Iraqi leader asks US for more air power, weaponry

[Derek V]

Source: Associated Press

By ROBERT BURNS
Dec. 9, 2014 8:56 AM EST

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Tuesday that his army is taking the offensive against the Islamic State group but needs more air power and heavy weaponry to prevail.

Hagel, who flew to Baghdad to get a first-hand report on progress against the Islamic State militants, held a series of meetings with top Iraqi government officials and conferred with American military commanders.

He met with al-Abadi at the prime minister's office after addressing a group of U.S. and Australian soldiers at Baghdad International Airport. Al-Abadi told Hagel as their meeting began that "Daesh (Islamic State) is on the descent at the moment." He said their capabilities had been reduced.

"We are very thankful for the support that's been given to us," al-Abadi said. "Our forces are very much advancing on the ground. But they need more air power and more ... heavy weaponry. We need that."

U.S. officials assert that the Iraqis' biggest need is competent military leadership, not additional military hardware.



Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/51e3094110574790b37e1c858bcba5b1/hagel-baghdad-meet-iraqi-officials

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That last line.

[DetlefK]

1. Was it 50,000 iraqi soldiers that existed on paper only?

A fake army, run by corrupt officers. It's no wonder the rank-and-file bailed out when things got tough.

[Turbineguy]

2. The US Bombing campaign is hurting ISIS

and they need some new weaponry.

[heaven05]

3. "more weaponry"

to abandon in the field while they run from trying to save their own country, which will eventually end up in the hands of people with the agenda(s) to kill americans and continue to destabilize a region already destabilized by bushco.......

[TwilightGardener]

4. Great idea for the Obama administration to kneecap one of its players

with statements like "lost confidence in him" and "not up to the job" and "make no mistake, he was fired" and then send him out onto the field to meet with troops, commanders, and foreign leaders. I remain thoroughly baffled by this situation. And if I were Chuck, I would have told them to kiss my ass, and I'd be sitting on the beach with a drink instead of in Baghdad.

[Plucketeer]

5. God, I hope...

the kids of MIC workers get an abundance of nice toys below their Xmas trees this year! There's simply NO reason they're not awash in toys and fine foods this December!