Iraq

The supply of weapons to Iraq

Prior to the 1990 UN arms embargo, Iraq was free to purchase arms wherever it pleased and the war with Iran did anything but put-off suppliers. Russia and France were Iraq's major suppliers and their sales included Scud and Exocet missiles, respectively. The UK was not in the big league as a supplier to either Iraq or Iran, but nonetheless did play a vital role in maintaining both military machines.

Following the UN embargo, Iraq had to rely on more clandestine supplies. Recent examples that have come to light include allegations that Ukraine sold Iraq four advanced Kolchuga military radar systems for $100m,¹ said to have occurred in 2000.² According to the International Crisis Group, the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, pre-and-post President Slobodan Milosevic, provided military assistance and weapons to Iraq including anti-aircraft systems, jet engines and spare parts for MiG aircraft.³ Moreover, the UN embargo did not stop Iraqi officials attending arms exhibitions alongside UK delegations. Only last October (2002), Prince Andrew was seen trying to avoid Iraqi officials at the SOFEX 2002 arms fair in Jordan.⁴

Learning the wrong lesson

The obvious lesson from Iraq is that arms should not be sold into areas of conflict or to repressive regimes. But that is not how the arms industry and its governments think – there appears to be no concept of prevention. The lesson they have drawn from the recent conflict is that more weapons are needed to fight future wars against similar regimes (presumably regimes that were once as friendly with the West as Saddam Hussein was?). US military spending continues to rise and European arms companies are frantically lobbying for increases of their own. This depressing mindset is graphically illustrated by reports that the US-led authority in Iraq is to import 34,000 AK-47 assault rifles for use by the new national army.⁵ Coalition forces have already seized tens of thousands of the AK47, the world's most prolific assault rifle. Apparently Iraq's administration wants the army to have new, standardised weapons.

Weaponry used in the invasion of Iraq

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, US-led coalition forces used a multitude of weaponry to suppress Iraq opposition forces over the course of just one month. UK and US forces used thousands of cluster munitions (see page 23), depleted uranium-tipped shells (see page 18), dumb as well as smart bombs, "bunker buster" munitions, napalm and thermobaric weapons.

Though the Pentagon has denied that napalm was used in Iraq, The Independent has reported that marine pilots confirmed an upgraded version of the weapon was dropped on Iraqi troops during the advance on Baghdad.⁶ These weapons, Mark 77 firebombs, each consist of 20kg of polystyrene-like gel and 285 litres of jet fuel, which sticks to the skin of its victims as it burns.

Thermobaric weapons are fuel-rich explosives reportedly developed by the US as a replacement for napalm.⁷ Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld confirmed that US forces had, for the first time, used a new thermobaric variant of Lockheed Martin's Hellfire laser-guided missile during the conflict in Iraq.⁸ The weapon generates a lethal blast wave in confined spaces such as bunkers, caves and inside buildings. It was reported to have been developed in less than a year at a cost of $14.8m.⁹

Benefits for the international arms industry

All this military equipment was produced by North American and European companies, with the likely inclusion of components from around the world. The arms business is already restocking missile shelves, fixing damaged hardware, and anticipating the replacement of worn-out equipment. Arms companies also make full use of the opportunities that a conflict shop window can provide for new equipment. For instance, Patriot missiles used in the 1991 Gulf War received an incredible level of hype, and sales increased rapidly after the conflict. Only later was it revealed that the missiles had missed virtually all of the Scuds they targeted; Israeli MoD data showed that only one of the 39 Scuds launched was intercepted.¹⁰ Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have received similar hype and post-conflict demand following the attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq.

Post-war reconstructuring and training

In the aftermath of the war in Iraq, 'private military companies' are vying for lucrative contracts. In late June 2003, Northrop Grumman's Vinnell Corp., the company responsible for training the Saudi National Guard, won a $48m one-year contract to train the nucleus of a new Iraqi Army.¹¹ In April it was reported that the US concern DynCorp had won a contract to re-establish police, justice and prison functions in post-conflict Iraq.¹² DynCorp's record in such matters is far from blameless; in May 2001 DynCorp personnel contracted to the UN police service in Bosnia were fired for alleged sexual misconduct, including rape and child prostitution.¹³

1 Financial Times, 'US may impose further sanctions on Kiev', 2.11.02
2 Washington Post, Foreign Service, 'Exile Accuses Ukraine Leader of Iraq Deal', 11.5.2002
3 International Crisis Group, 'Arming Saddam: the Yugoslav Connection', 3.12.2002
4 CAAT, CAATnews, Dec 2002 – Jan 2003
5 The Times, 'US guns for Iraqi Army', 9.8.03
6 The Independent, 'US admits it used napalm bombs in Iraq', 10.8.03.
7 www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/ 0,3604,418069,00.html, accessed 01.8.03
8 Jane's Defence Weekly, 'US used thermobaric Hellfire in Iraq', 31.5.03
9 Flight International, 'New hellfire strikes first in Iraq', 20.5.03.
10 Defense News, 'Israelis Resolve to Bury Past, Add Patriot Improvements', 17.2.03
11 Defense News, '$48 Million To Train Iraqi Army', 7.7.03.
12 Observer, 'Scandal-hit US firm wins key contracts', 13.4.03
13 Joshua Kurlantzick, 'Outsourcing the Dirty Work', The American Prospect, Vol. 14, 1.5.03