Officially, both Iraq and Iran deny the arms deal. But documents obtained by Reuters indicate that a deal was struck, and photos discovered by the military blog War is Boring show that Iranian sniper rifles are now turning up on the battlefield.
State Department officials said that the U.S. is doing everything it can reasonably do to support Iraq in its fight against ISIL extremists – which should lessen the need for Iranian weapons.
First off, it's as though the administration didn't change at all following the 2008 elections. Second of all, is this really fear that Iraq might find a new supplier?
Al Bawaba explains, "The U.S. plans to seal a $1 billion arms deal with Iraq, AFP reports. The deal includes warplanes, armored vehicles, and surveillance aerostats and is valued at $790 million." Chris Popcock (AIN Defense) notes:
The U.S. has approved an Iraqi request for 24 Beechcraft AT-6C Texan II turboprop strike aircraft. Together with associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support, the sale would be worth an estimated $790 million. Iraq is the first announced customer for the AT-6, which lost the controversial U.S. Air Force contest for a Light Air Support (LAS) aircraft to the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano.
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Gareth Jennings (Jane's Defence Weekly) reminds, "The requests must first be approved by Congress before contracts can be finalised. No timelines were disclosed." The US government is little more than a gun runner these days, a weapons dealer.
And what does Nouri do we these weapons the US government hands him?
Kills civilians. He's a War Criminal. For months, he has targeted the residential areas of Falluja, bombed them, killing and wounded civilians. War Crimes, legally defined War Crimes.
National Iraqi News Agency reports Falluja's hospital (I'm assuming Falluja General) received the corpses of 8 civilians and treated ten injured civilians. Nouri keeps bombing. Every day the civilian death toll rises. And in addition to that, Falluja Teaching Hospital received 4 corpses of civilians and treated six more who were injured from Nouri's bombings.
More weapons for Nouri announced today because he's used them so well, right? Killing Iraqi civilians is suddenly something the US government wants to support and aid him in doing more of.
In other violence . . .
National Iraqi News Agency reports a Baghdad car bombing left 2 people dead and seven more injured, a central Baghdad suicide bomber took his own life "at the entrance gate of the Karrada Court" killing 1 other person and leaving five more people injured, Baghdad Operations Command states there were 2 suicide bombers targeting the Karrada Court and that six bystanders died with forty injured, the count then increased to 10 dead and forty-six injured (plus 2 dead suicide bombers), the Ministry of Defense stated they killed 11 suspects in Hilla, Joint Special Operations Command announced they killed 5 suspects in Falluja, Joint Special Operations Command also stated they killed 35 suspects outside of Falluja, security forces state they killed 6 suspects in Algelam, a Ramadi battle left 2 Iraqi soldiers dead and two police officers injured, an Albu-Dhyab battle left 9 rebels dead, Sahwa leader Aziz Mohammed Khalaf and a friend was traveling with were both shot dead in al-Zab, a Hammam al-Aleel roadside bombing left four police members injured, a Sadr City car bombing killed 2 people and left ten more injured, a Mosul car bombing left 2 Iraqi soldiers and 1 civilian dead (two more civilians injured), a Qawsiat bombing left two Iraqi soldiers and two civilians injured, and a Qayyarah bombing claimed the life of 1 police member and left two more injured.
Through Wednesday, Iraq Body Count counts 456 violent deaths so far this month.
The following community sites -- plus Jody Watley, Jake Tapper, Janis Ian, Susan's On the Edge, Antiwar.com, L-Studio, Ms. magazine's blog, Cindy Sheehan, and Iraq Inquiry Digest -- updated:
Bring back our what?
1 hour ago
THIS JUST IN! WHOSE GIRLS?
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He turned down what?????????????
8 hours ago
Hannibal killed Revolution
8 hours ago
Alec Baldwin needs rehab
15 hours ago
The New Dick Cheneys
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Hillary and health
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The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
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