Mr Shaw, who heads the Pentagon’s international armament and technology trade directorate, has not provided evidence for his claims and the Pentagon distanced itself from his remarks.“I am unaware of any particular information on that point,” said Larry Di Rita, Pentagon spokesman. The issue has dominated the presidential campaign since the International Atomic Energy Agency raised it at the UN Security Council on Monday. The Iraqi government says the explosives disappeared during looting after US forces seized Baghdad. But Colonel Dave Perkins, who commanded the first troops into al-Qaqaa, yesterday said it was “highly improbable” someone could have removed the munitions after US forces had taken control of the area.
The US has in the past raised concerns about Russian activities in Iraq before the invasion. During the war, Mr Bush called Vladimir Putin, Russian president, to voice concerns that Russian companies at least one state-owned had provided Iraq with anti-tank guided missiles, satellite jamming devices and night-vision goggles. Russia denied the charges and promised an investigation.
Veddy eeenteresting.
One can perhaps say that "Russian units" doesn't necessarily mean regular units of the Russian military. Perhaps it could be mercenaries--think of all the "executive protection" outfits that have come out of southern Africa, chock full of mercenaries experienced in brush wars all over the continent. Who's to say that the Russians, with their military downsizing and in shambles, don't also have a surplus of ex-military folks able to be hired by "legitimate businessmen" and used for uses such as this?
It's a very odd charge, and one that we shouldn't go off half-cocked with until there's more proof. But it does look like one more nail in the NYT's "missing explosive" story.
}:-)4