“Iraqi Defense Minister Sadun al-Dulaimi denied this information later.”

“…neither the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, nor defense export company Rosoboronexport that was supposed to implement the deal has received a notice of termination of the contract. No adequate information has been received through diplomatic channels either.”

Is this news story a symptom of Russian paranoia over lost contracts in the Middle East?

If it did happen, there is a remedy at law – a lawsuit against U.S. defense contractors involved for intentional interference with prospective advantage. If contracts have already been signed, then it would be for interference with contract.

It’s not as if Russia is helpless. Didn’t the Bush Administration have an agreement with Putin that Russia would not lose money as a result of the Iraq War, in exchange for Russia standing down during the invasion?