As from a Galaxy, Far, Far away.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/21/iranian-sniper-wookiee-star-wars

Iranian sniper or Wookiee? How to tell them apart




Tim Dowling (http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/timdowling)

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/4/21/1240274602839/Iranian-snipers-in-full-c-001.jpg
Iranian snipers in full camouflage take part in the Army Day parade in Tehran on 18 March 2009. Photograph: Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images

Over the weekend Iranian snipers marched in the annual Army Day parade in Tehran in full camouflage, looking less like crack combatants and more like Wookiee extras from a forgotten Star Wars (http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/starwars) spin-off. So how do you tell the difference?

Iranian army sniper

When and where: now, Iran (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/iran).
Planet of origin: Earth.
Language: Persian, officially.
Average height: approximately 5ft 8in, without haystack suit.
Weapon of choice: the sniper rifle, presumably, although pictured holding the rather less precise AK-47 assault rifle for some reason.
Strategic advantages: concealment. Would be virtually invisible, for example, at a Star Wars convention, or in a vat of angel hair pasta.
Also sometimes confused with: Cruella De Vil after dry cleaning mishap; a compost heap.

Wookiee

When and where: a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
Planet of origin: Kashyyyk.
Language: Shyriiwook, a system of barks, groans and gargling.
Average height: 6ft 11in (the actor who played Chewbacca, Peter Mayhew, stood at 7ft 3in).
Weapon of choice: the bowcaster, a crossbow firing magnetically accelerated projectiles, according to online resource Wookieepedia.
Strategic advantages: strong, readily lends itself to merchandising.
Also sometimes confused with: the cowardly lion from The Wizard of Oz; Brian Blessed.

Those are Ghillie Suits...heavy and almost impossible to move in. The rifles..if they use AK's for snipers then we have not much to worry about.

Ahahahahaha. Sniping camels at 10 yards!

Language =/= Persian

Language = Farsi

Obviously we have alot to learn from the Iranian military...our snipers look all lame compared to them.. with our shitty bolt action rifles and lack of the wookie clothes...we dont even have real bipods as you can see.

http://www.vanreedimages.com/ayonae/usmcsniperteam.jpg

'Strategic advantages: concealment. Would be virtually invisible, for example, at a Star Wars convention, or in a vat of angel hair pasta. '

- Rofl!!

Language =/= Persian

Language = Farsi

That isn't entirely correct. Persian is the more commonly used English translation, Farsi is just the indigenous name according to the Academy of Persian Language and Literature.

http://heritage.chn.ir/en/Article/?id=88

Happy to trivialize your knowledge about Iran any time Jedd ;)

Shouldn't Yoda be up on 1 of their shoulders?

Just sayin.....

I'm speechless, I can't think of anything more witty to say than what has already been said but wow, sniping with an AK? awesome.

These, Ladies and Gents, are the great threat of the ME!

Man L2 you deserve a medal for the laughs you gave me this morning.

That being said, in those outfits they probably are pretty fucking tough to spot.

In the jungle, maybe. But I don't remember there being a jungle on the Iranian plataeu (well, ok, unless you go to the far north of Iran - but that's off the plateau!).

Well, they're not sniping more than...well snipes with that get up and the AK47 ;P

Hmm perhaps they are not snipers, but rather dressed for an ambush ala Vietnam?

Or perhaps they didn't think it was important to show what kind of sniper rifles they have in the parade. Are you guys seriously coming to the conclusion of the military strength of a nation by what weapon that nations snipers are showing in a public parade?

That being said, it was hilarious the way L2 laid it all out.

Hmm perhaps they are not snipers, but rather dressed for an ambush ala Vietnam?

Or perhaps they didn't think it was important to show what kind of sniper rifles they have in the parade. Are you guys seriously coming to the conclusion of the military strength of a nation by what weapon that nations snipers are showing in a public parade?

That being said, it was hilarious the way L2 laid it all out.

Oh it's serious when said country was attempting to flaunt it's military "might" ( they'd have done better to march cardboard cut outs of an American military parade ).

Oh it's serious when said country was attempting to flaunt it's military "might" ( they'd have done better to march cardboard cut outs of an American military parade ).

The thing you might have trouble accepting is that not every nation has the same outlook as you.

Not every nation is only afraid of America's might. Iran may have little in the way of military tech in comparison to us, but numbers and the tech they have are a potential deterrent and threat to many other nations in the world.

Besides the lack of military tech is basically due to sanctions and other such restrictions we have placed on them, so laughing at them is akin to laughing at a person who is skin and bones thin, after you restricted everyone from feeding them.

