In an interview with the Gulf News, based in the United Arab Emirates,
Barbero said Iraq would expand its military with advanced combat platforms
provided by the United States and other countries. The general cited the Air
Force, with 100 aircraft and preparing to order the F-16 multi-role fighter, Middle East Newsline reported.
"The Army will be able to defend the country against threats," Barbero
said.
The statement appeared to confirm fears by Gulf Cooperation Council
states of the military resurgence of Iraq, long regarded as a rival in the
region. Officials acknowledged that GCC states, particularly Saudi Arabia,
have expressed concerns over the re-armament of Iraq and the prospect that it
could join neighboring Iran in an alliance against Gulf Arab regimes.
In the interview, Barbero reviewed U.S. military programs in Iraq. He
said the Iraq Air Force, with 57 trained pilots, has grown from 2,700 to
5,400 over the last year.
"So they will have most things in place," Barbero said. "They will have
a good foundation across all the services."
Under the U.S. plan, Iraq would develop its Air Force in three stages.
The first was to build an air defense network based on long-range radars, a
stage that was said to have already been completed.
"The second part is the ability to warn the command and control
network," Barbero said. "The third part is the ability to respond with
fighters. Iraq will not have fighters by December 2011 because it takes a
long time to train fighter pilots. So these areas are under development."
Barbero also cited Iraq's plans to develop its armored corps. In August,
the first of 140 M1A1 main battle tanks arrived in Iraq from the United
States.
"Iraqi security forces have been the fastest growing security forces in
the world, and they will continue to grow rapidly as we approach December
2011," Barbero said.