Posted on 11/20/2007 7:25:38 AM PST by ddtorquee
House members from both parties are calling on the Bush administration to delay a $20 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia and to impose tougher restrictions on how the Middle Eastern country could use the weaponry.
Last week, the Bush administration informally notified Congress of its intention to sell high-technology armaments, including satellite-guided munitions and naval vessels, to Saudi Arabia, which is a key ally in the region. Lawmakers have protested the sale since news first leaked of negotiations in late July.
“The idea that we are going to reward the Saudis with precision weaponry is a stunningly bad idea, and clearly deserves the full review of Congress,” said Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) in a press release.
...another bipartisan group of House members called for stricter guidelines on how Saudi Arabia could use the U.S.-sold weapons. Reps. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Chris Carney (D-Pa.) and 186 other lawmakers expressed “serious concerns” over selling Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) technology — highly accurate precision arms — to the Saudis.
“If it falls into the wrong hands, JDAM technology could significantly harm U.S. forces in the region and undercut Israel’s qualitative military edge,” the letter states.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
OMG I actually agree with a Democrat, what's the world coming to?
Why in the world would Saudi Arabia need those weapons?
The Bush Administration should tie aid and commerce to reductions in human rights abuses... just like it has done with some other coutries. Frankly, women in the People’s Republic of China have more freedom than women in Saudi Arabia.
To take part in the bombing of Iran along with America and Israel, The Saudi’s must have proper weaponry.
If Iran invades Iraq, I think we'll be sending our own JDAMs.
> The Bush Administration should tie aid and commerce to reductions in human rights abuses... just like it has done with some other coutries. Frankly, women in the People’s Republic of China have more freedom than women in Saudi Arabia.
Amen and amen. W talked about the closing of Iraq’s rape rooms with pride (and rightly so) yet women are being WHIPPED for being rape *VICTIMS* and the State department whistles and looks away... disgusting! Read this and weep:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1928356/posts
Exactly, we provide for their defense in the misguiding idea they are our friends. We should give them some but from 40,000 feet.
That was the first thought that entered my mind, rather than Israel. Saudi Arabia has a big fear of Iran. But if Iran were to attack I would think the US would be the responder.
Let’s sell them empty ones so they can refurbish them.
The evil hand of James Baker at work.
WTF does Saudi need smart bombs for?
Historically, we have sold the Saudis billions of dollars of advanced weaponry, including AWACS. The arms business in the Middle East is very competitive as the US competes with the French, UK, and Russia among others to get contracts, which provide jobs for Americans and lowers the unit costs for the US military. Moreover, it gives the US some leverage since we also supply personnel to train the Saudis and the repair parts and maintenance to keep them operable.
This is a $20 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia that involves much more than JDAMs, i.e., high-technology armaments, including satellite-guided munitions and naval vessels. If this deal is killed by AIPAC and its allies in Congress, the Saudis will just go elsewhere for their weapons. Is that what we want as a matter of national security policy?
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