U.S. contractors hurt in Bulgarian blast were testing arms for supply to Syrian opposition

[jakeXT]

Source: Reuters

Three U.S. government defense contractors caught in a blast at a Bulgarian military range were testing arms for use in a U.S.-led mission to equip Syrian opposition fighters battling Islamic State, a U.S. military source said on Tuesday.

One American contractor was killed and two more were injured when a rocket-propelled grenade malfunctioned at a military range near the central village of Anevo on Saturday. Two Bulgarians were also injured in the explosion.

Bulgarian prosecutors have opened an investigation into the incident but the authorities declined to say what the Americans were doing in Bulgaria, a NATO member.

According to a U.S. military official who was speaking on condition of anonymity, the U.S. contractors were preparing to obtain arms for the U.S.-led effort to train moderate opposition fighters to battle Islamic State in Syria.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/09/us-bulgaria-blast-us-idUSKBN0OP12520150609

[Jesus Malverde]

1. Battle Assad more likely...nt

[jakeXT]

2. Still chasing a fantasy ? ... or something else

With “respect to Syria,” said the president, the notion that arming the rebels would have made a difference has “always been a fantasy. This idea that we could provide some light arms or even more sophisticated arms to what was essentially an opposition made up of former doctors, farmers, pharmacists and so forth, and that they were going to be able to battle not only a well-armed state but also a well-armed state backed by Russia, backed by Iran, a battle-hardened Hezbollah, that was never in the cards.”

Even now, the president said, the administration has difficulty finding, training and arming a sufficient cadre of secular Syrian rebels: “There’s not as much capacity as you would hope.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/09/opinion/president-obama-thomas-l-friedman-iraq-and-world-affairs.html?_r=0

[Nihil]

3. A world with one less merc isn't necessarily bad.

One also wonders why the mercs were in Bulgaria if their cover story is that they'd be
"helping" in Syria ...?

[jakeXT]

4. You need Soviet compatible ammo, Ukraine is not an option anymore

BBC: Saudi Weapons Manufactured in Ukraine Seen at Syria Rebel Base. PHOTO

BBC News has uncovered evidence that appears to suggest that weapons intended for the Saudi military have been diverted to Syrian rebels.

Three crates from an arms manufacturer - addressed to Saudi Arabia - have been seen in a base being used by rebel fighters in the city of Aleppo.



http://en.censor.net.ua/photo_news/219805/bbc_saudi_weapons_manufactured_in_ukraine_seen_at_syria_rebel_base_photo