Idkal

The Iraqi military is trading in its AK-47s for shiny new M-16s.

In a move that could be the most enduring imprint of U.S. influence in the Arab world, American military officials in Baghdad have begun a crash program to outfit the entire Iraqi army with M-16 rifles. The initiative marks a sharp break for a culture steeped in the traditions of the Soviet-era AK-47 Kalashnikov assault rifle, a symbol of revolutionary zeal and third-world simplicity that is ubiquitous among the militaries of the Middle East.

“We in the U.S. know that the M-16 is superior to the AK … it’s more durable,” said Army Col. Stephen Scott, who’s in charge of helping the Iraqi army get all the equipment it needs to outfit its forces. “The Iraqis have embraced that … and the fact that it is U.S. manufactured and supplied. They are very big on U.S.-produced [foreign military sales] materials,” he said in an interview with military bloggers this month.

So far, the U.S. military has helped the Iraqi army purchase 43,000 rifles - a mix of full-stock M-16A2s and compact M-4 carbines. Another 50,000 rifles are currently on order, and the objective is to outfit the entire Iraqi army with 165,000 American rifles in a one-for-one replacement of the AK-47. “Our goal is to give every Iraqi soldier an M-16A2 or an M-4,” Scott said. “And as the Iraqi army grows, we will adjust.”

Scott added the mass of AK-47s from various manufacturers floating through the Iraqi army’s inventory could cause maintenance and reliability problems. Getting both U.S. and Iraqi forces on the same page when it comes to basic weaponry is part of the argument for M-16 outfitting. “I’m also a fan of AKs,” Scott said. “But keep in mind most of these AKs have been sitting around in bunkers or whatnot for 30 or 40 years [and] are in various stages of disrepair.”

[…]

“Most of the soldiers think they will be just like the Americans, and that is making them very happy,” said Capt. Rafaat Mejal Ahmed, the Iraqi 1st Division weapons and ammunition officer, in a Marine Corps release. “They think the modern technology will make them more powerful.”

Interesting. There’s not much doubt that the M-16 is a more accurate weapon, especially compared to decades-old AKs. On the other hand, it’s incredibly hard to keep clean in a desert environment — and much less forgiving of being dirty than that Soviet counterpart.

The cultural thing works both ways. On the one hand, it could be seen as a symbol of American imperialism. On the other, it’s also a symbol of a transformation into a more modern military force and a break with the bad old days of Saddam.

via Defense Tech

UPDATE: Matt Sanchez describes the AK as “a rattling weapon that is inaccurate and clunky” and got mixed reaction when he discussed the change with soldiers in Anbar province.

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Last night’s Democratic debate featured seven minutes of discussion of Louis Farrakhan’s endorsement of Barack Obama. Despite Obama forthrightly rejecting, denouncing, and otherwise disassociating himself from Farrakhan within the first paragraph of his answer, moderator Tim Russert continued to hammer him with Farrakhan quotes and then allowed Hillary Clinton a couple of minutes to bash Obama with the need to use a word stronger than “renounce.”

Here’s the video:

Josh Marshall is absolutely right on this one: the introduction of the issue itself was “borderline” and devoting this much time to it was “disgusting.”

I’d differ slightly with Josh, though, in reserving all the criticism for Russert. Clinton should not have played along with this charade and could have won some big-time brownie points for dismissing it as a non-issue and saying that, of course, Obama isn’t a Farrakhan minion.

Contrast that with John McCain’s swift and direct denunciation of a supporter’s “Barack Hussein Obama” crack. To be sure, McCain hasn’t always covered himself in glory on that score in private gatherings with supporters; but he’s been scrupulous about respecting opponents in public forums.

Politics ain’t beanbag, they say, and candidates are sometimes going to make unfair criticisms of their opponents for fundraising, inspiring their supporters, humor, or other reasons. But it’s stupid and counterproductive to try to make hay of controversies that are so obviously off target as the Farrakhan endorsement or Obama’s ‘Muslim clothes,’ or the fact that his middle name happens to be “Hussein.” It amazes me when seasoned politicians don’t seize the high ground even when it comes at no cost and will likely redound to their credit.

UPDATE: Both Andrew Sullivan and Daniel Drezner’s Official Wife thought Obama’s rejection of Farrakhan was too tepid, with Sully terming it “reminiscent of Dukakis.” I’m hardly an Obama fanboy but I just don’t see it. What more was he supposed to say? “I hate that son of a bitch and hope he rots in hell?”

Dan Drezner himself agrees.

Correction: The original update lumped Dr. and Mrs. Drezner’s reactions together when they were in fact distinct.

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“When government towns become boom towns, that’s the beginning of the end for a nation.” - Stephen Green in an exchange on why Virginia is trending purple and my judgment that putting Jim Webb on the ticket would likely give the Commonwealth to the Democrats.

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Danny Glover marvels at Hillary Clinton’s adaptability.

Hillary Clinton adopts a new persona for every setting. She is alternately a lover, a fighter, a mocker, a whiner and a crier as she competes with Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. Whatever it takes!

As I recall, the same was true of Bill Clinton in the 1992 contest. Goodness, even his hair color changed depending on to whom he was speaking. But Bill was just so charming and audacious that he could pull it off. Hillary, not so much.

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