Iraq's Air Force Launches First Flights

[Rose Siding]

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's new air force took to the skies this week for the first time since the U.S. invaded last year and disbanded the country's armed forces, the U.S. military said.
...
Coalition forces and neighboring Jordan have been training Iraq's 162-member air force, which is expected to grow to about 500 by December 2004.

Former President Saddam Hussein invested a huge portion of the country's oil wealth to equip his air force during the 1980-88 war with Iran. At its height in the late 1980s, it listed nearly 750 combat aircraft, including Soviet MiGs and Sukhois and French Mirage fighters.

In the 1990s, Iraq's air force fell apart due to two wars with the United States and a dozen years of international sanctions.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-iraq-air-force,0,5059409.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

*Aside from being a seemingly absurdly simplistic criticism, I can't imagine why the reporter included this sole verbatim point from the statement:

"The old air force had previously placed more of an emphasis on getting airborne before receiving direction from the ground on operational details and destinations,"

[w13rd0]

1. Maybe we can give the new "Iraqi Defense Force"...

...some biochemical munitions to help quell insurgencies...

[Nambe]

2. I'll bet Sharon is a little uneasy.

This will be a big issue before long.

[ScrewyRabbit]

3. What about the swarms of pilotless drone aircraft

capable of delivering bio-chemical warheads to Tel Aviv, London, and New Jersey?! I expected we could form an Iraqi air force from those thousands of operators...

[Rose Siding]

6. Imagine how dangerous once they start receiving actual destinations

[0007]

4. Now the puzzle is coming coming together.

14 military installations with the Iraqi Air Force the largest in the Middle East and controlling the Middle East. While the U.S. controls the oil.

[IndianaGreen]

5. US-build Iraqi jets, flown by American mercenaries

What a wonderful way to bomb a village and take no responsibilty for the civilian casualties!

That's how this is going to end.

[progressivebydesign]

7. Meanwhile.. back here at home...

.. more and more families slipped into poverty. Consumer prices inched up further. Unemployment still plagues millions, AND the jobs lost on Bush's tenure are still missing.

I'm sorry... I was feeling nostalgiac for my TAX DOLLARS!!!!

[Gyre]

8. Press op.

They're just allowing Iraqi "pilots" to sit in the co-pilot or navigator's chair while they tell him what they're doing (ie, patrolling pipelines). Sharon's safe for the foreseeable future from Iraq.

Gyre

[Az_lefty]

9. What exactly are they flying?

When I was in Iraq I didn't see any Soviet or French fighters except those hidden in corn fields.

[Geo55]

14. *

[delete_bush]

10. So let me get this straight,

in the view of many in the US, Iraq was complicit in the 9-11 attacks, with one of the basic requirements being the ability to fly an airplane.

Our solution is to invade their country so we can then use our tax dollars for the training of more Iraqi pilots?

Do you thing a private flight training school in the US could be so bold?

[tlcandie]

11. So true!

So, now instead of having to go through all those hoops to get here to train, now they can just go to Iraq!!!!

:wow:

I gotta use your posting name here, DoYouEverWonder....???!

[daleo]

12. Now, when the U.S. Air Force bombs Falluja, Najef, Sadr City, etc.

They can use the "Iraqi Air Force" as cover.

[Disturbed]

13. Iran

When air strikes are made there via US and Israeli pilots it will be the "Iraqi Govt." making the strikes in self-defense.