Posted on 11/05/2011 2:36:21 PM PDT by opentalk
The Pentagon has agreed to sell three attack helicopters to Turkey and is trying to persuade Congress to sell highly coveted Predator or Reaper drones to its increasingly influential ally in the Middle East, defense officials said Tuesday.
Turkey has sought for years to purchase the helicopters and drones for use against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq but has had difficulty winning approval from Congress. Some U.S. lawmakers have been reluctant to part with sensitive drone technology and are concerned by Turkeys worsening relations with Israel.
...On Friday, the Defense Department notified Congress that it would sell three AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters and parts to Turkey for $111 million. While Congress could still block the sale, it would have to do so within 15 days. Key lawmakers have given tacit approval.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
They did fine without them against the Armenians.
Shouldn’t we be arming the Kurds?
The Kurds!
Let's sell some attack helicopters to Turkey, arch enemies of the Kurds.
Typical Obama.
G20, Obama Embraces Anti-Israel, Pro-Iran Islamist Turkish Prime Minister.
European allies, received simple handshakes.
Why don’t we sell them for 15 trillion. I would be 100 for that. Whip out our debt. That would be a great thing right there.
Kurd s American friends as well as Israel. Obama NOT.
We have actually been flying Predators and providing the video feed to the Turkish military for the past four years now. The US has done more to help eliminate the Kurds than any other country besides Turkey, who pulls the trigger based on intel we provide.
Sounds like a good idea to me..
“I cant believe Grady left Pedro in.”
Gotta believe Sox fans can’t believe this last season
We could arm the Kurds all we want and it wouldn’t do a thing to help the American position overseas. The Kurds are weak and, like it or not, have been problematic for every country to which they lay some claim.
Meanwhile, Turkey HAS been an American ally. Unlike the Kurds, they are in a position of power and have legitemate claim to their nation. Nothing we’ve sold them could be used as a strategic threat to the US.
I’m very pro-Israel, but none of this hardware represents a threat to Israel either.
“Turkey has been an American ally.” I note your use of the past tense. With allies like Turkey and its Islamist government leadership...
That’s my thought.
There’s a catch though — since they’re American-made, they can’t use any Turkish military airbases.
Turkey may be selling choppers to the Republic of Korea.
Thanks opentalk.
Technically, it’s “past perfect progressive”.
Meaning, it began in the past, continues in the present and may continue in the future.
We’re not giving Turkey anything that’s going to alter a bit of power regionally, but may help keep local stability, or what passes for it.
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