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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Special Price for Venezuelan Assault Rifles |
| 2005-05-19 |
| May 19, 2005: The news stories of the Russian sale of 100,000 assault rifles to Venezuela left out a few important details. Most stories described the rifles as "AK-47s." Not so. Russia hasn't manufactured the AK-47 (or its upgraded version, the AKM), for many years. Instead, Russia now makes the AK-74, a weapon similar to the American M-16 (and also firing a .22 caliber type bullet). Normally, the AK-74 sells for about $800 each (including cleaning supplies, magazines, spare parts and the like.) But many of the AK-74s headed to Venezuela from Russia are being billed at $1200 each, the additional $400 going into the pockets of Venezuelan politicians who got behind the weapons purchase and distribution (to friends of the current Venezuelan government) of the weapons. New weapons, old traditions. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #9 Mph. Sounds like him. Spells like him. I say it IS him. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2005-05-19 21:40 |
| #8 the sixth dimension....not that there's anything wrong with that |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-05-19 18:36 |
| #7 Is that REALLY you Mucky? Good to see you around...post more often...you bring a whole new dimension to the debates. |
| Posted by: Live to Ride 2005-05-19 17:57 |
| #6 goddamit! was hoperin thisn was sum knida sayle speshal. |
| Posted by: muck4doo 2005-05-19 15:55 |
| #5 They are new at this Sock. Give 'em twenty years to perfect it. |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-05-19 15:15 |
| #4 1200 bucks? WTF? They can be had for about a third of that or less. Just get them from the Chinese. They could have pocketed a huge amount of cash. These guys can't even do graft well. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom 2005-05-19 13:49 |
| #3 Preview is my friend... sigh. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2005-05-19 11:23 |
| #2 Ah, but that was under communism, when it was for pure political reasons. Now it's political and and to make some money. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2005-05-19 11:22 |
| #1 Remember the good 'ol days when the russians just gave their weapons away? |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-05-19 10:10 |