Iraqi Tank Brigade Assumes Combat Responsibility

[Tycoon101]

I say it's symbolic.

I do not follow your idea about symbolism. Could you please explain?

 

[amadeus]

The cannon on that tank can't pierce the Chobham armor on American or British tanks, so I kind of guess that it's a good thing Iraqis are getting second-rate weapons incase they ever turn against us.

But I'm surprised American arms manufacturers weren't given priority in supplying the Iraqi army.

Actually, U.S. suppliers are a large part of Iraq's new army, even if the tanks themselves were not furnished by us.

The 77 T-72s in service in the Iraqi are a donation from Hungary, as much of Iraq's new military equipment is. The UAE also gave Iraq 180 M113s that they purchased from Switzerland.

Four T-55 tanks found in an abandoned army base are also in service in Iraq.

 

[blackheart]

The Iraqi army is going to have a hell of a time servicing their armor then if there are that many varying models.

 

[general_kill]

Yeah, at this rate we'll be back to giving them WMDs in a few months.

Quote of the week right there. Oh it's funny because it's true.

 

[JohnRM]

The biggest worry about Iraq, which is why we are not supplying them with much in the way of American equipment is that the country is run by Shias and so is Iran. There is just too much of a chance that the two nations will become allies when the US leaves Iraq.

 

[malclave]

I say it's symbolic.

How about 1st Brigade of the 8th Division?

During a transfer of authority ceremony April 24 at Forward Operating Base Hotel, the Iraqi Army’s 1st Brigade, 8th Division, assumed security responsibility for nearly 11,583-square-mile area of the An Najaf Province.

A few paragraphs later, the release notes:

Seven Iraqi Army Brigades have already taken the lead in their areas and 4 additional IA Battalions are preparing to assume the lead in their areas of operation in the next two months.

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/Daily/Apr/060425.htm

 

[CaptainF]

Good. They can start taking some IED's along with us. [/sarcasm]

 

[malclave]

Start? They've been targets all along.

 

[CaptainF]

I will now add sarcasm brackets.

 

[nonconformist]

Well it's good for the situation. How many tanks do the insurgents have?

Considering the country next door happens to be Iran, I'd ewxpect that to be the least of their problems.

 

[plarq]

The biggest worry about Iraq, which is why we are not supplying them with much in the way of American equipment is that the country is run by Shias and so is Iran. There is just too much of a chance that the two nations will become allies when the US leaves Iraq.

They won't truly unite. Both under strong nationalistic propaganda.

 

[eyrei]

Excellent! This means that they can defend themselves, and Americas can start pulling outwith a few months! This is very good news.

(See- Those of you who oppose the war can say one GOOD thing. We have trained a militia to protect a country.)

We did the same in El Salvador and they ended up massacring political opponents...

 

[plarq]

We did the same in El Salvador and they ended up massacring political opponents...

That's why war should be avoided. US has power, and morality, but not both, at the same place in the same time... when power is used, morality is 2nd issue for the powerful US politicians; when morality is held, usually US temporarily lacks power for some issues. Unless in some urgent situation, US could lead a true coalition, then the story is different.

 

[Fox Mccloud]

I say it's symbolic.

That's just 1 brigade. The whole army controls this:

This picture is actually slightly out of date. They probably control more now.

 

[blackheart]

Now you have to superimpose that picture on a geographical and demographical map to get a real sense of what they can actually do.

 

[Fox Mccloud]

Now you have to superimpose that picture on a geographical and demographical map to get a real sense of what they can actually do.

You mean like this:

 

[Zwelgje]

I do not follow your idea about symbolism. Could you please explain?

How about 1st Brigade of the 8th Division?

That's just 1 brigade. The whole army controls this:

Perhaps my sense of humor is a bit hard to understand. You guys could have gathered from the used smilie that I wasn't too serious though.

 

[7ronin]

Now you have to superimpose that picture on a geographical and demographical map to get a real sense of what they can actually do.

Indeed you do. The majority of Iraq is either unihabitable or sparsely populated. If you further subtract the Kurdish areas (which are pretty much policing themselves) then Iraqi army coverage begins to look much better.

 

[Fox Mccloud]

Well, most of the green looks like it appears in the more populated areas of Iraq, not the desert.

 

[TrailblazingScot]

Excellent! This means that they can defend themselves, and Americas can start pulling outwith a few months! This is very good news.

(See- Those of you who oppose the war can say one GOOD thing. We have trained a militia to protect a country.)

Um, they have plenty of militia already.

There are few places in Iraq where there aren't bunches of guys holding AKs loyal to some Cleric or other.