Stolen US Military Equipment Being Sold On eBay 173
I Buy These From eBay points out a Washington Post story about how stolen military equipment has ended up on eBay and Craigslist. Undercover investigators reported being able to purchase defense-related items with "no questions asked." Let's hope the sellers don't get their hands on any retired rebellious robots. From the Post:
"Among the items purchased include two components from F-14 fighter jets, bought from separate buyers on eBay. The warplanes, now retired by the military, could easily be purchased and transferred to the Iranian military, which is seeking its components, the report said. Investigators couldn't determine where the sellers had obtained the F-14 parts. They also purchased from a Craigslist seller a used Nuclear Biological Chemical protective suit, other protective accessories as well as an unused chemical-biological canister, which contained the mask filter used to guard against warfare agents. The property was likely stolen from the Defense Department, the report said."
Nothing new here (Score:4, Informative)
More fearmongering? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Fear mongering? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Not smart (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.govliquidation.com/list/c7007/lna/1.html [govliquidation.com]
Get just about any aircraft parts directly from the government. Everything from engines to rotary blades for helicopters to complete aircraft shells. Nothing new here...
NBC Suit loss is common (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Not smart (Score:5, Informative)
People like to use the US's phenomenal military budget as evidence of the country's militarism, but in my admittedly limited experience, it has more to do with massive lack of accountability on an institution-wide scale. Anybody I have ever spoken to who has been in military logistics for a long period of time can tell you about the time he watched a million dollars get wasted in a day.
Re:Not smart - obviously??? (Score:5, Informative)
Why does Iran want F-14 parts? Iran threat? No. (Score:5, Informative)
Quote from the Slashdot story: "The warplanes, now retired by the military, could easily be purchased and transferred to the Iranian military, which is seeking its components, the report said."
Why does Iran want F-14 parts? I'm guessing that is because the war industry in the U.S. sold the Iranian government F-14s, with the permission and the aid of the U.S. government. Presumably that happened when the Shah was in control. The Shah was a U.S. government puppet, installed in 1953 after the U.S. government destroyed the administration of the democratically elected President Mohammed Mossadegh" [wikipedia.org]. That's right, those who control the U.S. government were against democracy, for violence, for interference in the operation of other countries, and they put profit above all other issues.
Also, Iran is not the threat that is being presented to U.S. citizens. Those who control the U.S. government are trying to demonize Iran the way they demonized Iraq. They want a war, and the entire reason they want a war with Iran is the same as the reason they wanted war with Iraq: to make more money. Those who control the U.S. government have a sickness about money. They will do anything to get more money, even lie and kill other people.
At the beginning of the first U.S. government-Iraq war, U.S. weapons companies were still delivering weapons to Iraq, under a long-term contract. Those who control the U.S. government and weapons companies want war, continous war.
The U.S. government is the biggest promoter of violence in the world. Don't say "we" when talking about war. There is no "we", unless you are part of the group that makes the profits, while stealing from U.S. taxpayers.
If you love your wife, and she is having a difficult time, you don't turn your back on her. You get involved and try to help. It's the same with your country. If you love the U.S. like I do, you will help stop the violence.
Re:Why not buy a Gripen (Score:4, Informative)
Its not all stolen... (Score:4, Informative)
He got it from the Olympia Air Museum. Prior to that it was PURCHASED from McChord AFB in Tacoma after being struck off the register. It was used for training battle damage repair.
Aircraft parts from wrecked, scraped airframes often legitimately come up for sale on Ebay, IMO this report / article is just a way to promote an agenda. Congress are probably planning some new bill defining everyone who possesses ex-military equipment a terrorist. I guess I'm a cynic.
Re:Not smart (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Not smart (Score:5, Informative)
You are quite right!
The list of stuff isn't impressive. We should be impressed by a fucking used NBC suit? Literally millions of the things have been produced from the Cold War onward. They are not classified. The "used" (= charcoal no workee no more, washed multiple times so it doesn't stain your uniform black) suits are in every G.I.s NBC training bag and many surplus stores and are NOT illegal to possess!
Neither are uniforms, with the caveat that you must buy them or be issued them and not (no shit) steal them. Anybody who wants to can buy them (or nicer private brands) online at U.S. Cavalry, Brigade Quartermasters, etc. G.I.s often spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on aftermarket gear.
Wanna legal mask?
http://www.approvedgasmasks.com/msa-mcu2p.htm [approvedgasmasks.com]
Whole NBC ensembles?
http://www.approvedgasmasks.com/mask-kits.htm [approvedgasmasks.com]
I'm sure some illegal gear ends up on Ebay (SAPI plates, etc) but it would be nice to see WHICH "F-14" parts were there. Just because a National Stock Number crosses to an F-14 doesn't make it strategic material.
Wanna see everything that's for sale legally from Uncle Sugar? You can even bid online:
http://www.govliquidation.com/ [govliquidation.com]
I did 26 years (Comm/Nav. Engines,Crew Chief) in the USAF and am familiar with aircraft, parts, supply, and buying stuff outta surplus even before it was outsourced to GovLiquidation. The WaPo piece is IMO bullshit fearmongering and reflects their dislike for the military.