Oregon Lawmaker Introduces The “Stop Arming Iran Act”

Recently, DoD sold sensitive technology—including F-14 parts—to undercover GAO investigators.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Working to end the Iranian government’s acquisition of sensitive military equipment, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced legislation today that would prohibit the Pentagon from selling surplus parts and equipment for F-14 fighter aircraft.

Wyden’s legislation would also prohibit the export of F-14 parts already sold.

“There is no good reason for the United States to be putting surplus F-14 parts on the market -- especially when the only end-user of these parts is the world’s most active state sponsor of terrorism.” Wyden said.

“Banning the sale and export of F-14 parts is the only sure way for us to keep them out of the wrong hands.”

Seventy-nine of the fighter jets were originally purchased from U.S. manufacturers before Iran’s 1979 revolution and are today largely grounded due to lack of parts.

U.S. customs agents, however, have discovered that F-14 parts are being shipped to Iran after being purchased at Department of Defense (DoD) auctions.

DoD restricts the sale of surplus F-14 parts; however, these rules have proven ineffective at stopping Iran’s acquisition of the equipment.

For example, companies buying the parts from DoD have later been proven fronts for the Iranian government.

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Henry Ruark January 25, 2007 9:17 pm (Pacific time)

To all: For those-in-know, this nothing new...see quote: = "The business of buying weapons that takes place in the Pentagon is a corrupt business — ethically and morally corrupt from top to bottom. The process is dominated by advocacy, with few, if any, checks and balances. Most people in power like this system of doing business and do not want it changed." – Colonel James G. Burton (1993, 232); Can supply 50 similar, which is why Wyden act now is perhaps late, but still courageous and dead-right...pardon the unfortunate feeling of that d-word in this context.

Henry Ruark January 25, 2007 8:34 pm (Pacific time)

S-L: "Right on", I share your strong feelings for same reasons, and hope painful conseqence arrives for the perpetrators.

S.Lamarche January 25, 2007 7:32 pm (Pacific time)

thanks Henry.,I stand humbly corrected.,I do want to be part of the solution.,not intended to implicate Mr. Wyden, but it still pisses me off.,and I don't think they just found out about it.,so here's to hope we don't get fooled again

Henry Ruark January 25, 2007 7:02 pm (Pacific time)

Gents: You may have the page wrong-side up...Sen. W. is trying to correct lack of accountability, failure of common sense...from obvious source. He's on our side on this one and needs support, not unwise opprobrium mistakenly stated.

James Goodwin January 25, 2007 6:53 pm (Pacific time)

77 F-14's were left at the time of the 1979 Revolution (2 had crashed in Iran), during the Iran/Iraq war, 18 F-14's were lost (3 shot down and 15 lost due to compresso stalls/accidents) but they reportedly shot down 125 to 150 Iraq planes. Today there are 28 F-14's in active service and 29 airframes in storage. We should not be selling F-14 surplus parts to the only Air Force flying them in the world.

reg.dem. January 25, 2007 6:07 pm (Pacific time)

Mr.Wyden, how long have you known about "the buisness"?

contractor;d.o.d. January 25, 2007 5:43 pm (Pacific time)

don't worry about it.,just sell em' the stuff and shred the paper like always! Stop being a bunch of lightweights! We need the money! don't question what we do to get it.

JAFO January 25, 2007 5:06 pm (Pacific time)

I read the Mexican authorities recently issued slingshots to suspected corrupt Tijuana policemen, after confiscating their firearms. And an undercover Russian agent in a sting" op. busted a smuggler with 100 grams of enriched weapons grade Plutonium.,and I heard the govenment has financially supported the Khmer Rouge, (great bunch of folks!)since the late 80's! We are all missing something here. This upcoming election is the most important event for America since the Kennedy assasination in Dallas. We can't let them get away with it any more! Vote for a real change!

Osotan January 25, 2007 4:44 pm (Pacific time)

Brilliant move Ron!.,is this an example of accountability?Why do I get the feeling the government's determined to hang themselves with their own rope? If they have to legislate to implement common sense., I'd say they don't have any to start with and have stolen our country already for their own financial gains. "Roll me once,shame on them!.,roll me twice,shame on me!"

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Oregon Lawmaker Introduces The “Stop Arming Iran Act”

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