McCain: US should allow sale of defensive weapons to Vietnam

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By LOLITA C. BALDOR

SINGAPORE (AP) — America needs to provide Vietnam with more defensive weapons, U.S. Sen. John McCain said Saturday as tensions in the Asia Pacific region heightened over China's expanding land reclamation projects in the South China Sea.

But U.S. efforts so far are focused on delivering some of the limited maritime weapons allowed under last fall's easing of the weapons sales ban on Hanoi.

According to a senior U.S. official, Defense Secretary Ash Carter will meet with Vietnam officials in the coming days to discuss the U.S providing the defensive maritime weapons already allowed. Carter spoke at an international security conference here Saturday at the start of an 11-day Asia trip.

McCain, who also was attending the International Institute for Strategic Studies summit, wants to see a gradual removal of the U.S. ban, and said the U.S. should provide additional defensive weapons that could be used in case of a conflict with China. He added that the U.S. should continue its ban on weapons used for crowd control or to commit human rights abuses.

FULL story at link.



U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, meets with South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 14th International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-la Dialogue, or IISS, Asia Security Summit, Saturday, May 30, 2015, in Singapore. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/75287028aa344331b421f3a0469ae09d/mccain-us-should-allow-sale-defensive-weapons-vietnam

[Bagsgroove]

1. Great idea

Because really, the world would be a much better place if only everybody had more weapons.

[Coventina]

9. Because, only a good guy with a Hellfire can stop a bad guy with a Hellfire....

[jwirr]

2. Just exactly how many weapons manufacturers do they have in Arizona? Bomb, Bomb......

[Botany]

3. ATTN John McCain You lost the election you do not get to make foreign policy

bit·ter (bĭt′ər)
adj. bit·ter·er, bit·ter·est
1. Having or being a taste that is sharp, acrid, and unpleasant.
2. Causing a sharply unpleasant, painful, or stinging sensation; harsh: enveloped in bitter cold; a bitter wind.
3. Difficult or distasteful to accept, admit, or bear: the bitter truth; bitter sorrow.
4. Proceeding from or exhibiting strong animosity: a bitter struggle; bitter foes.
5. Resulting from or expressive of severe grief, anguish, or disappointment: cried bitter tears.
6. Marked by resentment or cynicism: "He was already a bitter elderly man with a gray face" (John Dos Passos).
adv.
In an intense or harsh way; bitterly: a bitter cold night.
tr.v. bit·tered, bit·ter·ing, bit·ters
To make bitter.
n.
1. That which is bitter: "all words ... / Failing to give the bitter of the sweet" (Tennyson).
2. bitters A bitter, usually alcoholic liquid made with herbs or roots and used in cocktails or as a tonic.
3. Chiefly British A sharp-tasting beer made with hops.

[Scuba]

4. McCain would sell nukes to Kim Jung Un if his owners asked him to.

[Tom Ripley]

18. ^^^THIS^^^

[turbinetree]

5. And lets not forget

That he "pickled " his bombs when he was a on flight deck, Forrestal.

Note: Prior to take off all arming pins are removed, and when they are removed the only person in command has the power of the bombs are the pilot or the RIO to be released

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20081007_investigating_john_mccains_tragedy_at_sea


So, right wing Johnnie while you are at your clam bake, trying to show the world you want to unilaterally arm the entire world and bomb bomb the entire world, maybe you should not be re-elected since you fantasize and want to play with dangerous toys---------and in your first test you kinda failed---------you really aren't that competent in the first place

[hollowdweller]

6. Does McCain ever go on the news about anything to help his constituents??

I mean, seriously.

Every time he's on the news he's either arguing we should put our troops somewhere or give somebody in some hotspot more guns.

Good Lord! We have enough war and killing without anybody pushing for any more "stimulus" of it. Why can't he stand for building something up??

He's getting old, does he want "He never saw a war he didn't like" on his tombstone??

[KarenS]

7. No,,, I don't believe he does or did or will in the future.

Go Ann Kirkpatrick!!

[Coventina]

10. Well, Boeing is on of AZ's major employers, so maybe in a twisted way he is.

I know he's a frequent visitor to the Boeing plant in Mesa, AZ.

[douggg]

8. Bullpoop!

McCain is just promoting arms sales.

VN having 'defensive' weapons would be just a slight inconvenience if China really wanted to invade.

[malthaussen]

11. What a big heart he has!

Imagine, his breadth of vision is such that he can recommend arming the very people who took him prisoner and tortured him all those years ago. Why, more of our valiant Congress people should have such clarity and simplicity of mind.

-- Mal

[SoapBox]

12. Hey Grampy...

NO!

[Gregorian]

13. I think he does this to impress his wife. Hell, he probably can't do much more than that.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. "He added that the U.S. should continue its ban on weapons used for crowd control"

because they better do what we say and not what we do right here in the good 'ole USA!

[Plucketeer]

15. I'm actually STAUNCHLY FOR this!

with one minor proviso tho. Once the defensive arms are in place, McCain gets into an old A4 Skyhawk and flies low over Hanoi to demonstrate how effective they will be.

[onehandle]

16. Nope. nt

[Tom Ripley]

17. Here we go again...

[MisterP]

19. what--that's from Back to the Future!

/revision/latest?cb=20080109072751

[salimbag]

20. Vietnam does not need the help of the U.S.

In the not too distant past, Vietnam kicked some Chinese butt when there was a border incursion. They did this without assistance from America. The small country of Vietnam is somewhat like the small country of Afghanistan, saying "welcome, invaders and colonists, prepare to die!"

[damyank913]

21. Isn't the phrase "defensive weapons" an oxymoron?

The previous poster was right. Vietnam did kick the Chinese' ass on that border dispute. They had only been at war for 20 or 30 years when that happened. I'm not up on Chinese history but they haven't been in any wars since Korea, which was a draw.

[olddots]

22. theres a new John McCain doll

wind it up and shit comes out of it's mouth.

[irisblue]

23. If the Chinese want Vietnam

they have enough troops to over run any non nuclear/ non biological weapons.