Manipulating the Army: Halbousi Uses Military Aircraft for Elections, and the Ministry of Defense Is Complicit in Corruption
Manipulating the Army: Halbousi Uses Military Aircraft for Elections, and the Ministry of Defense Is Complicit in Corruption
8-9-2025
Information / Exclusive..
In a strange scene that sparked controversy, Mohammed al-Halbousi used military aircraft to travel between governorates to meet with his voters, most recently visiting Kirkuk Governorate (only 350 km from Baghdad). He is merely the head of a political party, without holding any official position in the Iraqi state. This raises many questions about the legality of using these aircraft designated to support military operations and protect national security.
Military aircraft are state assets that are supposed to be at the sole disposal of the armed forces, whether for transporting soldiers or essential military equipment. In al-Halbousi’s case, the use of these aircraft for personal political purposes—especially if related to his election campaign or enhancing his popular standing—represents a serious abuse of military resources.
Among the most prominent questions that arise here are: Who authorized this? Was approval provided by the Ministry of Defense or the army’s high command for the use of military aircraft for these purposes? Is there real oversight over such decisions? The Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army must take a firm stance on this issue and clarify how such operations are allowed to be carried out without oversight or accountability.
This behavior can be classified as administrative corruption, which involves personal exploitation of public resources for individual or political gain. The use of military aircraft to travel between governorates for purposes unrelated to military missions demonstrates a disregard for public funds and a disregard for national interests.
Who will stop this chaos?
One of the primary roles of the Chief of Staff of the Army and the Minister of Defense is to monitor and evaluate all use of military equipment to ensure it is not exploited for personal or political purposes. In the absence of deterrent measures, the question of who will stop this corruption becomes urgent.
The Role of the Prime Minister’s Military Advisor:
While the Prime Minister’s Military Advisor is supposed to be committed to his responsibilities in directing military decisions and overseeing the use of military equipment, this incident highlights the lack of oversight by the relevant officials. Why was there no intervention to stop this illegal use of military aircraft? Were the approvals granted without the knowledge or willingness to participate in these practices?
Undermining the Prestige of the Iraqi Military
: Granting individuals or politicians the authority to use military aircraft for personal purposes diminishes the prestige of the armed forces and tarnishes their image in the eyes of the Iraqi people. It is imperative that military commanders demonstrate their commitment to maintaining this prestige and limiting any form of political exploitation.
Undermining Trust in Institutions:
The exploitation of military resources for political purposes reflects a lack of transparency and erodes trust between the government and citizens. At a time when Iraq needs to strengthen and reform its military institutions, allowing such behavior could undermine efforts to combat corruption and promote justice.
Military observers point out that “no one can ignore the seriousness of this irresponsible use of military aircraft, which appears to be occurring in the absence of real oversight and accountability. This behavior not only represents a violation of state resources, but also reflects the weakness of the political system, which lacks strict standards to prevent the abuse of power. The Iraqi government and its military leadership must stand firmly against these actions and take immediate action to hold accountable all those involved in this systematic recklessness.”
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