U.S. Plans $20 Billion Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia
President George W. Bush is asking Congress to approve a $20 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia and neighboring Gulf states. I have to ask, what is he thinking? Saudi Arabia, next to Iran, has the most foreign fighters in Iraq. The majority of September 11, 2001 terrorists came from Saudi Arabia. They are financially supporting terror training camps and radical mosques around the world, including the United States. I would love to hear the rationale behind this decision. (image, with thanks, via Osterly Times)
The size of the proposed package, which would include advanced weaponry, has made Israel and its supporters in Congress “nervous,” the Times reported. The administration is expecting Israeli supporters and Saudi critics in Congress to oppose the deal when it is formally presented to Congress this fall.To resolve these concerns, the administration has promised Israel $30.4 billion in military aid over the next decade, and is asking the Saudis to accept restrictions on the “range, size and location of the satellite-guided bombs” and to agree not to store the weapons near Israeli territory, a U.S. official told the Times. (Fox)
Congress is not happy, Israel is not happy, American citizens are not happy. But so what, Bush goes ahead. What possible good can come from this 'investment' in Saudi Arabia and "her neighbors?" And what will we get in return for all this money??? Nothing.
The administration has not asked Saudi Arabia to pledge greater support to the U.S. effort in Iraq as a condition of the deal, the official told the Times.The deal is part of a strategy to bolster the militaries of Persian Gulf countries to contain Iran’s growing power in the region, the Times reported. (Fox)
More at Peace and Freedom II and the Washington Post.
More of your hard-earned tax dollars are going to pay half the expenses of Iraqi businesses. The United States is offering business loans to Iraqi citizens.
This week [Hamid] Hussein, 43, joined dozens of Iraqis lining up at the Iraqi-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry to apply for grants that pay up to half of what Iraqis need to start a business."This is my golden opportunity," Hussein said. "Nobody before offered such a great favor to jobless people." (USA Today)
No kidding. I bet there are Americans that would like to take part in that good deal.
Earlier this week, Thomas Sowell wrote an excellent article where he said, ""Moral paralysis" is a term that has been used to describe the inaction of France, England and other European democracies in the 1930s, as they watched Hitler build up the military forces that he later used to attack them. It is a term that may be painfully relevant to our own times."
Back in the 1930s, the governments of the democratic countries knew what Hitler was doing — and they knew that they had enough military superiority at that point to stop his military buildup in its tracks. But they did nothing to stop him.Instead, they turned to what is still the magic mantra today — "negotiations." [snip]
Nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran and its international terrorist allies will be a worst threat than Hitler ever was. But, before that happens, the big question is: Are we France? Are we morally paralyzed, perhaps fatally?
You can read it all yourself. At Real Clear Politics, Sowell's article is titled "Is America Today the France of Yesterday?", at National Review Online the title is "Are We France?", and at Creators.com the title is "Moral Paralysis."
In Asymmetrical war? Let's even it out, at Dissecting Leftism, the author says:
Trying to appease terrorists or look for common ground - a prerequisite for opening a dialogue - is irrational. [snip]Only when the Islamists are attacked by a west committed to bombing its cities, destroying its refineries and demolishing their multi-million-dollar sources of income, and obligating them to spend the coming decades reconstructing their countries and economies, will the world live in peace for another half century.
Others posting on the Saudi payoff, see Three Wise Men:
$20 billion arms sale package for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Israel geared toward upgrading the countries’ air and missile defense systems and improving their navies and air forces.
All the reports focus on the fact that the assistance is predicated on perceived threats from Iran to the entire Gulf region.
What the hell is this administration thinking?
Thought for Food, Slate
The NYT says the Pentagon and State Department are trying hard to avoid creating the "impression that the United States was starting an arms race in the region." All the countries receiving arms have a common enemy, they say: Shiite-led Iran.
One can only wonder how the arming of her Sunni neighbours and, indeed, the arming of components of the Iraqi Sunni insurgency itself goes down with Maliki's government. It can hardly be seen as a positive step.
US officials believed they could placate Israel and Congress’ concerns by also promising increased military aid to the Jewish state, while placing restrictions on Saudi Arabia over the range of bombs to be sold and how close to Israel the weapons could be stored.
The reason behind my Silence , or …the power of Weakness, Good Neighbor's Blog
US finally admits extensive role of Saudis in Iraq insurgency, Jo Swift
For some alternative views on events, see Edgeing. All vews are worth hearing.
Russia: Russia presents details of alternative missile defense proposals to NATO, at Peace and Freedom II and InterFax
Iran: A Persian China Card, at The American Scene
Israel: Israel’s big mistake, Haolam:
When Ariel Sharon announced that his government was going to remove Jewish settlers from Gaza, I was all for it. I thought that peace would come soon. Most of the Israeli public agreed with me. We were wrong.
