Report: Iraqi army to be equipped by Russia

[ECH1969]

The Iraqi army will be fully equipped by Russia but no warplanes will be purchased in the present phase, Army Chief of Staff Baker Zibari declared.

In an interview with the Saudi daily al-Hayat, monitored in Beirut, Zibari was quoted as saying Tuesday that two-thirds of U.S. forces present in Iraq could pull out by the end of the year and be fully replaced by the Iraqi army.

He stressed all arms purchase deals will be concluded with Russian arms factories, noting the army is expecting to receive all types of equipment, including armored personnel carriers and helicopters.

He noted "a large number of officers in the former army joined the new forces and are operating with great efficiency."

http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20060117-124532-4932r

[BobRossi]

1. Backdoor sweetheart deal for Bushco! nt

[ECH1969]

3. There is always more to these deals then meets the eye

[Joanne98]

2. Kickback to stop Russia from blocking UN Security Council

vote on economic sanctions on Iran. If Bush didn't buy friends he wouldn't have any. No wonder we're broke!

[rodeodance]

4. but russa must want more--looky this LBN thread

Russia not signing off on Iran referral

[MidwestTransplant]

5. I don't think we should equip an army that we may need to battle

again in the future.

[ECH1969]

6. We aren't equiping them

[MidwestTransplant]

7. Right that's why I don't think it's a big deal that somebody else is.