Insight - Amid U.S. air strikes, Iraq struggles to build own air force

Iraqi Air Force helicopters participate in a flypast ceremony marking the Iraqi Army's 91st anniversary in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone January 6, 2012. REUTERS/Saad Shalash

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama told a recent interviewer he did not want the U.S. military to become Iraq's air force. But he may have little choice.

Iraq had only a fledgling air force when the United States withdrew in 2011. Washington has agreed to bolster Iraqi air power by selling Baghdad 36 sophisticated F-16 multi-role jet fighters and 24 Apache helicopters.