Brand-new french-produced missiles found in Iraq. Bush wrong again...

[4v50 Gary]

Aha!

That's why the French didn't want the US to go in. We'd learn that they were selling missiles. Gotta love those French. Couldn't handle a war but they could take on the Rainbow Warrior in a real James Bond type operation. Or was that Inspector Closeau they sent?

 

[Hkmp5sd]

How is the date of manufacture of these weapons determined.?

Many electronic components have the date they were manufactured printed on them. It is also possible to date electronics by the version or model number on them. As the components are upgraded, they get a different number. The batteries and possibly the fuel source in the missile will also be dated since these have a shelf life.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Hkmp5sd
My point exactly.
A ten year old missle would likely have some very recent componants.
A lot of things have parts with short storage life.
Hence, dated componants.

Sam

 

[TheeBadOne]

what about stockpiles?

Just because a missle hasn't been made in a few years doesn't mean squat. There's a ton of different types of munitions sitting locked up in bases that is "obsolete", but still very attractive to less than world power countries. Perhaps instead of letting the stuff just sit and rot the idea of turning a profit was too good to miss?

 

[Drjones]

...because of all people, the FRENCH are going to come right out and admit to this....

C'mon guys...you give them FAR too much credit... :banghead:

 

[Dilettante]

I don't know what really happened, but Poland has retracted this claim.

Someday we'll find out exactly what the connection was.

If we ever really want to punish France, we just remove our troops from Germany...

 

[Gary H]

I believe the French president and the Polish retraction. Any debt incurred by the non-purchase of such arms should be forgiven by France. How can they collect for arms that they didn't really supply. I believe that the Germans should take a similar stance. The troop have been leaving Germany ever since the Iraq buildup and many of them will not return. We have also removed our forces from Saudi Arabia.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Hey, wait a minute!

Isn't this just another virulent case of French bashing?

Lord knows that saying ANYTHING negative about the French seems to be French bashing...

After all, they're just a bunch of fun loving people who just want to make love, drink wine, and hang out on the beach on the Riveria...

They're not concerned with international affairs at all...

It must be those pesky, horrible, Americans who do nothing but bash the French all day...