US F-16 training rules out Shiite pilots

A member of the Parliamentary Committee on Security and Defence Qasim al-Araji, disclosed co-ordination between the leadership of the Iraqi Air Force and Washington to exclude Shiite pilots from a training programme to pilot F-16 military jets, under the pretext of sectarian relations with Iran. Qasim al-Araji said in a press statement that: "there are worrying intentions about limiting the training programme on the F-16 to only the Sunni community, a task that should include the majority of the Iraqi people." Araji confirmed he would ask the Air Force Commander, General Anwar Hama Amin, to demonstrate the selection mechanism for candidates nominated for aircraft training courses. A source in the office of parliament's Shiite National Alliance told Arabstoday there are sharp differences between the political blocs on the nominations and those selected to travel to the US in order to join training courses for F-16 fighter aircraft, whose the first shipment will be delivered to Iraq soon. The source, who asked not to be named affirmed that none of the Shiite pilots were nominated for this course although there are many competent Shiite pilots in the Iraqi Air Force. The Iraqi government announced to pay the first installment of this F-16 aircraft transaction to the United States in September last year. It also reported that the amount purchased was 18 fighter jets while confirming that Iraq is seeking to buy 36 F-16 aircrafts in total. The United States agreed on April 13 2011 to double the number of F-16 aircraft to be sold to Iraq in conjunction with a visit by the Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to the United States. It is believed that the decision was evidence of Iraq's progress in ensuring its security and independence. The transaction raised strong reactions among Kurds. Head of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Massoud Barzani called on the US Congress to cancel the F-16 aircrafts transaction with Iraq on April 23 2012. Meanwhile, the Committee on Security and Defence critisised the Kurdish refusal to arm Iraq with the aircraft. Barzani stated in may that MiGs and Mirages did not scare the Kurds as much as they are intimidated by the culture that believed in the language of F-16 aircraft, guns and tanks. He accused parties of targeting the Kurds "to prove their Arabism," adding that the tragedy experienced by the Kurds is not understood by the Arab world. The F-16 aircraft is produced by US General Dynamics group and is exported to 20 countries. It is the most widely used fighter in the world. The armament deal is included within the security agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington at the end of November 2008, which provides training and equipment for the Iraqi forces.