Posted on 07/23/2017 9:18:35 PM PDT by Lorianne
It was reported on July 20 that Russia and Iraq have struck a deal on supplying a large batch of T-90 tanks. Vladimir Kozhin, the Russian president’s aide for military technical cooperation, confirmed the agreement but declined to provide details, saying only «the number of tanks is substantial». Russian military analyst Ruslan Pukhov told Russian newspaper Izvestia that the deal might cover deliveries of several hundred T-90 tanks, and that the contract may exceed $1 billion.
SNIP
The T-90 is among the best-selling tanks in the world. Hundreds of vehicles have been sold to India, Algeria, Azerbaijan and other countries. A small number of tanks has been delivered to Syria to reinforce the military’s capabilities of combatting Islamic State (IS). Kuwait, Vietnam and Egypt are considering the option of purchasing T-90s.
Known for its firepower, enhanced protection and mobility, the T-90 features a smoothbore 2A46M 125mm main gun that can fire both armor-piercing shells and anti-tank missiles and the 1A45T fire-control system. Standard protective measures include sophisticated armor, ensuring all-round protection of the crew and critical systems, including Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armor and active infrared jammers to defend the T-90 from inbound rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank missiles and other projectiles.
In 2014-2016, Iraq received 15 Mi-28 NE Night Hunter attack helicopters from Russia, The delivery was part of a wider $4.2 billion defense package signed in 2012. The deal included a combination of 43 Mi-35 (28) and Mi-28NE (15) attack helicopters, plus 42-50 Pantsir-S1 combined short to medium range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery weapons systems. The contract was fulfilled in October, 2016, as the attack helicopters and anti-aircraft systems had been delivered to the Iraqi military.
In 2014, Russia urgently sent several Su-25 aircraft upon the request of Iraqi government when the country’s military was losing ground during the IS offensive. The Iraqi military also uses Russia-produced TOS-1A Buratino heavy flamethrowers, Grad truck-mounted 122mm multiple rocket launchers, 152mm MSTA howitzers, Su-25 attack planes and armored vehicles.
Trying to make sense of what could happen here. Congress is about to pass a bill sanctioning Russia, among other countries. So, if the U.S. puts sanctions on Russia, will there be penalties assessed on Iraq for trading with Russia?
Be nice if Iraq would buy from us. We spent hundreds of billions to rid them of Sadaam; and left billions in equipment there (which they mostly squandered).
I figure they owe us a few billion...
so are we sanctioning Iraq?
Is this arms deal what Zero was referring to when he said on the hotmike, after the election, he’d have more sway? And why did Iraq buy Russian equipment when ISIS was taking over the country? And why didn’t Iraq use this equipment to fight ISIS instead of letting the USA fight them? And why didn’t Zero do something about Iraq buying all this equipment in the first place?
the day Obama ascended unto the heavens, the Russians had zero influence and zero presence in the Middle East. They’re now arguably the major foreign power in the region.
that’s what 8 years of having a total woman — plus Valerie Jarrett — in the White House gets you.
I have always wondered, looking at what Iraq is now, whether if Iraqis had an opportunity to re-do things if they would have wanted for Saddam to be removed? Knowing what they know now. Same thing for Libya who protested in the streets for Gaddafi to be removed, and for that matter those in Syria who wanted Assad out five years ago during the Arab Spring. Maybe Libya and Syria are better examples than Iraq, since in those two countries the genesis was a revolt by the people while in Iraq it was a military response to Saddam being a threat. So, it’s probably cleaner if I focus on Libya and Syria, but looking at the utter mess that those countries are in today, I wonder if - with hindsight - citizens there would have wanted ‘liberation’ from their respective despots knowing that those strong men would simply be replaced by internal schism, civil war and ISIS.
Correction...a few trillion, with a T...
Iraq used to get all of its military equipment from Russia. Thanks to Obama and his failure to get a SOFA, we are returning to past. Hopefully, Egypt isn’t next.
Your analysis is good. Gaddafi was NO threat to us. He became a stabilizing influence in the Arab community. A bad Obama-//Clinton thing.
Assad is not a threat to us. We should not want him out at this time. Bad in general, Bush, Clinton, and maybe Trump.
Saddam was the only stabilizer against Iran. We were negligent in wanting him out. That was all a Bush thing.
Stunning to read this here on FR, and in a good way. We need to learn from our mistakes. I never supported the invasion of Iraq, or even Afghanistan, when 15/19 of the 9/11 hijackers were from S.A. That’s not to say that we should embrace crooked or nefarious leaders in other countries. We need to find ways to peacefully engage with them in trade, and hopefully to change their ways by our own example.
I really hope that Trump sees the light on Russia and the ME. I think if he is prudent in foreign policy, he will go down as one of the better President’s we have had in a long time.
There was nothing stabilizing out of Saddam getting nukes and invading Kuwait
There is nothing stabilizing out of Assad playing a double game of paying state workers to make oil for IsIS and welcoming Baath members of Iraq to lead the islamists in the region to rid of Kurds and legitimate Syrian student protests
There is nothing stabilizing out of fictitious post colonial districts of Iraq and Syria which rule by tribal empowerment to regimes to colonize other tribes.
That is delusional.
I remember that prophecy. My comment is more directed to what Congress will or won’t do if sanctions are mandated, and what actions Congress would take against nations that don’t recognize the sanctions. Or, if Congress mandates sanctions against Russia, and other nations refuse to recognize those sanctions, what would Congress expect President Trump to do about it?
Righttacle44,
You are SO right.
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