Posted on 10/30/2015 8:25:17 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
The U.S. has decided to sell Turkey $70 million worth of “smart bombs,†a key item in a set of crucial weapon systems that Washington had been refusing to send to Ankara.
The Pentagon announced on Oct. 29 that the U.S. State Department approved the sale after the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), part of the U.S. Department of Defense, told Congress late on Oct. 28 that Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) systems would be sold to Turkey, granting lawmakers 15 days for any block.
The Turkish military attaches great importance to the systems, especially amid the upsurge of clashes between the security forces and outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party(PKK) militants. Turkey is also a part of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and its İncirlik base is used for strikes against the jihadist group.
ISIL has intensified its focus on Turkey with recent suicide bomb attacks. On Oct. 10 a suicide blast claimed 102 lives in the capital Ankara, almost three months after a suicide attack in the border town Suruç in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa killed 34 people.
Hürriyet reported on Oct. 8 that U.S. senators Ben Cardin and Bob Corker were vetoing the sale of the smart bomb kits to Turkey, while Corker was also blocking the sale of frigates and congressman Eliot Engel was blocking the sale of military helicopters.
According to a statement by the DSCA, the package to be sold to Turkey includes Mk84, BLU-109 and Mk82 bombs, 900 smart bomb kits, 100 laser kits, 200 warheads and 1,000 capsules.
MK-84, which is ammunition for F-16 jets that constitutes the backbone of the Turkish Air Force fleet, is used in targeting large buildings, factories, bridges, hangars and underground shelters. Mk82 is used against tanks, small buildings and other ground targets. BLU-109 is classified as a “bunker buster.â€
“It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist our NATO ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability,†the DSCA stated on its website on Oct. 29.
The principal contractors of the deal will be Raytheon Co, the General Atomics Corp., and L-3 Communications Holdings Inc.
Security sources had told Hürriyet before the approval that if the U.S. does not issue permits for smart ammunition sales then Turkey would run out of the military equipment critical in military operations against the PKK.
“...ISIL has intensified its focus on Turkey with recent suicide bomb attacks. On Oct. 10 a suicide blast claimed 102 lives in the capital Ankara...”
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IMHO it is MUCH more likely that the Islamist president of Turkey engineered this terrorist attack (to suppress Kurdish votes in the upcoming Turkish elections) than it is to have been initiated by ISIS. The Kurds are the only effective ground force fighting ISIS and Turkey has been focusing its attacks in Syria ON THE KURDS who are fighting ISIS. Turkey is, in a very real sense, now more of an ally of ISIS than its enemy.
The Obama regime should not be providing these weapons to Turkey. TURKEY IS NOT A FRIEND OF AMERICA OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE...PERIOD!
Iron bombs sold with strap-on kits to make GPS JDAMs and LGBs, but what's a 1,000 capsules?
Giving the Muslims smart bomb technology. Good idea! What could go wrong?!
It’s sedition against the US- even its OK to do. Intended to undermine US security. F’n pricks.
I’d bet the Kurds are overjoyed by this news.
However, the Islamist president of Turkey, Erdogan, is a friend of the Islamist-friendly president of the USA, Obama.
I doubt it was a bumble, but was quite deliberate.
“I’d bet the Kurds are overjoyed by this news.”
Exactly what I was thinking. I bet the Kurds will be the ones on the receiving end of this.
The Obama regime has rebranded the smart bombs sold to Turkey as “Christian Busters”.
what’s a 1,000 capsules?
= = =
Not Viagra?
Obama needs their help to push the Kurds back.
I thought it said “America Finally dropping smart bombs on Turkey”
obama knows what they are about, hence the delivery.
“Obama needs their help to push the Kurds back.”
Keeping the ISIS supply routes from Turkey open seems to be this administration’s #1 concern.
Im totally in favor of bombing the shi’ite out of Turkey.
I bet the “not more than 50” US Special Forces Obama just sent into northern Syria are also thrilled.
If the Republicans were an opposition party, it’s members would demand Obama explain how he will stop the Turks from using our smart bombs against our Kurdish allies, and from killing US troops.
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