Evidence cited of Russian arms in Iraq

Boston Globe ^ | 10 January, AD 2004 | P.Richter & K. Murphy

[Ryan Bailey]

WASHINGTON -- 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.

The 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.

[MEG33]

In answer to an inquiry I found by google,a site using the Swedish International Peace Institute's numbers in 1990 dollars.It lists countries by dollar arms sales from 1973 to 1990.Sanctions were imposed after that by the UN so no figures are available.

Of course Russia was breaking the sanctions if it sold arms to Iraq after 1990.Iraq had invaded Kuwait ,was pushed out by a coalition and signed a cease fire agreement that it failed to live up to many times in many ways.

The numbers in a simplified graph are:
USSR 57.3% France 12.7% China 11.8% Others 17.5 % US .5% UK .2%

[RussianConservative]

Ummm, night vision goggle not weapon neither is jamming equipement weapon and not banned either. You can buy Russian made night vision from Ebay.

[RussianConservative]

which would culminate with their opening of an axis of advance to the west in Afghanistan which was perceived as the gateway to the entire Middle East region by many Soviet gernerals.

Ehhh?? I thought regular West propaganda was Soviet drive to warm water Indian port...by taking mountain land locked country...or some such. Maybe you not notice, but Iran lie east of Middle East and if Russia want to go to Middle East, why go to central Asia and not just invade south from Caucuses....but maybe you miss fact that Israel's second closest allie is Russia...

[RussianConservative]

Well with exception of: Egypt, Jordan, PLO, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait, Tunisia, UAE...all those US weapon systems. Algeria, Djebuti those French weapon.

[RussianConservative]

First no evidence yet shown of any supply, second no where it say Iraqi rebels but to Saddam's government before US attack.

[RussianConservative]

Hmmm, maybe you miss last 13 years, but Russia elected republic with laws that most US conservatives can only dream about and will only dream about for foresable future. As for Saddam and Baathists, they socialists. Communists were ousted by Baathists with US CIA support back in 60's.

[RussianConservative]

General Dipshitski was Soviet era general fired by Gorbachov of Soviet Union after failed revolt/coup on Gorbachov. He not have position in Russian forces for 13 years and if Iraq want to hire him, well he independent citizen and go where he want. I'm sure US keep all former general grade officers under US control, right?

[RussianConservative]

Night vision goggles not weapons, otherwise, Ebay spread WMD by selling them all day long.

[RussianConservative]

Moreover, not only the government knew, but all the press and every citizen of the "democratic, pro-Western and non-communist Russia". There was no Russian language chat room or web forum which wasn't openly gloating upon a twenty bucks Russian gadget easily interfering with expensive American smart bombs, missiles and unmanned aircraft.

Really? You have special evidence? Better head to local news media and show them your special knowledge. As for Russians gloating, well US media make such big deal out of it and if it was $20 dollar gadget that give US mulit million dollar system problems, why not gloat?

[Peach]

You didn't read carefully enough. The article clearly stated that weapons were sold that were prohibited by the UN.

And, BTW, no one said that night vision goggles were WMD. Sheesh.

[Peach]

What the he!! are you talking about.

The article clearly states that Russia sold weapons that are in violation of UN sanctions.

Go back and read the article. BTW, the grammer is so poor it makes it difficult, if not impossible, to understand what you are saying.

[error99]

Russian Night Vision Available on eBay

[error99]

"...the grammer is so poor it makes it difficult,
if not impossible, to understand what you are saying..."
- - -
I don't have a problem understanding him.
I suppose your Russian is better than his English?

[Peach]

He's claiming stuff that isn't in the article, isn't on topic, and that I never said.

Is he Russian? How do you know that?

[Peach]

I just looked at your in-forum page.

I didn't realize you were Russian and did not mean to insult your grasp of our grammer.

I am having a hard time understanding some of the things you have posted because you are not staying on the topic of the thread which, in my opinion, is that the Russians sold illegal weapons to the Iraqis. Weapons that were used to kill our soldiers.

No one has said the weapons were WMD. No one has said that eye goggles per se would kill anyone.

However, they and other weapons WERE sold illegally by the Russian government to the Iraqi government. Those weapons are strictly forbidden to be sold by the UN.

This is not a good thing to do and you can understand why Americans will resent it.

[RussianConservative]

Which weapons...all article make is accusations...where is evidence, which weapons systems...photos of equipment?

[RussianConservative]

The official said the United States has found proof that Russian companies exported night-vision goggles and radar-jamming equipment to Iraq,

Maybe my reading not best in English, but please identify which of two is a weapon.

[PhilDragoo]

Indian Sunday Express: SPECIAL FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON, JAN 10: US officials have found evidence corroborating the Bush administration’s allegations that Russian companies sold Saddam high-tech military equipment that threatened US forces during the invasion of Iraq last March, a senior State Department official said on Friday.

The official said the US has found proof that Russian companies exported night-vision goggles and radar-jamming equipment to Iraq for use there. 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 UN 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’’.

Excerpt. Balance at link above.

[Peach]

I should have called it military equipment, which the article did, rather than weapon.

Your English is fine if I take my time and read; far better than my Russian.

[Peach]

grammer = grammar