The image posted on Twitter by a self-proclaimed Oxford student shows the alleged Humvee transported from Iraq to Syria. (Photo courtesy: Twitter)
Peter Van Buren, Reuters: Dude, where’s my Humvee? Iraq losing equipment to Islamic State at staggering rate
Iraqi security forces lost 2,300 Humvee armored vehicles when Islamic State overran the northern city of Mosul in June 2014, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Sunday in an interview with Iraqiya state television. Coupled with previous losses of American weapons, the conclusion is simple: The United States is effectively supplying Islamic State with tools of war the militant group cannot otherwise hope to acquire from its patrons.
In addition to the Humvees, Iraqi forces previously abandoned significant types and numbers of heavy weapons to Islamic State. For example, losses to Islamic State include at least 40 M1A1 main battle tanks, as well as small arms and ammunition, including 74,000 machine guns, and as many as 52 M198 howitzer mobile gun systems.
“We lost a lot of weapons,” Abadi admitted.
Previous Post #1: Iraq PM: Iraq Army Lost 2,300 Humvees In Mosul Alone To The Islamic State
Previous Post #2: Pentagon: The Iraqi Army Abandoned Tanks, Artillery And Humvees' To The Islamic State When They Fled Ramadi
WNU Editor: The tally of lost equipment makes my jaw drop .... and the news gets worse with each passing day. 40 M1A1 main battle tanks, tens of thousands of small arms and ammunition, 74,000 machine guns alone, and as many as 52 M198 howitzer mobile gun systems. And what is unbelievable to me is that U.S. air strikes are now just targeting all of this U.S. military equipment that has been lost .... while at the same time supplying more equipment to the same Iraqi Army that abandoned their equipment to the Islamic State in the first place. Reports from both Washington and Baghdad now talk of a long and prolonged war ... no surprise there since the Islamic State now has (according to the UN) enough weapons and ammo to fight for 2 years .... Isis has enough weapons to carry on fighting for two years, UN warns (The Guardian).
The transfer of weapons has been so smooth you would be inclined to believe it was planned ..
ReplyDeleteWhat ever happened to dropping a grenade down the barrel of a howitzer or lighting the other equipment up with tracer etc.
Some ancient person said, 'He who is defeated by his own weapons is doubly defeated'.
ReplyDeleteI agree with jj. Many suspicious cirkumstances in the fall of ramadi. The iraqis are generally lousy soldiers with very low morale. The syrian army seem despite of its' losses like a superarmy in comparison (at least they serm to fight and take losses)
ReplyDeleteI dont really understand how something like this can continue to go on. Our government is working harder on keeping track of my firearms. Do i need to apply for a permit to upgrade my arsenal with a few tanks?
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