Posted on 07/30/2007 3:56:21 AM PDT by theothercheek
On the one hand, the Bush administration can cite numerous instances of Saudi Arabia sabotaging our success in prosecuting the Iraq war and leaving behind an orderly, functioning society, including: Undermining prime minister Nuri al-Maliki by giving financial assistance to his political opponents, as well as to Sunni tribes; waging a months-long campaign to recruit other Persian Gulf countries to give financial aid to Sunni tribal groups; and looking the other way as some 60 to 80 foreign insurgents from Saudi Arabia enter the fray in Iraq each month.
On the other hand, the Bush administration plans to reward the duplicitous Saudis – as well as other Persian Gulf states that may be in cahoots with them - with a massive package of arms deals worth some $20 billion.
The Washington Post reports:
U.S. officials said the arms sales to Saudi Arabia are expected to include air-to-air missiles as well as Joint Direct Attack Munitions, which turn standard bombs into "smart" precision-guided bombs. Most, but not all, of the arms sales to the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries - Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman - will be defensive, the officials said
According to The New York Times, the package may be too much for Congress to swallow:
The proposed package of advanced weaponry for Saudi Arabia, which includes advanced satellite-guided bombs, upgrades to its fighters and new naval vessels, has made Israel and some of its supporters in Congress nervous. Senior officials who described the package on Friday said they believed that the administration had resolved those concerns, in part by promising Israel $30.4 billion in military aid over the next decade, a significant increase over what Israel has received in the past 10 years.
But administration officials remained concerned that the size of the package and the advanced weaponry it contains, as well as broader concerns about Saudi Arabia’s role in Iraq, could prompt Saudi critics in Congress to oppose the package when Congress is formally notified about the deal this fall.
Unnamed senior Bush administration officials tell The New York Times that the arms package to the six Persian Gulf nations is meant to counter the growing strength of Iran, and that the U.S. has not attached any conditions to the deal - not even specific assurances that recipients will support, not subvert, our mission in Iraq. The Bush administration is concerned that Saudi Arabia and the others will get this equipment elsewhere, reducing U.S. influence in the region.
These developments suggest that the U.S. doesn’t have much influence in the region – none of the Arab nations are even bothering with the usual doublespeak and politesse anymore.
The New York Times
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Yeah, but it sounds exactly like something Bush would do (remember immigration? Harriet Myers?). So even though both the NYT and the Wash Post based their stories on anonymous government officials I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt until more information comes out when the deal is presented to Congress.
The Saudis have us over an oil barrel and they know it.
I see make up fraudlent accusations against the Saudis in the Politically Corrupt media by siteing “unnamed sources” then use the farudlent propaganda as “proof” of your accusations.
Considering how frequently the NY Times has been caught in lies when they publish these propaganda hit pieces, For example the “Bush is drawing up plans to close Gitmo, and Bush is going wobbly on Iraq” the NY Time published in July that both turned out to be complete lies, I would expect “Conservatives” to be a lot less gulliable in jumping at every red herring the Politically Corrupted media waves at them.
So here we go again. The Liar Media wave around abunch of unsubstaitated accusations and the rabid Know Nothing geeks on the Right go into hysteria. Just like on Dubai Ports.
Did any of the Know Nothing idiots ever bother to look at a map? See that country called Iran the Saudi’s border?
Yeah, LET’s not do a smart deal that keeps these nations dependent on American made weapons and military supplies. Let not do a deal that rewards them for their intelligence and political support against the Terrorists. Which contary to the propaganda from the proven liars at the NY Times is their REAL record. Let us not do a deal that keeps our Defense contractors at work and drives up our exports. Let not do a deal that significantly increases support for Israel at the same time. Let us not do a deal the helps reduce the cost per unit for weapons procurment for our OWN military.
No lets drive these nations into the arms of the Chinese or the Russians or the French, (or worse a neutrality pack with Iran)just because a bunch of American political trash, along with their Leftist allies in the US Junk Media, hate the current Preisdent for not granting their every domestic political whimsy the second they decided they wanted it
It’s more to do with Islam... than nation states. Much more.
LLS
Love the way the Know Nothing desperately want to pick fight everyone BUT the real enemies. They trash talk Pakistan, Saudi Arabia etc etc etc all the while screaming for the US to run away from Iraq.
You would think the idiots learned something from their getting totally suckered in by Chucky Schumer and the Democrat Noise machine on Dubai Ports.
