That explains everything.
Posted on 07/11/2010 1:30:09 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The U.S. military has supplied about 10,000 M-16s to the Iraq Army. But officials acknowledged that the Iraqis have decided to maintain the AK-47 as the lead assault rifle.The Iraq Army has determined that the M-16 was more accurate than the Kalashnikov. But officials said the Army concluded that the AK-47 was more reliable in the searing Iraqi summers. U.S. Army advisers have completed a course on the M-16 assault rifle for Iraqi soldiers at Camp Taji. The two-week course, which took place in mid-June, was meant to help the Iraq Army introduce the M-16 and, in some units, replace the Soviet-origin AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifle. "For their first time, they shot very well — even compared to some U.S. soldiers," Sgt. Kevin Averre, in charge of the training, said. Officials said the U.S. military has imposed restrictions on the use of the M-16 to the Iraq Army. They said the Iraqis were required to register each M-16 to ensure that they are not sold or given to Al Qaida or other insurgency groups.
The U.S. Army, amid an accelerated troop withdrawal, has maintained its assault rifle training course in Iraq.
"Many Iraqi soldiers on Camp Taji do not use M-16s, and as the weapons continue to arrive, U.S. units will remain actively engaged in the training of the Iraqi Army," the U.S. Army said on June 21
(Excerpt) Read more at worldtribune.com ...
That explains everything.
I could help find a home for those unloved M-16s.......
The AK-47 is a low maintenance relationship. The M-16 is a fussier mistress.
Iraqis prefer AK-47 over M-16 for performance in desert heat
"Do I really have to say it?"
'Series' for people who don't know what a TOILET is, expecting them to maintain the finicky M-16 in tip-top shape is a bit of a stretch. They'd have to clean heir weapon more than they clean themselves.
Will someone please buy 'the military' a clue.
I prefer the AK myself, it's like Superman, indestructible. (impervious to the elements)
So I hope we take them back then than have 10,000 fresh M-16’s out there.
The AK is a good rifle in a lot of ways. Simple, easy to maintain, capable of being used even by the dimmest specimen of humanity. And it is durable.
You're all missing it. The Iraqis believe that Obama will cut and run as soon as possible and there they'll be standing there among a thousand Muslim terrorist holding an American M-16.
“The AK 47 is the weapon of choice among our enemies and has a distinctive sound” Gunny Hightower
Add to the above, the AK is FAR less expensive to purchase and maintain. The M16 might be a decent weapon, but it isn’t the “be-all, end-all”.
That’s Gunny Highway. Just watched it last night.
Keep your powder dry.
I am recalling the first complaints about the M16 from our boys in Viet Nam - that is when they started to chrome the chambers. Why dont we have an american version of the FN?
Accurate and mud proof.
Me too. you would think I could remember for 12 hours...... bad sign
especially after seeing it many times
...Exactly!...I just finished reading Rory Stewart’s “The Places in Between” about his walk across Afganistan...those tribal people are so backward they wipe their ass with their hand...the M-16 is not a rifle for mud people.
1. Who wants to put the money in developing something they can't sell to the public.
2.We don't have an industrial infrastructure anymore.
*****
That’s Gunny Highway. Just watched it last night.
Keep your powder dry.
*********************
That should be: This is the AK-47 assault rifle, the preferred weapon of your enemy; and it makes a distinctive sound when fired at you, so remember it.
You men do not impress me.
Accurate and mud proof.
Reasonably accurate for a service rifle, but heavy, almost 12 pounds loaded. And though reasonably reliable in mud, not as happy with sandyb conditions, as the Israeli troops who used the things from the 1950s until the mid-1970s found out. They called besom the broom, and though the Israelis adopted the *sand cuts* on the bolt and bolt carrier as used by the British on their L1A1 version, there was a lot more sand in their area of operations than those sand cuts could digest. 
I like the FAL, don't misunderstand me. But I'd far rather carry the Rhodesiam R1 version than the T48.
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