First bombs, now sniper rifles: the ties between Iran and Iraq are getting stronger

[ProfJohn]

First we had the evidence of the bombs being built by Iran.

Now we have even more damning evidence of Iran supplying the Iraq insurgents with weapons that have been used to KILL Americans.

So far 100 of the Austrian rifles have been found in Iraq. What makes this evidence more damning than the bombs is that these can be traced directly to Iran via serial numbers.

As the story points out just over a month after the weapons were sold to Iran they were being used to kill Americans in Iraq.

I am wondering if all you people mad at Bush for the loss of American lives in Iraq going to turn that anger at Iran now? At least 170 American are now dead because of Iranian weapons and those are just the ones we can positively link via the weapons used to kill them. What if these helicopters going down are the result of missiles coming from Iran?
We?ve been there for four years and all of a sudden our helicopters start falling from the sky? These weapons are coming from some where.
Link to UK paper

Austrian sniper rifles that were exported to Iran have been discovered in the hands of Iraqi terrorists, The Daily Telegraph has learned.

More than 100 of the.50 calibre weapons, capable of penetrating body armour, have been discovered by American troops during raids.

The Steyr HS50 is a long range, high precision rifle
The guns were part of a shipment of 800 rifles that the Austrian company, Steyr-Mannlicher, exported legally to Iran last year.

The sale was condemned in Washington and London because officials were worried that the weapons would be used by insurgents against British and American troops.

Within 45 days of the first HS50 Steyr Mannlicher rifles arriving in Iran, an American officer in an armoured vehicle was shot dead by an Iraqi insurgent using the weapon.

Over the last six months American forces have found small caches of the £10,000 rifles but in the last 24 hours a raid in Baghdad brought the total to more than 100, US defence sources reported.

 

[wazzledoozle]

Keep drinking the Koolaid, ProfJohn.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
First we had the evidence of the bombs being built by Iran.

Now we have even more damning evidence of Iran supplying the Iraq insurgents with weapons that have been used to KILL Americans.

So far 100 of the Austrian rifles have been found in Iraq. What makes this evidence more damning than the bombs is that these can be traced directly to Iran via serial numbers.

As the story points out just over a month after the weapons were sold to Iran they were being used to kill Americans in Iraq.

I am wondering if all you people mad at Bush for the loss of American lives in Iraq going to turn that anger at Iran now? At least 170 American are now dead because of Iranian weapons and those are just the ones we can positively link via the weapons used to kill them. What if these helicopters going down are the result of missiles coming from Iran?
We?ve been there for four years and all of a sudden our helicopters start falling from the sky? These weapons are coming from some where.

So, what's your point?

 

[IronWing]

All the more reason to get out of Iraq.

 

[blackllotus]

Its fairly clear that Iran is helping insurgents in Iraq however the real question is what do we do about it? Invasion is not a realistic option nor is attempting to secure the Iraq-Iran border (we can't even secure our own borders). Tactical strikes against Iranian weapon stockpiles would likely be ineffective as well because there is no way we can hit the amount needed to severely cripple their supply.

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: wazzledoozle
Keep drinking the Koolaid, ProfJohn.

Stop drinking your own koolaid. You're in denial if you don't think Iran funds and supplies terrorists.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: ntdz

Originally posted by: wazzledoozle
Keep drinking the Koolaid, ProfJohn.

Stop drinking your own koolaid. You're in denial if you don't think Iran funds and supplies terrorists.

So

 

[spittledip]

Who says it is the govt supplying the weapons? it could be any Iranian. Or, it could be weapons that were stolen.. or it could be anything! You would think that after the whole WMD mess that our govt would have learned their lessons about not jumping to conclusions.

 

[Tab]

I have no doubt there's some kind of Iranian government involvement in Iraq, but so what? What are we suppose to do about it? China supported Vietcong too... You didn't expect us to actually invade them did you?

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: Tab
I have no doubt there's some kind of Iranian government involvement in Iraq, but so what? What are we suppose to do about it? China supported Vietcong too... You didn't expect us to actually invade them did you?

PJ's got an itchy trigger-finger and wants the bombing to commence, that's what.

 

[catnap1972]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey

Originally posted by: Tab
I have no doubt there's some kind of Iranian government involvement in Iraq, but so what? What are we suppose to do about it? China supported Vietcong too... You didn't expect us to actually invade them did you?

PJ's got an itchy trigger-finger and wants the bombing to commence, that's what.

So long as his heated La-Z-Boy is plugged in and ready for the long haul.

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: ironwing
All the more reason to get out of Iraq.

QFT.

 

[bamacre]

So what if they are? What gives the USA the right to meddle in Iraqi affairs and not Iran?

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: bamacre
So what if they are? What gives the USA the right to meddle in Iraqi affairs and not Iran?

We're bigger than they are.

 

[OrByte]

Weve known about the bombs for almost a year now. Why is this back in the news?

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: bamacre
So what if they are? What gives the USA the right to meddle in Iraqi affairs and not Iran?

Iran is free to do whatever the want.

