US Sells Secret Anti-IED Tech to Iraq

[annabanana]

Source: military.com

The U.S. has taken the unprecedented -- and some would say questionable -- step of selling some of its most sophisticated counter-IED technology to the Iraqi government, equipping specialized police, military and interior ministry troops with electronic systems designed to detonate roadside bombs and jam triggering signals.

Officials from Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq announced April 20 that its foreign military sales office had sold the Iraqis 411 Lockheed Martin-built "Symphony" counter-IED systems. A few of the Symphony systems are already up and running on Iraqi government vehicles, the command said, with the rest due to be installed by the end of the summer.

"This system will afford the Iraqi security forces long-term, independent counter-IED protection and relieves coalition troops from this responsibility so the latter may perform other tasks," said Army Lt. Col. Will Flucker, the command's Symphony program manager, in an April 20 release. "This system is a critical part of security transition from the coalition forces to the government of Iraq and integral to developing into a long-term partner in the global war on terror."

But some might see handing over America's most sophisticated and top secret counter-IED technology to Iraqi ministries, whose loyalty to Baghdad is less than certain, as extremely risky. Electronic jammers like the Symphony have saved American lives in a war where the roadside bomb is the number-one killer, and the possibility that an Iraqi official could hand over the technology to an insurgent or unfriendly government is all too real.



Read more: http://www.military.com/news/article/us-sells-secret-anti-ied-tech-to-iraq.html

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What could POSSIBLY go wrong??

[newfie11]

1. Well lets just prolong this idiotic war

This is bushs job security

[yourout]

2. By doing this they are essentially killing and maiming more American Soldiers.

Incredibly stupid idea.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. Great. A straw sale to the militias

how ... can ... we ... be ... so ... fucking ... stupid ???

Day 1, the Iraqi govt has the info.
Day 2, the Shiite militia has the info.
Day 3, Iran has the info.

and

Day 1, the Iraqi govt has the info.
Day 2, the Sunni militia has the info.
Day 3, Al Quaeda has the info.



Jeebus, can we just get the hell out of there?

[Flagg]

4. Won't be secret for long

[Tempest]

6. The technology will get to Russia, China and anyone else who wants it

It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

And then you'll start to see IEDs and land mines that can't be detected.

[midnight]

5. This is what I'm thinking......

But some might see handing over America's most sophisticated and top secret counter-IED technology to Iraqi ministries, whose loyalty to Baghdad is less than certain, as extremely risky. We can't even be trusted to make a phone call from friend to family, but these guys can be trusted with top secret military information.....what the ........?

[LynnTheDem]

7. Coming soon: War on Iraq for having "WMD".

Dunno what to say, really...seems the US government never ever bloody fucking learns a bloody fucking thing.

Unfucking believable.

[annabanana]

8. (maybe we can rec this up guys?). . . . . n/t

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

9. The problem is, it simply doesn't appear that it works very well.

...Just ask all the American soldiers who have been killed by IEDs...

[hootinholler]

10. The pounders don't have it...

I bet you have to be specfor to be able to use it.

-Hoot