US to help Iraq recruit 40,000 troops

[jmc247]

Source: AFP

Iraq and the United States are to spend 14 billion dollars and recruit 40,000 new soldiers into the Iraqi armed forces in the next 18 months, a US military commander said Sunday.

US army Lieutenant General Martin Dempsey, who is in charge of training Iraqi security forces, said that America will spend five billion dollars and the remaining nine billion would come from Iraqi coffers.

Dempsey said the plan is driven by how "the Iraqis want their security forces to look" in the future and and not just to "solve problems of today." By end of 2007, the Iraqi army will field 170,700 soldiers -- 34,500 more than at the end of last year -- and swell from 10 to 12 divisions.

The plan will also involve equipping the existing security forces with new American-made weapons, Dempsey said. "We intend to take out the AK-47s and replace them with M16," he said, revealing that the veteran Soviet-designed assault rifle will be replaced by its American equivalent.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070422/wl_mideast_afp/iraqussecurity_070422211143

[Robbien]

1. They already said training Iraqis is a hopeless cause

So it now looks like they now have 14 billion dollars to play with, spending it on anything they please. No questions asked.

The GOP smirking while spending billions and meanwhile our poorly equiped troops in harm's way.

[Atman]

"RECRUIT" in this case probably means "round up."

Or "conscript."

And you can bet the farm that the 14 BILLION dollars are OURS.

Fuck these fucking fuckers. Make Bush and Cheney pay for it out of their war profits. After all, it's just to protect Halliburton and the oil $$.

.

[TomInTib]

3. Awl lighten up. It only works out to $350,000 per troop.

350,000 fucking dollars to train each and every one of those guys who are going to scatter just as soon as the shit hits the fan, if not before.

Fucking outrageous.

And here I am thinking that we just announced that we were no longer in the Training Business.

I guess it will be up to Blackwater or DynCorp to do it.

[daleo]

24. And now they are giving the death penalty for desertion

(from another story).

It sounds like WWI all over. Conscription, followed by execution for "desertion".

[LynnTheDem]

2. rotflmao!!!

When it's this insane, all one can do is laugh.

What an absolute total FUBAR.

Only the bush regime could fuck up everything so completely. Gotta give the prick credit; he surely is a world-class fuck-up.

[jmc247]

4. Why are we going to be replacing their Soviet Weapons with American weapons?

That will cost billions.

[pinniped]

22. That's the idea.

That will cost billions.

[rodeodance]

5. SOLVE the PROBLEMS of TODAY FIRST!!

[ohio2007]

6. ..."We intend to take out the AK-47s and replace them with M16"...

If AK's were outlawed,




only outlaws would have AK's ?


M-16 stock will shoot up
( no pun intended )

[Hand]

8. A really stupid move, too.

AKs (I'm told) are sturdy, simple, and keep working even when they're filthy and banged up--M16s are delicate and finicky and have to be cleaned constantly, especially in environments with a lot of stuff like... sand. The AK was made for peasant armies or unsophisticated troops.

Plus there are still tons of AK-47 ammunition lying around in Iraq (and damn near everywhere else). Last I heard, M16 ammo was in short supply. Matter of fact, I think I heard that M16s and their variants were in short supply due to wearing out in Iraq.

Frigging brilliant. :dunce:

[grytpype]

9. M16 ammo is definitely in short supply.

Last I heard, US manufacturers of small-arms ammo could not keep up with the demand and we have had to start buying ammo from Israel.

So where the Iraqi army is going to get their ammo is anybody's guess.

But I know we will be supplying it and delivering it because the Iraqis have no supply and logistics capability at all. Even in a best-case scenario WE are going to be their supply and logistics indefinitely.

[jmc247]

11. US defense contractors wouldn't be happy then

[grytpype]

7. M16s instead of AKs? Obviously, US defense contractors are still calling the shots.

This needs to be investigated if true.

The AK-47 is perfect for the desert environment. There's a reason it's the overwhelming favorite in that region.

I can't believe the Iraqis are initiating this changeover.

[jmc247]

10. We are also selling them 1000 Cougers from a company in S.C.

[jmc247]

12. US to supply Iraq with sophisticated weapons

Source: Alsumaria

US army Lieutenant General Martin Dempsey, who is in charge of training Iraqi security forces, said US Forces will supply Iraqi security forces with sophisticated weapons enjoying a high efficiency on the ground, to be used in their fight against violence. General Dempsey stressed the importance of pursuing plans set by the US Military aimed at transferring the country’s security to Iraqi forces.

Read more: http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-2852-US-to-supply-Iraq-with-sophisticated-weapons.html

[jmc247]

13. Is he talking about the US tanks and Howitzers they will be getting or the Jets?

Iraq’s Air Force was once the envy of its Arab neighbours, with hundreds of Russian fighter jets, particularly during the war with Iran in the 1980s, but no jets remain in service. Asked when the Air Force would have fighter jets, Ubeidi said: “We are planning for that in 2008.” He declined to say whether U.S, Russian or other makers might win lucrative contracts to supply them.

http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=2595714&C=airwar
--------------------------------------------------

I am not sure what sophisticated weapons he is refering too.

[sam sarrha]

14. they will just sell them to terrorists who will use them on us... not thought out outside the bank

[Vidar]

18. Shhh, it makes no difference to the arms manufacturers.

[formercia]

21. Like Carlyle? n/t

[formercia]

15. Sophisticated weapons are not needed to fight an insurgency

Good police work and boots on the ground. The US military, with the most sophisticated weapons systems in the World have failed to defeat the insurgency.

[jmc247]

17. Here are some of the things we are selling the Iraqi government this year

The M198 howitzer



The M60S Main Battle Tank



and the M113 APC

[salin]

19. Wonder what measures are being taken

to ensure that these do not end up being used against US troops?

[formercia]

20. Why do they need howitzers?

They will just use the shells to make car and truck bombs.

[formercia]

23. The boys want to make sure the Israelis have a threat

to justify more military aid. Just like after the June War when we displaced the Russians as Egyptian provider of Choice.


Just the way the Crusaders like it. Sell to both sides and make a profit no matter who loses.

Muslims killing Jews and vice versa. Keep them killing each other so they won't have time to take over Christendom.

[Demeter]

16. Probably Those Microwave Crowd Control Guns

So the Iraqis can fry each other. That wouldn't surprise me in the least. So that our soldiers can be burned, as well as exploded, shot and hanged.

Maybe they'd save those sophisticated weapons for clearing out Blackwater, though. That might be worth it.