US accelerates sales of military equipment to Iraq

The United States announced today that it will step up its sales of military equipment to Iraq to help it in the fight against al-Qaeda. This came during US Vice President Joe Biden's telephone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. The White House said additional surveillance drones would be delivered within weeks and more Hellfire missiles sent in the next few months, according to the (BBC). As the violence increased in Iraq, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the US was working closely with Baghdad to develop a "holistic strategy" to isolate al-Qaeda affiliated groups. He said there had already been some successes but the situation remained "fluid". "We're accelerating our foreign military sales, deliveries, and are looking to provide an additional shipment of Hellfire missiles as early as this spring," he said.