First Polish F-16 Tests

The Warsaw Voice ^ | 19 May 2004

[Gunrunner2]

And Israel and Egypt receive the most FMF, and it runs into BILLIONS each year.

[1rudeboy]

. . . the bucks never leave the US.

Doesn't matter one whit. The important thing is to keep those assembly-lines hummin'.

[Grzegorz 246]

"as someone correctly observed, was partly if not completely financed by the U.S. government"

It was just a LOAN. It is different than financing equipment for Israel or Egypt or...Pakistan.

[Gunrunner2]

Read Post 51.

Your post 58 is factually incorrect on all accounts.

You are wrong when you allege 100's of millions (when it's billions), to alleging the reason it is referred to (in the article at least) as a "deal of the century" because of FMF (FMF is not in any way remarkable).

Study the subject a lot more, educate yourself--and I don't mean watch movies and read Roger Moore. After you acquire an education on the subject THEN you may come back and post, avoiding ignorant statements and sounding like an ignorant lefty.

Buh-bye and have a nice day.

[Barlowmaker]

I can hear the "Polish Jokes", now. :/

Bogdan Polska told me that they use parachutes that open on impact.

[VOA]

This title is just crying out for a joke or cartoon!

Actually the Polish Air Force needs a few T-shirts:

"Dear Luftwaffe, We kicked your @$$ in The Battle of Britain. We can do it again."

[1rudeboy]

The U.S. government is not selling the F-16's to Poland. Lockheed-Martin is. From Lockheed-Martin's standpoint, it doesn't give a darn where the money is coming-from, only that the check does not bounce.

So in review:

Poland buys F-16's. Good for Poland.
Lockheed sells F-16's. Good for Lockheed.
The U.S. keeps a defense-contractor in business. Good for the U.S.

Why are you fixated on the financing-aspect? The only ones left in the cold are Dassault and Saab, who were the primary competitors of Lockheed on this deal.

[1rudeboy]

Oh, and the deal was worth $3+ billion. It is estimated that the ancillary deals are worth $100+ million.

[1rudeboy]

My point is that it doesn't make a difference how you classify the financing. Gunner seems to be bothered over the fact that a government agency made it happen. Who the eff cares?

[johnny7]

Hey dude! The Poles that escaped out of the German/Russian vise in WW2 fought like tigers. They dinguished themselves at Cassino and Arnhem. You guys can also drink any sissy EU country under the table!

[Gunrunner2]

Okay, last bit then this horse is dead:

Peace Sky. . .US Government intimately involved---US Government had to approve the sale in accordance with criteria for LOA sale, and SAF/IA (Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs) is involved in the management of Peace Sky, and the Lt Col on the SAF/IA staff is very capable and a real good pilot-turned staff officer. US Government most involved in training aspect. US Government runs program management reviews of Peace Sky.

While DCS (Direct Comemrcial Sale), ITAR restrictions and AECA require US Government oversight and involvement.

Now, I have better things to do.

Se ya. . .but maybe not.