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Iraq receives first batch of Russian fighter jets
thenational.ae ^ | June 29, 2014 | thenational.ae

Posted on 06/29/2014 6:03:20 AM PDT by klpt

BAGHDAD // Iraq said it received the first batch of Sukhoi warplanes from Russia as it pressed a counter-attack Sunday against Sunni militants whose offensive threatens to tear the country apart.

The arrival of the fighter jets comes with Iraqi forces, backed by aerial cover, pushing to retake the militant-held city of Tikrit and world leaders urging a speeding up of government formation following elections in April.

The Su-25 ground attack jets are expected to be pressed into service as soon as possible, bolstering Iraq’s air power as it combats a sweeping offensive by militants, led by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), that has killed more than 1,000 people and sparked a humanitarian crisis with hundreds of thousands displaced.

But it remains unclear who will fly them — executed dictator Saddam Hussein’s air force had Su-25s, but even if they were both trusted and willing, those pilots are unlikely to have had time in the aircraft in more than a decade.

(Excerpt) Read more at thenational.ae ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: iran; iraq; isis; russia; su25
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To: klpt

I would imagine that Iraqi ground control is pretty weak. Just send these new planes up and hope they don’t destroy each other?


21 posted on 06/29/2014 7:18:43 AM PDT by Mike Darancette (Do The Math)
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To: TWhiteBear

Also Syrian and Iranian pilots and ground personnel
well accustomed to working with Russian advisors

I am not sure the Iranians are ready yet to trust a reconstituted Iraqi air force, even if the officer were Shia


22 posted on 06/29/2014 7:28:59 AM PDT by silverleaf (Age takes a toll: Please have exact change)
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To: klpt

Why should we expect the Iraqi air force to be any more dedicated, any more disciplined, or any more competent than the Iraqi army was?


23 posted on 06/29/2014 7:32:23 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: danamco
Another chess peace in place for WWIII???

Not sure if this was a spelling error or on purpose, but I going with on purpose.

Given the place, time and players, I think "chess peace" is very clever.

24 posted on 06/29/2014 7:43:03 AM PDT by GBA (Here in the Matrix, life is but a dream.)
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To: DoodleDawg

education, technical capability, and western exposure


25 posted on 06/29/2014 8:06:15 AM PDT by silverleaf (Age takes a toll: Please have exact change)
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To: blueunicorn6

“Obama is giving Iraq a bucket of used golf balls.”

That bucket has holes in it, the size of tennis balls.


26 posted on 06/29/2014 9:03:45 AM PDT by Grampa Dave ( Herr Obozo, the Sunni Won-Doer, will not divert $'s from his war on Americans to help our Veterans!)
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To: TWhiteBear

“Today,there is not an Iraqi pilot trained to do ground support or any crew that could get these planes back in the air and hung for combat.

The bottom line is Russian pilots and Russian air crew/logistics and by necessity, Russian security forces
are pouring into Iraq.”

Bingo, Iraq will be paying Russia to kill the Islamofascists the Russians hate in free fire zones throughout Iraq.


27 posted on 06/29/2014 9:09:19 AM PDT by Grampa Dave ( Herr Obozo, the Sunni Won-Doer, will not divert $'s from his war on Americans to help our Veterans!)
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To: Grampa Dave

That’s some very good imagery.


28 posted on 06/29/2014 9:14:11 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: silverleaf
education, technical capability, and western exposure

The army had all that as well.

29 posted on 06/29/2014 3:12:10 PM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: TWhiteBear
Russian pilots and Russian air crew/logistics and by necessity, Russian security forces are pouring into Iraq.

Is Russki Way, tovarich! The Worthy Oriental Gentlemen will need a bit of refresher training before operating this equipment.

Saddam however, did have a substantial number of SU 25 drivers on hand. Presumably they are not all now living in LA and Toledo and may be available for re-employment.

30 posted on 06/30/2014 6:37:00 AM PDT by Kenny Bunk (The GOP is dying. What do we do now?)
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To: F15Eagle
I have always wondered how the A-10 and this thing shape up in a head-to-head comparison. What do you think?

Here's what one guy says:

http://defencesummits.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/su-25vsa-10_1.jpg

31 posted on 06/30/2014 6:49:44 AM PDT by Kenny Bunk (The GOP is dying. What do we do now?)
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To: fella

Likewise Syria bypassing the red line!!!


32 posted on 06/30/2014 9:36:38 AM PDT by danamco (-)
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To: Count of Monte Fisto

It’s ALL playing out from Rothschild’s calculated playbook NWO!!!

Wasn’t there a red line drawn in Syria???


33 posted on 06/30/2014 9:41:16 AM PDT by danamco (-)
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To: Kenny Bunk

File not found!!!


34 posted on 06/30/2014 9:48:02 AM PDT by danamco (-)
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To: danamco
File not found!!!

Copy and paste into your browser. Works like champion!

35 posted on 06/30/2014 10:05:22 AM PDT by Kenny Bunk (The GOP is dying. What do we do now?)
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To: Kenny Bunk

Yep


36 posted on 06/30/2014 2:15:40 PM PDT by danamco (-)
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To: Kenny Bunk

BTW where you now? We’ve moved to Hudson!


37 posted on 06/30/2014 2:17:50 PM PDT by danamco (-)
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To: danamco

In Belfast, Maine for a few more days. Then back to settle up with some Floridiots.


38 posted on 06/30/2014 6:53:58 PM PDT by Kenny Bunk (The GOP is dying. What do we do now?)
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