Posted on 01/13/2008 5:55:06 PM PST by america4vr
US president George W. Bush is to promise $20 billion in advanced weaponry to Saudi Arabia as he travels through the Gulf states to garner support for further sanctions against Iran.
Yet even that gesture will not be enough to convince moderate Arab states to shun Iran, in a sign of its growing status as a Muslim world superpower.
The weapons deal, which is to include precision-guided missiles, first surfaced last autumn but was postponed over opposition in the US Congress.
Now the Bush administration is to notify Congress on Monday of its intent to conclude the deal, as Mr Bush lands in Riyadh.
The deal comes as America’s top commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, revealed that attacks in Iraq linked to Iranian explosive devices had sharply increased in recent days.
He said violence caused by "explosively formed projectiles" was up by a factor of two or three in recent days.
"Frankly, we are trying to determine why that might be," he said.
Speaking while visiting US troops in Kuwait, Mr Bush singled out Iran and Syria for their involvement in attacks in Iraq.
He said Syria "needs to further reduce the flow of terrorists, especially suicide bombers" while Iran had to stop supporting the militia groups that attacked Iraqi and coalition forces, and kidnapped and killed Iraqi officials.
"Iran’s role in fomenting violence has been exposed - Iranian agents are in our custody, and we are learning more about how Iran has supported extremist groups with training and lethal aid," he said.
However, Arab diplomats warn that even the most loyal US allies face rising Islamist sympathies in their own countries and a concerted effort by Teheran to boost diplomatic and trade links with its near neighbours.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
First of all is the special relationship the President has with the Wahibbi War/Whoremongers, the House of Saud, as demonstrated post 9/11 with the special dispensation he inexplicably accorded them.
Secondly, Israel might willing to live with the acquisition of this humongous arms deal in Saudi Arabia, if it is viewed as a counterbalance in the amelioration of Iran as a military threat by virtue of the enemy of my enemy is my friend, the concept of which doesn't much apply in the Middle East but might work.
it could be prepayment for Iran.
I see it as betraying Israel. More bribes for our enemies... not a good policy. I sure hate the thought of having to one day fight against our own weapons...
Reagan sold the Saudis weapons.
Someone ought to have let the air out of Air Force 1’s tires before he could take off. Sheesh. The man seems to want to give billions of our tax dollars to tyrants all over the world...all this while our economy is bending under the energy price inflation of the past year.
He really needs to stay home and accomplish something here before the poor GOP has to face the voters in November.
Many of the weapons systems such as the jet fighters were not the most advanced, electronically enhanced versions done so out of consideration for Israeli fears and might be applied in this case as well.
Why drag President Reagan into this? Saudi backed Whabbist terrorists had not taken down the World Trade Center in Ronald Reagans day.
What’s in the package this time?
So it’s ok for the Saudis to have arms but not Washington DC citizens? Strange logic from this administration.
This is the only reference to specific weaponry mentioned in the article and a google news search didn't turn up anything on the subject.
Anything as large as $20B is going to include the entire spectrum of military systems hardware, aircraft, missiles, the latest in armored camels, remote-controlled goat bombs etc
Sure, great President here. Give the Saudis #20B of advanced weaponry, but argue for none for DC residents of his own country, the very one he vowed to protect and serve the constitution of.
And as many have pointed out - while a lot of Republicans bow down to an altar to worship Reagan, and while he was a very good President, he was not perfect.
The Saudis are buying the weapons it is not a free deal. This is not the damn first time the Saudis bought weapons from the US, they have been doing it for generations but some people here are making a big deal out of nothing.
Well of coarse! the President does’nt have to live in Saudi Arabia.He does have to live in D.C.
I’m totally against his administrations stand on the Second Amendment.
It's only about 50 cents more per gallon that falls out of the US citizens' pockets they haven't already managed to shake loose.
What do you want?! Not sell the Saudis 20 billions dollars in weapons? That is a lot of money and it will help the economy that you are complaining about.
Most certainly, we will not be giving the Saudis something that would overpower Israel...but more importantly, the Saudis do not fear Israel...they fear the unwashed who would like to have the wealth enjoyed by the ruling families. The ruling families in the middle east control the world’s current wealth, and the unwashed athere have nothing. The sand lizard that rules the United Arab Emirates has the most gorgeous wives, thousands of premium race horses, several 747’s to transport his horses and billions of our dollars to do whatever he likes. He does not fear us or Israel, but he surely keeps a close eye on the unwashed muslims...remember what happened to the Shah of Iran!!!!
No, that is no how I feel about it. Despite my strong aversion to Saudi Arabia for all of the reasons we’re very familiar with, I want the deal to go through if it accomplishes the various specific goals and objectives it is intended to attain.
OK we agree then. Yes, we all know the immense problems with Saudi Arabia but on the balance their government or most of their government is still our ally.
My guess -- our military industries need a financial shot in the arm that is not keyed into who wins in 2008. So the Saudi's upkeep our military infrastructure so we can play prevent on Iran.
And ... the Saudis ask for something else too. They are bargainers!
What do they ask? Chop up Jerusalem. Cause internal strife in Israel between the secular and the zionists.
And what can Bush do?
Drive a harder bargain and be like Guiliani when he told the Saudi Prince to take his money elsewhere.
Look, the Saudi's can talk about bringing in China as the new big partner, maybe. I don't know. It's a reasonable guess that they would.
But so what? The Chinese are more inscrutable to the Arab mind than we are -- whereas we appear to be pliable, easily understood, easy prey of our own greeds. That gives us the upper-hand even when we say no. The Arabs know China is not trustworthy in any sense. At least, that's my opinion about their opinion, which is like any opinion given freely!
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