BAGHDAD – The United States has agreed to sell unarmed surveillance drones to Iraq’s navy as part of an effort to help protect that nation’s oil exports amid growing tensions in the Persian Gulf and to strengthen U.S.-Iraqi ties.
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The sales of drones and other U.S. military equipment are viewed by the United States as a way to maintain deep ties with Iraq after the departure of American troops in December. The sales “helps facilitate that strategic relationship,” [Army Lt. Gen. Robert] Caslen said.
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The sales of drones and other U.S. military equipment are viewed by the United States as a way to maintain deep ties with Iraq after the departure of American troops in December. The sales “helps facilitate that strategic relationship,” [Army Lt. Gen. Robert] Caslen said.
Iraq already said it is buying more than $15 billion worth of U.S. military hardware, including 36 F-16 fighter planes, M-1 tanks and armored personnel carriers, insisting the weapons are for defensive purposes.
As we like to say around here: What could possibly go wrong?
It’s not as if we’ve got experience with coming to regret the militarization of various perceived allies in the Middle East in general, or even Iraq, specifically. So, let’s go ahead and just put this item into our time capsule for review — and an answer to the question mentioned above — by, no later than, let’s say, 2020 or so?
Not only Iraq is buying those drones.
Many countries in Europe is paying for them as well. While those countries, at the same time, are busy telling there own populations, that they have no money left to take care of there own.
Understand that those who can.
Perhaps you should file this, Brad, under “Globalization of the Military-Industrial Complex.”
We really are a STUPID country! We arm others and then we must fight them to disarm them. Isn’t this how Saddam Hussien got started?
15 billion bucks !!
Robin, ” Holy drone strike Batman who will get all that money?”
Batman, “Well my young friend and fellow crime fighter it will go to that stalwart and patriotic defender of freedom, the arsenal of democracy the Military Industrial Complex”
Carver said “We really are a STUPID country!”
Unfortunately, you have no idea how true that is.
Maybe the majority of people will wake up in time to avert certain disaster – but I rather doubt it.
The elite seem to be fleeing the country en masse. Maybe the sheep should too.