Posted on 12/16/2004 12:10:24 PM PST by JeffersonRepublic.com
The Israeli defence ministry has confirmed that it faced questioning by Washington over arms sales to China.
But the ministry denied media reports that the US had demanded the dismissal of a top official over the matter.
A statement from the Israeli defence ministry said arms exports to China were being clarified with US officials in what it called a good spirit.
The statement followed Israeli reports that the sale of a sensitive weapons system to China had angered Washington.
According to the reports it prompted American calls for the resignation of the defence ministry's director, Amos Yaron.
The head of the Israeli parliament's defence committee, Youval Steinitz, said tensions, hidden from the public, had appeared in the last few years over Israel's weapons sales to China.
"There has been a tightening of checks exercised by the US on Israeli weapons exports... we are very sensitive to US requirements," Mr Steinitz said.
Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz also denied the newspaper reports, while accepting that a dossier on Israeli weapons sales to China was "in the process of clarification".
Correspondents say the row risks adding to an atmosphere of suspicion between the Israel and the Pentagon.
With friends like these, who needs enemies?
We need to show them who's boss. They're totally dependent upon our subsidies.
That's the BBC's wishful thinking. In a week they'll be accusing him of doing Israel's bidding again.
The difference is that Saudia Arabia is not a serious regional threat to Israel in terms of its military ability and in the case that it was there is no question that the U.S. would be expected to come to the aid of Israel. China on the other hand is a serious regional threat to U.S. interests. Can we expect Israel to come to the aid of the U.S. in the event that a conflict breaks out in the Asian-Pacific region? This, in addition to the fact that the U.S. gives foriegn aid to Israel in the amount of 2-3 billion per year I think gives the U.S. more than the right to be angry about these weapons sales.
Map and Graph: Military: US military exports (Top 10 Countries)
Country Description Amount
1. Saudi Arabia - $4,319,299 thousand - - - - See it??
2. Taiwan - $1,662,726 thousand
3. Israel - $1,630,931 thousand - - - - See the difference?
4. Korea, South - $1,016,006 thousand
5. Egypt - $615,240 thousand
6. Kuwait - $329,162 thousand
7. Singapore - $239,256 thousand
8. Thailand $177,899 thousand
9. Colombia $120,503 thousand
10. Bahrain $82,851 thousand
Here is another thing:
Map & Graph: Military: Armed forces growth (Top 100 Countries)
Country Description Amount
1. Rwanda 1246%
2. Burundi 669%
3. Sri Lanka 432%
4. Cambodia 300%
5. Bahrain 293%
6. Lebanon 266%
7. Saudi Arabia 222% - - - - - - See it?? 7th place in the world at military growth!
8. Djibouti 180%
9. Malta 162%
10. Uganda 150%
11. Chad 147%
12. Niger 141%
13. Colombia 130%
14. Botswana 125%
15. Angola 117%
16. Qatar 105%
17. Antigua and Barbuda 100%
18. Nepal 100%
19. Bhutan 100%
20. Gabon 96%
21. Togo 94%
22. Burma 85%
23. Sudan 85%
24. Mauritania 85%
25. Belize 83%
26. Bahamas, The 80%
27. Cameroon 79%
28. Burkina Faso 70%
29. Ethiopia 62%
30. Kenya 62%
31. Gambia, The 60%
32. Mali 51%
33. United Arab Emirates 51%
34. Bangladesh 50%
35. Oman 49%
36. Mexico 49%
37. Jordan 48%
38. Paraguay 40%
39. Switzerland 38%
40. Papua New Guinea 38%
41. Ecuador 35%
42. Central African Republic 35%
43. Albania 34%
44. Zambia 33%
45. Jamaica 33%
46. Morocco 33%
47. Fiji 30%
48. Trinidad and Tobago 29%
49. Thailand 28%
50. Kuwait 28%
51. Pakistan 27%
52. Israel 21% - - - - - - - - - Compare to Saudi Arabia!
What about Egypt?
Really? Oh yeah... until 1967 God was our military supporter at the War of Independence, Sinai War, War on Water, and Six Day War....
