Soldiers in 'guns for coke' scandal (smuggle guns from Iraq for drugs)

[sabra]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2372277,00.html

Soldiers in 'guns for coke' scandal

BRITISH soldiers have been caught smuggling stolen guns out of Iraq and allegedly exchanging them for cocaine and cash on the black market.

Security officials confirmed this weekend that soldiers from the 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment are at the centre of a criminal inquiry by the Royal Military Police (RMP) into a “guns for cocaine” network.

Their alleged involvement with organised crime is a fresh blow to the British Army after a week in which a corporal from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment admitted he had committed a war crime against an Iraqi civilian.

Although drug use is increasing in the armed forces, this is the first time military police have evidence that stolen weapons are being sold to pay for them.

[Wilber_Stool]

1. Well good for them.

It's nice to here that the soldiers are makeing a couple of bucks of this war. It's about time.

[Vexatious Ape]

3. you nailed it

I give them an A for creative effort--making lemonade when life gives you...

[SpiralHawk]

6. "making a couple of bucks off the war..." It's the republicon WAY

These are republicon family values (RFV) all the way -- witness the example of cocaine-snorting Commander AWOL and his sidekick Dick "Five military deferments" Cheney.

[razors edge]

2. all she want's to do is dance, dance, dance.

[Straight Shooter]

4. Just reading from the pages of the Iran-Contra playbook.

:D

[man4allcats]

5. It was inevitable.

I've done my share of rails and probably would again if the opportunity presented itself, but in fairness it must be said you never know whose hands those weapons will eventually wind up in. Oh well. Though the soldiers currently involved are British, I must note that in one of his last speaking engagements, I heard Abbie Hoffman say, and I must agree, that drugs are as American as apple pie. It doesn't matter whether it's Jack Daniels or Columbian blow. People are going to get their buzz.

"Send lawyers, guns and money
The shit has hit the fan"
Warren Zevon

[newspeak]

7. well, this is new-NOT!!!!

Vietnam redux--how's that bunker crop of opium in afghanistan doing?

[pinerow]

8. Waiting for the "poppies for guns and money" story to surface...

I'm sure it's not too far behind...