'Israel trying to block U.S.-Saudi Arabia defense contract'

Haaretz ^ | 7/4/2010 | Barak Ravid

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Israel is trying to prevent a big defense contract between the United States and Saudi Arabia from going through, a senior defense source told Haaretz. The deal includes the purchase of scores of new F-15 fighter jets and the upgrading of the 150 F-15s already in the Saudi air force.

The source said Israel expressed a number of reservations to the Americans over the past month, and the issue is expected to come up in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meetings in Washington on Tuesday. Defense Minister Ehud Barak raised the deal in meetings with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and National Security Advisor General Jim Jones two weeks ago in Washington. Israel also made its reservations clear at a meeting in Tel Aviv between top Israeli defense officials and a delegation led by U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy.

The aircraft deal was also raised in talks between Saudi King Abdullah and U.S. President Barack Obama last week. The defense source told Haaretz the Americans are interested in building up the Saudi air force vis-a-vis Iran, which would help deter the Islamic Republic

[B4Ranch]

#1 Muslim is trying to get the US to guarantee the future of the religion of peace. I’ll bet Congress okays the deal!

[Nachum]

The list, ping

[freedumb2003]

We have been selling F-15s to the Saudi’s for many years.

As much as I support Israel (unlike the TOTUS-reader), I am not sure what has changed here....

[Noob1999]

Maybe when Zer0 bows to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, we will understand that the Muslims and the Jews are on equal footing.

Until then, for this administration, its Muzzies 1; Jews 0.

[Noob1999]

Maybe when Zer0 bows to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, we will understand that the Muslims and the Jews are on equal footing.

Until then, for this administration, its Muzzies 1; Jews 0.

[TexasCajun]

Sorry Israel, get to the back of the bus.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks sonofstrangelove.

"If you expect us to counter Iranian power in the region, we'll need an upgrade."

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[AdmSmith]

Israel, however, hopes that if the deal goes forward, Saudi Arabia will receive fewer advanced versions of the F-15 than those possessed by Israel, which seeks to maintain its air force's superiority. "Today these planes are against Iran, tomorrow they might turn against us," the source said.

What is the map of the world at "tomorrow"? A secular Iran working together with Israel and the US?