Forget Cessna planes, second-hand Soviet-made tanks and Russian choppers from shady dealers. The latest weapons request from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, worth $9 billion, includes some high-tech U.S. gear, according to AFP. On the wish list:
- 392 "Light Armored Vehicles" (basically a Cougar MRAP with some slight modifications) like what the USMC uses (thanks to readers for the catch!)
- 140 M-1A1 tanks plus Humvees and other vehicles
- 24 ARH-70 attack choppers (the U.S. Army's latest) or the same number of AH-6 Little Birds used by U.S. Special Forces
The request is just that -- a request. Congress could deny some or all of the items, and plans could change before contracts are issued. But it's interesting: for years Iraq settled for newer copies of the same old Soviet-made weapons, plus some second-hand airplanes. This latest weapons buy could signal a major shift. The Iraqi Army of the future might look somewhat like the U.S. Army of today.
(Photo: me)
