Iraq Asks France To Supply High-Tech Weaponry

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

Jun 01, 2008 13:57 EST

BAGHDAD, June 1 (Reuters) - Iraq is interested in buying sophisticated French weaponry to help re-equip its military as it moves to take over security duties from coalition forces, a government spokesman said on Sunday.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki raised the issue in talks with visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who was on a two-day visit to Iraq, his second in nine months.

Much of Iraq's air force and military equipment was destroyed during the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. The army, which relies on U.S. military firepower in combating militants, has a few Soviet-era battle tanks and armoured personnel carriers.

"Iraq needs weapons from different origins and the prime minister expressed Iraq's willingness to import sophisticated weapons from France for both military and security forces," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told reporters.

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FRANCE READY TO HELP

France's stance on Iraq, after strongly opposing the U.S.-led invasion, has changed since President Nicolas Sarkozy took office seeking closer relations with Washington.

France, which takes over the EU's rotating presidency in July, has said it will lead a drive for greater EU involvement in rebuilding Iraq and has offered to host reconciliation talks.


Read more: http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=193180

[robinlynne]

1. good. I'm all for the EU organizing negotiations!

[ohio2007]

2. France vows to help Iraq build medical centers

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- France will help Iraq build better medical centers as well as give aid to equip and train Iraqi security forces, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told Iraqi officials during a weekend visit.
France has allowed Iraqi patients to be treated at its hospitals, and Kouchner expressed his desire to help develop heart surgery centers in Iraq, according to a statement from al-Maliki's office.
snip

The Iraqi prime minister suggested to Kouchner that his country help Iraq open a children's heart surgery center at Baghdad's Ibn Al-Bitar Hospital, the statement said.

Al-Maliki also discussed Iraq's wish to provide the Iraqi armed forces with new French weapons.

Al-Maliki assured Kouchner that "we are heading toward rebuilding, reconstruction and improvement of services."



http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/06/01/iraq.main/index.html?section=cnn_latest

[ohio2007]

3. Iraq oil output, exports hit "post-war" high ( ? freudian slip )

Is this ABC article referring to Iran/Iraq war, Gulf war I or Gulf war II ?

Or are they saying the civil war is over ?
hmmm.

Iraq oil output, exports hit post-war high

Iraq has raised oil exports to a post-war high, earning billions of dollars to fund reconstruction after Baghdad cracked down on sabotage of its strategic pipelines,

Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani says he expects 2008 oil revenues to reach $70 billion if oil prices stay high and there are no output disruptions.

Mr Shahristani was optimistic Iraqi forces would be able to sustain tight security at oil facilities.That could raise the confidence of foreign investors who have been discouraged by sectarian violence, Al Qaeda and powerful Shiite militants who had a tight grip on Basra, home to Iraq's biggest oilfields.

"In May, we have exceeded for the first time 2 million barrels-per-day (bpd) as an export rate," Mr Shahristani said.

Production had also climbed to a post-war high of more than 2.5 million bpd, he said.

Mr Shahristani was confident Iraq could pump up to 2.9 million bpd by the end of 2008.

He declined to comment on export levels for June, but senior Iraqi oil officials said last month shipments would run slightly higher because of extra Kirkuk sales from the north.



http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/02/2261838.htm?section=justin

[bemildred]

4. You're not paying attention, the war's been over five years now.

http://www.culturefreak.com.nyud.net:8090/images/Bush-FlightSuit-Doll02.jpg

[VP505]

5. Sounds like the Iraq Government might

be ready to say BU-BUY to someone.....George.