Babylonian Empire

Page 628

After Brightman explained the purpose of his visit, as expected, Minister Ubaidi simply said that these things were personally decided by President Qusay, because the reduction of oil production will seriously hurt the interests of Iraq's oil exports, and Iraq will never increase production Oil, it would be good to be able to maintain the current production. Moreover, Iraq plans to give them a short holiday in the next one or two days, in response to the strong request of the oil workers. The time is between two and five days. .

Brightman cursed the new oil minister in his heart, while waiting for President Qusay to return to Baghdad as soon as possible.However, he did not wait for this opportunity.

President Qusay did not come back that night, nor did he come back the next day.

At this time, the price of crude oil in the international market began to rise all the way, and soon approached 55 US dollars, which has exceeded the level before the price cut.

Because, at present, the crude oil reserves of all importing countries are very small.

The reason is very simple, because the international oil price has been falling all the way, buying up and not buying down, this investment method is universally applicable. No one will reserve more crude oil when the oil price falls. Today, the price of 35 US dollars is reserved. I bought crude oil, and it dropped to [-] dollars tomorrow, so the extra five dollars I paid today would be a waste of money.

Therefore, when the international oil price falls, all countries have reduced their crude oil inventories to varying degrees. It is a very good idea to wait for the oil price to fall before increasing their crude oil inventories, especially for some dealers who can make a fortune Nice profit.

The United States doesn't care about this, but the key point is that the strategic crude oil reserves of the United States are now going through a period of adjustment. Their reserves have decreased. No one expected that suddenly so many situations will all rush together.

Now, only Iraq can solve this crisis. As long as Iraq increases crude oil production to make up the gap, then the oil price will not be too high!

In order to deal with this crisis, the United States conducted emergency consultations, and the result of the discussions was to use both soft and hard measures, and Iraq must increase crude oil production!

At the same time, the oil price fluctuations this time are so unusual that the U.S. side has also begun to investigate whether there is any special problem in the middle.

When Qusay came to Basra, he felt angry.

Zubayer in the north of Basra is the main industrial base in Iraq, including the military aircraft industry including two F-20 and Mirage 4000 production lines, and a large number of other weapons industries. This is the key area of ​​the Iraqi armed forces.

The United States imposed an arms embargo on Iraq, and the F-20 project was greatly affected. Iraq's production line can produce most of the parts, and it has gradually increased its own production of raw materials and imports from other countries, reducing the impact on the United States. However, there is no substitute for avionics, one of the key points of the aircraft.

Fortunately, before the U.S. terminated the contract, Iraq had stored a batch for emergency use, and the production line was still producing slowly and orderly. At the same time, during this period of time, Iraqi personnel were gradually digesting U.S. These techniques raise your level.

However, the Super Seven project, which is cooperating with the big eastern countries, has completely stagnated. Of course, Iraq has to give priority to ensuring the production of its own fighter jets. This can only be blamed on the United States for being too ruthless.

Now that the conflict with Israel is over, according to the agreement, the United States should resume the supply of parts for F-20 fighter jets, especially avionics equipment, so that Iraq can resume normal production.

However, I didn't expect that the Americans were evading it for various reasons. Up to now, no parts have been shipped out. After the No.40 four F-20 fighters were assembled on the Iraqi production line, they were waiting. Time for the parts.

On the production line, there were no technicians sent by the United States again.

"We have been working hard to improve the localization level of our aircraft. Now, except for the titanium alloy parts that we still need to import, we can produce the rest ourselves. We have established our own manufacturers for supporting the production of parts. However, for the avionics of the aircraft, we do not have the technology to achieve it now, and the four sets of avionics in the inventory have been installed on the newly assembled fighters, so we can no longer carry out new production.” Faroq-Faisal Said to Cusay.

"Did the United States not ship the equipment to us according to the contract?" Qusay asked.

"Yes, the United States said that Congress is reviewing this arms sale to us."

The Americans are crossing the river and demolishing the bridge, and promised to lift the arms embargo. However, they are afraid of the strength of the Iraqi military, so they started to act.

"President Qusay, the American ambassador is here in Basra. I hope to see you. There is an emergency." A secretary said.

The American ambassador is here?Just in time!

Chapter 743 American misunderstanding?

Brightman was sitting in the car, still a little puzzled, and he ran from Baghdad to Basra eagerly, hoping to meet Qusay and discuss with him about increasing crude oil production in Iraq. When he arrived in Basra, he was arrested by the Basra Chang sent a special car to Zubayer in the north, where it is said that President Qusay was waiting for him.

It seems that President Qusay did not avoid him on purpose, but is really busy. As a president, he only needs to issue various orders. For specific matters, other personnel in charge will do them. worn out.

Now, sitting in the special car to Zubair, Brightman is thinking about how to express the meaning of the United States to Qusay.

Now, as a major oil-producing country with important oil reserves in the world, Iraq must contribute to maintaining the stability of the world economy. At this moment when crude oil production in various countries is declining and oil prices are soaring, it is necessary for Iraq to increase production and reduce prices!

The United States is friendly enough to Iraq. In the conflict between the countries in the Middle East and Israel, the United States has exercised restraint in the final stage, restraining Israel and agreeing to the peacekeeping of the United Arab Army on the Golan Heights, although it is limited to various domestic considerations , Various stumbling blocks have been encountered, but so far, the United States has maintained enough friendship with Iraq.

The car quickly drove into Zubayer's aircraft factory. Brightman was a little flattered. The Mirage 4000 aircraft factory, which was kept very secret in Iraq and had never been visited by outsiders, opened the door to him.

