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Newspaper: Washington arms to Iraq $ 11 billion amid concerns
12.30.2011 | (Voice of Iraq) - Add Comment - (Rn) revealed the "New York Times" that the U.S. administration tends to complete the weapons program and the training of Iraqi police valued at $ 11 billion, amid what it described as mounting fears of exploitation of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki's program in order to seize power. The newspaper said U.S. military aid includes fighter planes, "F - 16" tanks and military aircraft "M1 A1 Abrams" tanks and military major and cannons, and armored personnel carriers as well as vests and trailers of ammunition and other equipment, intend to America delivered to the Iraqi government to assist them in protecting their borders and to rebuild the army, which was considered before the Gulf War and one of the largest armies in the world. The paper reported that the armament will be managed by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, which will play through the office of security as a mediator between the Iraqi government and construction companies reinforcement such as "Lockheed Martin" and "Raytheon". On the other hand, considered the paper "arms sales, which was implemented some of them already, go ahead, despite concerns raised about the efforts Maliki" Shiite "to acquire power, and that hit the wall Alliance government, backed by Washington. " She explained that "the United States interested in strengthening the Iraqi army reserve against Iranian influence, what prevents them from paying attention to the concerns of officials, Iraqis and Americans, that step is counterproductive, if approached the government in Baghdad at the end of the day of the clergy in Iran more from Washington. " and quoted a number of American diplomats, including Ambassador James Jeffrey, concern of military aid to Iraq, as some said, "The program will have political repercussions unless the United States properly managed, and there is growing concern also from Maliki's efforts the marginalization of the year, which could lead to sectarian war. " According to several analysts and Iraqi diplomats that "many reasons that make them worry about the deal, apart from what he says U.S. and Iraqi officials for not sectarian Iraqi army, it seems the latter taking in the transition to a Shi'ite militia working on marginalization of the year, under orders from Maliki, instead of playing the role of protecting the sovereignty of the country. " the paper quoted Finance Minister Rafie al-Issawi his concerns about the "dangers of arming the Army doctrinal," adding, "Unfortunately, with all the sacrifices we have made and budgets Srvnaha and the U.S. support the great provided, that the result will be configured militia sectarian. " In contrast, the Times concluded that the Pentagon assured that the weapons would be delivered the terms of "the most important subject to control by the nature of their use, to ensure that the U.S. administration not to waste it," The justification of the U.S. for the deal is that "Maliki said did not take weapons from us, will get them from somewhere else, "according to a U.S. official said. From: Khalil al-Khalil. Open: Abdullah Sabri
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