French military delegation wraps up Iraq visit

[tocqueville]

Source: Agence France Presse

French military delegation wraps up Iraq visit
By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Friday, May 29, 2009

BAGHDAD: A French military delegation wrapped up on Thursday talks with Iraqi officials on Baghdad's purchase of French military hardware, in the first such visit in 20 years, an Iraqi defense official said. "A French military delegation made the first such visit to Iraq in 20 years to discuss Iraq's purchase of sophisticated military materiel, such as patrol boats, fighter planes and helicopters," said General Mohammad al-Askari, spokesman for the Defense Ministry.

"Future military cooperation with France will cover ground, naval and air forces, training and the repair of equipment," the general added.

A French diplomat said the team consisted of two senior officers, who had come to assess the country's needs in advance of a military attache being added to the embassy staff this coming autumn.

In March, the two countries signed a contract for the sale of 24 military helicopters to Iraq, the first French arms deal with Baghdad since 1990. The 360 million euro ($488 million) deal was for Eurocopter EC 635s.




Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=102439

[Arctic Dave]

1. Screw clean water or adequate power supply. Send military hardware.

Why fix things when you can just kill poeple who complain about it.

[tocqueville]

2. actually, we are doing both

"It is now that we must help Iraq, it's now that we must commit," he said, according to Agence France-Presse.

"I came to show France's willingness to take part in the economic development of Iraq, in the rehabilitation of its infrastructure," he said. "Our collaboration has no limits."

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/10/sarkozy.iraq.france/index.html

[Arctic Dave]

4. Yes, they will fall over themself trying to sell them everything.

[Canuckistanian]

3. Not surprising. France has had contacts in Iraq for years

They're just re-establishing an old relationship. The leadership has changed radically, but France still realizes the strategic importance of Iraq. They want a presence in the Middle East.

[provis99]

5. sure, buy French guns

Never fired, and only dropped once.

[proteus_lives]

6. an oldie but a goodie!

;-)

[Flagg]

8. You shoud tell that joke to the families of the 2 million French soldiers

who died in both World Wars.
The French are sick and tired of being called cowards.

[proteus_lives]

7. Well, they condemned the conflict.

So selling them weapons makes perfect sense.