Under the next stage, Iraq would purchase fighter-jets, attack
helicopters, air transports, warships, rockets, artillery and other advanced
systems. Officials said suppliers would include the United States, Italy and
other Western states.
"The interest of the United States over the medium term is to build an
Iraqi army with tremendous regional capability and some quality offensive
weapons, on condition that this capacity will not be used to intervene in a
war between the Arab countries and Israel," said an Iraqi Defense Ministry
report, quoted by the Gulf News, based in the United Arab Emirates. "The
U.S. strategic goal is to build an Iraqi army on par and perhaps superior to
Iran in the next 10 years."
Zebari said the plan also called for the enhancement of the Iraq Navy.
He said Baghdad was preparing for the delivery of six fast patrol boats from
Italy over the next year.
The chief of staff said the army contains 14 divisions with 263,000
soldiers. The United States had reported that the army contained 202,000
soldiers.
The Defense Ministry study said Shi'ites have been wary of the Iraqi
military buildup. The study said the majority Shi'ite community was
concerned that a powerful Iraqi military would target Iran.