Good idea or bad idea to sell them?
Iraq Gets Humvees, Mulls Other Purchases
By kris osborn
Published: 16 Jan 18:36 EST (23:36 GMT)
The Iraqi Army has received several thousand Humvees from the U.S. Army and Air Force, part of an effort to refurbish and transfer 8,500 vehicles by July, Army officials said.
Iraqi will pay about $200 million for the vehicles under the program, which is administered by the U.S. Multi-National Security Transition Command, Iraq (MNSTC-I).
The Humvee is just one of several weapons Iraq is looking to buy.
"We are assisting them, but ultimately it is their decision regarding how they want to build up their Army," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gary Kolb, spokesman for MNSTC-I in Baghdad.
The Humvees will go first to the Camp Taji Redistribution Property Assistance Team Yard, a few miles north of Baghdad.
"The vehicles are cleaned, inspected, and processed through a maintenance program that refurbishes the vehicles from the ground up," U.S. Army Col. Michael Sage, MNSTC-I supply division manager said in an Army statement.
Sage said every Humvee then will be reinspected, repainted for use by the Iraqi Army or National Police forces, then inspected once again for acceptance by the Iraqis and U.S. government.
Humvee-maker AM General hopes to help refurbish the vehicles, said company spokesman Craig Mac Nab.
Other Potential Purchases
Various other potential purchases are currently in various stages of review.
Last fall, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) approved the sale of six C-130Js, and the Iraqis have, as required, deposited part of the funds in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
"We are in the process of reviewing the situation and reviewing the offer. I can't offer it to the Iraqis until it has run that course," said Luckey.
Last summer, the Iraqi interior ministry requested approval to buy 80 ASVs, which the DSCA approved and notified Congress about. Now the ministry is trying to decide how many they want to buy - perhaps up to 400, DSCA officials said.
A letter of request from the Iraqis for 400 Strykers went through Congress in the last several weeks, Luckey said.
The Iraqis, who received approval last fall to buy 140 Abrams tanks, have placed an initial deposit and are now looking to buy 140 more, Luckey said.
"I have not yet been able to offer those to the Iraqis," he said.
Iraq's Ministry of Defense has also expressed interest in buying 400 M2 HB .50-cal Browning machine guns, up to 400 M1117 Armored Security Vehicles (ASVs), 400 M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicles and eight Heavy Duty Recovery Trucks, according to one DCSA official.
The Iraqi Ministry of Interior has already purchased U.S. pistols, said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Charles Luckey, MNSTC-I's deputy commanding general for security assistance.
"In the past, the Ministry of Interior ordered 9mm sidearm and 9mm Berettas for police officers, funded through the Mininstry. In this case, the weapons have already been shipped for security forces. The Iraqis signed a letter of request, December 2007," said Luckey.
Approval Process
Luckey said his office in Baghdad, which advises and helps the Iraqis buy gear, is meant to connect Iraq's interests with the Pentagon's acquisition system.
"My view or my role in that regard is to sort through and talk to them [the Iraqis] about various options - leave it to them to decide what they really want to buy, both officers and senior civilians," Luckey said. "Every request the Iraqis have comes through this office. That letter of request is sent back to the U.S. DSCA, then it is sent to one of the services that would have responsibility for overseeing that program or capability."
If the DSCA sends a letter of acceptance about the Iraqi request, Luckey sends it on to Iraq's director general for armament and supply.
"If they elect to purchase the system, they have to deposit the money in a trust account in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The money still belongs to the government of Iraq. It is escrowed, essentially. This way we can make sure that when we start ginning up a production line there will be money held for that case."
That money does accrue interest for Iraq until it is spent, Luckey said.
The Security Assistance office also helps Iraqis with training, infrastructure and building roads or barracks.
The link to story....
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3906376&c=MID&s=TOP
Iraq gets lots of HMMWVs
