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Arms sales to Iraq raises concerns in Washington
On: Sat 31/12/2011 7:08
More: New York Times
Obama administration continues to sell $ 11 billion dollars of weapons and training techniques of the Iraqi army, despite the growing concern that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki seeks to integrate the power and the establishment of one-party state and give up power-sharing supported by the Americans.
The purpose of military cooperation, which includes advanced fighter jets and battle tanks, helping the Iraqi government to protect its borders and rebuild the army was before the 1991 Gulf War and one of the largest armies in the world, which was dissolved in 2003 after the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
arms sales continue despite the failure of Maliki in the implementation of the Convention it was possible to determine its ability to marginalize others and turn the army into sectarian forces. Although the United States seeks to strengthen the Iraqi army, there are concerns that such sales would be counterproductive if it results documented the Baghdad government relations with the government of the mullahs in Tehran more than Washington. And have American diplomats, including the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad James Jeffrey, expressed concern about the military relationship with Iraq, so that some of them said that this relationship can have political ramifications for the Obama administration if not managed properly. There is also growing concern that al-Maliki's efforts to marginalize others can inflame a civil war. Says Kenneth Pollack, an expert on national security issues at the Institute of Baraknkz in Washington and a critic of administration policy toward Iraq, "the perspective of this relationship seems frightening." The United States Embassy in Iraq, overseeing the program of arming the army, where the embassy is working - through the office of the security cooperation - brokering between the Iraqi government and defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raithwn. Among the sales there are F-16 jets and tanks to conclude m 1 a 1 and guns and armored personnel carriers.
also received the Iraqis also protectors body armor and helmets and shells, and wheels service, which critics said it could be used to serve the local security in order to help al-Maliki in the integration of power . Said Capt. John Kirby, spokesman for the Pentagon, "The purpose of these arrangements is to enhance the ability of Iraq to defend its sovereignty against external security threats." But political analysts and Iraqis - with acknowledging that the U.S. military has left the Iraqi border and the sky open - They say that there are several reasons for concern. Despite the statements of U.S. officials and Iraqis that the Iraqi army is the power of non-sectarian, it has evolved into a militia and a duty to the marginalization of others more than protect the sovereignty of the country. Rafie al-Issawi said the Minister of Finance "of the dangerous arming sectarian army. With all the victims that we have made and the budget spent and American support, the result will be an army official of the militia." Issawi and says that he worries about how to use these weapons if political tensions led to a wave of sectarian violence. Some Iraqis and analysts believe that the weapons could be useful in preventing al-Maliki some provinces of the provinces declare itself independent of the central government. Says Joost Hiltermann, deputy director of the Middle East program at the International Crisis Group, "Washington has taken a decision to build Iraq as a counterweight to Iran through close military cooperation and sale of weapons systems is essential. He has shown Maliki faces tendencies alarming to strengthen his control over the institutions of the country, but to accept supervision and control on what he is doing. " Started Maliki's intentions questionable to appear even before the withdrawal of the last U.S. combat troops by eleven days, he has arrested hundreds of Baathists for their participation in a conspiracy to overthrow the government, also tried the security forces controlled by al-Maliki arrest Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, who fled to Kurdistan . Eight-Maliki threatened to publish information for other political grave.
with these measures that drive the country into political crisis, Maliki said that Iraq will turn into "rivers of blood" if they began demanding more provincial autonomy.
This was expected. During the summer, the Americans told senior Iraqi officials that the United States were not you want to ongoing military relationship with a country that marginalize Akulaiath and governed by force.
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