Israel asks to buy US jet fuel for military aircraft

AFP ^ | July 14, 2006

[West Coast Conservative]

The Pentagon notified Congress of an Israeli request to purchase up to 210 million dollars in JP-8 aviation jet fuel for its military aircraft.

"The jet fuel will be consumed while the aircraft is in use to keep peace and security in the region," the Pentagon's Defense Security and Cooperation Agency said.

The notice to Congress came two days after Israeli fighter jets attacked targets in Lebanon, including the international airport in Beirut, following the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah guerrillas.

The Pentagon said the sale would help "improve the security of a friendly country which has been, and continues to be, an important force for stability and economic progress in the Middle East."

The US Congress has 30 days to act to block the sale; otherwise, it is automatically approved.

[Radix]

"Whatever Israel wants, Israel gets."

You got a problem with that?

I suppose that we ought to be allying ourselves with the jihadist nut jobs in your opinion.

[Southack]

"No, frankly I think the old Maoist condemnation of the West...that we are Paper Tigers... does apply to Bush... He has determined to not get into any more wars come hell or high water. He wants out."

Paul Ross quoting Cahirman Mao, and being just as wrong...

...priceless.

Syria and Iran know better than you, which is why they won't widen this war.

You won't even admit it after the shooting stops.

[JimRed]

A U.S. tanker offloading fuel at an Israeli port would be a prime target, and an attack on it would surely draw us into the fighting.

[Wolfie]

We're more militarily operational over there than we've ever been. Might as well get it over with.

[griffin]

Yep! We can make a 'drop' shipment over the friendly skys of Iraq directly into F15 tanks....if the Israelis happen to be in the neighborhood!

[ChadGore]

Kuwait told the US way back in 2003 that if we do topple Saddam that our military would be guaranteed free gas, an agreement that is still in place.

I never ran the numbers but, if you add up all of the Tanks, Bombers, Fighters, Humvees, Strikers, for 3 years . . we are talking about a *lot* of fuel.

[umbagi]

A U.S. tanker offloading fuel at an Israeli port would be a prime target

Precisely. That's why the deal should call for delivery by aerial refueling -- somewhere over Iraq, say, about halfway between Israel and Teheran...

[driftdiver]

and make sure you have a bunch of bombers to escort the tankers. of course the bombers wont need their payloads on teh way back so might as well leave those behind too.

[Paperdoll]

>Yep, give it to them free<

And when and if we become physically involved in the fray, the government should put a ceiling price on oil. In fact, because we have been at war for several years now, that should have been done years ago. And rationing will probably follow, as it did in WWII. There is no reason why the oil companies should be allowed to profit obscenely in peace time, let alone while we are at war!

[SJackson]

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[livius]

Oh, please. He's done nothing but encourage the Israelis, and you're trotting out this nonsense?

[madison10]

No one in Congress will try to block such a sale. Whatever Israel wants, Israel gets.

Are you kidding? This is a chance for the Liberal crapweasels to show how much they LOOOVVVVEEE the Palestinians and abhor Israel...senators especially.

They have their heads stuck up where the sun don't shine.

[livius]

The thing with "obscene profits" is that they cut down on consumption, which is an important thing in wartime when petroleum is needed for the military effort. You have to realize that if war breaks out, life ain't gonna be the same. That's just how it is.

Personally, I hope it doesn't. I'm trying to start a new business and this would seriously impede things. But **** happens, and you just have to make sure you go to confession regularly and are in a state of grace and to heck with the gasoline price.

[MediaMole]

And when and if we become physically involved in the fray, the government should put a ceiling price on oil.

Then there will be no oil or gas in the US. Get a bike or walk, because you will have no access to gasoline.

[papasmurf]

Actually, the President has a plan well underway regarding our energy future. Just google "colorado shale oil" or "Green River basin". He opened it up in the Energy Act of 2005.

[somniferum]

You'd rather have government imposed rationing and shortages rather than oil companies making a profit?

Interesting..

[gatorgriz]

Double the order and give it them for free! Fund it out of the money we would have sent to the Pali's under the guise of foreign aide; which we've been doing for decades now...

I'm sure the IAF will put the fuel to GREAT use and deliver much Greater than Expected results spot on target.

[Pox]

Your analysis is sound, but then again, events have a way of spiraling out of control.

I'm of the opinion that the Israeli government will stick with their "restrained" warfare, but they may be pushed over the line by actions from militants.

Iran may be forced into a face saving position if Hiz prompts Israel to hit a Syrian target. Iran has already drawn that line and if Israel crosses it, Iran is put into a position that may prompt them to escalate.

I still think it won't go the distance, but it will be an interesting couple of weeks worth of violence in the region, IMO.

[jhp]

the red lines are being pushed though - rockets into Hafia and severely damaging a Israeli Navy vessel are the types of actions that may push the IDF over the edge into "unrestricted" warfare. Curious, where do you think Israel's "red line" is?

[Salem]