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| Africa Subsaharan |
| South Africa allowed military exports to Iran, Norks, Libya |
| 2009-08-17 |
| From Geostrategy Direct, subscription. The main opposition party charged that the South African government has failed to stop companies from engaging in defense exports to Iran, Libya, North Korea and Zimbabwe. "Failed to stop" is a diplomatic way of saying, "enabled." The South African exports were said to have included long-range glide bombs to Libya and multiple-grenade launchers to Syria. "There is a concern these glide bombs could be converted to deliver a nuclear, chemical or biological weapon," David Maynier, the so-called shadow defense minister from the Democratic Alliance party, said. At a news conference in Capetown, South Africa, Maynier said the South African exports to Iran and other countries took place over the last 13 months. He cited South African plans to sell additional equipment and systems to Iran and Syria. "I have absolute confidence this information is correct," Maynier said on Aug. 2. The South African government has refused to confirm Maynier's assertion. Over the last decade, South Africa has been suspected of defense relations with several countries deemed by the United States as terrorist sponsors. Maynier said the government in Pretoria has failed to oversee South Africa's defense export policy. He said the National Conventional Arms Control Committee authorized the sale of weapons to regimes under European Union and United Nations embargo. "Several dodgy deals appear to have slipped through the cracks," Maynier said. A diplomatic way of putting it. Maynier, who said he would provide additional details to parliament, asserted that the government committee has approved the delivery of multiple-grenade launchers while examining a proposal to sell sniper rifles to Syria. He said South Africa was also working on a deal to sell Aviator G-suits, worn by fighter-jet pilots, to Iran. To the Insh'Allah Air Force. Libya has been promised long-range precision guided weapons, Maynier said. He said South Africa was also preparing to deliver multiple-grenade launchers to Tripoli. |
| Posted by:Alaska Paul |
| #1 I hope someone is keeping an eye on Pelindaba. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-08-17 07:50 |