Sniper Rifles to Iran

Here's an ominous report dated ten days ago.

From Telegraph.co.uk:

Britain and America are furious with Austria for exporting to Iran 800 sniper rifles that could be used against their troops in Iraq.

HS50 Steyr-Mannlicher .50 calibre rifles can pierce body armour from up to a mile, shoot down helicopters and penetrate Humvee troop carriers that have not been fully reinforced.

The weapons are highly accurate and fire a round called an armour-piercing incendiary, a bullet that the Iranians manufacture.

There are fears in the Pentagon that some will reach insurgents fighting allied forces in Iraq.

Austrian officials didn't see any reason to question the deal.

Obviously, Austrian officials don't read the newspaper. The current geopolitical climate should warrant increased scrutiny of any weapons transactions involving Middle Eastern countries.

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