U.S. eyes weapons sales worth up to $2.3 billion to Iraq

[Robbien]

Source: reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Wednesday told Congress it was ready to sell Iraq up to $2.3 billion worth of weapons to help the Iraqi Army expand and take over missions now carried out by U.S. and allied forces.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which oversees foreign military sales, said the sale would include vehicles, small arms ammunition, explosives and communications equipment, as well as upgrades to 32 additional UH-1 helicopters built by Textron Inc unit Bell Helicopter.

The agency did not list any contractors but said there were no offset agreements mandating investment in Iraq in connection with the sale.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSWBT00762920070926

[Skink]

1. Pull back sell weapons.

Easy really.

[ClintonTyree]

2. So our government will give them the money....

to buy weapons from the U.S. weapons industry (presumably). Why doesn't the U.S. government just buy the weapons right from the manufacturers and GIVE the weapons to the Iraqis and cut out the middlemen? Or is that the point?...to rob the Treasury yet again and hand the cash over to the military-industrial complex and their brokers?

It seems death is the main export of our country now. Proud to be an American! :patriot: :sarcasm:

[Skink]

3. You forgot Human suffering...

:kick:

[Beerboy]

4. There are people making billions selling obsolescent equipment

to third world nations after State National Guard(s) have re-habbed/repaired it for their new second-generation stuff.
2.3 billion seems like petty money-laundering at this point.
This war seems almost like the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39, where the future belligerents of WW2 tested out their prototypes and dispensed with their still-serviceable equipment to both sides.

[Skink]

5. Hey Beer Boy where ya been?

Start posting. :toast:

[Beerboy]

6. All right then.

:toast:

[Javaman]

7. Money laundering you say?

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/10/iraq_billions200710