Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah presenting an Israeli rifle to Ahmadinejad. The rifle was reportedly captured during the fighting with Israel in 2006. The provocative ceremony took place at the Iranian Embassy in Beirut. 14 October 2010.
It's a curious thing. This rifle type- FN FAL- was phased out of IDF service around 1974-75 (before the invasion of '82).
It's been suggested it was captured from or leftover stock from the SLA (South Lebanon Army).
But it's implausible the weapon was captured from the IDF in 2006.
As usual, the specific details of the accompanying report could be the result of local, faulty reporting- by either Arab or Iranian sources. Even Israeli sources got the weapon type wrong in their early reporting.
lol, yeah, there's a number of good go-to forums. Militaryphotos.net is one, ACIG.org another. The young blogger at the Arkenstone blog's participation on these forums (and others) is also a good reference.
Personally, I think that FN FAL looks to be locally modified in certain ways, but it's hard to see that well in the photo.
On the other end of the spectrum, I found a glaring mistake in Stratfor's recent analysis of the Ahmadinejad visit.
Yeah, forums have bits of useful info; they also have a lot of jingoistic attitude to sift through, as well.
Nader once again you have allowed your prejudice towards the current IRI govt to set your terms of reference. How else can one explain the use of the word "provocative" in your post? Whom, and how did Ahmadinejad provoke? The Israelis have announced the building of over 200 homes in the settlements, and no where in the MSM is this described as "provocative".
Thanks for your comments and observations. My take on the subject:
If receiving an Israeli rifle said to be captured in the fighting with Israel, from no less personality than Hezbollah’s Nasrallah, and on the day he makes some of the strongest anti-Israeli statements almost on the Israeli border, is not provocative, then I guess we have different understandings of the meaning of the term.
This blog has never shied away from posting military developments in Iran, publishing hundreds of pictures and videos of Iranian military hardware, exercises and ceremonies, a number of them presided over by President Ahmadinejad, and we will continue doing so no matter who the sitting president is, and no matter if we agree with his politics. We do not consider them provocative and frankly we are very proud of our records on that score.
We are not a blog on Israel and do not expect us to follow Israeli politics closely. There are many first-rate blogs doing just that. Do not expect us to report on all provocative moves by the current Israeli government. If we did that, this blog would become Uskowi on Israel!
Nader, thank you for you reply. One of the reasons I reference this blog daily is your willingness to engage with your readership in comments section. In reply to the issue of provocation I will quote Alastair Crooke writing in the Race for Iran blog,
"It was of course self-evidently intended to express defiance towards Israeli military hegemony and to assert a stand of counter-deterrence to any Israeli military threat, but that it is very different from an ‘act of provocation’ deliberately intended to draw an Israeli response. All these claims for the purpose of the visit are just a part of the psychological warfare mounted against Iran, and can be ignored."
This is a view I agree with, articulated better than I could. Thank you again for your wonderful blog.
Make no mistake that this was also a showing by Amadinejad to the rest of the middle east and Saudi Arabia that he has literally taken control and invaded Lebanon without bombs but by investing billions of dollars in hizbollah to take it over for him and duping millions of muslims into believing in his causes. His plan isn't just to annihilate Israel, it's to have control over all the oil in the middle east which is why he supports terrorism throughout the world to fight his battles for him. Looks like Amadinejad is still trying to get the S-300 from Russia but via Venezuela. He may try to come off "all smiles" to the rest of the world, but it's obvious from this perspective that he is controlled by demons and his plans will eventually backfire. So anon 2.23 any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.
I think the display case is more interesting than the weapon itself. And I really wish we could see the inscription on the plaque, located inside to the left. That might be able to settle some of the controversy surrounding the gift.
It's a curious thing. This rifle type- FN FAL- was phased out of IDF service around 1974-75 (before the invasion of '82).
ReplyDeleteIt's been suggested it was captured from or leftover stock from the SLA (South Lebanon Army).
But it's implausible the weapon was captured from the IDF in 2006.
As usual, the specific details of the accompanying report could be the result of local, faulty reporting- by either Arab or Iranian sources. Even Israeli sources got the weapon type wrong in their early reporting.
Mark have you been reading militairyphotos.net?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mark. Even an old rifle lends itself to a dramatic photo op!
ReplyDeletelol, yeah, there's a number of good go-to forums. Militaryphotos.net is one, ACIG.org another. The young blogger at the Arkenstone blog's participation on these forums (and others) is also a good reference.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think that FN FAL looks to be locally modified in certain ways, but it's hard to see that well in the photo.
On the other end of the spectrum, I found a glaring mistake in Stratfor's recent analysis of the Ahmadinejad visit.
Yeah, forums have bits of useful info; they also have a lot of jingoistic attitude to sift through, as well.
"The provocative ceremony"
ReplyDeleteProvocative? lol. There is an msm term for you.
Nader once again you have allowed your prejudice towards the current IRI govt to set your terms of reference. How else can one explain the use of the word "provocative" in your post?
ReplyDeleteWhom, and how did Ahmadinejad provoke? The Israelis have announced the building of over 200 homes in the settlements, and no where in the MSM is this described as "provocative".
Anon 8:32 AM,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments and observations. My take on the subject:
If receiving an Israeli rifle said to be captured in the fighting with Israel, from no less personality than Hezbollah’s Nasrallah, and on the day he makes some of the strongest anti-Israeli statements almost on the Israeli border, is not provocative, then I guess we have different understandings of the meaning of the term.
This blog has never shied away from posting military developments in Iran, publishing hundreds of pictures and videos of Iranian military hardware, exercises and ceremonies, a number of them presided over by President Ahmadinejad, and we will continue doing so no matter who the sitting president is, and no matter if we agree with his politics. We do not consider them provocative and frankly we are very proud of our records on that score.
We are not a blog on Israel and do not expect us to follow Israeli politics closely. There are many first-rate blogs doing just that. Do not expect us to report on all provocative moves by the current Israeli government. If we did that, this blog would become Uskowi on Israel!
Nader, thank you for you reply. One of the reasons I reference this blog daily is your willingness to engage with your readership in comments section.
ReplyDeleteIn reply to the issue of provocation I will quote Alastair Crooke writing in the Race for Iran blog,
"It was of course self-evidently intended to express defiance towards Israeli military hegemony and to assert a stand of counter-deterrence to any Israeli military threat, but that it is very different from an ‘act of provocation’ deliberately intended to draw an Israeli response. All these claims for the purpose of the visit are just a part of the psychological warfare mounted against Iran, and can be ignored."
This is a view I agree with, articulated better than I could. Thank you again for your wonderful blog.
A fitting gift for a popular, brave president. Viva El Presidente, viva Ahmedijado El Magnifico.
ReplyDeleteMake no mistake that this was also a showing by Amadinejad to the rest of the middle east and Saudi Arabia that he has literally taken control and invaded Lebanon without bombs but by investing billions of dollars in hizbollah to take it over for him and duping millions of muslims into believing in his causes. His plan isn't just to annihilate Israel, it's to have control over all the oil in the middle east which is why he supports terrorism throughout the world to fight his battles for him. Looks like Amadinejad is still trying to get the S-300 from Russia but via Venezuela. He may try to come off "all smiles" to the rest of the world, but it's obvious from this perspective that he is controlled by demons and his plans will eventually backfire. So anon 2.23 any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.
ReplyDeleteI think the display case is more interesting than the weapon itself. And I really wish we could see the inscription on the plaque, located inside to the left. That might be able to settle some of the controversy surrounding the gift.
ReplyDelete