F-16Iraq Looks to Buy New Fighter Jet Fleet -- Danger Room
Critics have blasted Iraq's government, for not spending more of its $79 billion surplus on rebuilding the country, while the U.S. continues to pour $10 billion a month into operations there. But Baghdad is finally starting to put at least some of that money to work. It's "seeking to buy 36 advanced F-16 fighters from the U.S.," the Wall Street Journal reports.
The Journal characterizes the move as one that "could help reduce its reliance on U.S. air power and potentially allow more American forces to withdraw from the country than had been proposed." (Which ain't that many, as we learned this morning.) The paper also says the jets could serve "powerful new weapon[s] to use against the country's Shiite and Sunni insurgents." (Although fighter jets aren't primarily thought of as counterinsurgency-first tools.)
Read more ....
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The Journal characterizes the move as one that "could help reduce its reliance on U.S. air power and potentially allow more American forces to withdraw from the country than had been proposed." (Which ain't that many, as we learned this morning.) The paper also says the jets could serve "powerful new weapon[s] to use against the country's Shiite and Sunni insurgents." (Although fighter jets aren't primarily thought of as counterinsurgency-first tools.)
Read more ....
My Comment: For arms merchants and weapon manufacturers, I am sure they are now salivating on what Iraq will be purchasing in the next decade. Iraq has the money for these arm purchases, as well as the will and determination to buy American and the best that America can offer.
I predict that Iraq's military purchases of planes to naval boats to helicopters .... these purchases will keep American military manufacturers busy for many (many) years to come.
Read more ....
My Comment: For arms merchants and weapon manufacturers, I am sure they are now salivating on what Iraq will be purchasing in the next decade. Iraq has the money for these arm purchases, as well as the will and determination to buy American and the best that America can offer.
I predict that Iraq's military purchases of planes to naval boats to helicopters .... these purchases will keep American military manufacturers busy for many (many) years to come.