Saturday, October 26, 2013

Iraq Concedes That It Needs Help To Defeat Al Qaeda

MQ-1 Predators sit on the Bravo South parking ramp at Balad Air Base, Iraq in this undated USAF handout photo obtained by Reuters February 6, 2013. REUTERS/U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Tony R. Tolley

Iraq To Press U.S. On Drones, F-16s To Fight Al Qaeda -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The Baghdad government wants the immediate delivery of U.S. drones and F-16 fighter jets in order to combat al Qaeda insurgents, who are making swift advances in the west of the Iraq, a senior Iraqi security official said.

Washington agreed in August to supply a $2.6 billion integrated air defense system and F-16 fighter jets, with delivery due in autumn 2014.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who will meets U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington next week, has also requested drones to carry out surveillance of Iraq's desert border with Syria.

But Deputy National Security Adviser Safa al-Sheikh Hussein said Iraq needs them now.

Read more ....

My Comment: A sudden delivery of F-16s and drones to Iraq is not going to change the dynamics on the ground that quickly.

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