Re: Genius at work: PMAGs banned
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chingon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Gents,
Working with the Rapid Equipping Force for the Army, I assure you that someone did not corner the market or pay off the politicians. The saftey release is issued by the Army's Test and Evaluations Command (ATEC) and items being tested are put through extreme conditions. The Pmags were not any project of mine but I do know that we did equip standard units with them. It take a lot to issue a sole source contract and typically the contracting office has the acquisition officers jump through hoops to make a case on why they should not compete the Statement of Work. ATEC must have had a good reason (albiet silly due to some minor flaw) to issue a negative safety release. It could be function but I would surmise that it probably has something to do with polymer shards inflicting damage to the warfighter when they take a hit, where aluminum does not break up in the same manner. a Brigade commander has the option to use the item at his disgretion.
As for not being able to mail them back, they are considered an ITAR (Internation Traffic in Arms Regulation) item. FYI, just about anything that attaches to a weapons systems, scopes, hand rails, accessories, are ITAR regulated. It has everything to do with governments not wantint those items in their countries unless they purchase them and issue to their armies. </div></div>
There may not have been a direct pay off like a bribe, but more likley than not, the aluminum magazine manufacturer had a well placed and well paid lobbiest get them what they wanted.
it is dirty politics, we have a commander in chief that learned how politics are played in one of the most corrupt towns in the United States of America.
