[Milsurplus] Pentagon Limits Gear in Surplus Auctions

[J Forster]

Hue Miller wrote:

> John, the fact that Iran apparently wishes to purchase the parts from
> us, indirectly, rather than manufacture them,  or buy them from China,
> does this not impress you in the least?

Nope. It's almost ALWAYS easier/cheaper/faster/whatever to buy rather than
build, BUT I think denying them the stuff will inconvenience them a little bit
at most. Also, there is a cascade effect as in history. Look at the industrial
revolution in the New England states after Britain stopped shipping goods over
here in revolutionary days. Having to make our own boosted our infrastructure.
Iran will do the same.

>
> You mention gas and oil prices here. I assume you know that in Iran
> gas is heavily subsidized, and the country faces a danger of being
> a net refined petroleum products  importer in the near future?

And the interstate system here is not a subsidy?

> That Iran
> is down the list of  oil exporters to the USA (at least)?

Oil is oil. Refineries care about the chemical makeup, not the 'Made in USA'
label.

>  That the country
> has a young population and high underemployment?  And the country
> has porous borders and restive ethnic minorities, and an active anti-
> government guerilla movement?

I seem to remember something about Ollie North trying to make a deal with the
'Iranian moderates'.

Face it, the US is utterly clue less on foreign policy.

What did we do to help the marsh arabs after Gulf War I ? Were our purported
Iraqi buddies helpful to us after the invasion in Gulf War II ? We have been
played for fools every time. At least, in Iraq under Saddam there was peace and
any Al Queda were hanging by their balls from wires in Abu Greb, begging to die
sooner than later. Saddam was not a 'clear and present danger' to the US
because he had no real capability after GW I to project power any real
distance. Now they are doing live fire training using our guys for targets and
have metastasized. BIG improvement.

Frankly, the lesson I'd learn from the last 6 years if I wanted to be a world
or regional power is that if you don't have a bomb, you'll get invaded.

> That country is not the monolithic power
> you seem to see - as long as we do not give them cause to be united.
> Probably enuff on this subject. But common sense tells you that if they
> want to buy those parts, they want, need, and lack them. -Hue Miller

Disagree. First you try and buy them, then you make them. Maybe it costs a bit
more. Big deal. There might be a few inconveniences, perhaps new gyros, but
just like the dynos in ARC-5s and Type 12s were subbed with Dynaverters, you
can probably sub in a gyro from a 747 or something and get better performance
to boot. Aircraft stuff is preetty modular.

IMO, the Iranians are laughing at that directive, assuming they even care.

FWIW,
-John