Iraq diverts F-16 budget for food rations

Source: AFP

<snip>

For more than a year, Iraq has been engaged in talks with the United States for F-16 fighters to protect its airspace after the planned departure of US forces at the end of this year which will leave Iraq without air cover.

"In the new draft budget for 2011 that was presented to us, $900 million was earmarked for the purchase of F-16s, which will be used to finance rations and social benefits," confirmed Mohammed Khalil, a Kurdish MP who is a member of parliament's finance committee.

. . .


Iraq has postponed the planned purchase of 18 F-16 fighter planes from the United States this year and diverted the funds to feeding the poor, an official said on Monday, amid growing protests that have been inspired by the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

"The F-16 contract has been postponed this year and the money has been diverted toward improving food rations" for the poor, government spokesman Ali Dabbagh told AFP.



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How Un-American--Cutting military spending to feed the poor. What a novel thought.

U.S. dollars?

How ironic that we are sending money for weapons and the recipient of our investment turns it to food.

Feed the children. All of them. Everywhere.

or is in moronic?

They had a deal! The USA govt. "gives" Iraq money if Iraq promises to spend it enriching the corporations which financed the elections of US politicians. What happened to honor among thieves? Letting starving people usurp the profits of a glorious military supplier? Guess all those Muslims just don't understand the US business "ethic".

(Love this.)

North Korea too.