Grenade Goof: CNN's Cooper Says Grenades Bought In United States

Newsbusters ^ | 6/22/09 | Mike Sargent

[pissant]

Should there be a background check for national reporters?

One wonders. On June 21, CNN’s Anderson Cooper aired a special report for CBS’ “60 Minutes.” In this report, Cooper repeated the tired, discredited, blatantly incorrect idea that 90% of Mexican drug cartels’ arms supply comes from the United States. In addition, Cooper showed some interesting B-roll footage of seized weapon, some of which clearly cannot be bought on the civilian market.

Initially, one might note the M16A1, M16A2, M4, and what appears to be a standard NATO-issue M60.

There are, however, semi-automatic civilian versions of some of these weapons available on the American market which look quite similar – without a closer look at the weapons, it is impossible to tell. That being said, there also appears to be a 40mm M203 grenade launcher attachment on one of the weapons. That, dear reader, is unavailable on the U.S. market – even in Texas.

Also unavailable on the U.S. market: The military-grade hand grenade in the same display. Judging only from the video, this is either a Mk II “pineapple” fragmentation grenade, or a Russian F-1 “limonka” grenade. Both of those grenades commonly use dynamite as its explosive component – which, of course, is an extremely tightly-controlled explosive in the United States. Neither grenade can be bought in the United States at a gun show, at firearm dealerships, or as collectibles while still containing the explosive.

[pissant]

Anderson's manicured, dishpan hands have never even touched a BB gun, I'm guessing.

[lilylangtree]

Reporters don’t have a high IQ. They regurgitate whatever is told to them. Communist News Network (CNN) is not credible however the number of people glue themselves to the boob tube to watch CNN.

[DCBryan1]

When Anderson Cooper is “fed to the hogs”, the hogs are going to crap flowers, and piss perfume for a week.

[Hulka]

Many of the arms were sold to the Mexican government by our US government, part of a Foreign Military Sales program to “help” them fight the drug cartels. Thing is, the Mexican Army in turn sells the arms to the cartels (or deserters take the arms with them).

I've been pointing out these facts for a long time and yet, for whatever reason, the MSM is ignoring the true situation.

[reagan_fanatic]

Careful what you say - we don’t want Cooper to get his panties all ruffled.

[Hardastarboard]

I was stuck watching this pompous, self-important liberal douche bag. I hope I never meet him in person because I’m going to go to jail for what I’ll do after I meet him.

[FAIRNBALANCED101]

I saw the program on Sunday. Libs will say anything to promote their agenda , even if they know it is a lie.

[FAIRNBALANCED101]

Liberals will say anything if it promotes their agenda, even if they know it is a lie.

[RonboTex]

In the case of grenades, M16's, M4's, etc.. They do not seem to mention the strong possibility that some of these were legally sold to the Mexican military/police only to find their way to the drug cartels due to the massive corruption found in those organizations.
In the case of full auto AK-47's, I doubt there is mention of the russian AK factory recently built by Putin for our buddy Hugo Chavez either.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I guess he meant to say Grenadine?

[Seruzawa]

These people are enemy agents. They purposefully spread propaganda lies to forward the purposes of their foreign masters.

[broken_arrow1]

Where can I get me some grenades? They would be perfect for 4th of July! Afterward, any leftovers can be used for home defense.

[bmwcyle]

Stupid homosexual speaks again.

[Brad from Tennessee]

The ignorance of the “news” media on these matters was evident in the opening weeks of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. They didn't understand weapons or ordnance. Then the networks started hiring retired military people to translate militar-ese.

Where I live the local paper ran a crime story in which a “762-millimeter rifle” was the murder weapon. This would be roughly equivalent to the 220-ton Krupp K5 railway gun.

[Voice of Reason88]

Excuse me for stating the obvious,

But these are tightly controlled weapons so why hasn’t the supposed SOURCE of these weapons been shut down?

That is, IF the source is supposed to be in the US.

[Brad from Tennessee]

[. . .Mk II “pineapple” fragmentation grenade, or a Russian F-1 “limonka” grenade. Both of those grenades commonly use dynamite as its explosive. . .]

Actually they both use flaked or powdered TNT.

[RustyFR]

“762-millimeter rifle” was the murder weapon. This would be roughly equivalent to the 220-ton Krupp K5 railway gun.

ROFLMAO

I hear it's a bear getting Ammo for one of those types of 'Rifles', not to mention delivery costs.......

[SERE_DOC]

"I hear it's a bear getting Ammo for one of those types of 'Rifles', not to mention delivery costs......."

Call me, we can work a deal.