Proposed US Bill: Recognize Iraq’s Kurds As ‘Partners’ And Arm Them Directly !

[DinarThug]

CNN. Broadcasting While Nominating A Proposal To Arm The Kurds - Can I Get A 2nd ?

 

 

 

(by billuke)

Proposed US bill: recognize Iraq’s Kurds as ‘partners’ and arm them directly 
By Yerevan Saeed yesterday at 01:37 

WASHINGTON DC - A new bill introduced in the US Congress calls on the White House to directly arm and assist the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in its war with Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL).

The proposed legislation by Republican congressmen Ed Royce of California, who is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Eliot Engel of New York, calls on Washington to tender Iraqi Kurds as a “reliable and stable partner of the United States.”

So far, Washington has refused to directly arm the Kurds, instead sending weapons through the central government in Baghdad, resulting in continuous complaints by Kurdish officials of delays and non-delivery.

According to the text of the legislation, the aim of the bill is “to authorize the direct provision of defense articles, defense services and related training to the Kurdistan Regional Government.”

The most striking feature of the bill, which is similar to the failed H.R.5747 proposal introduced last year, is its recognition of “Iraqi Kurds” as a partner of the US. 

This is something that Kurdish officials have been demanding, with the aim of turning political relations with Washington into an institutional one. It is their way of trying to mitigate the risks of what the Kurds call “American betrayal” of their national movement in the past. 

“Our critical partner in the fight against ISIL is in great need of heavy weapons and armored vehicles,” the proposed bill says. “We haven’t gotten Iraqi Kurdish ‘Peshmerga’ forces what they need. Even so, they have proven to be the most effective ground force currently fighting ISIL,” Royce was quoted as saying by the website of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“It is critical that the Administration provide Peshmerga forces with the weapons they need. This legislation streamlines the process to better aid this reliable U.S. partner as it continues its fight against ISIL,” he added.

Kurdish forces have been widely recognized as the most effective ground force in countering ISIS. They have been receiving weapons, ammunition and other defense articles for the war with ISIS, which is fighting with massive loads of US weapons it seized from a crumbling Iraqi army last summer.

“The Peshmerga forces are ‘boots on the ground’ in the fight against ISIL. They are fierce, capable, and determined, but they need the right tools to get the job done,” Royce said. “We should be doing everything in our power to get weapons and equipment to Kurdish fighters.”

President Barack Obama’s Administration has refused to bypass Baghdad for weapons deliveries to the Peshmerga, arguing it is prohibited by law from doing so. Last year, Secretary of State John Kerry called on Congress to “fix” the legality aspect of direct arming of the Kurds.” 

“We have to send it to the government (in Baghdad) because that’s the U.S. law. If you want to change it, fix it,” said Kerry. 

The Kurdish cause, which includes aspirations of independence by Iraq’s Kurds, has been getting more traction since the Peshmerga rose as a bulwark to ISIS expansion last summer. The Kurds have been working as a team with coalition forces, which have been coordinating the fight by pounding ISIS from the air. 

Earlier this month, US senator and possible 2016 presidential candidate Rand Paul called for direct arms supplies to Iraq’s Kurds, and said the Kurds should have their own homeland. 

“The arms are going through Baghdad to get to the Kurds and they’re being siphoned off and they’re not getting what they need,” Paul said. “I think any arms coming from us or coming from any European countries ought to go directly to the Kurds.”

Suggesting a change in US policy, which has been staunchly opposed to Kurdish independence, he said: “I would draw new lines for Kurdistan and I would promise them a country.”

Meanwhile, if the newly-proposed legislation is passed, it will allow the US government to provide anti-tank and anti- armor weapons, armored vehicles, long-range artillery, secure command and communications equipment, body armor, helmets, logistics equipment, excess defense articles and other military assistance.

The military aid would remain confined to the Ministry of Peshmerga and troops that are officially under the KRG, not the political parties. 

The bill notes that the US “will not provide any such defense article, defense service, or related training to anyone who is not an officer, employee, or agent of the Kurdistan Regional Government.” 

http://rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/270320152

[skeetdog]

Thanks DT...Ol' Abadi might have alternative motives for that 14th visit...

[skeetdog]

Thanks DT...This ties into the timing of the National Guard Act and in turn to the Amnesty Bill.....The military officers imprisoned now are without a doubt the most patriotic in the best interest of the Iraqi's....Most are Sunnis and have allegiance to a change...Being freed by a Shiite should unite that allegiance.... 

[skeetdog]

Thanks DT....This plays into the timin' of the National Guard Amnesty Act......

[yota691]

Wall Street Journal: US Congress refuses to arm the Iraqi army

 

US Congress

 

 

 

Author: Editor: ag Reporter:

Number of Views: 147

 

29/03/2015 18:24

 

Translation / tomorrow Press: revealed Wall Strti Journal American, that the Iraqi side offered earlier request to purchase a range of weapons from the US side to equip his army, and doubled this request three times during this year, which gave the impression to the Americans that the ongoing battle there are serious and ongoing, but Congress rejected execution of the request.

The paper deal, which the Iraqi government intends concluded with the United States value, Tkdrb $ 15 billion to buy a tank type Abrams and carts type "Humvee" equipped with machine guns, but sales, which will hopefully deliver to Iraq, hampered by the US Senate refused to carry out this request, saying it is not possible to equip the Iraqi side arms they want in the standard period set by a one month.

The newspaper quoted a senior US senator and chairman of the Armed Services Committee in Congress, he said, he had asked the Pentagon revealed the monthly data by the US ministry to assess Iraq's ability military and give reports on the light, and showed the newspaper that Iraq's request exactly Abrams tank number 175 tank, with ammunition and spare Other parts, accessories, will cost as the value of these tanks and accessories Country about three billion and a half billion dollars.

The Congress rejected the Iraqi side processing of requests made by, due to lower oil prices to below the required level, and this may expose the country to embarrass with the US side in the case did not pay what he owes.

The Pentagon has asked Congress to consider this military Tabat grant to the Iraqi side and paid for on credit, but the Council refused to do so as well.

[sandfly]

THANKS

[DinarThug]

CNN. Broadcasting While Nominating A Proposal To Arm The Kurds - Can I Get A 2nd ?

 

 

Proposed US bill: recognize Iraq’s Kurds as ‘partners’ and arm them directly 

 

[skeetdog]

They say the pen's mightier than the sword...The sword can alleviate contrastin' views.....