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Witnesses saw hundreds of Russian tank transporters unloaded in Iraq
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Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, June 20, 2001
Iraq has procured hundreds of tank transporters from Russia
in what western intelligence sources have concluded is a concerted effort to improve military logistics and respond quickly in the event of regional conflict.
The intelligence sources confirmed reports in the London Arabic newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat that hundreds of
Russian-made tank transporters have arrived in southern Iraq over the past
few weeks. They said the transporters were seen being unloaded in the port
of Basra and then painted in the color of military khaki.
The Russian export of the vehicles was facilitated by listing them as
civilian transporters, the sources said. As part of the proposed smart
sanctions policy, the United States wants to ban vehicles that can transport
armored systems.
"This is one of the most significant procurements by the Iraqi military
and demonstrates its preparations for conflict," an intelligence source
said.
According to the reports at least 200 Ural tank transporters have
been unloaded. Witnesses in Basra were quoted as saying that Iraq plans to
import 1,300 tank transporters from Russia.
Iraqi opposition sources said the tank transporters are key to the
military's effort to regain control over the country or join any Middle East
war against Israel. The sources said Iraq's armored fleet has been plagued
by a lack of spare parts and the arrival of tank transporters saves on the
wear and tear of driving tanks from Baghdad to Jordan or Syria.
The United Nations Security Council remains stuck over a list of
dual-use items for Iraqi import.
Representatives of Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States met
for two days in Paris this week to review a list drafted by Washington of
banned civilian goods that could benefit Baghdad's military.
France, Russia and China are opposed to many items on the U.S. list. "It
seems essential to us that the list of goods, which will remain subject to
approval by the sanctions committee, will remain as targeted as possible," a
French Foreign Ministry statement said.
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