$30 billion+ Saudi arms deal.

[Noir]

Just heard this reported...

The Pentagon is set to notify the US Congress of a $60bn (£39bn) weapons sale to Saudi Arabia, reports quoting US officials say.

The deal to sell advanced military aircraft to the Saudi kingdom is aimed at shoring up an Arab ally against Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The arms deal, set to support 75,000 US jobs, would be among the largest yet.

The notification will set off a review where lawmakers could push for changes, impose conditions or block the trade.

Pentagon spokesman Col Dave Lapan said Congressional notification was expected within "the next week or so" but he declined to comment on details of the proposed package.

Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote

The United States would do nothing that would upset the current balance (of power) in the region”

Philip Crowley
US state department
The BBC's Paul Adams in Washington says the administration is unlikely to encounter much opposition to the sale of weaponry to a traditional ally and will probably argue that it is all part of a strategy to bolster friendly Arab governments in the face of growing strategic threats from Iran.

Off the record, defence officials say the administration will authorise the sale of dozens of aircraft, including F-15 fighter jets and Apache, Black Hawk and Little Bird helicopters.

Saudi Arabia would reportedly initially purchase about $30bn worth of aircraft, but could buy more at a later date.

Sauce- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11288683

Thoughts on arming the Saudis will billions of dollars od military hardware?

[KarlMarx]

This is an unintended consequence of cutting defense budgets here in the States... many defense contractors are looking to the international market to make up for the shortfall here at home.

This deal may have gone through anyway, but don't be surprised to see more arms sales by US Defense contractors to foreign contries in the years to come.

[revelarts]

Sarcasm Alert:

the Saudis are the good Muslims... It's Ok for them to have guns noir.. what's the problem? Been good friends with the Bush's for years. A Saudi family, the Bin something family, even helped GWBush with a little oil deal years ago. Just because most of the 9-11 hijackers where Saudis and the supposed leader of the group was a Saudi doesn't matter. As long as those American Muslims don't build a mosque 3 blocks from the 9-11 site. That's just Wrong.
But we can sell the Saudi Muslim all the weapons they need, to fight their enemies the um .. uh... IRAN.

Plus the U.S. sell arms around the world, we are among the top five Arms dealers world wide. Along with all the other 4 members of the permanent U.N security council. It's one of the few businesses that we still have manufacturing jobs in.

[Trigg]

Just heard this reported...



Sauce- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11288683

Thoughts on arming the Saudis will billions of dollars od military hardware?

one more in a long line of stupid ideas.

[revelarts]

Business as usual really.



http://www.globalissues.org/article/...mssalesfigures

[revelarts]

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After Obama had a talk with BB
"we're told that the Israelis will not block this in congress..."
Um so... the Israelis are who I should be calling, not my congressman, to get stuff like this blocked in congress. At least now i know.