Posted on 07/30/2007 9:35:27 AM PDT by 300magnum
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Monday announced military aid packages worth more than $43 billion for Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states in an effort to bolster Mideast allies against Iran and others.
The United States plans to offer a $13 billion package for Egypt over 10 years and a $30 billion package for Israel over the same period, increases over previous military funding, as well as unspecified defense aid to Saudi Arabia and Gulf states, said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The Saudi package is expected to upgrade the country's missile defenses and air force and increase its naval capabilities, a defense official told Reuters on Saturday. The package for Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf countries could reach $20 billion over 10 years, the official said.
The proposed aid packages still have to be approved by Congress and there is expected to be opposition by some lawmakers, particularly over assistance to Saudi Arabia, which is accused of not being helpful in Iraq.
Rice made the announcement hours before leaving with Defense Secretary Robert Gates for a rare joint trip to Egypt and Saudi Arabia where they are seeking more Arab help in stabilizing Iraq.
"This effort will help bolster forces of moderation and support a broader strategy to counter the negative influences of al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran," said Rice in a statement announcing the defense agreements.
Washington is striving to assure Gulf allies, worried by the growing strength of Iran and war in Iraq, that the United States is committed to the region and will stand by them, with arms sales part of that process, U.S. officials say.
IRAN CRITICAL
But Iran accused the United States on Monday of seeking to create fear and cause divisions in the Middle East by announcing the major package of arms deals.
"America has always considered one policy in this region and that is creating fear and concerns in the countries of the region and trying to harm the good relations between these countries," Iran foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told a regular press briefing.
U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns characterized the deals as a continuation of existing policy.
"It's not as if we're introducing some new element in the region," Burns said in a conference call. "Iran is a factor in this but it wasn't the overriding factor."
Burns said he saw no conflict between the aid packages to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, whose governments have a long record of human-rights abuses, and the Bush administration's long-term goal of promoting democracy in the region.
'CONFRONTING THE THREAT OF RADICALISM'
Rice said the Bush administration was starting discussions with Egypt for the $13 billion military assistance deal which would strengthen Egypt's ability to "address shared strategic goals."
"Further modernizing the Egyptian and Saudi Armed Forces and increasing interoperability will bolster our partners' resolve in confronting the threat of radicalism and cement their respective roles as regional leaders in the quest for Middle East peace and in ensuring Lebanon's freedom and independence," Rice said.
The aid package to Israel steps up annual military support to about $3 billion each year from the $2.4 billion Israel now receives annually under a 10-year plan negotiated by the Clinton administration in 1998, Burns said.
Burns planned to travel to Israel next week to conclude the agreement.
Burns said the final amount for the Saudi and Gulf states arms package was still being negotiated, although he expected it to be in the billions. A final package with a firm price tag will be presented to Congress in September, he said.
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are also expected to benefit but no details have been given.
This is a sick and disgusting use of our money.
I was watching the marathon of shark shows on Discovery this week and was amazed to realize that our country is so filthy in money that we’re putting satellite tracking onto sharks.
And we’re also throwing literally billions at an enabler of terrorism.
This is why the country is so fed up with politics of all parties, they all accept this as the way things need to be.
Rewarding the Saudis for spawning and financing the terrorists who are at war with us...
So our country is “filthy in money”. So what? It’s our money, not the governments and not the Middle Easts money. Without our money, the Middle East couldn’t do a dam thing to anyone. They can’t even design and build a washing machine, let alone arms like we have. Take all those arms away from the Middle East, support Israel and the rest will take care of itself. The money is going to other things and companies. The Saudi’s use the F-16’s to bolster their image. They can hardle fly the dam things.
If we could control those people, how come we can’t even control the many gangs in our big cities. Follow the money.
“Take all those arms away from the Middle East, support Israel and the rest will take care of itself.”
Leaving a nice void for Russia and China to fill.
AND there is no money or desire to fix the border or to spend to deport illegals. No money for SS that working people paid. No money for every other free do nothing but receive program (taxes need to be increased). We give it to the world and screw Americans. I AM sick of it and this is what grows the Anti-American attitude of Americans.
That’s the point I was making.
Politicians who moan about not having enough money to fund programs for the poor in our country are the same ones who promote giving it away to other countries. And they exist on both sides of the aisle.
Also, I would disagree that it’s “our” money. I pay roughly 50% of my income to various federal, state and local governments. I have no direct voice, and very limited indirect voice, on how that money is spent.
Can’t the Saudis afford to purchase the weapons?
wasn’t there a big ole thread over the weekend about Socialist Security needing to take in way more money over the next few years so that baby boomers can retire?
If I keep telling myself that I may believe it....
Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse...We got to have the most corrupt administration/congress in the history of this fast deteriorating GREAT country...We don’t provide for our own people but sure, go on ahead and shell out a few bil here and there to other/s, especially to those who have historically been filled with radicals in every sense of the term...Sooner or later the fat lady’s got to sing as they say...
ok, just for a moment we can put aside the argument against all foreign welfare...............
our dunderass “leaders” are GIVING US tax dollars to saudi arabia?
The same saudis who bankrolled 9/11 ?
The same saudis who are “sponsors of global terror” today?
Not to mention that hey have billions and billions of their own................
unbelievable, unacceptable, pathetic, and wrong.
And just to think that I voted not once but twice for this incredibly incompetent imbysal we have representing our country....
Where in the hell do you think our fighter jets and support personnel were stationed for the 13 years we were enforcing the "no-fly zones" in Northern and Southern Iraq since the first Gulf War in 1991 and prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003?
The Saudi Governmnent has been very cooperative in the WOT. Like Pakistan, it is a portion of their citizenship that is the problem.
It was the presence of these "infidel" US troops at Prince Sultan Air Base in the Holy Land of Saudi Arabia that bin Laden cited as one of the reasons he ordered the 9/11 attacks.
There are grave problems with the rank and file in Saudi Arabia, but the government of Saudi Arabia has been staunch US allies for 30 years.
The only thing I don’t agree with you on is that this is the most corrupt government. NO, we have just awaken. It has been corrupt for far too long. There is no difference in party when it comes to the average working American. One wants to steal the other wants to help business which no longer cares about its employees, if they ever did. They might as well take loyalty and respect out of the dictionary.
I don't agree with it, but the money does at least go back into US companies and workers. With the money that S.A. is making at almost $80 a barrel the least they could do is give up a few days profits and pay for their own weapons though, that is just wrong to give them more money than we are now.
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