Iraq government to spend billions on American armaments

In a move which would seem to underline Iraq’s position as an American puppet state, the Iraqi government has announced it is to purchase $26 billion of military equipment from the United States in an attempt to strengthen its armed forces.

by Marcus Papadopoulos
Friday, January 14th, 2011

Iraq’s Defence Ministry spokesman Major General Mohammed al-Askari, speaking to the Baghdad-based newspaper Al Ittihad, said his country will spend $13 billion by 2013 on American aircraft, helicopters and naval ships and will also commit to spending a further $13 billion on US armaments after this period.

The American invasion of Iraq in 2003 enhanced Washington’s position as the preponderant strategic influence in the Middle East.

Today, with the notable exception of Iran, the basin countries of the Persian Gulf are either host to American military bases – Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman – or have pro-American governments in place – such as Saudi Arabia.

Looking to the rest of the Middle East, it is only Syria and Lebanon which now remain outside the Washington orbit as Egypt, Jordan and Yemen also pursue a pro-Western foreign policy while Israel remains America’s closest friend and ally in the region.

American access to the oil fields of the Middle East has been ensured by pro-Western Arab governments which give preferential treatment American oil companies.

The Middle East, however, is not just an oil refinery for the US. The region is also a window to the Caspian Sea and Central Asia, both of which have an abundance of oil and gas and are of immense geo-strategic importance to the Russian Federation.

Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, policymakers in Washington turned their attention to the Caspian Sea and Central Asia, seeing the region as another source of energy and as a means of trying to curtail a revival of Russian influence.

While Russia remains a power in the region, the Kremlin is concerned by the increased US presence in the Middle East as this brings American power close to the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, which have all managed to achieve a degree of independence from Moscow in their foreign policies.

Whether the US can establish a foothold in Russia’s southern backyard now depends largely on Washington’s intentions for Iran. The toppling of Iran’s Islamic regime, either by force or subversion, and the installing of a pro-American government would put the US in a prime geographical position to challenge Russia in what Washington regards as Moscow’s vulnerable “soft underbelly.

The only place you can read all of Tribune's articles as soon as they are published is in the magazine. To find out more about subscribing from as little as £19, click here.

About The Author

  • LKAGFAHEJ

    First, I’d like to say the USA pays for every single drop of oil coming from the Middle East. This money from the US helps to build the economies of the countries you name above, which serves to expand the quality of life for many, but not all, Middle Easter Peoples. If these countries decided not to sell the oil to the USA, we would be forced to find alternative ways to power the country. Additionally, the USA’s prescence in the subjust countries helps to build a stronger defense for them. So stop complaing how the USA is taking advantage of these countries. Talk to the individual countries and try to pursuade them to stop selling oil to the US and demand the US military leaves. I don’t think you could ever do this. In the end, who is exploiting whom? The US to pay for the oil, or these countries gladly collecting these funds for a better future for their people?

  • swatantra

    disgraceful! first the us razes iraq to the ground, then sells arms to them, just to keep their industry going and people in jobs.disgraceful.

  • Trevor

    Dubya let the cat out of the bag when (in a rare moment of honesty) he declared the US was addicted to oil. Like all junkies, America will go to any lengths to get its fix of black gold – and if that means waging endless resource wars, killing millions, destroying economies and the environment, so be it: the end always justifies the means for Uncle Sam.

blog comments powered by Disqus