US announces F-16 sale to Iraq, then retracts statement

The United States military in Iraq issued and quickly retracted a statement on Tuesday that Iraq had agreed to purchase 18 F-16 fighters, stating that "Approval of the sale has NOT/NOT occurred" and that any approval will be made by Iraq's government. The retracted news release, however mentioned a 2013 delivery date, and that Iraqi pilots were already training in the United States.