August 30, 2010: Iraq is hustling to build up its armed forces, now that all American forces will be gone by next year. The U.S. is the largest supplier, partly because the Iraqis recognize the effectiveness of American gear, having been on the receiving end of those weapons several times. But the U.S. is also willing to sell used equipment at attractive prices. Thus Iraq is receiving 1,026 M-113 armored personnel carriers, 140 M-1A1 tanks, 21 M88A1 armored recovery vehicles and 60 M1070 tank transporters (which can also carry supplies or other vehicles.) Iraq has also bought 24 M-109A5 self propelled 155mm artillery, and 120 M198 155mm towed howitzers. Also purchased were thousands of hummers and military trucks, plus infantry weapons, engineer gear and other military equipment.

Iraq is also buying a lot of equipment from other nations. This includes 420 BTR-4 wheeled armored vehicles and ten An-32 twin-engine transports from Ukraine. Serbia is supplying twenty Lasta trainer aircraft, and several nations are supplying helicopters.