Iraqi Army 'Abandoned Tanks, Artillery And Humvees' To Isil In Fall Of Ramadi

[Purveyor]

Extent of Iraqi army chaos revealed by Pentagon alongside claims that corrupt officers sold battle plans to jihadists

By Richard Spencer, Middle East Editor
7:54PM BST 19 May 2015

The full extent of the Iraqi army’s failure in its defeat by Isil in the key western city of Ramadi has been revealed by Washington, which said it left behind tanks, armoured vehicles and other weapons to the jihadists.

A Pentagon spokesman said that the Iraqi security forces (ISF) abandoned “half dozen tanks” as it fled, along with a similar number of artillery pieces, even more armored personnel carriers and about 100 other vehicles such as Humvees.

Some of the vehicles left behind by the departing Iraqi army

The revelation - confirming previous claims by jihadist websites - came on top of allegations by an Iraqi adviser and analyst that army officers had been bribed by the jihadists to hand over plans for Ramadi’s defence.

“Corrupt ISF commanders in Ramadi took bribes in exchange for battle plans and logistical information,” Hashem al-Hashimi said on Twitter.

“Clean” ISF commanders felt isolated by the corruption of those around them, he said.

The Iraqi army’s elite “Golden Brigade” found itself surrounded and cut off at the end of last week after a major push at Ramadi’s weak points by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on Thursday.

more...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11616780/Iraqi-army-abandoned-tanks-artillery-and-Humvees-to-Isil-in-fall-of-Ramadi.html

[sharp_stick]

1. 300 billion plus down the toilet again.

We sure trained these guys well, they can't even run and hold onto their damned equipment.

Thanks a lot George W. Bush and Paul Bremer you polyps in the rectum of civilization.

[gratuitous]

2. Down the toilet? Hardly

Now we can sell another $300 billion worth of hardware to Iraq. It's called "winning" fer crissakes! As for who is winning, well, it ain't you and it ain't me, but somebody sure is making out like a (you should excuse the expression) bandit.

[sharp_stick]

3. That's true

I wasn't thinking as a productive member of the MIC. I hope it doesn't get out or they'll take away some of my Raytheon shares.

[Katashi_itto]

4. Nice! Looking forward to seeing what this does with my munitions stocks.

That's GWB! Your the gift that keeps giving!

[NobodyHere]

5. You're right!

Thanks Hilary and John Kerry!

[Katashi_itto]

6. Yes! Hillary will do wonders for my munitions stocks!

I think we will have three wars under her.

[NobodyHere]

7. You're right

[gratuitous]

11. Bet death to win, place AND show!

It's the American way.

Any blowback, however, is totally because of all our freedoms and not because our main export is death. So stop saying that.

[WilliamPitt]

8. More US war equipment to be bombed by US war equipment.

Roll on, wheel.

[BillZBubb]

9. Sounds just like the ARVN in Vietnam.

America supplied lots of equipment and the ARVN abandoned it all the time. Corruption abounded too.

It is foolish to equip an army that isn't as willing to fight as their opponent and can't purge corrupt leaders.

w bush opened this can of worms and we will never put them back no matter what we try.

[One_Life_To_Give]

12. Can't Rec the ARVN comparison enough

History going to repeat itself. No way to win when the locals can't be bothered to hold what has been won.

[leveymg]

10. If troops and equipment aren't used up, they can't be replaced.

If they aren't replaced, nobody makes any money. What good is an Army like that?