Silly Iraqis aim to tick off AK traditionalists...

[Lumpy196]

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/nm/20080620/2008_06_20t111957_450x292_us_iraq.jpg
Iraqi security forces search a house during a raid in Amara, 185 miles southeast of Baghdad, June 20, 2008.
(Atef Hassan/Reuters)

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/nm/20080620/2008_06_20t111927_450x309_us_iraq.jpg
Iraqi security forces patrol a marshland in Amara, 185 miles southeast of Baghdad, June 20, 2008.
(Atef Hassan/Reuters)

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080620/i/r3610086604.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080620/capt.59116029a7b04e1ebd0ec53759ebd306.iraq_amarah_troops_bag109.jpg
An Iraqi soldier holds a poster of anti-U.S. cleric Moqtada al-Sadr seized during a raid in Amara, 300 km (185 miles) southeast of Baghdad, June 20, 2008. Supporters of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr accused Iraqi security forces on Friday of heavy-handed action in a crackdown in the southern city of Amara, calling it a "clear provocation".
REUTERS/Atef Hassan (IRAQ)

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080620/i/r2065954263.jpg
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080620/capt.1c3447029bbd428f862098e8f18d1926.iraq_amarah_troops_bag111.jpg
A member of the Iraqi security forces passes through a hole in a wall during a patrol in Amara, 300 km (185 miles) southeast of Baghdad, June 20, 2008. Supporters of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr accused Iraqi security forces on Friday of heavy-handed action in a crackdown in the southern city of Amara, calling it a "clear provocation".
REUTERS/Atef Hassan (IRAQ)

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080620/capt.d42f6b6e54db4d21b501826f07df9fc6.iraq_amarah_troops_bag110.jpg
An Iraqi stands guard during a search operation in Maysan province near the border with Iran, 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq on Friday, June 20, 2008. U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces are in their second day of military operations in the southern city of Amarah.
(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080620/capt.36c39106df33480e993cbe076864fe86.iraq_amarah_troops_bag114.jpg
Iraqi soldiers walk through a field during a search operation in Maysan province near the border with Iran, 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq on Friday, June 20, 2008. U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces are in their second day of military operations in the southern city of Amarah.
(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080620/capt.304ce2760cd44703955992e5ea0c010b.iraq_amarah_troops_bag113.jpg
An Iraqi soldier examines artillery found during a search operation in Maysan province near the border with Iran, 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq on Friday, June 20, 2008. U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces are in their second day of military operations in the southern city of Amarah.
(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080620/capt.367f76a4b82946229b09250764159cb3.iraq_amarah_troops_bag107.jpg
An attack helicopter flies over a rural area as an Iraqi Army soldier is seen in Maysan province near the border with Iran, 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq on Friday, June 20, 2008. U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces are in their second day of military operations in the southern city of Amarah.
(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

[VA_Dinger]

Wow, lots of accessorized AK's.

Good for them.

[Hootiewho]

Looking at all the rhino mounts on the helmets; do we give or sell them NOD's?

[LonghunterCO]

The picture of the U.S. soldier, does the grip on his weapon look like a Yugo?

Nice pics.

[Jay Cunningham]

We need to get those fellas into one of LAV's AK Series Weapons classes.

[Lumpy196]

The picture of the U.S. soldier, does the grip on his weapon look like a Yugo?

Nice pics.


Caption is wrong. He's an Iraqi. I corrected it.

I have no idea. I can't see it clearly. Considering Iraq makes whats basically a home-built copy of the Yugo, the Tabuk, it's not unlikely that it could end up being used as a replacement part.

[ddemis]

WOW! Those guys look like they have their shit together. Our guys have trained them well. Those m-4 style stocks on the AKs look like Tapco's. Great pics, thanks.

[coffinman]

Nice!

[John_Wayne777]

EOThingies and clicky Surefires......Ick.

Jay is right...we gotta get them boys into one of LAV's classes.

EDIT -- Am I seeing things, or in the first picture does the ACOG equipped soldier have a redi-mag style device for his AK???

[CarlosDJackal]

My favorite is the Iraqi one who was wearing a skull face mask. Pretty kewl!! :D

[chadbag]

Warms your heart...

[texasyid]

I like the sixth picture down. His quick detach EO Tech mount appears to be a tie wrap.

[telecustom]

I just love how we train/equip one side to go on ethnic cleansing missions.

[Lumpy196]

EDIT -- Am I seeing things, or in the first picture does the ACOG equipped soldier have a redi-mag style device for his AK???


You're seeing things. The safety lever stop off the mag release housing combined with the wear mark from the safety, the worn finish on two reciever rivets and the magazine dimple all make it kind of look like one though.

[Avenger11]

I just love how we train/equip one side to go on ethnic cleansing missions.

Really?

[Battl3fr0nt]

never seen that befor.. pretty soon they will have M4's.. in a way that would be bad

[TurretGunner]

Really?


Really is Really!



BTW Avenger...Scouts lead the way....First to the Front!, Chief

[Avenger11]

I was not trying to be argumentative, it's just that I am in Iraq, working on my 3rd year here and I haven't experienced any operations that involved coalition forces training and equipping Iraqi security forces for ethnic cleansing missions. I sometimes wonder where people get their information?

As for Battl3fr0nt's comment...I agree, I would prefer that the Iraqi Security Forces do not get M-4s. I am willing to bet that the majority prefer their AK rifles anyhow.

I really appreciate Lumpy posting those pictures. From my perspective, the Iraqi Army and Police have come a LONG way from just a few years ago.

[Chris19delta]

Wow those are some pretty high-speed IA dudes, nothing like the ones im used to seeing up here. As for the nods I've seen IA dudes with rhino mounts but never seen an IA dude with nods. Maybe they have em and I've just never seen em or maybe the mounts were harder to loose than the nods :eek BTW some IA do have M4s already, and a ton have m16a2s.

[kal]

i dont think those are iraqi's

Yes they are. That isn't the only picture floating around.

[hahagobangbang]

Thanks for clearing things up Avenger. I am constantly amazed at the gibberish that comes out of otherwise intelligent people's mouths. I sometimes wonder if folks make a concerted effort, or any effort all to find out the truth. Thanks for all the dirt you eat and the heat you meet! The job you guys & gals are doing makes me prouder than ever to be an American!

[chadbag]

I think one way you can tell they are Iraqis is that they have the Chocolate Chip uniforms...

[Jay Cunningham]

Just a gentle reminder; let's always keep OPSEC in mind fellas.

~Thekatar

[DHC45]

We need to get those fellas into one of LAV's AK Series Weapons classes.

Something tells me they don't need a LAV class... ;)