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To: PotPan
I've read, somewhere, that non-US Stinger variants are available and that most, if not all, of the Stingers the US supplied to the Mujahadeen would now be inoperable. While I don't know if this is accurate information, it seems to me likely that Iran would purchase newer non-US air to ground copies of the Stinger in any event. If their intended targets are slow moving and not very maneuverable commercial aircraft even the crudest copy would probably do the job.

I'm always reluctant to accept the idea, dear to the hearts of those who didn't think the Soviets were all that bad, that sending the Stingers to Afgahanistan was a big mistake. While I understand some Stingers were inadvertently sent after the Soviets were already on the way out with their tails between their legs, it's clear the decision to supply Stingers was one of the major reasons the Soviets did throw in the towel in Afghanistan.

13 posted on 01/12/2002 6:31:45 PM PST by caltrop
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To: caltrop
The other problem with the Stingers (besides their age) is that they don't go that high. With the JDAM's being guided by GPS, US planes are bombing from incredible heights compared to past wars. Even missiles that go high enough take so long to get there that our pilots can evade.
14 posted on 01/12/2002 10:20:08 PM PST by LenS
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