Rebuilding The Iraqi Army

Vehicles For the Iraq Army

How Fast Should Iraq Re-Arm? -- Time Magazine

The disconnect on security between the U.S. and the government of Iraq crystallized Friday, as Washington made clear it is in no rush to pull troops out of Iraq, just as Baghdad made it clear it's shopping for 36 F-16 jet fighters that could end up costing the war-weary nation close to $4 billion. While it's easy to understand why the U.S. is leery of jeopardizing recent security gains with a hasty troop withdrawal — despite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki insisting on a timetable for ending the American military presence — the logic of Baghdad's effort to acquire a fleet of sophisticated warplanes is less clear.

Still, U.S. officials inside and out of the Pentagon were quick to say Iraq needs such high-powered weapons, and that the U.S. defense industry would be more than glad to supply them. "We sometimes roll our eyes when foreign defense ministers come here and want to buy fighters and things like that," a senior Pentagon official said, speaking privately. "But we don't feel that way about Iraq — given their history and neighborhood, they need to have a capable air force." Iraq has not committed to buying the warplanes and, if it does, it will be several years before they would be operational. But the move to acquire them certainly signals an intent to give Iraq the ability to defend itself without any direct U.S. presence.

Read more ....

My Comment: If I was an Iraqi who had to experience the history of Iraq for the past 50 years, I would be prepared and determined to spend tens of billions (if not more) to not only have the best military in the Middle East, but a military trained by the best (i.e. American and British), armed by the best (American weaponry), and having alliances with Nato and stable Middle East nations. I would never want to go through the garbage of Saddam Hussein, Al Qaeda, threats from Iran, and extremist militias ever again.

Iraq is sitting on oil that is worth trillions of dollars. The people of Iraq will want to protect that treasure, and they want to work with their friends and allies. They know that a commitment to a strong military will make them be treated as equals by the U.S., and respected by their neighbors.

Is Iraq re-arming quick enough .... in my view no. If I was an Iraqi citizen, it will be my view that they can never re-arm quick enough.