Iraq Stability: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) in a New War Environment - Focus on ISIS, ISIL, Islamic State, Counterterrorism, Russian Military Sales to Iraq, Arms Export, Iraqi Security Forces

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this study analyzes how and why events in Iraq over the past 12 years affected Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programs, assesses the threat of competing Russian to Iraq arms sales, and determines the future of Iraq FMS sales considering the nature of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) conflict. U.S. FMS strategy in Iraq should focus on counterterrorism operations, increase end-user monitoring of U.S. equipment, and increase direct commercial sales to defeat ISIL in a new war context. The recommendations in this thesis seek to inform U.S. policymakers on future U.S. FMS strategy to Iraq and other countries where FMS agreements do not address asymmetric threat requirements or meet expected delivery timelines.

The United States uses FMS programs as a way and means to achieve strategic ends with foreign nations. In Iraq, the United States uses FMS as a diplomatic, informational, military, and economic instrument of national power to influence political-military action and economically benefit both nations. The Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq (OSC-1) runs the FMS program under U.S. Chief of Mission-Baghdad authority with the oversight and advice from personnel in Washington, D.C., including the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. FMS programs, or cases, require Congressional approval to ensure proper funding allocation and assurances that U.S. weapons and technology will not fall into the hands of adversaries.'

CHAPTER 1 * Introduction, Purpose, and Background * Thesis Approach * CHAPTER 2 * The Iraq Strategic Environment, Introduction and History * CHAPTER 3 * U.S. Foreign Military Sales, Introduction and History * Purpose and Definition * Eligibility Criteria * Process and U.S. Arms Export * Direct Commercial Sales * CHAPTER 4 * U.S. Foreign Military Sales to Iraq and History * Table I - Large Foreign Military Sales Agreements * Challenges * Benefits and Regional Comparison * Table 2 - Regional Foreign Military Sales Agreements * CHAPTER 5 * Russian Military Sales to Iraq, Introduction, and History * Challenges and Benefits * CHAPTER 6 * Iraq and Russia Foreign Military Sales Decisions * Iraq Decisions on U.S. and Russian Foreign Military Sales * Russian Decisions on Sales to Iraq * CHAPTER 7 * The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Iraqi Security Forces, and New Wars and Introduction * Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Posture * Iraqi Security Forces Posture * New War and Iraq * New War and Foreign Military Sales * CHAPTER 8 * U.S. and Iraq Foreign Military Sales - The Way Ahead * Conclusion * Recommendations * BIBLIOGRAPHY