Iraqi Military Won't Get Tanks

[Khephra]

By JIM KRANE
Associated Press Writer

June 26, 2004, 2:42 AM EDT


BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The lightly armed military taking shape in Iraq is far different from Saddam Hussein's massive force, and the United States appears to want it that way -- at least for the time being.

"Right now tanks and heavy armament are not necessary," said Frederick C. Smith, the U.S. senior adviser for national security. "What's needed are well-trained, disciplined troops with the proper equipment."

snip.......

Iraq needs a strong military to survive in one of the world's toughest regions -- and to wean itself from an unpopular dependence on the United States, said Ibrahim al-Jaafari, one of Iraq's two incoming vice presidents.

"We don't want to turn Iraq into an arsenal. We don't want the military to return to a strategy of aggression," al-Jaafari told The Associated Press. "But we want Iraq to be strong enough to return assaults from others. There must be an army with reasonable weapons that can make the country safe, so no one can assault it."

more...........


http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-iraq-small-army,0,843286.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[RC]

1. Our government is short changing our guys in Iraq

with shortages of Kevlar vests, food, water, ammo. Would you want to be in the Iraqi military right now?

[Jack_DeLeon]

2. Makes some sense.

Its not like we would sell or give the Iraqis any Abrams tanks.

We have already seen that the insurgents have managed to take out atleast a handful of our tanks.

So buying any lesser tanks, or getting any left overs battle ready would be pointless for this type of fighting.

That being said if and when the fighting starts to end and Iraq gets back on its own two feet I dont see why they could salvage any tanks left over from before the war that we didnt destroy.

Then again I'm making the assumption that we didnt destroy all their tanks. Which I'm really curious how many they had left and what happened to them? Are they still just abandoned where ever or have we moved them to some central location or something?

[struggle4progress]

3. Maybe the Iraqi military's getting very little ...

except for the opportunity to be the target of insurgent attacks.

<edit: replace going/getting in subject line>

[KeepItReal]

4. ...and if we bail, the target of the Iranians

Thanks to Bush & Co...

Funny how the media doesn't make a real big deal outta the fact that they are killing scores of policemen and blowing up police stations in Iraq.

[struggle4progress]

5. The Iranians must just love their double-agent Chalabi right now. eom

[JM]

6. Don't think for a moment...

...that the Iraqis will be vulnerable without heavy armor. Remember the U.S. Naval exercises this summer? They are open ended, and are deploying most of our naval battle groups to the ME.

Anyone who would cause trouble (Iran, Syria) either by direct interference with Iraq, by supporting those who hit us this summer, or would just make the Bush* admin list, would find our response minutes away.

JM

[teryang]

7. What a pile of BS