...ummm, I think someone needs to take a "not so serious" pill. :)

Besides the lack of military tech is basically due to sanctions and other such restrictions we have placed on them, so laughing at them is akin to laughing at a person who is skin and bones thin, after you restricted everyone from feeding them.


/sigh

Anyone recall watching "Wizard of Oz" the first time, and how you reacted when the black and white movie suddenly was transformed to color as Dorothy opened the door of the house?

I wonder how jedd will react when he finally opens his door and looks out.

/sigh

Anyone recall watching "Wizard of Oz" the first time, and how you reacted when the black and white movie suddenly was transformed to color as Dorothy opened the door of the house?

I wonder how jedd will react when he finally opens his door and looks out.

What part of my post was factually incorrect?

I feel sorry for those poor bastards, being forced to march in a parade while wearing those heavy suits in the heat. I rate it right up there with the guys in the ridiculous mascot outfits twirling the advertisement signs on street corners you see everywhere.

It's probably a good thing for their officers that those rifles were likely unloaded.

LOL, I remember a Change of Command ceremony when I was in the Army, where someone got the bright idea to put unsheathed bayonettes on the end of M-16s. It was 95 degrees with about 98% humidity.

We had soldiers passing out left and right from the heat. There were some people that unfornutately got injured when a razor sharp bayonette cut them open as a soldier passed out from heat exhaustion and fell to the ground.

I was lucky enough to be a Crew Chief, at that time, so my firearm was a 9MM. I also had 2 rows of people between me and the first person with an M16.

Funny thing about officers: rarely do they make decisions with the best interests of thier soldiers in mind....

Ahhhh good ole Fort Stupid! Nothing like MOPP1 in a heat index of 105+ The only time in my life I ever suffered heat exhausted/exposure was during my time in the field at Ft. Stewart. I remember unrolling cammo netting for the umpteenth time (we kept site jumping) and then I woke up in the med tent with IVs. I looked around and saw 3 squad members. Stupid stupid stupid.

LOL, I remember a Change of Command ceremony when I was in the Army, where someone got the bright idea to put unsheathed bayonettes on the end of M-16s. It was 95 degrees with about 98% humidity.

We had soldiers passing out left and right from the heat. There were some people that unfornutately got injured when a razor sharp bayonette cut them open as a soldier passed out from heat exhaustion and fell to the ground.

I was lucky enough to be a Crew Chief, at that time, so my firearm was a 9MM. I also had 2 rows of people between me and the first person with an M16.

Funny thing about officers: rarely do they make decisions with the best interests of thier soldiers in mind....


Looking back I wonder how I never suffered from heat exhaustion. From what I remember though in the Marine Corp those that were victims of it were discharged.

Makes me think of these poor schmoos:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_Guard

I have heard that these guys and gals have custom fit ice packs that they wear for the extra hot / humid days here in Ottawa, they also pop salt pills to keep their electrolites up.

Some of the hotter days here in Ottawa can reach 85-90 before noon, I would hate to have one of those Bearskin Hats on in that type of heat and humidity.

Still, they put on a good show for the tourists.

Cheers,

What part of my post was factually incorrect?


Thank you, jedd.

Nowhere in my post did I address whether you were factually correct or incorrect. And yet, you have found a way to illustrate my metaphor of your being in a black and white world, waiting to emerge into the world of color!

The world is actually a much nicer place when you are not looking for people to be attacking you, or your beliefs.

Thank you, jedd.

Nowhere in my post did I address whether you were factually correct or incorrect. And yet, you have found a way to illustrate my metaphor of your being in a black and white world, waiting to emerge into the world of color!

The world is actually a much nicer place when you are not looking for people to be attacking you, or your beliefs.

Wow... Somehow I who see the grey in most situations and argue for those who are seen in a negative light due to peoples black or white way of thinking am the one that needs to see the color?

Boy, I have been seeing the color since before you ever met me and sure you will probably claim that "here you go again taking it as an attack and trying to defend" but it does not change the fact that you purposely call me out and then wonder why I respond.

Maybe if stupid things were not said, I would not feel the need to call people out on them.

Don't worry Jedd our Lotro bond runs deep!

Don't worry Jedd our Lotro bond runs deep!

Much love brotha!

*pounds fist to chest*

How do you think the Queen's Grenadier Guards feel outside of Buckingham Palace in their bearskin hats?

Ok, it rains here a lot, but it's sunny at the moment!!!