US plans $A280m jet fuel sale to Israel

Reuters ^ | 7-18-06 | Staff

[veronica]

The Pentagon notified Congress of plans to sell Israel jet fuel valued at up to $US210 million ($A280 million) "to keep peace and security in the region".

"The proposed sale of the JP-8 aviation fuel will enable Israel to maintain the operational capability of its aircraft inventory," the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in notice required by law.

It said Israel had requested the sale, but did not say when the request was made.

The move was announced after Israeli aircraft rocketed runways at Beirut's international airport and blasted the main Beirut-Damascus highway, tightening an air, sea and land blockade of Lebanon.

Israel is seeking to force the release of two Israeli soldiers and halt cross-border rocket strikes by Hizbollah fighters backed by Syria and Iran.

"The jet fuel will be consumed while (Israel's) aircraft (are) in use to keep peace and security in the region," the notice to Congress said.

It said the sale - which Congress may block if both houses were to enact resolutions rejecting it within 30 days - would not affect the basic military balance in the region.

The total value of the deal could be as high as $US210 million ($A280 million) if all options are exercised, the Pentagon said.

[nuconvert]

Interesting timing on that announcement.

[Uncle Hal]

This should get the libs and the MSM riled up to say nothing of the Muslims.

[AmericaUnited]

We should just give it to them. It's basically a drop in the bucket of what it would cost us to whack the bad guys ourselves.

[Decombobulator]

No thanks, they can pay for their purchases like all our other allies.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel.

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[dr_who_2]

The Muslims already assume we're helping Israel.

[newfarm4000n]

We should just give it to them. It's basically a drop in the bucket of what it would cost us to whack the bad guys ourselves.

Are you a damn socialist ???? Perhaps other forums would be better for your taxpayer hating rants. I love Israel BTW but business is business.

[AmericaUnited]

Are you a damned financial illiterate?

Gee, let's see... spend 280M of our tax dollars letting Israel cleanup our common foe in the ME or spend BILLIONS of our tax dollars doing it ourselves.

Don't quit your day job and become a financial adviser.

[lancer]

No thanks, they can pay for their purchases like all our other allies.

I wish! Ever hear of "foreign aid?" Most of the foreign aid we "give" to countries (usually allies) is ear-marked for spending on stuff made in the USofA.

I assume, without checking, that this "ear-marking" applies to Israel and other countries known as "allies."

[crazycat]

Well done the US, who cares if it's given or paid for, it's symbollic.

[ken5050]

Didn't we recently sell Israel some of the new and improved bunker busting weapons..?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

It said the sale - which Congress may block if both houses were to enact resolutions rejecting it within 30 days - would not affect the basic military balance in the region.

So we're entering the war and NOT entering the war, eh?