Bush Trying To Sell Saudi Arabia 20 Billion in Arms

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Including Navy warships. But get this, to appease the Israelis for doing so, he's promised them 30 Billion in Arms!

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U.S. plans big arms sale to Saudi Arabia: report

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Bush administration is preparing to ask Congress to approve arms sales totaling $20 billions over the next decade for Saudi Arabia and its neighbors, The New York Times reported in Saturday editions.



A file photo of Saudi police graduates attending a graduation ceremony in Riyadh June 26, 2007. The Bush administration is preparing to ask Congress to approve arms sales totaling $20 billions over the next decade for Saudi Arabia and its neighbors, The New York Times reported in Saturday editions. (Ali Jarekji/Reuters)


Coming as some U.S. officials contend that the Saudi government is not helping the situation in Iraq, the proposal for advanced weapons for Saudi Arabia has stoked concern in Israel and among its U.S. backers, the Times said. The package of advanced weaponry includes advanced satellite-guided bombs, upgrades for its fighters and new naval vessels.

Senior officials, including State Department and Pentagon officials who outlined the deals' terms, told the Times they thought the Bush administration had resolved those concerns, partly by offering Israel more than $30 billion in military aid over the next 10 years, which would be a significant increase over recent levels.

Administration officials remain concerned, however, that the package could draw opposition from Saudi critics in Congress, which is to be notified formally about the deal this autumn, the newspaper said.

The State Department and the White House had no comment on the Times' article, and a Pentagon spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.

Assurances from the Saudis about being more supportive in Iraq were not sought by the administration as part of the deal, U.S. officials told the newspaper.

The Times said officials described the plan as intended to bolster Gulf countries' militaries in a bid to contain Iran's growing strength in the region, as well as to demonstrate Washington's commitment to its Arab allies.

But they added that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates still plan to use their joint visit to Saudi Arabia next week to press for help with Iraq's government.

"The role of the Sunni Arab neighbors is to send a positive, affirmative message to moderates in Iraq in government that the neighbors are with you," the newspaper quoted a senior State Department official as saying.

The official added that Washington wants Gulf states to stress to Sunnis that engaging in violence is "killing your future."

Other salves to Israel in light of the proposed deal include asking the Saudis to accept restrictions on the range, size and location of the satellite-guided bombs, the Times said. The Pentagon is also asking for a commitment not to store the weapons at air bases close to Israeli territory, it added.

Along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are likely to receive equipment and weaponry from the arms sales under consideration, the Times said.

[jhat01]

What a ****ing mess

[TailgateNut]

Originally Posted by jhat01

What a ****ing mess

I second your comment!

[Denver Crush]

the hole just keeps getting deeper and deeper.

[ant1999e]

So Russia can sell weapons to Iran but we can't sell them to Saudi?

[ant1999e]

However, I don't agree with us doing this but must ask the question for argument sake.

[yavoon]

ok so whats the exact objection of selling saudi arabia weapons?

[BroncoBuff]

This is nothing new ... despite the fact they are a breeding society for terrorists (a point I feel is overblown), the Saudis have been one of our better arms buyer for a long time. The perfect combination: they are filthy with cash, we have the best arms money can buy, they are filthy with oil, we want preferential oil treatment for our oil companies. So we sell them all the hardware they want to feel safe. Probably at retail.

I suppose the Israeli purchases in respinse to this raise the spectre of the United States supplying both sides of an escalating regional arms race, and that's worriesome, but I'm much mnore concerned about Ahjmadinejad's new censorship measures against the media and his long-term nuclear ambitions. I just wish today was January 20, 2009, and Ms. Clinton was taking the oath. These guys in there now haven't done anything right, and I have zero confidence they'e gonna start now.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Originally Posted by yavoon

ok so whats the exact objection of selling saudi arabia weapons?

The whole point is arming ME countries is about stupid as it gets. Today's good buddy in the ME is tomorrow's enemy. We have proven this fact over and over.

Oil and oil only drives and fuels the U.S. war machine.

[Denver Crush]

Originally Posted by Bronco_Beerslug

The whole point is arming ME countries is about stupid as it gets. Today's good buddy in the ME is tomorrow's enemy. We have proven this fact over and over.

Oil and oil only drives and fuels the U.S. war machine.

Exactly!

Its been this same foreign policy that has put us in the situation we are in today. We should learn from our mistakes in the past. Or maybe not.

[yavoon]

Originally Posted by Bronco_Beerslug

The whole point is arming ME countries is about stupid as it gets. Today's good buddy in the ME is tomorrow's enemy. We have proven this fact over and over.

Oil and oil only drives and fuels the U.S. war machine.

are u under the misconception that america is the only arms dealer in the world and that we effectively control who has tanks/planes and who doesn't?

or are u under the misconception that america needs no allies in the entirity of teh world that aren't canada or norway level democracies?

[Cito Pelon]

To me, the object in that region is to disarm it. And further, marginalize the entire region by reducing oil-dependency. I advise against this deal, and would support a regional policy that states the US will interdict arms shipments into the region. I realize that's very drastic and would lead to some very strong responses in the short-term.

But in the absence of voluntary restraint by the big arms-dealing nations, that is something that has to be strongly considered. The best solution is the Five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council stop playing grab-ass with each other, stop trying to carve out their own exclusive spheres of influence and start working together to stabilize the planet instead of this laissez-faire method.