Israelis Deserve Better By Joseph Puder., J6D News
“Gray Area” - Israel’s Options and Opportunities with Abbas and Hamas, Peace Now
Palestine: The power of Weakness” …. , Ramzi's Blog:
[snip] I won’t say that i hate Hamas simply because; it’s a waste of energy to hate a whole movement that doesn’t give a damn about my very own existence. (read more)
Other reading:
Letter to God, at Planck's Constant
Indians everywhere worried by Howard and Downer's wedge, Planet Irf
Linked with:
Wear Red on Fridays Round-Up, Blue Star Chronicles
Common Sense America, OTA Good News Weekend
Wake Up America, Dope OpenTrackback Weekend
123Beta, Open Tracback Weekend
Church and State, OTA
"And what will we get in return for all this money??? Nothing."
Some people in key places in and near the Administration and Congress get a great deal.
Read my latest post.
Great post!!
Rasta -- "I wish Bush and Cheney would take each other hunting..."
Heh. That's funny.
Debbie -- "I don’t know the answer. I voted for Bush but he is not the same man I voted for. It’s like invasion of the body snatchers."
No, he was practicing al-Taqqiyah!
Posted by: Yankee Doodle | July 29, 2007 at 01:41 PM
krishna109, you make an excellent point. We are "asking"? But the truth is, no matter what we ask or demand, once the weapons are in the hands of the Saudis, they can do whatever they want with them. It's too late then.
Thanks for the link about "the King Faisal Air Base in Tabuk". I look forward to reading more of your comments here.
Posted by: Debbie | July 29, 2007 at 11:12 AM
"asking the Saudis to accept restrictions on the “range, size and location of the satellite-guided bombs” and to agree not to store the weapons near Israeli territory, a U.S. official told the Times." Asking? Shouldn't we be demanding? But-- will our gov't keep their word anyway? They didn't re: Tabuk:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/54778
Do you trust "our government" at this point?
Posted by: krishna109 | July 29, 2007 at 03:06 AM
Ernesto, Palmer for President? How about Jack for President. YEAH!!!
Posted by: Debbie | July 28, 2007 at 09:16 PM
Personally, I would prefer another cathastrophe, in the fiction: "24" President Wayne Palmer dropping a nuclear bomb at Middle East. Even that is less stupid than Bush giving high-tech weapons to the enemy.
Posted by: Ernesto Ribeiro | July 28, 2007 at 09:10 PM
It’s even worse than the invasion of the body snatchers. It’s zombies. Mentally dead.
Bush believes in Santa Claus, Easter Rabbit, Fairy of the Teeth and Terrorist Dictatorships FRIENDS of the U.S.A.
IMPEACH THAT DUMB NOW!
Posted by: Ernesto Ribeiro | July 28, 2007 at 09:00 PM
The system is broken, no doubt about it. But what do we do? An independent has no chance these days. The idea of giving business loans to Iraqis is just one more idiotic move that this administration has made. Like giving weapons to Saudi Arabia for heaven’s sake. It’s like we are living in an alternate universe.
I don’t know the answer. I voted for Bush but he is not the same man I voted for. It’s like invasion of the body snatchers.
Posted by: Debbie | July 28, 2007 at 04:47 PM
Romney's plans include loans to businesses in occupied countries such as Iraq. He seems to plan on occupying lots of countries with some three letter organizations.
Though several presidential candidates are all for attacking Iran, I don't think Thomas Sowell's analogy to France really works. (And I'm usually inclined to agree with Sowell.) In particular, the US is not in the region.
Selling arms to both Arab countries and to Israel still seems a bad thing to do.
We should stop meddling in the Middle East. We should get out right away; Arabs don't like the idea of the US occupying any Arab countries. The US should concentrate on capturing the terrorists who attack the US. The president needs the power to do this without meddling.
When looking at Democrats and Republicans, Ron Paul seems to be the one who knows what to do.
Posted by: Thomas | July 28, 2007 at 04:45 PM
About two years ago I stopped believing that things couldn't get worse. Bush can't stop finding ways to irritate everyone.
WTF is he thinking.
Posted by: Jack | July 28, 2007 at 04:00 PM
The current administration seems like a derailed train. Everyday they just head further and further off into the abyss.
Posted by: Thomas Hamilton | July 28, 2007 at 03:37 PM
Rastaman, I posted this before I read your article. I tried to list several other blogs, so folks could get a taste of what others are thinking.
No one is happy about this.
Posted by: Debbie | July 28, 2007 at 03:19 PM
Heh. I see you also jumped on this. I wonder how many blogs are screaming over this today...
It just seems to keep on getting worse, and worse, and worse... We want some good news so badly it's almost pathetic. I wish Bush and Cheney would take each other hunting...
Rasta
Posted by: Rastaman | July 28, 2007 at 03:07 PM
Sigh!
Posted by: Thomas Hamilton | July 28, 2007 at 12:04 PM