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Army chief 'Babaker Zebari' urges Iraq to
join NATO
16.2.2006
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BAGHDAD, Feb. 16
(UPI) -- Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Gen. Babaker
Zebari called for joining NATO to spare Iraq
building a big and costly army.
Zebari said in an interview with Iraqi daily al-Watan
Thursday: "As a military man I believe that one way
for safeguarding Iraq's wealth from the greedy is to
make Iraq part or member of NATO.
"In my personal evaluation such a choice will spare
Iraq big problems, mainly protecting its wealth
which will be largely wasted on building a big army,
and protecting the country from foreign aggression,"
Zebari said.
"I believe all that is in the interest of the Iraqi
people, however, such a decision should be taken by
the political leadership, be that the president,
government or parliament," he added. |
Babaker Zebari, Iraqi Army Chief of Staff General
Photo: Nawa Radio |
Zebari, a Kurd, said the Iraqi army largely depends
at present on the support of multinational forces
and that "the United States allows the creation of a
strong Iraqi army, but within a defined
understanding of the role of that army in the
future."
He said the army is currently composed of 10
brigades and 30 regiments and its number is expected
to increase to 160,000 by the end of this year.
Zebari said the army's budget for 2006 is $3
billion, 90 percent of which is allocated for
salaries, services and catering.
The Iraqi general also revealed that the army is
considering a contract with Germany for setting up
an advanced electronic monitoring system to protect
Iraq's borders at a cost of $2 billion.
UPI
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