Found in the sand in 2003.
Posted on 08/30/2009 7:13:58 PM PDT by Libloather
Remnants of Iraq Air Force Are Found
By ROD NORDLAND
Published: August 30, 2009
BAGHDAD — Iraqi officials have discovered that they may have a real air force, after all.
The Defense Ministry revealed Sunday that it had recently learned that Iraq owns 19 MIG-21 and MIG-23 jet fighters, which are in storage in Serbia. Ministry officials are negotiating with the Serbs to restore and return the aircraft.
The Serbian government has tentatively promised to make two of the aircraft available “for immediate use,” according to a news release from the ministry. The rest would be restored on a rush basis, the ministry said.
An Iraqi delegation went to Serbia as part of an effort by the government to locate assets stashed abroad by Saddam Hussein to evade sanctions. Serbia had had friendly relations with Mr. Hussein’s government.
During that visit, Serbian defense officials told the Iraqis that Mr. Hussein had sent 19 fighter jets to Serbia for repairs in the late 1980s, during the Iran-Iraq war, but was unable to bring them back after sanctions were imposed on his country.
Iraq immediately sent a technical delegation, led by the air force chief, Gen. Anwar Mohammed Amin.
The Web site of the Iraqi Supreme Islamic Council, the leading Shiite political party, quoted the Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari as saying that the aircraft had been sent in 1989 “for maintenance, and everything was paid for by Iraq’s money.” Mr. Askari said the discovery was important because Iraq had no jet aircraft with defensive or offensive capabilities. “Our air force only has helicopters,” he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The CIA had no idea all these jets were sent to Serbia?
What the heck are we paying for?
Stockpiles of WMD are probably stored in a warehouse next door.
Kind of makes you wonder about WMD and stuff? Hummmmmm
I would guess they knew, but the ones who did are probably long gone.
Who’d pay to restore a MiG 21 - except, perhaps a collector of antique planes?
If you ain't got any jets in your air force, as the Iraqis don't, I guess these are better than nothing. Not much better, but better.
Path to riches: take out a BIG insurance policy on a pilot — and volunteer him to fly a Serb “restored” MIG-21 from Serbia to Iraq....
We spent piles of loot making Iraq free, and I think we should have those aircraft available for OpFor exercises at Fallon, or down at Las Vegas, or something.
We could have our guys learn a lot of stuff —MANY nations still fly that old crap.
whew. We spent 1 trillion to invade and rebuild the country and this is IT?
The MiG 23 is an OK fighter.little bit of bomber, and is only a decade or so behind the times.
The MiG 23 is an OK fighter.little bit of bomber, and is only a decade or so behind the times. the real question is that with all our money in their pockets, can't we sell them somethiung?
And where do you think the Weapons of Mass destruction go.....
Great start for their museum.
Iraq’s MIGs went to Serbia.
The WMD went to Syria.
The US government knew this.
Just like Rangel and all other Democrats, they can’t remember the location of National assets.
Next to be found-WMD (Bagdad Bob on TV-Oh! those WMD’s)
Syria gave us some of the chemical weapons. What was it - 20 tonnes?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.