U.S. counter-terror officials have launched an investigation into how ISIS got so many of those identical Toyota pickup trucks which they use in their convoys.
They don’t have to look very far …
The Spectator reported last year:
The [Toyota] Hilux [pics] is light, fast, manoeuvrable and all but indestructible (‘bomb-proof’ might not, in this instance, be a happy usage). The weapons experts Jane’s claimed for the Hilux a similar significance to the longbows of Agincourt or the Huey choppers of Nam. A US Army Ranger said the Toyota sure ‘kicks the hell out of a Humvee’ (referring to the clumsy and over-sized High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle made by AM General).
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The fact is the Toyotas were supplied by the US government to the Al Nusra Front as ‘non-lethal aid’ then ‘acquired’ by ISIS.
More @ Washington Blog
It is incredibly stupid for the USA to give anything at all to anyone in that part of the world. I am also not understanding why we would want to obstruct Russia from killing Moslems.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely.
DeleteIt's real easy to tell which vehicles get a pass on drone strikes when they are bugged with US tracking devices. Wouldn't want to hurt their feelings or anything...
ReplyDeleteWhat in the hell is happening Brock? The world has gone mental.
Back to the fifties, please.
DeleteToyota! You have some 'esplainging to do!
ReplyDeleteI can also tell you from personal experience that those Humvees are very loud as well. If you are riding in one, you need to wear hearing protection. Depressing to know that our enemies are riding around in vehicles that are better, more practical and cheap than what our troops are using. And they were in part paid for by the US taxpayer. To use a line from my old man, They (our Government) could screw up a wet dream.
could screw up a wet dream.
DeleteA popular saying in military school. :)
In addition, all those Toyotas, like any other vehicle needs regular maintenance,, and parts replaced as well as gas, oil and other fluids. That means a logistical supply line. So some bodies knows. and is making money off of our "enemy" ISIS, by keeping all those pick-ups in the field. My question is who is writing the check for all other that?
ReplyDeleteMaybe too, our military would be better off by switching to those pick-up trucks, instead of the Humvee.
All good points.
DeleteOur military did just that back in the 80's. We had pick up trucks and stripped out SUVs (Chevy Blazers I think) that were painted green or camouflage. We did that as a bridging solution between jeeps that were wearing out and HMMWVs that we couldn't build fast enough to replace them. And we have always had administrative fleet vehicles just for driving around. I had an issued Mitubishi Pajero in Bosnia for that purpose. Among other reasons, maintenance costs on such vehicles is a lot cheaper than on combat vehicles.
DeleteAnd I have never seen a Toyota Hilux that will put up with what we did to the HMMWV, like adding 5000 pounds of armor to it. or adding a remote gun turret to it. And don't even try to tell me there is enough room inside for all the radios and crap the US Army carries.
But it works just fine to throw 3 friends with AKs and go shoot some unarmed yazidis.
Thanks.
DeleteFigures.
ReplyDeleteReally.
Delete