1. New IEDs using explosively-formed projectiles prove deadly against ground convoys, so the military emphasizes helicopters.
2. New shoulder-fired missiles prove increasingly deadly to helicopters, forcing the military back to using ground convoys, which take heavy casualties from the new IEDs.

A no-win situation. It hasn’t come about yet, but the possibility exists that precisely this sort of situation is being engineered by someone.

PS: I really wouldn’t say “Chinamen”, not very PC these days.

An intelligence source indicates “a large batch of these Strelas were transfered to al-Qaeda,” but would not identify the country of origin. We noted, based one multiple sources, the likelihood is Iran is providing the weapons to al-Qaeda, and the timing of the activation of these cells is too close to the rise in tensions between Iran and the U.S. to be a coincidence.

I don’t think anyone would be surprised if they turned out to be coming from Iran. The issue is what you do about it. The borders are vast and declaring war with Iran (save imminent threat of massive attack, a real one, not invented like last time) is insanity, but you can’t sit back and do nothing. And it’s certainly not irrelevant. What if it’s our “allies” in Saudi Arabia? It’s certainly relevant to the way we treat the collaborating country, I think.

If these missiles had been in Iraq since day 1. 100′s of helicopters and Aircraft would have been shot down by now. The insurgents if they had there hands on these would have been using them as soon as possible.

This is a startling and new development that is precisely to the crux of the matter. Who is now suddenly suppling these weapons?

Are they being stolen by Iraqis from their own armories? Are the Iranians, Saudis, N. Koreans, Jordanians, Chinamen supplying these weapons?

This is an extremely crucial question. Shaun I think the fact you would say where they come from is almost besides the point implies you really dont understand the big picture here.

That is non constructive and its unfair to the boys and girls riding on those helicopters. Who is supplying these weapons IS the story here.

Hack

01-26-2004
Hack’s Target
Choppers Down in Iraq

When Saddam was in the saddle, he purchased at least 5,000 SA-7s and SA-16s, and so far our occupation forces have accounted for only about 1,500 of the heat-seeking Russian missiles, known for their deadly accuracy if fired by well-trained shooters.