U.S. SEEKS AGING SOVIET PLATFORMS FOR IRAQI ARMY

BAGHDAD [MENL] -- The United States plans to procure Soviet-origin platformsand upgrade them for the new Iraqi Army. U.S. officials said the Coalition Provisional Authority has sought toprocure main battle tanks, armored personnel carrier and other Soviet-originplatforms that could be obtained cheaply and undergo rapid deployment in theIraqi Army. The platforms would be upgraded by outside contractors thatspecialize in the modernization of Soviet-origin platforms.