US to sell Iraq 18 more F-16 warplanes

[JWing]

(AFP) – 10 hours ago
WASHINGTON — The United States plans to sell Iraq 18 more F-16 fighter jets as Baghdad seeks to secure its airspace after the full withdrawal of US forces this month, a US official said Monday.
"Today the administration notified Congress of its intent to sell Iraq a second tranche of 18 F-16s," said National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor.
"This sale is another indication of the continuing US-Iraqi security relationship and cooperation," Vietor said after President Barack Obama met Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki at the White House.
"It also illustrates the progress Iraq has made in providing for its own security, and its determination to protect its sovereignty and independence."
Iraq signed a deal to buy an initial tranche of 18 warplanes earlier this year after Maliki said he wanted to equip Iraq's air force with a total of 36 of the jets in a multi-billion dollar deal.
Obama said that the United States would train pilots for the planes, as an example of the close military cooperation Washington intends to maintain with Baghdad even after the final US troops leave the country later this month.
"We will be working to set up effective military-to-military ties that are no different from the ties that we have with countries throughout the region and around the world," said Obama.
"We've got to train their pilots and make sure that they're up and running and that we have (an) effective Iraqi air force."
The F-16, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is one of the most widely used fighter jets in the world and has been exported to over 20 countries.


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[Hue Mi]

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Maliki: We have applied to buy new weapons from the United States

12/12/2011 22:06

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, on Monday, that Iraq has provided for the purchase of new weapons from the United States and we got on the promise of joint cooperation, particularly in the area of ​​the Air Force.

He made it clear during the press conference of U.S. President Barack Obama that "Iraq has to buy new weapons from the United States and we got on the promise of joint cooperation, particularly in the area of ​​the Air Force."

Maliki said that "we we have to buy a meal of a new aircraft (F16) because of weakness in the Iraqi Air Force and we hope to develop it."

The Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday, went to Washington at the head of the delegation of high, on a visit to coincide with the approaching date for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of this year.

For his part, U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday that aim to build an inclusive relationship with Iraq in all areas of military and civilian, indicating that Iraq would be a democratic model in the region, noting that "the Iraq build a model in the region are trying to build for the next phase."

The Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday, went to Washington at the head of the delegation of high, on a visit to coincide with the approaching date for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq the end of the case
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Number of readings: 64

[geowhiz]

Sell the planes to Iraq so that we destroy in about 10 years when the country ultimately goes to hell.