No More Middleman When Iraq Buys Tanks
By Jonathan Broder, CQ Staff
At a time when the Pentagon is winding down its presence in Iraq, retired Army Col. Timothy D. Ringgold sees the war-torn country as a land of commercial opportunity — for U.S. arms merchants at least.
Ringgold, a West Point graduate with a doctorate in economics and a 30-year military career that included battlefield commands, is the chief executive of Defense Solutions, a company that is selling tanks, some of them modernized, to the Iraqi military.
“As U.S. force draws down, major combat formations will leave,” he said by telephone from Baghdad. “Once they’re gone, the Iraqis will be out there on their own. So Iraq needs to start building its force now.”
Until last year, Iraq could buy military equipment only through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, in which the Pentagon acts as a middleman. But in June, U.S. officials in Iraq lifted those restrictions, permitting Baghdad to buy directly from weapons dealers. Ringgold says he seized upon the rule change.
Since gaining an Iraqi Trade Ministry license in December, Ringgold says, Defense Solutions has earned $5 million by selling the Iraqis 77 Soviet-built T-72 medium tanks that Ringgold picked up off used-tank lots in Eastern Europe for $50,000 apiece. Now he is poised to sell Iraq a full brigade of 120 upgraded T-91 tanks for about $400 million. The tanks have been stripped down to their frames and tricked out with new armor, guns, electronics and thermal sights. To make sure they won’t be a threat to U.S. forces in the future, the upgraded tanks fall short of U.S. military specifications.
Although Ringgold’s company and General Dynamics Corp. appear to have sewn up Iraq’s tank and heavy-mortar markets, he says there are plenty of other opportunities for U.S. weapons dealers. The market for armored personnel carriers is wide open, Ringgold notes. And as Iraq further exercises its sovereignty, he says, there will be chances to sell its armed forces both artillery and aerial drones.
“There is a huge opportunity for American companies in Iraq,” he says. Iraqis have a tremendous respect for American technology, and they can’t understand why American companies aren’t here, trying to address their needs. To be frank, I can’t either.”
Upgraded T72 tanks for $50k.
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This General Forum is for general discussions from daily chitchat to more serious discussions among Somalinet Forums members. Please do not use it as your Personal Message center (PM). If you want to contact a particular person or a group of people, please use the PM feature. If you want to contact the moderators, pls PM them. If you insist leaving a public message for the mods or other members, it will be deleted.
Re: Upgraded T72 tanks for $50k.
Just 5 million for 77 improved T72 Tanks. I think this is a great deal if Somalia was to to rump up its security forces.
$400 Million for 120 T90 tanks. These are the latest version of Russian made tanks.
$400 Million for 120 T90 tanks. These are the latest version of Russian made tanks.
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Re: Upgraded T72 tanks for $50k.
this desperate habar needs to be banned. she's ruined a perfectly fine manly thread.
Re: Upgraded T72 tanks for $50k.
cool I love snakes.
- zingii
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Re: Upgraded T72 tanks for $50k.
Dude your topic got hijacked.Siciid85 wrote:cool I love snakes.

Re: Upgraded T72 tanks for $50k.
Siciid85 wrote:cool I love snakes.



This guy is very calm and cool headed.
Re: Upgraded T72 tanks for $50k.
I cant believe someone deleted all my snakes....fah..waa adiga soo maaha .... 

- gurey25
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Re: Upgraded T72 tanks for $50k.
A T-72 is absolutley useless againts a real NATO standard tank but it is perfect for africa.
The problem is nobody in africa is using them the way they were intended to be used.
and it will cost more than $50,000 to get them working, you will need to re-engine them new electronics.
the real cost for a properly functioning tank will be closer to half a million dollars a tank.
if you will no spend that kind of money then its better to go for something more suitable
like the ratel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratel_IFV


this beauty was practically built for somalia like conditions.
and is easy to maintain and operate, and would cost some thing like $150,000 each but the good thing is that its perfect
even if you get a beat up old one from the 80s you dont have to add anything to it.
The problem is nobody in africa is using them the way they were intended to be used.
and it will cost more than $50,000 to get them working, you will need to re-engine them new electronics.
the real cost for a properly functioning tank will be closer to half a million dollars a tank.
if you will no spend that kind of money then its better to go for something more suitable
like the ratel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratel_IFV


this beauty was practically built for somalia like conditions.
and is easy to maintain and operate, and would cost some thing like $150,000 each but the good thing is that its perfect
even if you get a beat up old one from the 80s you dont have to add anything to it.
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