Iraq scraps Russia arms deal on 'graft' claim

[pampango]

Source: Aljazeera

Iraq has cancelled a $4.2bn package of arms deals with Russia over corruption concerns, a spokesman for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has said.

"The deal was cancelled," Ali Mussawi told the AFP news agency. "When Maliki returned from his trip to Russia, he had some suspicions of corruption, so he decided to review the whole deal... there is an investigation going on, on this."

Mussawi declined to say who specifically was being investigated, or if Iraq would begin new negotiations with Moscow.

The massive deal was agreed a month ago when a delegation led by Maliki visited Russia. Had it been finalised and implemented, it would have made Russia the second-biggest arms supplier to Baghdad, after the United States. Russian media said the deliveries covered 30 Mi-28 attack helicopters and 42 Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile systems.

Read more: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/11/2012111092311614537.html

---

This updates a story from last month.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021499020

[vinny9698]

1. So much for gratitude

That's the thanks we get for putting Malki in power.

[pampango]

3. OTOH, if they only bought weapons from the US they would be our "lackeys".

Since they are apparently not going to pursue this purchase from Russia. If they are to be a sovereign country they probably should diversify the sources of their weapons so that no one weapons supplying country can have exclusive power over them.

[jpak]

2. Whaah don't them Eye-rackees buy 'Merican - Bush done liberbated thems

yup