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Posted on 07/10/2011 4:11:19 PM PDT by Amerisrael
On Friday President Barack Hussein Obama informed the US Congress that he intended to sell 125 M-1A1 Abrams Tanks to the Egyptian Military.
With the nation of Egypt in turmoil, and the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood is poised to assume total control over Egypt, why would any sane and rational person sell tanks (or any weapon) to a nation bent on not only destroying its neighbor, but who would turn the same weapons on the US to destroy it.
From the Jerusalem Post:
The US signaled last week that it plans to continue business as usual when it comes to arms sales to the Egyptian military, despite the recent revolution in Egypt and continued anti-government demonstrations there.
On Friday, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible sale of 125 M1A1 Abrams tank to Egypt – the first large arms deal since Hosni Mubarak was ousted from power in February – including associated weapons, equipment, parts, training and logistical support at an estimated cost of just over $1.3 billion.
If approved, the deal would increase the number of Abrams tanks in Egypt from around 1,000 to 1,130.
According to the notification to Congress, Egypt would receive 125 tanks, parts of which would be produced in Egypt, as well as M256 Armament Systems, M2 .50 caliber machine guns, 7.62mm machine guns, spare parts, maintenance, support equipment, personnel training and other related elements of logistics and program support.
The Pentagon told Congress – which has 30 days to object to the deal – that the sale of the tanks would “contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”
The sale would “provide Egypt with a modern tank fleet, enhancing its capability to meet current and future threats,” the Pentagon further stated.
News of the deal raised eyebrows in Israel, which has carefully watched arms sales to Egypt ever since Cairo began to receive annual military aid of some $1.3b. from the United States following the peace treaty the two neighbors signed in 1979.
Israel has in the past lobbied Congress against specific arms deals to Egypt. In the past few years, Egypt has purchased 24 F-16 fighter jets, Hellfire missiles, Harpoon antiship missiles, TOW anti-tank missiles, Chinook transport helicopters and Apache attack helicopters.
Israel is concerned that Egypt might take a radical shift in elections expected to be held in the fall and might once again turn into an enemy state, depending on the identity of the new president and the number of seats the Muslim Brotherhood wins in parliament.
The IDF has taken a cautious approach to the developments in Egypt, with Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz choosing a long-term plan formulated by the Planning Directorate, under which the army would grow over a number of years and not launch an immediate procurement plan to counter the possible threat evolving in the South.
Gantz’s thinking is based on the assumption that any war with Egypt would not take place any time soon, and that an immediate procurement plan announced by the IDF could be detrimental and increase tension between the countries. The signs point to Egypt attacking Israel within the next 6 months (sooner if they can). The addition of more M-1A1 Abrams tanks will only increase the livelihood of this happening.
Contact your Congressman and let them know that you do not support this idea and demand that they vote against this deal.
First generation M1. Air Cav. Target practice.
"Would negate"
I know why. We bombed the wrong side in that one. Like we need a Muslim nation in Europe.
Me neither.
My point is that we’ve been arming the crap out of Egypt, and SA, and other Arab countries for decades.
With possible exception of Libya, it’s difficult to see what country other than Israel Egypt could use its tanks against.
That said, I disagree with those who seem to think we have as primary an obligation to protect Israel as we do to protect USA.
Still, seems odd to be arming both sides to a potential conflict.
This “sale” does mean a lot of US jobs, but then of course we’re paying for those jobs out of tax money and basically giving the tanks to Egypt.
Tell me ZERO aint muslim!
I say let them have them.
without advance Comm, Logisics and support they will get blown up in short order.
Then we can sell them more.
My Friends, President Obama is our enemy, there I said it, he is our enemy, now, how will this end? He MUST go, if he does not it WILL be the end of THIS Republic, The United States are no longer united, those of us that love Israel and the godless communists, the Maoist that would line each and every one of you up against a wall is in control of our government, cannot coexist together in a unified nation-state, may G-D have mercy on us all.
Abrams vs. Merkava 4. Who wins and why?
“Who would the tanks be used against, if not Israel?”
It’s a beautiful scam. We sell the Abrams to Egypt, they threaten Israel, we then come to Israels aid the defense contractors and bankers make a ton of money. Sound good?
Let me tell you a story about a fellow Engineer who worked in Egypt for a number of years, mapping and creating plans for improving the sanitation system.
As an observer, he reported at one point, several hundred school (paid for by the US taxpayer) buses were delivered to the Egyptians.
Long story short, withi three years they were all parked in the bus graveyard due to lack of maintenance.
I sincerely believe things have NOT gotten better.
Aside from the wasted wealth, I don't think anybody needs to worry about this.
Your comment is a good one.
I’m surprised at so many other misinformed comments on this thread.
Egypt has been producing M1 tanks from US sourced kits for over a decade.
I worked in the GM plant in the US that builds the transmissions - we ship them to Eqypt. They also buy the turbine engine from the US.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/egypt/tank-200.htm
Stick with those who are reliable. The English. The Aussies to name a few.
I mean, giving money to 'Palestine'? We may as well say Hamas.
Let those who can afford to fund their armed forces do so. Be reliable in turn to our true allies. We're starting to look really bad.
When you have to essentially bribe somebody to be your friend, it's not friendship.
Everybody is always talking about trimming the budget. Secure our borders, forge great relationships with our true allies. A few good friends go much further than many associates. Know that they can be counted on and vice-versa.
Darn, good one buzz!!!!
That was funny.
Arabs and laser range finders? That is some funny $hit!
It’s not just weapons — the Obama Brotherhood will continue to give his jihadi brothers in Egypt $2 billion U.S. taxpayer dollars annually.
Yep! We got on the wrong side of that one. And, the Muslims expressed their thanks for our help on 9/11/2001.
You can't fix stupid!!
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