Syrian opposition fighters obtain US-made anti-tank missiles

WaPo, via Stars & Stripes ^ | April 16, 2014 | Karen DeYoung

[Timber Rattler]

Syria's opposition fighters have been supplied with U.S.-made anti-tank missiles, the first time a major American weapons system has appeared in rebel hands.

It is unclear how the rebels obtained the wire-guided missiles, which are capable of penetrating heavy armor and fortifications and are standard in the U.S. military arsenal. The United States has sold them in the past to Turkey, among other countries, and the Pentagon approved the sale of 15,000 of the weapons to Saudi Arabia in December. Both countries aid Syrian opposition groups.

U.S. officials declined to discuss the origin of the weapons but did not dispute that the rebels have them.

[wildbill]

“What could possibly go wrong?”

Well, we can expect these anti-tank missiles killing Americans in Abrams tanks, and all our armored vehicles somewhere sometime in a future conflict.

[from occupied ga]

Regardless of where it’s from our corporate firewall doesn’t like it. Of course if it’s from Time maybe they’re on to something.

[opentalk]

Somewhat unrelated

http://nypost.com/2014/04/15/former-time-editor-sworn-in-at-state-department/

Former time editor sworn in at state dept