US to directly arm Kurds with Russian weaponry through CIA

[francisco]

Could any of this get any more bizarre?

US to directly arm Kurdish peshmerga forces in bid to thwart Isis offensive

Weaponry, said to be light arms and ammunition, to be brokered though CIA who are better positioned to supply militia

The Obama administration has announced it will arm the militia forces of Iraqi Kurdistan, to prevent the fall of the final bastion of pro-US territory in Iraq.

The weaponry is said to be light arms and ammunition, brokered not through the Department of Defense – which supplies Baghdad and its security forces with heavy weaponry – but the CIA, which is better positioned to supply the Kurdish peshmerga with Russian-made guns like AK-47s that the US military does not use. The news was first reported by the Associated Press.

Read more:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...kurdistan-isis

[dannno]

How is it bizarre?

Read this sometime.

http://www.amazon.com/Foreign-Policy.../dp/0912453001

[acptulsa]

How is it bizarre?

They told us the CIA was supplying Russian weapons, making it harder for them to blame it all on Russia later when things go wrong.

[Zippyjuan]

The Iraqi army has used Russian weapons for decades. They are already trained on them and are compatable with what other weapons they have.

[dannno]

They told us the CIA was supplying Russian weapons, making it harder for them to blame it all on Russia later when things go wrong.

Ahh, zippy just informed us that this is an on-going strategy.

[acptulsa]

The Iraqi army has used Russian weapons for decades. They are already trained on them and are compatable with what other weapons they have.

The Kurds are not the traditional backbone of the Iraqi army.

Ahh, zippy just informed us that this is an on-going strategy.

Well, I expect he would be the one to ask...

[TheCount]

The Kurds are not the traditional backbone of the Iraqi army.

Every place in the world other than North America and Europe have been using Russian and Russian-derived weaponry for decades. It's the standard.

If you tried to give them some M-16s they would probably look at you like you were crazy.

[fr33]

AKs win wars.

[Constitutional Paulicy]

Iraqi Small Arms...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...rmy#Small_arms

[Keith and stuff]

The US federal government is directly supporting all three sides in the Iraqi Civil War. No surprise there The weapons and equipment has to be sold so that more can be made.

[HOLLYWOOD]

Charlie Wilson's "War" in Afghanistan against the Russians... the US politicians and CIA armed Mujahideen/Taliban/Gulbuddin Hekmatyar groups with Russian Kalashnikovs (AK-47) and Stingers, and whatever, which were laundered through Egypt so they couldn't be tracked.

Oh, let's not forget John McCain "light" Rorhbacher





Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA 48thdistrict)
with his Kalashnikov AK-47 in Afghanistan

[enhanced_deficit]

Charlie Wilson's "War" in Afghanistan against the Russians... the US politicians and CIA armed Mujahideen/Taliban/Gulbuddin Hekmatyar groups with Russian Kalashnikovs (AK-47) and Stingers, and whatever, which were laundered through Egypt so they couldn't be tracked.

Oh, let's not forget John McCain "light" Rorhbacher



Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA 48thdistrict)
with his Kalashnikov AK-47 in Afghanistan

I was gonna saysame.

Seems like a template. Russian weapons were supplied to Afghan Jihadis (much of those procured from Israel who used to be old Russsian ally and then became second largest suppliear of weapons to violent Ismalist Jihadis who were killing Russian infidels, US being the largest supplier of weapons).

[69360]

I'm actually ok with this.

Oh and the AK-47 really is the best rifle for a place like Iraq. It fires no matter what more or less, where an M4/AR15 needs to be kept up with.

[Uriel999]

I'm actually ok with this.

Oh and the AK-47 really is the best rifle for a place like Iraq. It fires no matter what more or less, where an M4/AR15 needs to be kept up with.

that is a myth. My trusty dragon slayer (M16A4) here in the stan has been just fine. I have never had a jam in any of the 4 deserts on 3 continents I have shot the platform on.

The AK is not as reliable as people say and still requires regular maintenance. The M16/4 platform requires less maintenance than people think. I'd bet if they were offered the M16/4 platform they would jump all over it. The AK isn't a bad weapon, but the legend about it's reliability is just as much as myth as the myth that the m16/4 is jamomatic in the desert.

[Pericles]

Every place in the world other than North America and Europe have been using Russian and Russian-derived weaponry for decades. It's the standard.

If you tried to give them some M-16s they would probably look at you like you were crazy.

maybe that explains what happened to the Iraqi army, rather than the fact that the US disbanded it, and then tried to recreate an army in its image.

[Uriel999]

I really want to watch some generation kill now...

[alucard13mm]

I really want to watch some generation kill now...

