Posted on 11/09/2005 4:49:02 PM PST by jmc1969
The U.S. military plans to leave thousands of trucks and combat vehicles for the Iraq Army.
Officials said the Defense Department has approved a plan in which the U.S. military would not withdraw from Iraq together with much of the equipment deployed in that country since 2003. Instead, the U.S. Army and Marine Corps would transfer the vehicles and weaponry to the Iraq Army.
U.S. commanders and their Iraqi counterparts have been discussing the transfer of U.S.-origin weaponry and vehicles, officials said. They said the transfer to the Iraq Army would take place in stages.
"We have discussed what our ability will be in the long run to leave behind some additional equipment for them over time, so that they have the same capabilities that we do, or very nearly," Maj. Gen. William Webster, commander of Multinational Division, Baghdad, said.
(Excerpt) Read more at menewsline.com ...
I hope this is a signal that new vehicles and equipment are being developed and plan to be deployed by the time most of the troops are gone from Iraq.
"The U.S. military plans to leave thousands of trucks and combat vehicles for the Iraq Army."
Does our government EVER learn from past mistakes?
The U.S. is handing fishing rods to the Iraqis. My eyes are welling.
They get worn out quick in Iraq apparently. The Iraqis will have serious maintenance problems.
I missed the part where they are going to reimburse the American taxpayers from oil revenues. OH! it seems I missed it CAUSE ITS NOT THERE!! Screwed again.
"The Iraqis will have serious maintenance problems."
I wonder. It seems I have seen pics of ragged out Renaults being driven in Iraq. Just how do they keep a car running that barely runs under the best of conditions? Or were they converted to "Flinstone" power?
I seem to remember Afghanis firing US supplied weapons at us.....thats just me.
While there is blessedness in receiving, I think America would be more blessed by giving to Iraq.
Perhaps not...I suspect some (much?) of the equipment will wind up in surplus sales.
I agree. No way do we disarm ourselves to do this. But Iraq is going to be facing Iran and Syria, and will need to field a credible deterent.
Rumsfeld was pretty PO'd about the large amount of equipment that had to be shipped home after the first Gulf War.
Sounds like good business. If they're using US equipment vs. more affordable but lower quality alternatives, then they're going to be supplying US businesses with a lot of business - and it will remain a bit of long-term leverage we'll hold over them.
I don’t see a problem with this because enterprise and trade is desperately needed in the Middle East. First, it cost too much to ship back these used, partly warn vehicles. Second, our manufactures will have plenty of spare parts to sell them. Third, we will know exactly the type, amount, status and capability of the equipment they do have. Fourth, it establishes a trade with Iraq for future sells of American goods to Iraq. Fifth, it shows good will on our part. Sixth, etc., etc., etc.
At least consider the following. At present they have very little in the way of armor. Some months back we read about them receiving a few A1 main battle tanks from us, some reconditioned Russian T72's, artillery, etc.. Yes they now have three fully functional C130 cargo planes and some choppers, a very small navy etc.. Eventually they will require enough heavier armaments to protect themselves from not so friendly neighbors.
Now is it not better we equipe them and trained them in using our stuff, and keep a small footprint force in the country for a number of years to help them continue to re-arm using our stuff or would you prefere we just leave and let them to the wind? Perhaps have the French and Russians get back into the country.
This all was rather expected for some time. It would be stupid to leave them with only some HUMVEES with 50 cals in the hole, a few tanks and some 7 tonners. Iraq will need a bit more then a army built only of infantry units.
What did it used to say on the side of the old Volkswagen Beetle oil-filled air cleaners, "Beim starken Staubfall, täglich prüfen, notwendig, ändern."?
It's the least we can do. I don't mind my tax dollars going for this one tiny bit. We broke it, we own it. And if it'll help them keep the peace, I'm for it.
Now, my tax dollars funding abortions for American teens? That's a whole 'nother can of worms...
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