The US Just Approved A $600 Million Tank Ammunition Deal For Iraq's Embattled Government

[xchrom]

http://www.businessinsider.com/r-us-approves-sale-of-600-million-in-tank-ammunition-to-iraq-2014-10

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Monday said it had approved the sale to Iraq of $600 million in tank ammunition manufactured by General Dynamics Corp <gd.n>, saying it would help the Iraqi government establish an integrated ground defense capability.

Congress now has 30 days to block the sale, although such action is rare since arms deals are usually vetted carefully before a congressional notification.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency, or DSCA, notified lawmakers that the State Department had approved the sale of 10,000 M831 120m, high-explosive anti-tank munitions, 10,000 M865 120mm kinetic energy warheads and 26,000 other munitions, as well as logistics services.

DSCA said the prime contractor would be General Dynamics, maker of the M1A1 Abrams tank and the requested munitions.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/r-us-approves-sale-of-600-million-in-tank-ammunition-to-iraq-2014-10#ixzz3GmPtoelQ

[hobbit709]

1. Want to take bets on how long it takes before the ammo gets to ISIS?

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Yay! More bloodletting!

There's no better way to spend a half-billion than on propping up failed, hypercorrupt governments with implements of death that they'll resell or abandon.

[HereSince1628]

3. Who among us has any idea of the cost per item of ammunition?

If it was 600 million for 46k rounds of ammunition it would be roughly $13,000 per shell.

What's the dollar value of that quiet little clause..."as well as logistical services"?


Who is the sub that's going to be handling those logistics? Our dear friends at KBR?

[tammywammy]

8. If GD proposed logistics support it would be them providing it.

It would be highly unlikely they'd contract out routine logistics support to someone like KBR. Defense contractors such as GD has their own logistics personnel.

[HereSince1628]

11. ok, maybe it's implied, but it isn't apparent to me.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Does that include shipping? Or, is there "free shipping" option for orders of over 50,000?

Do they allow coupons?

[hatrack]

4. Maybe they could invest in some soldiers who'll stand and fight, instead of GD rakeoffs?

You know, little things like two Iraqi Army divisions of about 30,000 men being routed by 800 ISIS soldiers back in June?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/11/mosul-isis-gunmen-middle-east-states

[Frustratedlady]

5. Who is making these decisions?

I wonder how many congresscritters own stock in these manufacturers?

How about our hungry kids, schools in need of funds, infrastructure crumbling, etc.

Let's get our priorities lined up. If Iraq wants equipment, let them pay for it.

[tammywammy]

9. Defense contractors negotiate in conjunction with the DoD

And then foreign military sales are approved by the State Dept before Congressional notification.

[woo me with science]

6. And *another* round of food stamp cuts

just signed by our Democratic president! And a farm bill based on "pension smoothing"!




And we get to pay a TRILLION for new nukes!

[kentuck]

7. ISIS thanks you very much.

Dumbasses!

[woo me with science]

10. K&R

[Initech]

13. Yay, more war! Cause that's how we roll!

[woo me with science]

14. kick