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| Iraq-Jordan |
| U.S. wants Russia to resume Arms sales to Iraq |
| 2004-11-17 |
| The question of arming Iraq's new army with weapons of Soviet and Russian manufacture was raised in principle by the American side, the chief of Russia's General Staff, Colonel-General Yuri Baluyevsky told journalists in Brussels. He said the initiative came from the commander-in-chief of NATO forces in Europe, U.S. General James Johnes. When asked why the Americans suggested this, Baluyevsky explained that the Untied States may be increasingly aware that it makes no sense arming the Iraqi army with fourth and fifth generation military hardware. "The Iraqi army is unprepared for this. It is also unnecessary. The main task of the Iraqi army now is not protection from foreign threats, but stabilization of the situation in the country." Sooo... What he's saying is, "American hardware is to good for the Iraqi Army. Plus, they are already familiar with the outdated Russia junk anyway." I can see this as making sense from a cost perspective for Iraq, and a safety perspective for our troops. (Not wanting good hardware in the hands of terrorists) |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #8 Russian weapons bring Russian trainers. Perhaps thousands of them? |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-11-17 11:14:50 PM |
| #7 Russian weapons bring Russian trainers. Perhaps thousands of them? |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-11-17 11:14:50 PM |
| #6 Part of Bush's deal with Putin. |
| Posted by: someone 2004-11-17 11:54:25 PM |
| #5 They've already got Russian stuff, and don't want to have to completely resupply with new systems. Spare parts alone would be a major pain. |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-11-17 11:30:23 PM |
| #4 Russian weapons bring Russian trainers. Perhaps thousands of them? |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-11-17 11:14:50 PM |
| #3 "forgive Russia, ignore Germany, punish France" |
| Posted by: lex 2004-11-17 6:50:02 PM |
| #2 Combine it with a buyout offer for Russia's nuke industry's interests in Iran. $5B should do the trick. |
| Posted by: lex 2004-11-17 6:49:33 PM |
| #1 This is Russia's carrot if it becomes a little more cooperative on Iraq. An olive branch, perhaps? |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2004-11-17 6:37:11 PM |