[yavoon]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

To me, the object in that region is to disarm it. And further, marginalize the entire region by reducing oil-dependency. I advise against this deal, and would support a regional policy that states the US will interdict arms shipments into the region. I realize that's very drastic and would lead to some very strong responses in the short-term.

But in the absence of voluntary restraint by the big arms-dealing nations, that is something that has to be strongly considered. The best solution is the Five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council stop playing grab-ass with each other, stop trying to carve out their own exclusive spheres of influence and start working together to stabilize the planet instead of this laissez-faire method.

now thats a neocon stance, forced military disarmarment.

[baja]

Originally Posted by yavoon

ok so whats the exact objection of selling saudi arabia weapons?

This.

senior officials, including State Department and Pentagon officials who outlined the deals' terms, told the Times they thought the Bush administration had resolved those concerns, partly by offering Israel more than $30 billion in military aid over the next 10 years, which would be a significant increase over recent levels.

That tells me this administration and beyond is owned by Israel

[baja]

Originally Posted by BroncoBuff

This is nothing new ... despite the fact they are a breeding society for terrorists (a point I feel is overblown), the Saudis have been one of our better arms buyer for a long time. The perfect combination: they are filthy with cash, we have the best arms money can buy, they are filthy with oil, we want preferential oil treatment for our oil companies. So we sell them all the hardware they want to feel safe. Probably at retail.

I suppose the Israeli purchases in respinse to this raise the spectre of the United States supplying both sides of an escalating regional arms race, and that's worriesome, but I'm much mnore concerned about Ahjmadinejad's new censorship measures against the media and his long-term nuclear ambitions. I just wish today was January 20, 2009, and Ms. Clinton was taking the oath. These guys in there now haven't done anything right, and I have zero confidence they'e gonna start now.

The arms for Israel are not for sale they are in the form of aid. 30 billion over ten years.

[yavoon]

Originally Posted by baja fan

This.

senior officials, including State Department and Pentagon officials who outlined the deals' terms, told the Times they thought the Bush administration had resolved those concerns, partly by offering Israel more than $30 billion in military aid over the next 10 years, which would be a significant increase over recent levels.

That tells me this administration and beyond is owned by Israel

those sneaky jews!

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by yavoon

now thats a neocon stance, forced military disarmarment.

So what are the options beyond that? Very few. I laid out the best option. Beyond that the option is basically fight it out, and that will probably be what settles it. Trouble is instead of fighting it out between the arms selling nations, we have proxies that we arm. Sooner or later one of us will have to back our proxies. Seen it before, it will happen again. But the stakes are higher now.

[yavoon]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

So what are the options beyond that? Very few. I laid out the best option. Beyond that the option is basically fight it out, and that will probably be what settles it. Trouble is instead of fighting it out between the arms selling nations, we have proxies that we arm. Sooner or later one of us will have to back our proxies. Seen it before, it will happen again. But the stakes are higher now.

not everyone we sell a rifle to is a "proxy."

[baja]

Originally Posted by yavoon

those sneaky jews!

Giving 30 billion in order to get permission to sell 20 billion, that sounds wise.

[Taco John]

Originally Posted by yavoon

not everyone we sell a rifle to is a "proxy."

Try knowingly selling a gun to a mentally disturbed 17 year old, and use that defense in court when he shoots up his school.

[BroncoBuff]

Originally Posted by baja fan

The arms for Israel are not for sale they are in the form of aid.

Okay baja ... maybe they're "free," but that wasn't my point.

My point was and is - ultimately - that Saudi Arabia and Israel have more in common than it seems. Both are close American allies, and have little use for and are rightfully fearful of radical Islam. The Saudi Prince who lived here - Bandar bin-Sultan - was quoted last year empathising with the Israeli side of the story.

So even though this sale to the Saudis and (gift) to the Israelis may seem like we're arming both sides in a regional powder-keg, don't be so qiock to believe it. The Saudis might be Arabs, but that doesn't necessarily mean they want "Death to Israel."

[baja]

Originally Posted by BroncoBuff

Okay baja ... maybe they're "free," but that wasn't my point.

My point was and is - ultimately - that Saudi Arabia and Israel have more in common than it seems. Both are close American allies, and have little use for and are rightfully fearful of radical Islam. The Saudi Prince who lived here - Bandar bin-Sultan - was quoted last year empathising with the Israeli side of the story.

So even though this sale to the Saudis and (gift) to the Israelis may seem like we're arming both sides in a regional powder-keg, don't be so qiock to believe it. The Saudis might be Arabs, but that doesn't necessarily mean they want "Death to Israel."

That was never my point.

We are going to arm the middle east before someone else does, I understand that and there is no changing that.

I object to giving 30 billion in weapons to Israel, let them pay for them like every one else.

[Spider]

Originally Posted by yavoon

ok so whats the exact objection of selling saudi arabia weapons?

pretty stupid .........

[Spider]

Originally Posted by ant1999e

So Russia can sell weapons to Iran but we can't sell them to Saudi?

Whabbism ..Saudi Arabia is the home of this very violent form of Islam ....15 of the 19 Hijackers were from Saudi Arabia .........as Beerslug said , one day they are our friends , next they want to kill us ......Selling BB guns to these asshats is a stupid idea

[ant1999e]

Originally Posted by baja fan

This.

senior officials, including State Department and Pentagon officials who outlined the deals' terms, told the Times they thought the Bush administration had resolved those concerns, partly by offering Israel more than $30 billion in military aid over the next 10 years, which would be a significant increase over recent levels.

That tells me this administration and beyond is owned by Israel

Don't mess with Israel.