Report: Germany reconsiders funding Israel's latest submarine

haaretz ^ | 7/21/10 | Amos Harel

[Nachum]

The American weekly Defense News said the collapse of the deal presents the Israel Navy with major difficulties in renovating its aging fleet of ships and submarines.

The American weekly Defense News reported on Tuesday that Germany has reconsidered providing funding for a sixth submarine for the Israel Navy, even though it expressed a willingness in the past to help finance the project.

The publication said the Germans had told Israel that, despite expectations, Germany would not fund about one-third of a $1.6 billion transaction that includes Israel's sixth Dolphin-class submarine and two warships made in Germany.

[hole_n_one]

I guess the screen doors are a sticking point.

[Rembrandt]

Germany won’t have to reconsider since in 2 - 3 years, Israel will no longer exist; it’ll simply be a black hole then Germany, Miami and New York City can be happy again!

[fhayek]

For some reason, screen doors on a submarine were the first thing I thought of when I read the headline. I thought I was tweaked beyond redemption, but now I know that I am not the only one, LOFL///////////

[STD]

Boo Hoo, I thought only US taxpayers were being screwed. I feel so much better knowing that the Germans are making Israel pay 20% The USA has always paid for every purchase.

[Colorado Cowgirl]

I’m not a betting person, but this is some easy money. So my bet is that Israel will be here 3 years from now,with or without the submarines. Miami and New York City, maybe not. I cheat though, I have read the Book, there will still be a Jerusalem for the next 1000 years. God wrote us 66 love letters, but most refuse to read them. Try it, it will change your life!

[saintgermaine]

If some Jews realize it or not, they have mighty friends “Out there” they saved their rear before, during the Deluge and the Exodus and if the time and occasion is right “They” will save them again.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

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[MissAmericanPie]

This is what happens when the United States props up European nations by destroying jobs here. We gave Germany the monopoly on building conventional submarines now Germany has refused to sell to Taiwan and now Israel.

Bring back the jobs and the freedom of the United States to protect itself and it's allies by reopening the shipyards and building our own conventional submarines again.

[Colorado Cowgirl]

The first submarine built in Germany was the Brandtaucher, designed in 1850. So they have had a monopoly, for a long time. We just got out of that business, and politics are always going to be involved; according to that governments policies.

[Ready4Freddy]

Which German shipbuilder was recently purchased by a company in an Arabian Gulf country?

Is this financing problem part of that? I’m concerned that Israel’s ability to get subs, let alone the financing, will be impacted.

[gogogodzilla]

I’m thinking this has more to do with how the German government can no longer afford it’s welfare state... and to avoid a situation like what was seen in Greece, they are cutting their military budget, to include things like paying 1/3 the cost of a submarine for Israel.

And Israel is playing hardball in return, for the Germans know that there will be a lot of unemployed shipbuilders (sub builders) if Israel decides to pull out of the deal.

[Nachum]

Yes. It is that they are all running out of money. I have a feeling that the shipbuilders will be out of work either way.

[Rembrandt]

“So my bet is that Israel will be here 3 years from now..”

I hope you’re right but I harbor some serious doubts with this Agitator in Chief.

[wolf78]

This is what happens when the United States props up European nations by destroying jobs here. We gave Germany the monopoly on building conventional submarines now Germany has refused to sell to Taiwan and now Israel.

Huh... that is complete hogwash! Germany has been selling subs and other military equipment to Israel for years and would happily continue to do so. However the first two subs were free. The third had a 50% discount and the next two 33%.

After the financial meltdown Germany has been one of the very few states not to let the deficit completely spin out of control. Social benefits were cut and cities have to make due without the large tax revenues from companies. So you can imagine the German taxpayer being happy about paying more at the local public swimming pool. In that policital climate it's just very, very hard to gift away a (few) hundred million dollars.

Of course, there's always the US / Obama solution: just print more money...