U.S. Plans Abrams Sale To Iraq

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States plans to sell an advanced main battle tank to Iraq.
Officials said the Bush administration has approved the sale of the M1A1
Abrams MBT to the Iraq Army. They said the sale would significantly enhance
the post-Saddam Hussein military and launch efforts to help Iraq defend
against enemy invasion.
"This proposed sale would advance Iraq's effort to develop a strong,
well-equipped, trained, and dedicated military force, to establish security
and stability throughout Iraq, and to promote the stability and development
of a friendly, democratic central government," the Defense Security
Cooperation Agency said.
The Defense Department agency said it has notified Congress of the
proposed sale of 140 M1A1s to Iraq. Under the project, the United States
would then upgrade the M1A1s to M1A1M configuration in a $2.16 billion deal.