Iraq Army dumping AK's for M4/M16

[ChuckMK23]

Yesterday Colt Manufacturing acknowledged winning a bid for an initial batch of 50,000 M4/M16 Rifles. M4 to go to officers, and M16's for the ranks.

"The AK-47 is only a short range weapon" - Iraqi officer

"We let them pick whatever rifle they wanted - they picked this one!" - US Army General

Listen to the story here:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9083510

Comments/thoughts?

 

[RHPF]

Does anyone have info on the cost difference between the two? I would imagine for a relatively broke Iraq that would be a huge factor. Further, given the 'cheap cost' reputation of the AK im surprised it was not picked. Free choice? Maybe...

 

[ChuckMK23]

Actually 2 years ago they bought like 50,000 NEW Norinco AK's - and these were in fact delivered.

Apparently the arguments from the Iraq Army were "if it's good enough for the USA it's good enough for us", also they think of the AK as a "short range weapon".

 

[thanksforthecas]

A US company just made MILLIONS that otherwise would have gone to Europe.

US jobs.

As for the Iraqi Army. They dont know enough to know what they need.

 

[A4sForever]

A US company just made MILLIONS that otherwise would have gone to Europe. ....

Or even worse than $$$$ going to the European whores of the world (if that's possible) .... would be buying AK's for Iraq from Norinco (rhymes with Pachinko, パチンコ, for those who don't know) .....

..... which = ChiCom.

In the truest sense possible ...

 

[MasterBates]

I would rather a US company made money from arming the Iraqi army than the ChiComs...

 

[LordTravi]

A US company just made MILLIONS that otherwise would have gone to Europe.

US jobs.

Good point. It would have really, really ticked me off to see them buy, say, HKs from Germany, or the FAMAS, after most European countries were against this.

 

[thanksforthecas]

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KNN/is_42/ai_n16609360/pg_1

http://www.supportusamilitary.org/Morgenthaler.html

The first from Joint Review in support of my, politely tested, story of Cpl.Toloza.

The second does the same, albeit from the blog of a female, 0-6, chaplain. She paints a very pretty picture of the incident. Its worth reading. She certainly did see the mess he'd made, all four feet of the boy were covered in....badguy.

Wouldnt change his damn uniform for three days he was so proud.

One of the best days of my life was during an impromptu award ceremony we had just outside the TOC, in front of his Battalion I "awarded" him my personal Chris Reeve knife. It had just arrived and was still in its case. Its the finest knife, in some opinions, that can be had.

I finally realized why the skipper was always smiling at awards ceremonies. Bringing a young man in front his peers and superiors to be recognized for his bravery in combat was the best feeling I have ever had. He was smiling too so I guess he liked the knife.


Inspite of my poor writing and long hair an award almost befitting his bravery found its way to Cpl Toluz. Then Sec. Don Rumsfield awarded Toluz the BSM w/V in front of his President and his family.