Iraqi Army receiving M-16s and new trust

StarTribune ^ | 6/4/07 | Scott Canon

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

The M-16 is America's rifle. Putting it in Iraqis' hands is a symbolic but also a tactical maneuver.

The U.S. military in Iraq has begun issuing American M-16 rifles to some Iraqi troops in exchange for their Soviet-designed AK-47 rifles, the cheap and sturdy weapon that currently hangs from the shoulder of virtually every Iraqi soldier, police officer, insurgent and militiaman. U.S. military officials describe the switch, part of a $2 billion arms purchase for the country's fledgling security soldiers, as a modernization and a vote of confidence in Iraqi troops. The M-16 requires more care than the rugged and familiar AK-47 and demands a better-trained soldier.

That confidence extends only so far, however. With Iraq's security services infiltrated by both Sunni Muslim insurgents and Shiite militias, the U.S. military is requiring that each Iraqi soldier turn in his AK-47, take four days of training and be photographed with the serial number of his new M-16.

[OldPossum]

Do you think you could take a minute and think about what you just wrote?

OK, Mr. Cute. Why don't you give a specific reference instead of such a oblique, rather smart-assed way of addressing me.

I don't know what you're talking about (and that opens me up to your saying that the OldPossum doesn't know what he's talking about). And that would be true, I'm not knowledgeable on military rifles (but I did serve three years in the Army and qualified with the M-1 Garand and the M-1 Carbine...didn't really care about anything except qualifying).

I just thought I would post what I thought was an interesting comment by a guy I had known for some time and who I didn't think would s--- me, Didn't think I would be critiqued on such an insignificant matter, but then I think about the significant population of FR know-it-alls, I should have known I'd hear from someone like you.

Now, why don't you summon up all the courtesy that you can muster and address the question in a civilized, polite manner? Otherwise, I think I'll just go to another thread.

[OldPossum]

See post 41. Amplify on your “snicker”. That is, if you are capable of anything beyond grunts.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

See post 41. Amplify on your “snicker”. That is, if you are capable of anything beyond grunts. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howdy Possum,,,I think some "SQUID" was pullin' yer' leg,,, LOL,,,They been known to do that,,,My Point,,,10 rounds in the chest tells us the target was inside of 50 yards,,, At that range the .223 bullet is still at 2500fps or so,,, ONE .223 bullet to the chest at that range will have an exit wound the size of your fist,,,FWIW,,,I have been "Punchin' Paper" over 50years now,,,Handloading for 30years, Nam 67-68,,,I've seen "targets" hit at that range,,, It's a mess,,,NOBODY had to be shot with an M-14,,, (I carried one) The first time I heard a story like that it was a 30cal. carbine and an M-1 Garrand(no foolin')...;0)