Think the Germans, Belgians and Turks would leap to Iraq's defense if it was attacked?

Iraq wants to join the NATO!
The senior advisor in the Iraqi defense ministry Mohammed al-Askari told the press today that the ministry is looking forward to seeing Iraq become a member of the NATO and that the minister Sa'doun al-Dulaimi, the chief of staff and the higher commanders are planning to propose this plan to the new government once it's seated.
Al-Askari told al-Hurra TV tonight that the chief commanders in the ministry had been discussing this subject with great interest for a long time and that:

   If al-Dulaimi gets a second term he will be working hard to convince the parliament about the necessity of joining the NATO as this falls in Iraq's strategic interests….the recent changes in the Middle East region and Iran's intentions to pursue nuclear weapons is encouraging us to move in this direction.


And added:

   We have got to think of a suitable deterring capability to protect Iraq from aggressions and we think being part of the NATO will provide Iraq with the best protection it can get because the NATO represents the base for peace and security in the world.


When asked about a statement given by the minister some time ago about Iraq's plans to equip the new army with Russian weaponry al-Askari responded:

   We had no choice but to depend on Russian weapons for the time being because our army personnel are familiar with those weapons and cannot switch to western and American weapons overnight. We have suffered from the disadvantages of Russian weapons and that's why we have plans to switch to American weapons on the mid and long term.


Thank God we still have leaders in Iraq who have a logical vision for the future and a rational understanding for the changes in our world.

What a difference between someone who wants to stand by Iran and someone who dreams of joining the NATO!
I hope we can get more of the latter and get rid of the former…

iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/2006/02/iraq-wants-to-join-nato.html

It's a good plan for Iraq particularly with Iran rumbling, but one has to wonder if NATO would accept them....  It would be worth it just to watch France's reaction, especially if they got in....

Quoted: It's a good plan for Iraq particularly with Iran rumbling, but one has to wonder if NATO would accept them....  It would be worth it just to watch Frances reaction, especially if they got in....

France is a member of NATO, but it withdrew from the integrated military command in 1966, so I don't know if they really count.

I support bringing Iraq in out of the cold.

Quoted: Quoted: It's a good plan for Iraq particularly with Iran rumbling, but one has to wonder if NATO would accept them....  It would be worth it just to watch Frances reaction, especially if they got in.... France is a member of NATO, but it withdrew from the integrated military command in 1966, so I don't know if they really count. I support bringing Iraq in out of the cold.

I support it too, but I'm not sure what htey have to offer NATO.  Granted, what does France have to offer NATO, but I think it would definatly be far more benifitial to Iraq than NATO.  Perhaps it's geography would be of benifit being located where it is in the Mid East.


-K

Quoted: METO?

Pronounced "me too?"  

Quoted: When asked about a statement given by the minister some time ago about Iraq's plans to equip the new army with Russian weaponry al-Askari responded:    We had no choice but to depend on Russian weapons for the time being because our army personnel are familiar with those weapons and cannot switch to western and American weapons overnight. We have suffered from the disadvantages of Russian weapons and that's why we have plans to switch to American weapons on the mid and long term. iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/2006/02/iraq-wants-to-join-nato.html

[Nelson] Ha HA! [/Nelson]


Glad they are pushing for this.  Means they are commited to producing a modern,  professional army.



Sheep

Quoted: Quoted: METO? Pronounced "me too?"

Nice.

This is good news.  It shows the world that Iraq can be a successful and stable country, contradicting all the media portrayals of anarchy.  It will help stabilize the mid-east.  And it will help the US protect American interests in the mid-east.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: It's a good plan for Iraq particularly with Iran rumbling, but one has to wonder if NATO would accept them....  It would be worth it just to watch Frances reaction, especially if they got in.... France is a member of NATO, but it withdrew from the integrated military command in 1966, so I don't know if they really count. I support bringing Iraq in out of the cold. I support it too, but I'm not sure what htey have to offer NATO.  Granted, what does France have to offer NATO, but I think it would definatly be far more benifitial to Iraq than NATO.  Perhaps it's geography would be of benifit being located where it is in the Mid East. -K

oh I don't know......MAYBE CRAP TONS OF OIL????

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: It's a good plan for Iraq particularly with Iran rumbling, but one has to wonder if NATO would accept them....  It would be worth it just to watch Frances reaction, especially if they got in.... France is a member of NATO, but it withdrew from the integrated military command in 1966, so I don't know if they really count. I support bringing Iraq in out of the cold. I support it too, but I'm not sure what htey have to offer NATO.  Granted, what does France have to offer NATO, but I think it would definatly be far more benifitial to Iraq than NATO.  Perhaps it's geography would be of benifit being located where it is in the Mid East. -K oh I don't know......MAYBE CRAP TONS OF OIL????

Is that metric or Imperial?

so much for NATO being the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Quoted: so much for NATO being the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

It hasn't been for a while.  

Now that the USSR is gone, the Europeans can weigh the benefits of having America as an ally versus the political hay made in their own countries by villifying the USA.  Guess which wins out in that contest? Blair's an important exception, but he is despised for his fidelity to the alliance with the USA.

France still sends troops to NATO operations-at least in Kosovo.  I'm not sure if they're in Afghanistan.  If we are truly supporting Iraq for the long haul, we should support NATO membership for them.  The only problem is that NATO does not just hand out memberships-I foresee the Euro countries lobbying for some very stringent entrance criteria.  

Quoted: France still sends troops to NATO operations-at least in Kosovo.  I'm not sure if they're in Afghanistan.  If we are truly supporting Iraq for the long haul, we should support NATO membership for them.  The only problem is that NATO does not just hand out memberships-I foresee the Euro countries lobbying for some very stringent entrance criteria.

From what I've read, France (and maybe Frances too?) is most active in UN missions to the dark continent.

Quoted: Quoted: France still sends troops to NATO operations-at least in Kosovo.  I'm not sure if they're in Afghanistan.  If we are truly supporting Iraq for the long haul, we should support NATO membership for them.  The only problem is that NATO does not just hand out memberships-I foresee the Euro countries lobbying for some very stringent entrance criteria.   From what I've read, France (and maybe Frances too?) is most active in UN missions to the dark continent.

Just for the young wominz, well knowing them Frenchies probably for the little boys too.  Q'est que ce  "road trip"?

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: France still sends troops to NATO operations-at least in Kosovo.  I'm not sure if they're in Afghanistan.  If we are truly supporting Iraq for the long haul, we should support NATO membership for them.  The only problem is that NATO does not just hand out memberships-I foresee the Euro countries lobbying for some very stringent entrance criteria.   From what I've read, France (and maybe Frances too?) is most active in UN missions to the dark continent. Just for the young wominz, well knowing them Frenchies probably for the little boys too.  Q'est que ce  "road trip"?

Was it not the French Foreign Legion that started the whole "Don't ask, don't tell" thing anyways???

This is great news . It sure puts the whole "We can never win" crowd in its place .
As for what Iraq has to offer???

Off the top of my head I can think of
A. Oil .
B. A permanent staging area for any operations in the ME with out the libtards going nuts about an invasion .

The only down side I see is that when Iran and Iraq go at it again we are going to get sucked in for sure .

But like i have been saying for a long damn time . Look at a map and where we have a metric crap load of troops right now .
Iran is only a matter of time anyway .