars over there in Iraq.

There is an ongoing insurgency.

The Elections were late. After the elections, PM al-Maliki had to make a deal.

Now, more than 6 months after the elections (late to start with), it looks like Muqtada Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, ruthless band of Ali Baba's, that took up arms against American forces during the early stages of occupation, and has been a pain-in-the-ass ever since, is going to be a key part of the new government.

• We've equipped the Son's of Iraq (Sunni Bad Guys) and paid them not to shoot us.
• And now, Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, in order to form a more perfect union, is reaching out to Muqtada Al Sadr (Shi'ite Bad Guys) in order to get a sufficient block of power.
• So, we end-up with former insurgents and terrorist on the left-hand, and former terrorist and insurgents on the right-hand.
• AND NOW, another brilliant mind has suggested that we make a "massive infusions of advanced weaponry."

We've paid-off the Sunni's.
We've paid-off the Shi'ite.
We've allowed the GOI to steal from us for over 7 years.
Now we're going to drump more guns into the game.

Would somebody please explain the brilliant strategy here. I'm missing it.

Most Respectfully,
R

yup.. that sounds about right..
the tradition of arming our enemies and imposing on our friends goes on.