US Arms in Mali

[raindog]

Pic 27 of this gallery:

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/01/the-conflict-in-mali/100446/

That was taken in Mali. I was curious and looked up Guntec - apparently they sell AK/AR parts and are based in Arizona.

How would a box of their stuff end up in the African desert? It wasn't clear to me if this was a one-off (one or two of anything can end up anywhere) or there were a lot of Guntec-marked boxes.

 

[jakk280rem]

Interesting. The caption describes the carton as containing "American made munitions", but I couldn't find anywhere where Guntec was listed as making ammunition or explosives. From their website I gathered they made parts and accessories for AK/AR pattern rifles. Perhaps the part that was contained in the box weren't subject to IIATR shipping restrictions, or was forwarded to Mali from someone living in a place not subject. I guess it just goes to show, even Jihadist terrorists are not immune from the lure of SOPMOD accessories. At least they have taste. It could have been a UTG or Leapers box.

 

[ScrapMetalSlug]

Not necessarily suprised. Alot of the weapons used in Mali are overflows from when we overthrew the govt of Lybia. Possibly the CIA arming militants in Lybia with parts made in the U.S.? Doesn't sound too smart and easily implicates the US, but intervention in Lybia wasn't exactly a secret either.

 

[jakk280rem]

Huh? overthrow of Libya? cia arming militants? how does one arm anyone with a part? why give them the box? guntec doesn't make arms or ammo. Do you actually think the cia has slipped to the point they would ship a big box of quad rails off to Libya and call it a day?

more likely a jihadi teen really wanted one of those rails for his ak like his heros in cod have and asked his cousin or uncle in yonkers to send him one.

or the photo was staged. Remember the photo of the lady that was hit in the head by a bullet and survived, but they couldn't find the bullet so they took a photo of her holding up a complete cartridge? Cover page material.

 

[jungle]

Various US forces have been active in Mali for years, lots of stuff from Libya has made its way down there and mail order is just a drop box away from a friendly within the US.

Could of come from anywhere, and doesn't mean much.

 

[PGT]

yes and we already lost (at least) three SOF guys there:

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-07-08/world/35488661_1_malian-counterterrorism-commando

 

[InkEd]

Anyone ever think that the photographer could have an agenda?

 

[4v50 Gary]

The US did supply arms to the Libyan rebels. It's not surprising to see some of the stuff go south since there's no control of anything once it's given to them.