By BJ
The Bush administration likes to go on about how they keep finding Iranian weapons in Iraq, and how this proves malicious intent on the part of the Iranians. Of course, if the fact that military equipment from a certain country finds its way to the Iraqi insurgents is proof of intent, the US has a problem:
Thefts and illegal exports of advanced military night-vision gear are rising sharply, and U.S. officials say some of the devices have reached enemies in Afghanistan and Iraq, where they could erode the edge U.S. troops have in after-dark combat.The government has prosecuted more than two dozen businesses and individuals over the past 18 months for stealing night-vision gear or skirting prohibitions on foreign sales, according to a USA TODAY review of federal documents and public records.
In at least five cases, prosecutors linked shipments to terrorist groups, such as al-Qaeda and Hezbollah. A few others were headed to Iran and Taliban forces in Afghanistan, court records show; several were destined for China and Japan.
. . .
"If you look at cases where groups like the Taliban are trying to get this stuff, that's how they want to use it, for night operations to kill our troops," Pelak says.
Lower-grade night-vision devices are sold commercially, but military versions are far more sensitive and can include features that identify U.S. troops by infrared tabs on their uniforms. Sales and exports of that equipment are restricted by law.
As Cernig has noted repeatedly, weapons travel, and there is a large and lucrative black market in all sorts of military technology. Something to keep in mind the next time the warfloggers cite the finding of Iranian weapons as proof of their meddling.
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