Here's the situation: the U.S. Army is short on bullets. And only two companies can supply 'em. One's in East Alton, Illinois. The other's in Israel.
That's a problem, American lawmakers say. The Army, back in December, inked a $70 million deal with Israel Military Industries Ltd. for small-caliber ammunition. But some congressmen don't like the symbolism of G.I.s firing Israeli bullets at Muslims in Iraq or Afghanistan. So they're telling the Pentagon: "by no means, under any circumstances should a round (from Israel) be utilized," according to Reuters. If the bullets have to be used, do it only in training, not on the battlefield.
The Army has enough small-caliber ammo for now, notes Maj. Gen. Buford Blount, the Army's assistant deputy chief of staff. But ongoing conflicts in Iraq and in Afghanistan have stretched ammunition-making facilities thin.
"To fight a major combat operation in another theater will require the Army to impose restrictions on training expenditures and to focus current inventory and new production on combat operations," Blount reports.
In English, that means, "If shooting starts somewhere else in the world -- or if Iraq gets much hotter -- you're gonna see Israeli bullets fly."
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