Posted on 10/20/2010 4:41:59 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The United States has announced its largest arms sale ever, hundreds of advanced warplanes and helicopters for Mideast ally Saudi Arabia in a deal worth up to $US60 billion ($A62.14 billion) dollars.
The plan allows for the sale to Riyadh of 84 F-15 fighter jets, 70 Apache attack helicopters, 72 tactical Black Hawk helicopters and several Little Birds, lightweight helicopters often used in special operations, assistant secretary for political-military affairs Andrew Shapiro said.
The sale, which also includes the upgrade of 70 used F-15s, is "not to exceed 60 billion" dollars, Shapiro told reporters.
The delivery of the weapons would be spread over 15 to 20 years.
President Barack Obama's administration officially notified Congress of what Shapiro described as a "significant" arms sale to Riyadh.
Congress has the authority to amend or delay the agreement, Shapiro said, adding that he did not expect Israeli opposition to the sale.
US defence officials said the deal had been in the works for months with the Saudis, who have grown increasingly anxious about Iran's missile arsenal. US officials were already speaking about the 60-billion-dollars sale in September.
Last month State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said major arms deals to countries like Saudi Arabia and Israel were in the US "national interest" as Washington seeks to keep the region stable and counter potential threats from Iran.
Prior to Crowley's comments, the Israeli government said it had given final approval to the purchase from the United States of F-35 stealth fighter jets, which are "fifth generation" US jets with more advanced technology that F-15s.
US officials see the Saudi package as underscoring the strategic alliance between the two countries, despite serious strains over Middle East diplomacy and the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
In September the officials said the sale was likely to include HARM anti-radar missiles, more precision-guided JDAMbombs, Hellfire missiles and sophisticated displays mounted on fighter pilots' helmets, but it was not immediately clear if they were part of the deal announced Wednesday.
Yet they won’t sell anything to Israel
I don’t see any good coming of this.
They agreed to the sale...
anyway We the People can stop it?
not true - they (Israel) are part of the F35 buy.
Saudis (the armed forces and royals) are allies and
our good customers. Reworking the Eagles and building the Apaches will keep our skilled workers employed and help recoup some of that oil money.
Wasn't there outrage a few days ago with Swedish arms sales to Saudis?
I hope it doesn't come back to "kill us".
Thats why Mochelle was in Spain, to make this deal happen.
Glad to hear that.
They seem desperate to sell more F-35’s, I wonder if they would sell them to China and Russia? lol
Wonderful! This is so we don’t have to drill in pesky ANWR, what a pain it would be to drill there and off our own shores. We’d much rather be dependent on those who fund terrorist to kill us. The collective IQ in Washington could fit in my shoe.
The delivery of the weapons would be spread over 15 to 20 years.
There will be no saudi a-rapia in 15-20 years.
The Al-Saud ruling family must play a carefully calibrated double-game in order to stay in power. On one hand, they need Western support as a counter-balance to the current Iranian regime. On the other hand, they must also placate the powerful Saudi Wahhabists for the necessary degree of “domestic tranquility” inside Saudi Arabia that makes their continued rule possible.
The saudis should have been taken down first in the War On Terror and WE should have taken their damned oil.
!!!
You crazy? Israel is still getting arms from us!
The last major war the Saudis fought was against ISRAEL!
Thanks nickcarraway.
Maybe the Saudis and US know something the little peeps dont, and it has nothing to do with Israel. Just a thought.
and again history will repeat itself, we will arm them to the teeth and then they will turn those arms right back on us.
I thought the Saudis were operational in the Gulf War. Saddam tried to operate inside Saudi, and there were air ops too.
Corrections?
Really?? Please enlighten me?????
And for the record, Israel “Buys” nothing… they are given the US funds to “pay” for the weapons, we are even paying them to cover installation of certain Israel made comms and EW components.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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