The General Accountability Office has asserted that Iraq generated
sufficient funding to pay for its military and security needs. In a report,
GAO, the fiscal watchdog of Congress, said Iraq has accumulated a budget of
surplus of $52.1 billion into 2010.
"Iraqi government data show that Iraq's security ministries — the
Ministries of Defense and Interior — increased their spending from 2005
through 2009 and set aside about $5.5 billion for purchases through the U.S.
Foreign Military Sales program," the report, released on Sept. 13, said.
"However, over this 5-year period, these ministries did not use between $2.5
billion and $5.2 billion of their budgeted funds that could have been used
to address security needs."
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Titled "Iraq Has a Cumulative Budget Surplus, Offering the Potential for
Further Cost-Sharing," the report urged the administration of President
Barack Obama to consider a reduction of U.S. aid for Iraqi military
procurement. The administration has requested $2 billion in additional U.S.
funding in its fiscal year 2011 budget request to support the training and
equipping of Iraq's military and police, Middle East Newsline reported.
"GAO believes that Congress should consider Iraq's available financial
resources when reviewing the administration's fiscal year 2011 budget
request and any future funding requests for securing and stabilizing Iraq,"
the report said.
The report appeared to dismiss concerns in Baghdad and Washington that
Iraq would be unable to afford its military and security modernization
program. Officials said Iraq was planning to spend more than $13 billion in
military modernization over the next five years.
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