The U.S. gives 3 billion in direct foreign aid to Israel every year.
Beyond direct foreign aid:
Israel also has won the right to require the Defense Department or US defense contractors to buy Israeli-made equipment or subsystems, paying 50 to 60 cents on every defense dollar the US gives to Israel.
The US has already guaranteed $10 billion in commercial loans to Israel, and $600 million in "housing loans." These are guaranteed by the Federal Treasury.
The US has given $2.5 billion to support Israel's Lavi fighter and Arrow missile projects.
Israel buys discounted, serviceable "excess" US military equipment, equal to several billion of discounts in recent years.
There are 6.2 million people in Israel. Every Israeli citizen gets a $500/year direct subsidy from American taxpapers.
They shouldn't be betraying us by selling weapons to China.
Where is france on the defense growth list?
Thunderpilot can correct me, but I believe the IAF considers the combined Saudi-Egyptian air forces a near equal in equipment, not personell. Despite our commitment to maintain Israeli's military superiority in the region. We sell AWACs and AAMRAMS to the Saudis and Jordanians.
I doubt China is a more serious threat to the US than SA-Egypt-Jordan-Syria et al are to Israel. I also seriously doubt that the US would come to Israel's aid other than material. As to anger about the arms sales, I'm guessing theres a bit of puffery in it. The US approves Israeli arms exports, thus disagreements are to be expected over issues like maintainence vs upgrade of an existing system.
sorry. forgot the link
Christian Science Monitor:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1209/p16s01-wmgn.html
"What about Egypt?"
No, doubt it - and in any case Egypt does recognize the state of Israel. Anyways, if Egypt is ever stupid enough to attack Israel is there any doubt that U.S. would assist Israel? Of course not. If China attacks American interests in the Asian-Pacific can we expect Israel to come to our aid?
Again, the U.S. is giving 2-3 billion per a year to Israel. We have every right to ask them to stop their military exports to countries that we consider future potential threats. The relationship between the U.S. and Israel IS NOT one of equal partners.
No, rather than stepping on tails, it is time to stop selling weapons to any country ... period. And that is friend or foe!
For a friend today can become a foe tomorrow.
Write your Congressman, tell them the Defense Dept. is screwing the American people in their dealings with Israel. On second thought, try State, you'll have better luck there.
An alternative, tell your Congressman this aid stuff stinks, let's just give Israel back the Sinai. That's what we bought with our military aid you know. I doubt Israel will object, though our Egyptian and Saudi allies might disapprove.
Look on the bright side. Threads like this let the mods correlate and track trolls more easily.
What's funny about anyone who sells ANYTHING to China -
They buy stuff, reverse engineer it, then build it themselves for a whole lot less cost. Thus, the only time they tend to be a customer so such items is when they need newer technology.
IMHO
Especially when SJackson pings 'em ;)
Psssst, US! Stop selling top weapons to Saudi Arabia, a country that
DOESNT EVEN RECOGNIZE THE EXISTMENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia, a country that actually has never done anything to help the USA, not in 1991 and not in 2003.
...........................................................
They do not need to help us. They just sell the oil to us.
They also have lots of cash.
What amazes me is that the current regime is seen in Saudi as more pro-west than the alternative.
I agree.
Israel selling arms to China is nothing new.
1998 article:
"ONE ISRAELI HIGH-TECH EXPORT THAT THE CHINESE HAVE DEVELOPED A TASTE FOR IS MILITARY EQUIPMENT. ACCORDING TO WESTERN EXPERTS IN BEIJING, THE SECRET TRADE IS WORTH MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. THEY SAY CHINA IS THE LARGEST CUSTOMER IN ASIA FOR ISRAELI MILITARY-RELATED EXPORTS AND THAT ISRAEL IS SECOND ONLY TO RUSSIA IN THE VOLUME OF ITS MILITARY SALES TO CHINA. BUT MR. NETANYAHU IS UNWILLING TO TALK ABOUT THE THRIVING TRADE."
http://www.fas.org/news/china/1998/980528-prc2.htm
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