However, when American boys are coming home with Iranian bullets in them then they aren't messing with Iraqi affairs, they are committing an act of war.

We supplied the Afghan freedom fighters with weapons, China supplies the Vietcong and North Korea with weapons. The difference is that in both cases the other side knew it was not worth escalating the conflict by taking any type of serious response.
That is not the case now. IF we felt that what Iran is doing is bad enough we can respond without much fear of World War 3 that was not the case in China or the Soviet Unions case.

I am guessing that many of you just think we should sit back and let Iran keep supplying arms to kill Americans. Which pretty much fits with the left?s whole view on the war on terror. Don?t fight, its not worth it.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: bamacre
So what if they are? What gives the USA the right to meddle in Iraqi affairs and not Iran?

Iran is free to do whatever the want.

However, when American boys are coming home with Iranian bullets in them then they aren't messing with Iraqi affairs, they are committing an act of war.

We supplied the Afghan freedom fighters with weapons, China supplies the Vietcong and North Korea with weapons. The difference is that in both cases the other side knew it was not worth escalating the conflict by taking any type of serious response.
That is not the case now. IF we felt that what Iran is doing is bad enough we can respond without much fear of World War 3 that was not the case in China or the Soviet Unions case.

I am guessing that many of you just think we should sit back and let Iran keep supplying arms to kill Americans. Which pretty much fits with the left?s whole view on the war on terror. Don?t fight, its not worth it.

So, are you ever going to admit that the US admin and/or war planners should have known, beforehand, that Iran would interfere?

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: Tab

Originally posted by: bamacre
So what if they are? What gives the USA the right to meddle in Iraqi affairs and not Iran?

We're bigger than they are.

And that's about it.

 

[her209]

Hmmm... I wonder where all the other thousands of guns come from?

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
I am guessing that many of you just think we should sit back and let Iran keep supplying arms to kill Americans. Which pretty much fits with the left?s whole view on the war on terror. Don?t fight, its not worth it.

SUPRISE! The world doesn't exist in a vacuum.

 

[OrByte]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: bamacre
So what if they are? What gives the USA the right to meddle in Iraqi affairs and not Iran?

Iran is free to do whatever the want.

However, when American boys are coming home with Iranian bullets in them then they aren't messing with Iraqi affairs, they are committing an act of war.

We supplied the Afghan freedom fighters with weapons, China supplies the Vietcong and North Korea with weapons. The difference is that in both cases the other side knew it was not worth escalating the conflict by taking any type of serious response.
That is not the case now. IF we felt that what Iran is doing is bad enough we can respond without much fear of World War 3 that was not the case in China or the Soviet Unions case.

I am guessing that many of you just think we should sit back and let Iran keep supplying arms to kill Americans. Which pretty much fits with the left?s whole view on the war on terror. Don?t fight, its not worth it.

nobody is buying what you are selling.

 

[Todd33]

We did it to USSR in Afghanistan, they do it to us in Iraq. We'd do the same if Iran invaded Canada. Good luck drumming up support for a war of this kind of petty thing. All fair in love and war.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: bamacre
So what if they are? What gives the USA the right to meddle in Iraqi affairs and not Iran?

Iran is free to do whatever the want.

However, when American boys are coming home with Iranian bullets in them then they aren't messing with Iraqi affairs, they are committing an act of war.

We supplied the Afghan freedom fighters with weapons, China supplies the Vietcong and North Korea with weapons. The difference is that in both cases the other side knew it was not worth escalating the conflict by taking any type of serious response.
That is not the case now. IF we felt that what Iran is doing is bad enough we can respond without much fear of World War 3 that was not the case in China or the Soviet Unions case.

I am guessing that many of you just think we should sit back and let Iran keep supplying arms to kill Americans. Which pretty much fits with the left?s whole view on the war on terror. Don?t fight, its not worth it.

Iran has and has had a very large chemical and biological weapons program for a very long time. Not to mention the country has not been under sanctions for many years and has a significant defensive army maintained by a government controlled military industry.

Would Iran be able to win a war agaisnt the United States? Probably Not. Would this improve world security? Probably Not. Would it be an easy war with minimal casualties? Absolutely Not.

A war agaisnt Iran is not in the best interest of any nation or any single decent human being.

 

[ericlp]

I don't think anyone denied that *SOME* of these weapons came from Iran... The question is. Who cares?

The reality is ... Iran can supply anyone with anything for a price. I doubt they are just giving away these weapons. Also, what about America selling it's weapons to nations like Iran??? If we sell weapons to support terror then why can't they sell them to who ever? Same goes for Russia or China. Hey, if there is a buyer. What are you going to do? I am sure they have a big black market for these in Iraq and I am sure that it's not JUST Iran's weapons that are making it in Iraq. You'd have to be a fool to think if you got Iran out of the picture everything would be peace and roses.... Nice try... Think again...

 

[compnovice]

Originally posted by: Tab

Originally posted by: bamacre
So what if they are? What gives the USA the right to meddle in Iraqi affairs and not Iran?

We're bigger than they are.

In that case... Beware of the Canadians