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.
Yeah, LET’s not do a smart deal that keeps these nations dependent on American made weapons and military supplies.
Exactly. Let's just tell Iran and the other terror states that attempted invasions and repeated terrorist shelterings will result in the use of nuclear weapons against all potential military targets.
It's a HELL of a lot cheaper than sending 40+ billion dollars to a bunch of uncivilized pukes (Israel excepted)
This is little more than tribute and corporate welfare for the defense industry.
As I posted already; the Saudis and the Gulf state are "BUYING" the weapons from the US and they are not getting it for free. The Reuters article is full of lies and distortions and unfortunately so many gullible people believed it.
Look at post # 40.
There is no deal, we are just giving out taxes to them. We might as well go back to paying tribute to tripoli?
Screw Iran, we could take them out in months for a lot less then this stupid ‘AID’ package.
Read post # 40.
Re #3.
This is a thread I’ve complained about in here constantly. We have billions upon billions to throw away around the world and dole out to people who we’ve been propping up for sixty years and to this day would stab us in the back as a nation while our social security, national health care and national infrastructure go right down the old “crapper”.
I think your wrong. It’s Aid. Both articles call it Aid. We give them money and they buy our weapons with it.
Again we can take out Iran in months for a lot cheaper then this aid.
You are wrong, as usual.
It is AID. They just have to buy our weapons with it. So the money laundering trail goes from the taxpayers to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel and “other mid east countries” back to whomever supplies the weapons, presumably the US defense industry.
This is why Congress has to approve it.
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.
Congress has to approve any arms sales not just arms aid.
Got a link to the actual proposal?
You have learned to spin very well from the liberal media.
This from the Washington Post about Congress trying to block an "Arms SALE" to Saudi Arabia, it is not given to the Saudis and the Gulf States for free, they are going to BUY it with a lot and lot of money.
PS: FR admins explain between () in the title of the article that this is not a give away.
Like I would believe anything from someone whose nickname in Russian is ‘Pravda’.
So no links just your speculation and we are supposed to believe it? Just because you speak the ‘truth’? Back it up or shut up.
Now, don’t be negative.
It’s so much more “FUN” for us when we have to smack a country down if they have a decent military and cool weapons.
*Sigh*
You believed the lies of Reuters because you want to believe anything negative about President Bush.
So is the 43 billion in AID in all the links you provide not really AID?
“The Saudis and the Arab Gulf States are purchasing the weapons, this article is lying, distorting and playing on words.”
Am I to believe that the press would twist the truth?
The Saudi are buying 20 billions dollars in arms from the US. The article by Reuters on purpose is confusing the sales deal with Saudi Arabia with the military aid package to Israel and Egypt so people on our side will be gullible enough to believe it and attack the President.
Apparently some folks on our side do believe the distortion of the liberal media but now I am convinced that they believe it because they want to believe it and because it give them another thing to unjustly attack President Bush.
I’m not happy with 43 Billion of my tax dollars going to that cess pool known as the mideast so they can keep killing each other and us.
Israel will receive a total of $30 billion in U.S. military assistance while Egypt, which along with Jordan has made peace with Israel, will get $13 billion as part of the broader package.
You see CJ? Those terms like assistance and aid don't really mean that. It's just another example of leftwing MSM....oh wait that's quoted from Fox News
The intended military sales were announced as Washington renews appeals for countries in the region to support its efforts in Iraq and the Iraqi government. Burns denied that the proposed packages were meant to buy backing for Iraq. "There are no formal quid pro quos in this, but it figures that we would want our friends to be supportive of Iraq," he said.
Course it isn't. Intervention works. Really it does....
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