US To Sell Arms worth $20 Billion to Saudi Arabia

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Hats off to the current US administration for taking this initiative. It’s a win win deal for the both countries. An Islamic country beefs up its defences while facilitating more high-paying jobs creation and rentention in the United States Of America.

With oil prices at considerably higher levels and the US being the largest consumer of Saudi oil, it’s only fair that the favor is returned by the latter country. More power to both countries…

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The United States is developing a proposed $20 billion, 10-year arms sales package for Saudi Arabia, a senior administration official confirmed on Saturday.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, left, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet with Saudis next week.

The proposed sale, first reported in The New York Times, is intended to upgrade the Saudi military’s ability to counter possible Iranian aggression in the Persian Gulf region, the official said.

“This is all about Iran,” said the official, who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity because discussions with the Saudis are still going on and the arms sale deal has not been completed.

Israel is expected to raise objections to the arms package, and has expressed concerns about previous Saudi arms deals.

The official said the Bush administration is mindful that Israel must maintain its “qualitative edge” in the region.

Besides Saudi Arabia, other countries in discussion with the United States about arms sales include the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

One of the more controversial proposals will probably be selling the Saudis, for the first time, satellite-guided bombs known as JDAMs. The sale may include a 500-pound and a 2,000-pound version of the aerial bomb.

The Israelis are said to be very concerned about the Saudis having that precision-strike capability, so the United States will discuss basing the weapons as far away from Israel as possible, the official said.

Other elements under discussion are new naval vessels, an advanced version of air-to-air missiles already used by the United States, and advanced Patriot missiles.

The proposed sale is expected to be a major topic of discussion next week when U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meet with Saudi officials.

The sale would have to be approved by Congress

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Re: US To Sell Arms worth $20 Billion to Saudi Arabia

US has new arms deals coming up with half a dozen countries in the middle east. just wow!

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imagine how much money USA is raking in by selling weapons that will never be used

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Re: US To Sell Arms worth $20 Billion to Saudi Arabia

and lets not forget the 126 Fighter Deal with India.

the amount of money India is gonna pay for those fighters can probably feed all of india for a couple of years

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Re: US To Sell Arms worth $20 Billion to Saudi Arabia

^^and that deal is spread over many years at the same time. All money will not be paid in one stroke. Besides, i doubt india going for US aircraft for those 126 ones. IAF is not very interested in F-16. But they are interested in super hornet though. But it is very very expensive. But for navy also they are planning to buy atleast 40 - 50 aircrafts. Perhaps for that they may chose F/A-18...Besides, these are all speculation.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA KI DUA!!
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Re: US To Sell Arms worth $20 Billion to Saudi Arabia

I wonder what the saudis will get for $20 billion unlike the crap tornadoes that they bought from british as a favor [or was it the british bribes? :hehe: ] a while back.. :omg:

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Re: US To Sell Arms worth $20 Billion to Saudi Arabia

uraye ga kon. you might as well give them $ 20 billion train sets

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Re: US To Sell Arms worth $20 Billion to Saudi Arabia

Saudis are wasting their money buying these expensive Toys from the Americans.

Their fighting prowess is next to nothing and nor are its forces trained or capable to fight wars.

What Saudi Needs to do is invest in Military Academies. Get British and American teachers and teach them the proper way to fly planes, drive tanks, conduct maneuvers, sail warships, etc....

They also need to get the SAS and the Navy SEALS to set up training camps for the Saudi Armed Forces.

Saudi Arabia needs to invest in making its personnel more effective rather than getting expensive toys from America.

Look what happened to the Egyptians in 1967.

They got all the latest weaponry from Soviet Union but in the end it mounted to nothing as they were not able to properly use them and lost the war.

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Re: US To Sell Arms worth $20 Billion to Saudi Arabia

^ Do you think the british or specially the americans will teach anything that “jeapordizes” israel’s position in the region? Didn’t you see israeli *****ing in the same news and how US will be mindful to not “erode” the “qualitative advantage” of israel in the region?

The Americans are no allies of saudis and pakistanis and it is time we face the music. When you talked about the egyptian situation merc, I almost thought you were antiobl only if you had added the show shaw commie leftist alliance to your post.. :omg:

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^^ Israel's need a Qualitative edge. Its surrounded by enemies. Any moment they feel that they can destroy Israel they would probably go ahead and do it.

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Re: US To Sell Arms worth $20 Billion to Saudi Arabia

^^ Your argument was turned upside down on your head so you bring in this new argument israel needs this now. We are not talking about isreal but if americans are good allies of saudia, uae or pakistan.

PS For your argument, a counter argument can be made that israel was built on illegal land snatched from palestineans and arabs have a "moral right" to fight them if necessary. Would you support what the crusaders did when they occupied these same areas in the 11th and 12th century?

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lets not turn this thread into a israel vs palestine thread

I am sooo tired of arguing on this....

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Why did you say that Isreal needs a qualitative advantage when this thread is about saudi arabia and its allies?

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because you brought Israel into this

Post #9

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Re: US To Sell Arms worth $20 Billion to Saudi Arabia

Well the Saudi's need weapons to replace the ones they use in their proxy war with Iran inside Iraq once the U.S. steps aside, right?

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Re: US To Sell Arms worth $20 Billion to Saudi Arabia

Spot on!

The war between Wahhabi Saudi and Ayatollahian Iran is already on and Saudi doing considerable damage at the moment.

Just read this article :

Sunni extremists from Saudi Arabia make up half the foreign fighters in Iraq, many suicide bombers.

As usual Unkil is blissfully ignorant because Dubya is now caught in the deep $hit.

Problem with Amreeka bahadur is that whenever their “rulers” are in a $hit they can only think of their “short term” interests as to how come out of it and leave the hell for next President.

This arms deal is a classic example how a troubled desperate President operates.

Dubya knows that Wahhabism of “House of Saud” is not an immediate threat since they are ready for boot-licking to stick in power and preserve Monarchy.

Important: I think this is a clear sign that US is laying ground-work for attacking Iran.
And pampering all wrong people to support this cause has started now.

I only hope that US if attacks Iran should only be for “regime change” to get rid of Ayatollah controlled Tehran.
Occupying Iran and pampering Saudi is not good for long term interests.

Lastly, western media should know that citizens of Iran are more moderate, sensible and cultured as compared to Wahhabi Saudi.

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Well there goes the 'democracy' mumbo jumbo once again.

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erm these arm deals are most likely to come back and shoot them in thier arses. They never learn do they... the taliban being the most recent example. but yeah notice how they plant the seed of discord now and then plead innocence when the crap hits the fan..usually right back in their faces.

If there were justice in the world, these folks would've been hung drawn and quatered way before saddam was taken to court.... believe it or not, this is dajjal at its best.

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What SA needs is a $20 billion annual education budget, not more weaponry.

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^^ even if they get 20 billion worth in Arms, their armed forces are not professional enough to use them efficently

look at South Vietnam in 1975, it was armed with the most sophisticated American weaponry but due to bad leadership they were defeated in 3 months by north Vietnam