Saudi Arabia Warns Iraq That Failure To Accomodate Sunnis Risks Even More Violence And Sectarianism

Saudi Arabia  warned Iraq against sectarian extremism after two weeks of protests by Sunni Muslims against Baghdad's Shi'ite-led government.
The street protests across Iraq's Sunni heartland have strained the Arab state's fragile political balance and renewed fears of intensified sectarian strife.
"We are convinced that Iraq will not stabilize until it starts handling issues without sectarian extremism... Until these issues are addressed, we don't think there will ever be stability in Iraq, which pains us," Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told a news conference in Riyadh.
Iraq's Arab majority is mostly Shi'ite but the country was dominated by Sunnis under former strongman Saddam Hussein and much of the fighting since he was deposed has fallen along sectarian lines.
Sunni Saudi Arabia has a tense relationship with Baghdad and senior princes have previously described Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as being in hock to Shi'ite Iran, in comments to U.S. diplomats released by WikiLeaks.
Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, is locked in a struggle for regional influence with fellow OPEC-member Iran, backing opposing sides in Syria and Lebanon, where Shi'ite parties are allied to Tehran.

Riyadh also accuses Tehran of fomenting unrest in Bahrain and Yemen, and of instigating protests among Saudi Arabia's own Shi'ite minority, charges Iran denies.
Former Saudi intelligence head Prince Muqrin described Maliki as "an Iranian 100 percent" in comments to visiting U.S. officials relayed in a July 2008 embassy cable released by the WikiLeaks website.

Iraqi Navy Gets U.S. Support Vessels While Libyan Navy Holds Talks to Increase Co-operation With French Navy

The Iraqi navy and the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command marked the delivery of two 60-meter Offshore Support Vessels (OSV 1/ OSV 2) to the Iraqi navy in a ceremony at the Umm Qasr naval facility, Dec. 19.

The two OSVs, procured as part U.S. Navy’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program, will help reconstitute Iraq’s ability to enforce maritime sovereignty and security in the Northern Arabian Gulf.

“This occasion reflects the important ties that bind our governments and our commitment to supporting s strong coalition partnership that is based on mutual respect and understanding,” said Vice Adm. Kevin McCoy, commander, Naval Sea Systems Command. “Combined with the previously delivered Iraqi patrol boats, this acquisition program has offered another unique opportunity for cooperation between our countries.”

OSVs are multi-function vessels providing a wide range of capabilities to support Iraq’s oil production platforms. The vessels will provide transport support for crew changes and resupply to the platforms. Each OSV is equipped with a 30mm gun weapon system and outfitted with fast attack boats to defend it and the offshore platforms. The vessels each include a vertical replenishment deck to facilitate the transfer of supplies as needed.

RiverHawk Fast Sea Frames is the prime contractor for the OSV procurement, with Gulf Island Marine Fabricators manufacturing the hull and deckhouse, and outfitting the vessels.

PEO Ships is currently managing the design and construction of all U.S. Navy destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, as well as a wide range of boats and craft for U.S. agencies and foreign military sales.

Then….

The Libya Herald reports that French and Libyan navies recently met to discuss enhancing intelligence sharing and joint training cooperation. The talks took place during a port visit by a French frigate to Tripoli, which is said to be part of a larger initiative to expand maritime ties between the two countries, the report notes. France has also provided training to Libyan personnel, and helped to secure that country’s maritime areas, while also preventing migrants from attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, it added.

Iraq Takes Delivery Of Super Hercs

Lockheed Martin delivered a C-130J Super Hercules to the Iraqi Air Force at formal ceremonies here today. This is one of the initial three aircraft of a total of six C-130Js ordered by Iraq.
The other two of these initial three aircraft departed yesterday for Iraq. The remaining three C-130Js will be delivered in 2013. The Iraqi Air Force will use the airlifters for intra-theater support for its troops and to provide humanitarian relief operations in various locations.
“Fifteen countries have already selected the C-130J Super Hercules to meet their airlift requirements”, said George Shultz, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager for C-130 Programs. “Be it recapitalization of existing fleets, or new operators seeking proven airlift performance and capability, the C-130J is always the logical, low risk, affordable, proven answer.”
Acquisition of new transport aircraft will provide Iraq with the ability to operate seamlessly with U.S., NATO and coalition forces engaged in a wide range of operations and missions.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 120,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation's net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

The Turkish Air Force strikes PKK in northern Iraq

The Turkish Air Force conducted a series of strikes against the bases of the fighters of the Workers Party of Kurdistan (PKK) in northern Iraq, local media reported Thursday quoting military sources.

