Austria sold rifles to Iran, and even defends their actions
Austria apparently hasn't changed much since WW2, when they, along with Germany, led the nazis. Now, as the International Herald Tribune (via No Pasaran and Davids Medienkritik) reports, these rifles, built by Steyr-Manlicher, are being used by terrorists to murder soldiers in Iraq:
LONDON: Sophisticated rifles supplied to Iran by an Austrian arms company are finding their way into the hands of Iraqi insurgents, a British newspaper reported Tuesday.No kidding. That is so naive and on-the-defensive, it's disgusting.
American troops have recovered more than 100 "Steyr .50 HS" rifles in Iraq, part of an Austrian consignment of 800 such weapons delivered to Iran over American protests that they could be given to insurgents, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The Austrian government approved the sale of the rifles, made by precision weapons maker Steyr Mannlicher GmbH, after it concluded in 2004 that they would be used to fight narcotics smugglers.
"We checked the proposal very thoroughly," Austrian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Astrid Harz said, noting that the situation in Iraq and the region in 2003-2004 was very different then than it is today.
"What happened to the weapons then is the responsibility of the Iranians," Harz said.Not to mention yours too, you disgraceful "politician". I'd say there should be sanctions issued against Austria for what they've led to!
Labels: terrorism
