"US proposes sale of war planes to Saudis" by Associated Press | September 14, 2010
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is seeking approval from Congress to sell up to $60 billion worth of sophisticated warplanes to Saudi Arabia and could add another $30 billion worth of naval arms in a deal designed to counter the rise of Iran as a regional power.
The deal would apparently represent the largest single US arms sale ever approved. It would allow Saudi Arabia, the most militarily advanced of the Arab Gulf states and one of the richest countries in the world, to buy top-line US-made helicopters and fighter jets with ranges that would span the Middle East and beyond.
Unlike some previous sales to Saudi Arabia, this one is not expected to be derailed by opposition in Congress or from US backers of Israel, who have worried in the past about blunting Israel’s military edge over its Arab neighbors.
One wonders what "qualitative upgrade" Israel will be offered soon -- if it hasn't been offered on the hush-hush already.
Iran is now seen by Israel, the Gulf Arab states, and the West as a significant and unpredictable threat that has changed the old calculus of the region’s balance of power.
Honestly, I'm so sick of the war drumming I don't even hear it anymore.
Related: Muslims Send Message to Israel
Nobody is listening there.
The United States is realigning its defense policies in the Persian Gulf as Iran improves the range and accuracy of missiles and other weapons that could threaten Israel or US allies in Europe.
And now the Saudis could.
Besides the Saudi deal, the United States has pending or proposed arms sales to Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, and has repositioned some US forces and military assets around the Gulf.
Invasion after election, world. Smells just like Iraq.
The Pentagon plans to notify Congress of the proposed Saudi sale within about a week, Colonel David Lapan, a spokesman, said yesterday. Lapan would not confirm details of the Saudi shopping list pending congressional notification, but a senior defense official said it includes up to 84 new F-15 fighter jets and three types of helicopters....
It's the only thing we manufacture these days -- but we are all about peace!
