Home
Post-Occupation Iraq Turns into Bonanza for U.S. Weapons Makers
Friday, December 30, 2011
The Obama administration is planning to sell nearly $11 billion in arms and training to the Iraqi government to help Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki rebuild his nation’s military force. Having already received body armor, helmets, ammunition trailers and sport utility vehicles, Iraq is preparing to gain F-16 fighter jets, M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks, cannons and armored personnel carriers.
Defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon stand to benefit from the expensive purchases.
Critics of the sales fear Maliki will use his nation’s newfound military strength to consolidate power and create a one-party Shiite-dominated state that excludes Sunnis from ever sharing authority. Supporters of the sales present the usual arguments…that they create jobs and that if U.S. companies don’t sell Maliki the weapons he seeks, he will buy them from someone else.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Friday, December 30, 2011
The Obama administration is planning to sell nearly $11 billion in arms and training to the Iraqi government to help Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki rebuild his nation’s military force. Having already received body armor, helmets, ammunition trailers and sport utility vehicles, Iraq is preparing to gain F-16 fighter jets, M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks, cannons and armored personnel carriers.
Defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon stand to benefit from the expensive purchases.
Critics of the sales fear Maliki will use his nation’s newfound military strength to consolidate power and create a one-party Shiite-dominated state that excludes Sunnis from ever sharing authority. Supporters of the sales present the usual arguments…that they create jobs and that if U.S. companies don’t sell Maliki the weapons he seeks, he will buy them from someone else.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