When are these suckers going to learn to STOP letting the Junk Media and the Democrat Party propaganda machine play them for fools?
Dubai Ports to Have Played Intelligence Role for CIA
See my post 8.
LLS
Guess you might want to pry open your weled shut mind and actually learn something finally about the world outside you trailer park.
Remember how you mindless Bush haters when so mental about Dubabi Ports?
Dubai Ports to Have Played Intelligence Role for CIA
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1869345/posts
Here's a named source junior:
WASHINGTON — The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said Sunday that ally Saudi Arabia was undermining efforts to stabilize Iraq.
Zalmay Khalilzad's comments follow word from a senior defense official that a planned U.S. weapons sale to Saudi Arabia and other moderate Gulf states was expected to be a topic this week when Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates visit the Middle East.
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Jul29/0,4670,USSaudiArabia,00.html
It’s not the deal so much as there are NO PRECONDITIONS! It’s all carrot and no stick. At least we could have wangled a few concessions from them. Even something as pathetic as stop undermining us in Iraq. Not even “help us.” Just “do nothing.” So get off your high horse and think about that.
The Saudis are global mischief-makers out only for themselves. They have madrassas all over the world (including in this country) teaching students to hate Infidels (that would be you and me). They are funneling insurgents into Iraq and destabilizing the already weak government. Our soldiers are dying in part because of them. And against all this, we reward them with this arms package.
Trailer park? I live in a luxury condo, and drive a $45K car. And yet surrounded in comfort as I am, I cannot figure out why we are being so nice to the Saudis when they are stabbing us in the back every chance they get.
You posted: It’s more to do with Islam... than nation states. Much more.
***
I think you are on to something. When reports are made about the Saudis or Saudi Arabia, the reports may be speaking about the Saudi Government, Saudi leaders, Saudi citizens, terrorists who emanate from Saudi Arabia but who have no ties to the government, etc. I see little care in the reporting on these distinctions. I see frequent references to the fact that many or most of the b*stards who carried out 9/11 were Saudis. Were they backed by the government? If not, then this distinction must be mentioned, but it is not.
Analogous reporting in this country would say that the United States is involved in drive by shootings in many of its large cities. The government has nothing to do with that, but certain criminal elements do. The Oklahoma City bombing was carried out by an American, but we don’t assign blame to the American government.
Journalism in this country is getting sloppier daily.
Apples and pomegranates. The US is a democracy with elected leaders, but Saudi Arabia is a monarchy and the royal family IS the government. There are hundreds of Saudi princes who have varying degrees of responsibility in the government and it is believed by our government that several of them have been bankrolling radical imams, madrassas and insurgents.
Maybe this has something to do with it. We were so quick to attack the Dubai Ports deal, only to find it was a COVERT CIA plan to increase security at ports which today we STILL have no access to. People need to think a bit in these times!
LLS
Reports: Iran to buy jets from Russia
jpost.com ^ | Jul. 30, 2007 | YAAKOV KATZ AND HERB KEINON
Posted on 07/30/2007 4:22:09 AM CDT by neverdem
Israel is looking into reports that Russia plans to sell 250 advanced long-range Sukhoi-30 fighter jets to Iran in an unprecedented billion-dollar deal.
According to reports, in addition to the fighter jets, Teheran also plans to purchase a number of aerial fuel tankers that are compatible with the Sukhoi and capable of extending its range by thousands of kilometers. Defense officials said the Sukhoi sale would grant Iran long-range offensive capabilities.
Government officials voiced concern over the reports. They said Russia could be trying to compete with the United States, which announced over the weekend a billion-dollar arms sale to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
Despite Israeli and US opposition, Russia recently supplied Iran with advanced antiaircraft systems used to protect Teheran’s nuclear installations. At the time, Moscow said it reserved the right to sell Iran weapons, such as the antiaircraft system, that were of a defensive nature.
The Sukhoi-30 is a two-seat multi-role fighter jet and bomber capable of operating at significant distances from home base and in poor weather conditions. The aircraft enjoys a wide range of combat capabilities and is used for air patrol, air defense, ground attacks, enemy air defense suppression and air-to-air combat.
I am not against the deal, per se. I just think we could have put the screws on Saudi Arabia a bit. Do you honestly think Putin is going to supply Iran without concessions?
Agreed as to the Saudi form of government, but are you suggesting, for example, that the Saudi government was complicit it 9/11?
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