Barack Obama to authorise record $60bn Saudi arms sale

The Guardian ^ | September 13, 2010 | Ian Black

[justlittleoleme]

Barack Obama is to go ahead with plans to sell Saudi Arabia advanced aircraft and other weapons worth up to $60bn (£39bn), the biggest arms deal in US history, in a strategy of shoring up Gulf Arab allies to face any military threat from Iran.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the administration is also in talks with the Saudis about possible naval and missile-defence upgrades that could be worth tens of billions of dollars more over five to 10 years.

Plans to go ahead with the package, which has been under secret negotiation since 2007, have been known for some time and have raised angry objections from Iran and to a lesser extent from Israel, an even closer US ally which is anxious to maintain its strategic edge over any potential adversary in the Middle East.

[a fool in paradise]

The Saudi government seized Christian bibles (they are illegal there) and burns them.

Barack Obama supports an Islamist philosophy. He adamantly is against burning the koran and is willing to say so.

Press him on the Saudis burning bibles.

Why does he make concessions for those Islamics who cling to religion and guns?

[lurk]

I would outfit all of the equipment with hidden software and codes that would crash the machine if it’s ever used against Israel.

[Carley]

No congressional authorization?

[Niuhuru]

This is worse than Clinton selling to the Chinese.

[Quilla]

[Hodar]

The F-16 is a fly-by-wire fighter. The F-16 without software cannot start the engines, or do much beyond taxi up and down the runway.

Just saying ....

[hattend]

I would outfit all of the equipment with hidden software and codes that would crash the machine if it’s ever used against Israel.

Or us

Middle East ally, my ass.

[Rebelbase]

I wonder if this funding includes money for a genital washing program?

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Why does he make concessions for those Islamics who cling to religion and guns?

The US has been arming the Saudis for decades. This particular sale has been in the works since 2007. I agree we shouldn't be arming the Saudis, who are aggressively promoting their strain of Islamic fundamentalism worldwide, but it's not just an Obama thing - if any of the Republicans running in 2008 had won, this sale would still be happening.

[trumandogz]

“Plans to go ahead with the package, which has been under secret negotiation since 2007...”

Obama, even while he was only a US Senator back in 2007 was making arms deals with the Saudis.

[JudyinCanada]

Aiding an ally? More like equipping the enemy.

[a fool in paradise]

My point is that President Obama, the FBI, and the Secretary of State all weighed in AGAINST the offensiveness of burning a koran.

I want to see this same “so called Christian” president speak out against the Saudi government burning Christian bibles.

[Celtic Cross]

“in a strategy of shoring up Gulf Arab allies”

Allies?!? Come again?

[GunningForTheBuddha]

The nationality of at least 15 of the 9/11 hijackers was again?

*ding ding ding*Saudi nationals.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I want to see this same “so called Christian” president speak out against the Saudi government burning Christian bibles.

I agree this isn't the president to do it. We're in full bend-over-backward mode as far as Muslim sensitivity goes these days, and we've always been too worried that the Saudi royals might get replaced by something even worse.

[DemforBush]

Yep, you nailed it. Rightly or wrongly, the Saudis have been one of the biggest buyers of U.S. arms for a long time. They like the high end stuff, particularly for their air force, and they have the cash to pay for it.

[a fool in paradise]

It’s a much farther walk for the Saudis to become something “better” than for them to become even worse.

The Saudis need to be taught the message of “Co-ExIsT”.

[NavyCanDo]

When Bush does it, its evil handed and diabolical.

When Obama does it, its stimulating the economy.

[George from New England]

Hint hint...

Maybe the true patriots behind the scene in the Pentagon will plant backdoors into the software in the products sold. Moral values dictate that we maintain the ability to save Israel, should the unthinkable be unleashed.