From AK to AR

In a move destined to incite flame wars across the internet the Iraqi Army is switching from the AK-47 to the M-16. The main reason for the switch is that most Iraqi AKs are from arms sales before the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. They're old and despite the AK's reputation, old guns that haven't been maintained or stored properly will have accuracy and reliability problems. Plus the Iraqi government probably has US military support funds that have to be spent on US equipment (just like Israel does). Buying rifles and pistols with it is a great way to go because Iraqi units are almost entirely made up of infantry.