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 ...
We tried this kind of policy with Iran and the Shah. Do we want a Khomeini style leader/government in Saudi Arabia?
LOL
Dogs and cats living together...mass hysteria...
.......Saudi Arabia and Israel fighting as brothers....
No, more like enlightened distant cousins with a common enemy more threatening than each other. For the Gulf to prosper the threat of Iran must be eliminated.
In a world where commercial interests rule, Israel and Iraq would become members of the Gulf Cooperation Council and part of a great trade engine. Since religion seems to have the upper hand, it may be some time before that happens. Meantime, Iran must not control the Two Holy mosques and the mosque in Jerusalem.
The war in Iraq is the first stage of the reconcilliation.
Only if they are delivered one at a time from some altitude.
Oh wait...
See post #6. The difference between the mullahs and the royal family is subtle.
Saudi Arabia, Wahhabism and the Spread of Sunni Theofascism
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925860/posts
iran
Well, we sell arms to Pakistan and India...?
See post #6. The difference between the mullahs and the royal family is subtle.
It is so subtle as to be laughable. As someone who spent five years in Saudi Arabia [1987-92] working for the USG, the points listed in post #6 are not only silly, but they confuse the Saudi Government with the actions of some of its citizens. UBL wants to remove the Royal Family from power and AQ in Saudi Arabia has launched a number of attacks against the government, infrastructure, and foreigners, including attacking our consulate in Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia is the home of two of the three holiest sites in Islam. There is a reason why the King is called the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The USG has called for more religious freedom and improved treatment of women as part of our human rights policy, which is spelled out in the annual Human Rights Report for Saudi Arabia published by the State Department.
The Saudis have been helpful in a number of ways, operating on our behalf without being publicly known. They have also helped stablize world oil supplies and prices by using their excess capacity to address shortfalls and moderate prices. They are the world's largest source of exportable oil and have the world's largest proven oil reserves. Our own national strategic interests require us to maintain good diplomatic relations with the Saudis. And I would rather have them purchase weapons from us than the Russians or Chinese.
I suspect there is a reason behind whatever reason we may learn or try to guess.
When we hit Iran, that entire region is going to be involved.
With our need for oil, it seems better to have them in our tent pi$$ing out than out pi$$ing in.
Besides, if we don’t sell the junk to them, they will buy it outside of our control and interests.
WHY are we selling this stuff to the Saudis?? Have we gone insane?
And what’s weirder is that it was a DEMOCRAT who condemned the action. Things are getting very strange...
Pump enough oil so that the price goes to $50 a barrel and we’ll talk.
Yaeh, they’re just great. Sounds like you’ve chosen your side.
And a Yankee one at that.
Or if we can detonate them remotely.
“House members from both parties are calling on the Bush administration to delay a $20 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia”
The slope to hell has just taken a turn for the worst. Gotta love your political hero’s. Bush will sign, whatta guy!
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