Secret Iraqi deal with Serbia highlights troubles in arms purchases
Summary from United States, from articles in English
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BAGHDAD - An $833 million Iraqi arms deal secretly negotiated with Serbia has underscored Iraq's continuing problems equipping its armed forces, a process long plagued by corruption and inefficiency. (article 2)
And much of that equipment, American commanders said, turned out to be either shoddy or inappropriate for the military's mission. (article 2)
The purchase included a large number of helicopters, planes, armored personnel carriers, mortar systems, machine guns, body armor, military uniforms, and other equipment. (article 1)
The deal was struck in September without competitive bidding and it sidestepped anticorruption safeguards, including the approval of senior uniformed Iraqi Army officers and an Iraqi contract approval committee. (article 3)
BAGHDAD - The Iraqi soldiers pushed their way up a main thoroughfare in Sadr City over the past week, but the militias that still prowl the Shiite enclave were sniping at them from the alleyways. (article 4)
So a platoon of American troops drove up a bomb-cratered road in their Stryker vehicles on Thursday to give the Iraqis some pointers on how to hold the line. (article 4)
After the ramps of the Strykers were lowered, Second Lt. Adam Bowen sought out his Iraqi counterpart at the battered storefront in the Thawra district that served as an Iraqi strongpoint. (article 4)
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Other stories about Sadr, Iraqi and Iraq:
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Story keywords
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Sadr, Iraqi, Iraq, Al, BAGHDAD |
Source articles
- Secret Iraqi deal with Serbia highlights troubles in arms purchases (boston.com, 04/13/2008, 353 words)
- The Seattle Times: Inefficient Iraq resorts to secret arms deal (seattletimes.nwsource.com, 04/13/2008, 1005 words)
- Secret Iraqi Deal Shows Problems in Arms Orders (nytimes.com, 04/13/2008, 1787 words)
- As Militias Roam Alleys, Iraqi Army Takes Brunt (nytimes.com, 04/11/2008, 1398 words)
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