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Monday, August 16, 2010     INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING

U.S. commanders' ambitious goal for Iraq military worries Gulf states

ABU DHABI — The U.S. military has been training Iraq to wield the most powerful military in the Gulf.

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Officials said the U.S. military was authorized to train and equip Iraqi security forces to secure territory as well as eventually project power in the region. They said the current effort, which has given Baghdad the fastest growing military in the world, was meant to ensure that Iraq could overcome the Al Qaida insurgency as well as Shi'ite militias.

"We have trained the Iraqi Army to be the most capable army in the region with a lot of experience, tremendous leaders and the forces are well equipped," Lt. Gen. Michael Barbero, deputy U.S. military commander in Iraq, said.

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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.



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