Iraq is becoming one of the largest customers for U.S. arms, as the country turns from Soviet-bloc weapons to pricier but more sophisticated American weapons.
Iraq's government has committed nearly $3 billion for U.S. weapons and equipment over the past year. "This is a substantial amount of money that they put on the table," said Joseph Benkert, deputy assistant secretary of Defense for global security affairs.
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we should sell them a couple nukes with about a 500 mile range.
So basically, we give Iraq millions to buy weapons, then tell them to buy them from our defense contractors? Sounds like a sweet deal. Especially since you can buy an AK-47 for $30 or less, and it's still considered the most reliable and easy to maintain assault rifle in the world... Unlike the M16 variants, however improved.
So this is how you send the treasury directly into defense contractors' bank accounts while bypassing congress. But the Iraqis still haven't canceled their contact with the Chinese for strike fighters.... Probably because we don't actually trust them to have a strike-capable air force...
Well I can't think of a better way for us to end the war and how many ways has Bush put it, "bring freedom", "build the foundation for freedom and democracy", "establish peace", than selling massive amounts of weapons to this unstable area. Add to that the Petraeus strategy of arming both sides in the conflict and the civil war will soon explode.
More weapons + instability = more war
Does it suprise anyone that Iraq buys weapons of mass destruction from the USA? Does it suprise anyone that Congress and the President listen to the lobbyest who buy them lunch, dinner and a way to the bank? Does it suprise anyone that no one of Congress, President, Judicial, Military, Business can be convicted of anything? Does it suprise anyone that the media sleeps with those that assures them of their jobs? Does it surprise anyone that that Americans are being screwed? Yes ? Americans the Stupid. I wish that Americans the Stupid would read "Americans the Stupid- Crupper"s Law".
Agreed.
$780 Billion for weapons = take care of the Military Industry, just as Bush policies have taken care of profits for the oil industry. Yup, a true Repuglican.
Hm. There really is a foreign power supplying massive amounts of arms to the Iraqis to kill each other and us with.
.
Us.
I'm sure that none of these weapons will find their way to the insurgents. No sir.
So many weapons "missing" in Iraq, and they're running out already...
There is no actual shortage, it's just that so many weapons are unaccounted for that nobody knows what they have. I'd like to see them keep M16's, SAW's and grenade launchers out of insurgent hands, when the Interior Ministry, Police and Army are all saturated with insurgents and militia.
Hmmm.....
We go into Afghanistan and our soldiers get shot at with weapons made in America.
We go into Iraq and get shot at with weapons made in America.
We want to go into Iran and get shot at with weapons made in America.
In the future, if Saudi Arabia decides to save what oil they have left for themselves, we will go there and be shot at with our own weapons.
In how many other countries have we done this? Pakistan, India, Somalia, Bosnia... and the band played on it's tune of death for profit.
Albert Einstein- the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Isn't is amazing how these military industrial companies wrap themselves in the American flag, yet seem to be the most un-patriotic group we have...
The sickness of greed has even eclipsed the 80's, except that now our soldiers are dying while arms companies lobby congress so they can sell evebn more weapons to shaky, non-democratic gov'ts
Everything going acording to plan. Sell them arms so the killing can continue.
Dead US Troops, Dead Iraqis = Halliburton PRoftis = Money in Dick Cheney's blood soaked criminal pockets.
Dick Cheney and Bush are the only folks making money off oil companies.... Ted Kennedy is GUILTY!
The Kennedy family owns three oil drilling companies: Arctic Oil, Kenoil, and Mokeen Oil. Over the years it has made tens of millions of dollars in profits off these oil interests.
So what if the Kennedy money has some oil investments? The remaining Kennedy in Government has never supported the policies of Bush and Cheney that have enriched those two criminals - so STFU.
Sooooo what exactly is the new Iraqi army supposed to quell the uprising with? Kindness?
What about the billion dollars worth of weapons they sold on the open market we gave them LAST year.
Where is Iraq getting the money?
1.5 Million bbls of oil might still be less than they were pumping in 1999, but at $100+/bbl that's $150 million per day.
So when will they beat them into plowshares?
Their probably just getting rid of all the worthless Russian junk.
How are they paying for them?
from $150 MILLION per day they pup out of the ground.
They should consult John Kerry.
Kerry will tell them their wasting their money.
Kerry know that the weapons don't work.
That's why he never voted in favor of a weapons program.
A little bitter perhaps?
Obviously, Afghanistan taught our current leaders nothing. Bush needs to study current history, not Napoleonic. We provided arms to free Afghanistan, but failed to provide the education they needed to know who allowed them their freedom from the Soviet Empire. It would appear we are doing the same thing in Iraq, except we have just more or less freed them from themselves. We cleared a clear Muslim leadership out and opened the door to chaos, death and destruction. It would be foolish to provide massive arms to them when history has shown that they are a warring radical theocracy who views detests Democracy. Bush says we are nearing the end; truth is, unless Iraq can learn for themselves what true peace is, we are only beginning.
when you have a war that is nothing but a giant money laundering operation and a US economy that's based on war production, does this come as any surprise?
Okay, the Iraqis use money we give them to buy arms from us so they can shoot at our troops? Who the fuck came up with this scheme?
gcallaghan
I dont think you are giving money to Iraqis , that money comes from Oil sales . they are selling it daily .
the money you are spending is to feed and fund the US army in Iraq and in Kuwait bases etc.. (their upkeep , services provided for the Army )
Which country is Iraq preparing to fight?
So basically, the taxpayers are footing the bill for "aid" money to Iraq - and then Iraq takes that "aid" money and buys US weaponry from the gov't - our tax dollars are being used to arm Iraq and make the MIC wealthier...
W.T.F.
That's great - BUT IRAQ DOES NOT PAY FOR THEM - we do
Buying U.S. weapons with U.S. tax-dollars. Nice.
Republicans and Blue Dog Dems LOVE Keyensianism when it only benefits the wealthy. If it benefits the other 99%, they call it "Socialism".
Aaaaaaaaaa Nothing like the stink of war profiteering in the morning.
Of course having an incompitent Congress that lets this kind of fraud go on, in our nation's name, just makes it so much more disgusting.
Surprise, surprise!
Follow the money.
At one time it was the Shah of Iran. . .
Hold it a second.....Seeiing how Iraq does not generate any of it's own money. The 3 Billion they are buying arms with is from The U.S . We GIVE Iraq the money and THEY use some of it to buy weapons.
Please tell me again what the story is.
Huh, More $ for the sponsors of Bush/McCain, imagine that!
I doubt anyone who has been paying attention finds this information "newsworthy" in any real sense.
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USA Today | Jim Michaels | May 21, 2008 11:24 PM