On the assembly line, Brightman met President Qusay who was visiting.

Qusay was standing in front of a Mirage 4000 aircraft that had completed the final assembly. The aircraft had not yet been painted, and its appearance was like patches, which were displayed piece by piece in front of them. Qusay touched the rivets on it, which had been fused to the skin On, talking with the technician next to him.

The general manager of the French side is also next to Qusay. On the Mirage 4000 production line, there are some technicians stationed by Dassault to undertake technical supervision and other tasks.

Seeing Brightman coming here led by the staff in the factory, Qusay waved to him.

"President Qusay, it's a great pleasure to see you here. It's a great honor to visit the aircraft factory in Iraq," Brightman said.

"Mr. Ambassador, what do you think of our Iraqi-produced fighter plane?" Qusay asked.

Self-produced?To put it bluntly, it is just an assembly production line, Brightman thought in his heart, but said: "French fighter jets like the Mirage 4000 can be regarded as a relatively advanced aircraft, but compared to our American fighter jets, they are still far behind. a little."

In the hearts of Americans, they are always the greatest.

"Really?" At this time, the Frenchman in charge of the Mirage 4000 project said: "In the last exercise in the Arab countries, our Mirage 4000 fighters won the F-15 in the confrontation."

In the eyes of the Gauls, their own fighter jets are the most powerful, especially the emergence of the Mirage 4000, so that France also has a fighter jet that can rival the F-15. They are very proud.

"That's just because the Phantom 4000 uses an early warning aircraft, which has great advantages. Now, the Saudi Air Force is about to obtain our American E-3 early warning aircraft. After this kind of early warning aircraft joins the Saudi Air Force, it will be used again Simulated air combat, the result will definitely be different," Brightman said.

"Then we also have a great advantage in close combat." The Frenchman continued.

"That's because the pilots of the Saudi Air Force were flying. If our air force pilots were used, the results would definitely be different," Brightman said.

The two fought against each other, but Qu Sai didn't realize that there would be such a result, which was not his original intention.

"Even if it's not the F-15, the F-20 fighter jets we export to Iraq are relatively advanced." Brightman said. People listen.

Comparing light fighters with heavy fighters is simply incomparable. After all, Brightman is not an expert, and he just said this to suppress the spirit of the French.

Qusay did not participate in their debate. He said: "These two types of fighter jets are the main fighter jets of Iraq in the future, and they will also become the main fighter jets of countries in the Middle East, especially the F-20 fighter jets. We have already made preliminary estimates. , In the Middle East, there is a potential market for 4000 aircraft. However, it is a pity that now Iraq needs to invest major funds to produce Mirage 20 fighter jets and the F-[-] production line, and we need to temporarily put it on hold.”

"Why?" Hearing this, Brightman gave up the American warplanes and used all legal ones?This is not acceptable!At this time, he had already been surrounded by Qu Sai, and he actually forgot his purpose of coming.

"If the ambassador is willing, I can take you to our F-20 production line to have a look. However, the production line there has stopped, and our workers have also been transferred to the production line here." Qu Sai Said.

"Why?" Brightman faintly felt that if Iraq produces Mirage 4000 at full speed and abandons F-20, then it may not be a good thing for the United States, because the United States exports raw materials, avionics and other equipment for fighter jets. , is still a lot of income, especially, Qusay said that there is a potential market of [-] planes in the Middle East. Although the production is in Iraq, the imported parts are enough for Northrop to make a lot of money It's a sum.

"Because your country actually violated our agreement and refused to provide our country with the rest of the equipment we need to import, including avionics. Therefore, we only produce airframes now, without avionics, and we still cannot produce qualified fighter jets. , we have already paid for the new 20 sets of avionics, but now half a month has passed, and your country still has not given us any sign of export, so we are considering whether to send the F-2000 production line By transforming it and producing Dassault Mirage [-] fighter jets, we can also achieve the role of high ground collocation." Qu Sai said.

Those guys in the country!Brightman cursed in his heart, he knew some of these inside stories, although last time, in order to restore peace between Israel and the countries in the Middle East, the United States first exerted pressure, imposed sanctions, and terminated all cooperation, Then the sanctions were lifted and cooperation between the two parties resumed.

However, at this time, differences began to appear at the top of the United States. In the dispute between Iraq and Israel this time, the Iraqi army showed greater combat effectiveness, which has never been seen before. Iraq can produce its own weapons and use advanced weapons. tactics, and Iraq is not very obedient, such a country, the United States does not want him to be strong.

Therefore, under the suggestion of some people, the United States began to reconsider its policy towards Iraq. In particular, the F-20 fighter jet production line exported to Iraq by the United States is considered to be a part of the highest technology. The United States should re-examine whether it needs to continue to implement this policy. protocol.

The House of Representatives and the Senate began to discuss this issue, but Iraq can't wait so long.The avionics in the original inventory have all been installed, what about the rest?

Iraqi technicians have already started to conduct joint research in the big eastern country, trying to digest, absorb, and integrate the avionics technology of the F-20 and F-14, and imitate them on this basis. However, this is It is a long process, some of the electronic accessories can be imported through Ousheng Electronics, while some parts are still blank.

Iraq is considering temporarily importing some avionics equipment from other European countries to meet the needs of the follow-up production of F-20 fighters. The Americans want to rectify Iraq’s defense industry. Iraq will never compromise. The ground-to-air Hawk missiles are attached to the F-14 fighter planes. Iraq's current technical level has far surpassed that of Iran.

But when he saw Brightman, Qusay said again, the fault is all the United States, it depends on what reason you give!McFarlane fully agreed at the beginning.