January 10, 2004
WELL, THAT WASN'T HELPFUL:
Evidence cited of Russian arms in Iraq (Paul Richter and Kim Murphy, 1/10/2004, Los Angeles Times)
US officials have found evidence corroborating White House allegations that Russian companies sold Saddam Hussein high-tech military equipment that threatened US forces during the invasion of Iraq last March, a senior State Department official said yesterday.Posted by Orrin Judd at January 10, 2004 8:46 AMThe official said the United States has found proof that Russian companies exported night-vision goggles and radar-jamming equipment to Iraq, the official said. The evidence includes the equipment itself and proof that it was used during the war, according to the official. Such exports would violate the terms of United Nations sanctions against Iraq.
"We have corroborated some of that evidence," the official told a group of reporters.
While insisting that the matter is "now in the past," he said that the Bush administration "never received entirely satisfactory explanations" of its charges, and that the issue "is still a sensitive one in the relationship."
"It's an issue that, shall we say, did not do much for strengthening trust," the official added.
Since Russia was the the #1 arms supplier to Iraq over the last 30 years, this is expected. What would be surprising is if we did not find Russian equipment and weapons in Iraq.
Posted by: Jeff Brokaw at January 10, 2004 10:07 AMUS arms exporters should be sure to mention this in their marketing materials... "Alternately, you could buy from our competitiors, as used by the Ba'ath in Iraq."
Posted by: mike earl at January 10, 2004 1:06 PM