Rapid Fire 2010-09-15: Funding Iraq’s Defense

* Lies, Damn Lies, Statistics: As Congress consider the Obama administration’s $2 billion FY 2011 request for Iraqi security forces, the GAO says [PDF] that Iraq has a budget surplus of $52.1 billion and should pay more for its own defense; the Pentagon disputes the numbers. * The Pentagon releases new defense acquisition and procurement guidelines designed to improve efficiency; among the proposals, increased competition for defense contracts, simpler paperwork requirements, and measures to discourage frivolous contract protests. * U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus rules that military contractors can be sued by soldiers who allege they were harmed by improper waste disposal while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. * UK and Brazil sign defense accord that could pave the way for BAE Systems to supply 6 patrol boats and 5 to 6 Type-26 frigates for a total of GBP 2.9 billion to the Brazilian Navy, the Financial Times reports. * Russian defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov, who is scheduled to meet with US counterpart at the Pentagon Wednesday, is a defense reformer who is cutting the Russian military’s bureaucracy. * Back to School: L-3’s MPRI division gets $37 million contract to provide curriculum and instructors for the Defense Information School […]