[WARNING TO ISRAEL] U.S. REFUSES TO RESPOND TO SAUDI F-15s IN TABUK

IMRA ^ | Tuesday, November 4, 2003 | MENL

[yonif]

[IMRA: If there was a doubt that it would be a grave error for Israel to enter into a withdrawal scheme that relied on a third party to determine if the Palestinians were honoring their obligations, the United States sent a sharp reminder of the obvious: even the friendliest available third party makes its determinations based on its own interests rather than the facts.]

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has refused to address the issue of deployment of Saudi F-15S fighter-jets in a base near the Israeli border.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher was asked about the F-15S deployment in the northwestern Saudi base of Tabuk, located more than 150 kilometers from the Israeli port city of Eilat. It was the first time Boucher fielded the Saudi F-15S question at a State Department briefing.

Congressional sources said the deployment of the F-15s at Tabuk violate U.S. export terms in 1978. They said Saudi Arabia has violated the F-15 ban in the 1980s.

Boucher did not deny that the F-15s were at Tabuk. But he would not say whether this deployment threatened Israel or violated export terms.

[yonif]

Ping.

[thoughtomator]

Israel should do what is necessary to protect itself and wipe out the Saudi F-15s, as a lesson to any other nation that would think to station fighters anywhere nearby.

Though historically, Arab air forces never seem to make it off the ground unless the opponent is a village full of unarmed civilians.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Boucher did not deny that the F-15s were at Tabuk. But he would not say whether this deployment threatened Israel or violated export terms.

Well, of course Boucher wouldn't say anything -- it's obvious that he hadn't yet received his orders from his Saudi masters!

[onedoug]

If it's impractical to invade the base and appropriate the aircraft, destroy them.

[colorado tanker]

I don't think the Saudi Air Force is gonna intimidate the IDF.

[Mr. Mojo]

the United States has refused to address the issue of deployment of Saudi F-15S fighter-jets in a base near the Israeli border

That's okay.....the IDF will address the issue in their own way, when the time is right.

[Mr. Mojo]

Saudi Air Force

Perhaps the most overrated AF in the world. ....The IDF would make short work of them.

[LibWhacker]

Cool. Israel could launch a few dozen missiles at them and if the missiles missed, they might sail all the way to Mecca.

[Evil Inc]

Lots of spoiled Princes in that air force.

[5veingrafts]

perhaps at the next Bar-B-Q at the ranch one of the princes will give him his talking points.

[Shermy]

Wipe 'em out.

Sell the Saudis more.

The Saudis pay cash. Israelis buy our planes with our so-called "aid packages."

Wheels keep spinnin'...

[colorado tanker]

Maybe the Saudis are in Tabuk to take the waters.

There are no waters in Tabuk.

We were misinformed.

[StatesEnemy]

Hell, we let the Saudi's get away with murdering 3000 of our citizens for crissake... why do the Israeli's think we'd call them on some fighter jets?

[dennisw]

[IMRA: If there was a doubt that it would be a grave error for Israel to enter into a withdrawal scheme that relied on a third party to determine if the Palestinians were honoring their obligations, the United States sent a sharp reminder of the obvious: even the friendliest available third party makes its determinations based on its own interests rather than the facts.]

[Rebelbase]

Tabuk is top at top left of this map. Very close to Israel.

[Spruce]

I can't help but think the US has 'backdoor' transponder codes we could send these Saudi jets and drop them like rocks.

[Bobby777]

I have a better idea ... and they could be easily converted / upgraded to F-15I's ... hehehe ...

plus, it would just be hilarious ... of course, it wouldn't make them too happy in Riyadh ...

[TheEngineer]

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher was asked about the F-15s deployment in the northwestern Saudi base of Tabuk...

Saudi fighter planes serve no other purpose than that of fancy sport planes for their prince-pilots to drive to the strip bars and discos.

Ergo, there must be some hoppin' nightlife in Tabuk.