# Russia Selling Arms to Iraq

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-selling-arms-to-iraq/163652>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [March 23, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-selling-arms-to-iraq/163652 "2003-03-23T23:41:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-selling-arms-to-iraq/163652/21 "2003-03-24T06:23:35Z")

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My guess: As little as possible. Apparently, even as we speak there are Russian engineers in Baghdad helping to get these systems going. That’s what Bush is trying to stop. Once he either succeeds or fails, the matter will be dropped, but it’ll go into the little diplomatic bag O’ things to use to put the screws to other nations when you need something from them.

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**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-selling-arms-to-iraq/163652/22 "2003-03-24T14:38:01Z")

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Given that Russia no longer has an exit visa requirement, how do you propose that a government stop its individual citizens from going wherever they can find work?

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**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-selling-arms-to-iraq/163652/23 "2003-03-24T15:03:55Z")

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That would be called, “The Law”. It’s illegal to sell arms to Iraq. The U.S. stops its companies from doing it, and so does Russia. Or at least, it’s supposed to.

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**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-selling-arms-to-iraq/163652/24 "2003-03-24T15:11:49Z")

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I’m not talking about arms; those are (somewhat) easier to track, unless they are re-sold to intermediaries. I’m talking about human expertise, of which there is lots carrying Russian passports, and most of it could use some cash.

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