U.S. tanks going to Iraqi army

[unhappycamper]

A U.S. Marine M1A1 Abrams tank from 2nd Tank Battalion attacks a target during training at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., in January.


U.S. tanks going to Iraqi army
By Joseph Giordono, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, March 12, 2009

In a turnaround from previous policy, the Iraqi army will acquire 140 advanced American-made battle tanks with help from the U.S. military over the next 18 months.

The deal, announced this week by U.S. military officials in Iraq, was called a "major step in the force modernization of (the Iraqi army’s) armored units."

The M1A1SA Abrams tanks are expected to be acquired by the Iraqis in groups of 35 over the next 18 months. Officials with the Multi-National Security Transition Command in Iraq did not answer questions about whether the Iraqis paid for the tanks under the Foreign Military Sales program or they were donated by the U.S. military.

Iraqi and American officials will be working on "delivery, fielding and training," Charles Campbell, a program coordinator with MNSTCI, was quoted as saying in an Army news release. "The first (Iraqi) regiment will begin full-scale training in December of 2010. From there, we would instruct and train on how to support and sustain these tanks."

Officials said the Abrams program includes training for Iraqi tank crews, spare parts logistics, and "a security agreement for sensitive weapons and communications systems featured in the M1A1SA Abrams."


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61277

[Sherman A1]

1. What!

I could see giving them some rehabbed M60's or rehabbed recycled former Iraqi Army equipment, but M1's....... This is just dumb along with being expensive equipment.



:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[BeGoodDoGood]

2. They won't maintain that equipment.

And when it breaks down, it is Inshallah, God's will.

I doubt they are giving them the thermal imaging systems, the blue on blue trackers and stuff like that. Even if they do, the Iraqis won't be able to use it effectively.

We should give them what all Iraqi men want -- valium.

Walt

[Crowman1979]

3. Wouldn't it be more effective to give them TOW missiles and Toyota trucks?

Because that is what Chad used to defeat Libya's tank force during the brief border war between them in the late 80's.

So this is why we invaded Iraq, to create more customers for the defense industry?