Why cant we invade a fun country where girls wear bikinis? Damn it.

[Uriel999]

Why cant we invade a fun country where girls wear bikinis? Damn it.

lol, great reference and I'd bet even Ron Paul would support that! I mean, what man wouldn't.

[alucard13mm]

lol, great reference and I'd bet even Ron Paul would support that! I mean, what man wouldn't.

Id like a spin off series for captain america.

[devil21]

Anyone remember the 600,000 AK magazines procured by the US Army?

http://www.infowars.com/u-s-army-buy...-47-magazines/

[AngryCanadian]

Kurdistan has Oil thats the only real interest American Gov has in Kurds.

[Barrex]

that is a myth. My trusty dragon slayer (M16A4) here in the stan has been just fine. I have never had a jam in any of the 4 deserts on 3 continents I have shot the platform on.

The AK is not as reliable as people say and still requires regular maintenance. The M16/4 platform requires less maintenance than people think. I'd bet if they were offered the M16/4 platform they would jump all over it. The AK isn't a bad weapon, but the legend about it's reliability is just as much as myth as the myth that the m16/4 is jamomatic in the desert.

Funny, my cousin and most of the soldiers that were in war that I know, and I know a lot of them, say exactly the opposite: Soldiers prefer AKs and would throw away their M16s to take AKs.

*there are a lot of versions and a lot of countries that produce AKs. Those produced in Africa are of bad quality because metal that is used is of bad quality.

[Pericles]

Funny, my cousin and most of the soldiers that were in war that I know, and I know a lot of them, say exactly the opposite: Soldiers prefer AKs and would throw away their M16s to take AKs.

*there are a lot of versions and a lot of countries that produce AKs. Those produced in Africa are of bad quality because metal that is used is of bad quality.

When both sides are poorly trained, I see 4 to 5 dead guys with AKs to every dead guy with an AR.

When the side with the ARs resembles a real military organization the ratio increases to 10 to 20 dead guys with AKs for every dead guy with an AR.

[Demigod]

When both sides are poorly trained, I see 4 to 5 dead guys with AKs to every dead guy with an AR.

When the side with the ARs resembles a real military organization the ratio increases to 10 to 20 dead guys with AKs for every dead guy with an AR.

And where are you seeing all of this ?

[TheCount]

maybe that explains what happened to the Iraqi army, rather than the fact that the US disbanded it, and then tried to recreate an army in its image.

No, what happened to the Iraqi army is that in middle eastern cultures (horrible generalizations), loyalty to one's immediate family, tribe, sect, etc. holds more importance than loyalty to country, employer, profession, etcetc. You can't ask them to police or fight 'their own' and expect them to actually follow through.

[pcosmar]

When both sides are poorly trained, I see 4 to 5 dead guys with AKs to every dead guy with an AR.

When the side with the ARs resembles a real military organization the ratio increases to 10 to 20 dead guys with AKs for every dead guy with an AR.

Well after the artillery barrage and air strikes have taken out most, and guys that are heavily armored go against folks with no armor at all,,, that is likely.

They can pretty well mop up the shell shocked remains.

The M16 was a piece of $#@! in the 70s when I used them,, and yes,, I could keep it running..
I have some mechanical ability. I saw a lot of jammed rifles.

I lubed the $#@! out of mine,, and lubed it every magazine..

"never $#@! where you eat" The M16/AR does.. It dumps gas on the bolt and in it's throat,
It is no wonder that several companies make Piston refits for it,, and every manufacturer is making a Gas piston model.
it is and always has been a bad design.

[Barrex]

When both sides are poorly trained, I see 4 to 5 dead guys with AKs to every dead guy with an AR.

When the side with the ARs resembles a real military organization the ratio increases to 10 to 20 dead guys with AKs for every dead guy with an AR.

Well after the artillery barrage and air strikes have taken out most, and guys that are heavily armored go against folks with no armor at all,,, that is likely.

They can pretty well mop up the shell shocked remains.

[Uriel999]

Funny, my cousin and most of the soldiers that were in war that I know, and I know a lot of them, say exactly the opposite: Soldiers prefer AKs and would throw away their M16s to take AKs.

*there are a lot of versions and a lot of countries that produce AKs. Those produced in Africa are of bad quality because metal that is used is of bad quality.

Well you said soldiers...there is the problem.

[TheCount]

Kurdistan has Oil thats the only real interest American Gov has in Kurds.

We're so super interested in their oil that we're not letting them sell it to us.

[pcosmar]

We're so super interested in their oil that we're not letting them sell it to us.

That is one more reason I am skeptical of the present rhetoric.