Iraqi Army’s armament “greatest mission” – Parliament Speaker

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The occasion for the 90th anniversary of the Iraqi Army Day taking place today (Thursday) indicates that the Army’s armament is considered the largest mission facing Iraq, a statement from the office of Iraq‘s Parliament Speaker, Usama al-Nujeifi, said. “The Iraqi Army’s armament is considered the greatest mission facing Iraq, in order to achieve security and safety of this country, after the final withdrawal of the American forces from the country by the end of this year,” the statement quoted Nujaifi as saying. He described his belief that the final withdrawal of the U.S. forces from Iraq will witness “a genuine Iraqi sovereignty over its land, sea and sky. This however shall make it face a more difficult mission, i.e. the mission of building, reconstruction and guaranteeing welfare for its people, after years of war, oppression and drought.” “The current phase lays the Iraqi leaders before a historic responsibility, forcing them to join their efforts to achieve our people’s needs, fore fronted with the building of an efficient army, able to protect our borders, face foreign threats and challenges, that Iraq might face,” Nujaifi said. Iraq‘s former U.S. Political Leader, Paul Bremer, had decided to dismantle the Iraqi Army after the country’s occupation by the U.S. and Britain in 2003, forcing Iraq to form a New Iraqi Army, charged with the mission of protecting Iraq‘s security, in an unprecedented experience in the history of modern armies. AHM (A) / SKH/SR 5