Mission Accomplished – Iraqis Will Buy US Arms

I generally do not start the day with a newspaper in my hand, but travels and hotels can occasion such moments. Thursday’s USA Today headline was as bold as the banner on the aircraft carrier that announced, prematurely, closure to the Iraq invasions in 2003. The Iraqi government will buy $3 billion of US weapons and equipment: Humvees, 40,000 – 60,000 M-16 rifles, aircraft and helicopters. Half of the purchases have already been made. “Give it another five, six or eight years and you could be talking about deals that put the Saudis to shame,” one U.S. official was quoted as saying. Enough said.