Iraqi Guns Could Destabilize Mideast

[rick_reno]

Remember this - GUNS CAUSE INSTABILITY

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,124253,00.html

Report: Iraqi Guns Could Destabilize Mideast
Wednesday, June 30, 2004

GENEVA — The huge numbers of small arms left behind by Iraq's armed forces after the fall of Saddam Hussein could cause instability in the Middle East for years to come, according to a study published Wednesday.

"Millions of firearms suddenly flooded a chaotic social landscape," the 335-page Small Arms Survey (search) said. The number of murders using firearms in Baghdad rose dramatically and "the violence became a major barrier to the restoration of legitimate authority."

The Iraqi people currently control an estimated 7-8 million firearms, although the actual number could be much higher, the study said. This makes Iraq "highly but not exceptionally well armed," and it still has fewer firearms per person than countries such as Finland.

"The concern here ... is we do not know what proportion of these weapons are military style," Keith Krause, the program director for the survey, told reporters. "Iraq now poses a regional proliferation risk."

But it said the impact of firearms in Iraq has been greater because of how quickly and easily members of a disordered society were able arm themselves.

"The collapse precipitated what almost certainly was one of the largest and fastest transfers of small arms ever," the report added.

 

[moa]

No surprise there. From what I have read, Iraq is one giant ammo/arms dump. 130 major dumps and about 8,600 dumps found all together so far.

One major dump was described as covering 50 square kilometers.

It has taken 6,000 inspectors to find these dumps, many of which are not guarded. Some have simply had dirt bulldozed over their entrances.

The military small arms is one thing, but how about the RPGs, mortars, and huge amounts of explosives and shells lying about?

I for one think the invasion and occupation of Iraq has been executed with far too few troops on the ground for the above reasons, and the general lack of security in Iraq from day one, which has deeply angered the Iraqi people. And probably encouraged and aided the insurgency.

We probably needed at least 300,000 troops in Iraq at any one time since the beginning.

 

[moa]

One other thing. Much of the Iraqi military disbanded itself. And, many troops took their weapons home. In some instances, their commanders told them to take their weapons home.

Our military never had an opportunity to disarm the Iraq forces, which had melted away.

 

[jdege]

IMO, most of the Middle East needs to be destabilized.

 

[deej]

My gut reaction: How much more unstable can it get?

DJ

 

[Benjamin]

Isn't the mideast the land of the AK? Leftovers from client states to the USSR like Egypt and others.

Didn't something like half a million G3 rifles go 'missing' when the Shah fell?

The area is already saturated with guns.

 

[Michigander]

How many Iraqis in Iraq under Saddam's rule would have fought/killed one another if it was not for Saddam? Remove Saddam and of course there will be a time of "settling long overdue scores." Would seem likely and obvious to me.

(Please note: I'm not implying that we should have invaded/occupied Iraq nor am I implying that the Iraqis were/would be better off under Saddam)

 

[R.H. Lee]

They are a sovereign nation-let them work it out. I wonder how many firearms we had in this country in 1776.

 

[crewchief]

I long time ago I saw a report on the news about Iraq black markets selling U.S. military gear like BDU's (fully patched), Flak Jackets, Web Gear and they also found them selling U.S. firearms The black market price for a M-16A2 would make a US class III dealer faint ($300 US) and a couple of choice dealers has M-249's (my favorite when I was in), M-60's, M-240's (a big 7.62 version of the SAW, I have carried this before and did not like it just because of it's size, give me a 60 anyday over that thing), Frag granades. One dealer was ever quite proud that he had an A2 with a M203 on it (I have heard prices up to $80,000 for a M203 equp. A2 on the US market).

All and all this is kind of scary when you think that with the right amount of cash you can buy on the Iraq black market a complete uniform with 82nd patchs, name & service tapes, Flak Jacket, LBE, Kevlar, Dog Tags and M-16 to complete the "Just another soldier walking past the guards with 10lbs of C4" look. You would think that if Joe Reporter can find all of this that it might be in our boys best interest to go "Shut" down these black market dealers for the sake of security. You have to admit though that if it were legal buying a M249 for $500 as a war trophy would be how you say AWESOME.

 

[NoHarmNoFAL]

Would you want to be in the Middle East WITHOUT a firearm?

 

[R.H. Lee]

heh

 

[Michigander]

You would think that if Joe Reporter can find all of this that it might be in our boys best interest to go "Shut" down these black market dealers for the sake of security.

There will ALWAYS be a black market.

 

[Standing Wolf]

IMO, most of the Middle East needs to be destabilized.

It's a cesspool. It needs to be drained and cleaned.

 

[Dain Bramage]

...still has fewer firearms per person than countries such as Finland.

Which brings a bigger question to mind. What happens when Finland falls?

Typical liberal tripe. I suppose that without Iraqi arms, in the furture everyone in the Middle East will join hands and sing KUMBAYA.

 

[TheEgg]

[Idiot mode on]

Yes, of course, guns cause all the trouble. Get rid of the guns, and the middle east would be the Garden of Eden again. The evil, mind controlling guns are the source of all the world's problems. We must get rid of the guns. BLAH BLAH BLAH!

[Idiot mode off]

LOTS of people fall into the fallacy expressed above. People will kill each other with knives, swords, pole-axes, spears, rocks, hands, and fists if they are of a mind to.

Don't blame the tools. Man is a tool maker by nature and will make what he needs. To not recognize this is the worst kind of stupid PC nonsense. To state that 'the guns will destabilize the region' is massively stupid.

It would be safe for me to own an ICBM tipped with 20 nuclear warheads, because I would not have the desire to use it. Some people would not be safe with a piece of rope, because they would have the desire to strangle someone.

IT IS NOT THE TOOL!!

"It is not the rifle that kills. It is the hard heart that kills."