The Turkish air force attacked anti-aircraft batteries, shelter and infrastructure Kurdish separatists in the regions of Zap, Avasin, and Metina Haftanin. Hunter-F-16 bombers were involved in the raids, according to Dogan news agency.

Until now, the Staff of the Turkish Army has not issued an official statement about the operation. No information on possible victims of the attack is not available for the moment.

The Kurdistan Workers Party has been fighting for nearly 25 years for the autonomy of the Kurds on part of Turkish territory. This conflict has already been about 40,000 deaths. The PKK terrorist organization has been recognized by the United Nations and the European Union.

Determined to suppress separatism by force, the Turkish authorities refused any dialogue with Kurdish militants.

Iraq seeks to acquire 30 Stryker vehicles from the US

The Iraqi Ministry of Defence (MoD) is planning to procure 30 General Dynamics-built Stryker infantry combat vehicles (ICVs) from the US Army, Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems public affairs spokeswoman Ashley Givens has revealed.

In an e-mailed response, Givens was quoted by Bloomberg Businessweek as saying that the US Army has been assembling cost and schedule information for a formal proposal, which will be submitted to Congress for approval following acceptance by the Iraqi Government.

Valued at an estimated $25m, the deal covers delivery of 30 Stryker vehicles integrated with sensors, test equipment and communications gear for efficient detection of nuclear fallout or chemical and biological agents.

An unidentified US embassy official told the news agency that the deal forms part of a potential $7bn foreign military sale (FMS) package for Baghdad, which was agreed by the US Government in the last decade.

In an e-mailed statement, General Dynamics spokeswoman Marie Remboulis said the company was fully aware of the pending Stryker deal, while Iraqi embassy spokesman Raifet Ahmad did not respond to a request for comment on the issue.

The Iraqi Government had previously requested a sale of 400 Stryker ICVs and eight heavy recovery vehicles for use by the country's police in December 2008.

Manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada, the Stryker is an eight-wheel drive, armoured vehicle designed to provide infantrymen with enhanced protection and survivability from artillery fragments, roadside mines and improvised explosive devices in the battlefield.

The vehicle entered into operational service in early 2001, and is available in eight different variants, which include nuclear, biological, chemical reconnaissance vehicle, medical evacuation vehicle, and engineer squad vehicle, as well as anti-tank guided missile vehicles

Iraqi Air Force signs contract for second batch of F-16 fighters

The Iraqi Government has signed a contract with the US for the acquisition of a second batch of 18 F-16 C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon multi-role fighter jets, the country's acting defence minister Sadoun al-Dulaimi has revealed.

Speaking after a meeting with US officials in Baghdad, al-Dulaimi told Reuters that the new contract forms part of an original multi-billion deal agreed between the two countries for procurement of a total of 36 aircraft to help rebuild the Iraqi Air Force (IQAF).

"The contract is no different from the first contract in terms of the technical and financial details," al-Dulaimi added.

An unidentified US embassy spokesman in Baghdad also told the news agency that a letter of acceptance (LOA) for the second batch of aircraft had been presented to Iraq by the US Government.

"The United States would welcome Iraqi acceptance as another important step in our growing bilateral security assistance relationship," the spokesman added.

The IQAF, which is considered as the most ill-equipped branch of the country's armed forces, had signed an approximately $3bn deal with US for delivery of 18 F-16 aircraft, including 12 C and six D models, along with engines and support equipment in September 2012.

Powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F-100-GE-129 turbofan engine, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter, designed initially as an air superiority day fighter, but later evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft.

The F-16 C/D Block 52 aircraft is an upgraded variant of F-16, featuring improved cockpit avionics, radars and all-weather capability with beyond-visual-range (BVR) AIM-7 and AIM-120 air-air missiles.

The initial batch is scheduled to be handed over to the IQAF in September 2014, while the delivery of second set is expected to complete in 2018.