DoD OKs $2 bln in possible weapons sales to Saudi Arabia

[UpInArms]

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B2F002B68%2DEB0E%2D440A%2DB440%2D6BE3E2138B80%7D

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The Pentagon on Monday approved more than $2 billion in possible weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, including combat vehicles, aircraft parts and battlefield communications systems.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of three potential deals. It said the sales would help the U.S. by contributing to the security of a friendly country that "continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East."

The largest of the proposed sales is a $918 million plan to modernize the Saudi Arabia National Guard. Saudi Arabia has invited General Dynamics Corp. (GD), BAE Systems PLC (BA.LN) and Australian Defense Industries to present candidate systems.

Other contractors expected to participate include Harris Corp. (HRS), ITT Industries Inc. (ITT), Motorola Corp. (MOT) and Fabrique Nationale Herstal USA, part of Belgium's Herstal Group.

Saudi Arabia is interested in 144 armored personnel carrier vehicles, about 55,000 rifles and nearly 200 vehicle radio systems, among other equipment. Prospective purchases also include trucks, tankers and buses that are not considered major defense equipment.

...more...

[MADem]

1. I guess that's JAWBONING for ya!!!

Will they now "open the spigots" like monkeyboy promised well before the 00 theft of the presidency????

[hadrons]

2. bet the Saudi Arabia National Guard gets better shit than US Nat. Guard

welcome to Bushworld

[tatertop]

4. Why do the Saudis need/want all these weapons?

[saigon68]

5. To control their angry Female Citizens

Who want to drive cars and Get out from under the "TENTS" they are forced to wear.

Simple Stoning is not enough

A few "Bullet Ridden Corpses" works better

[tatertop]

7. Or maybe they are hot on the trail of bin Laden!

[saigon68]

8. They will truly need that and more to find him

He's on a Beach in Cancun as we speak

[tatertop]

9. Probably sipping one of those big fruity drinks

[onager]

6. Saudi Natl. Guard is NOTHING like the U.S. Natl. Guard

The only function of the Saudi National Guard is...protecting the Saudi royal family in case of mutiny etc. by the regular armed forces.

That's why the SANG (Saudi Arabian National Guard) gets all the cool new weapons first.

The Saudi National Guard was created in 1965, after a cadre of Islamic fundamentalists in the regular Army seized Saudi Arabia's brand-new TV station. The fundies declared television "un-Islamic" and "a tool of the devil." (If I weren't an atheist, I'd be inclined to agree with them on that last one...)

The leader of the armed Fundies was the nephew of King Faisal. He was killed when the police and loyal army units stormed the TV station. Ten years later, his younger brother assassinated Faisal.

The Saudi National Guard was formed right after that incident. Its founder and Permanent Commander was the current king of Saudi Arabia, Prince Abdullah. Until fairly recently, Abdullah was considered one of the more pro-Fundie and anti-Western members of the royal family. His image has been getting a re-work.

[AzDar]

3. It is now clearly apparent that when Shrubber spoke of "jawboning"

the Saudis in 2000, he meant "by extending his jawbone sufficiently so the Saudis could be properly fellated".....

[superconnected]

10. Bush made a lot of Repukes afraid that the Muslims will Jihad us

All being terrorists, of course. He sold the Iraq - poor Muslim country, on the fear of WMDs. Middle America really is scared of the Muslims "taking over the earth and killing all chrisitans". They actually say this crap. The RW gave them the fear.

So how do the Republicans who voted him in on that fear and Muslim hatred, justify Bush giving the Rich Muslim country 2 billion for weapons?

I thought it was bad enough he was the Sauds greatest friend, while my last boss - A Major insane extreme rw christian held up Bush as God, in our office, and Muslims as Satan trying to kill all Chrisitans.

Isn't this going to confuse all the bigots the RW created?

[JNelson6563]

11. For the coming uprising I bet

The House of Saud teeters on a precipice when it comes to their hold on power. They are too chummy with the infidel for the tastes of some.

Julie

[onager]

13. Saudi tanks are rolling into the Shi'ite towns right now...

...I'd guess. Ramadan just started, and the Shi'ite minority in Saudi Arabia gets a VERY close look during Ramadan. Saudi Arabia only has a few towns with a majority Shi'ite population.

The royal family doesn't want a repeat of 1979...

Nov. 20: 400 armed Islamic extremists seize the Grand Mosque in Mecca, taking hundreds of pilgrims hostage and calling for the overthrow of the Saudi monarchy and for severance of all ties with the west.

They are crushed only after two weeks of tough fighting in which 250 people are killed. The Saudi government later publicly beheads 67 captured militants.

The young Osama bin Laden is deeply impressed by the revolt and tells his friends that the insurgents are “true Muslims.”

The bloody episode badly undermines the prestige of the House of Saud. To counteract pressure from fundamentalists, the royal family allows the religious police to expand their powers over education and the press over the next several years, bringing about an Islamist resurgence in Saudi Arabia during the 1980s.

[Roland99]

12. S.A. engages in human trafficking, child-sex rings, & religious oppression

which means the U.S. should be issuing sanction after sanction against them.

Instead, the sanctions are *waived* and now the U.S. is gonna sell them weapons?!

:wtf:

[lovuian]

14. These are the people who financed AlQuida and we are

giving them weapons... Next they will want nukes from us too!!!

[lakeguy]

15. yeah, i was hoping we could sell them some more weapons!

:sarcasm:

why don't we throw in some WMDS to boot?

[Catchawave]

16. Two billion dollars in possible US military sales to Saudis

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/ussaudimilitary;_ylt=ApMnE_33iiY79fwhW1j78ZKMwfIE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

: Pentagon Tue Oct 4, 4:09 PM ET



The Pentagon has notified the US Congress of possible military sales to Saudi Arabia valued at more than two billion dollars, if all options are exercised.

The proposed sales include a laundry list of armored personnel carriers, command vehicles, water cannons, a variety of trucks, ambulances, ammunition and assault rifles for the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which notified Congress Monday of the possible sale, valued that proposed sale at up to 918 million dollars.

Another proposed sale, valued at up to 401 million dollars, was for a system that distributes information through data links to fighter aircraft.

The system "will increase pilot operational effectiveness by providing an at-a-glance portrayal of targets, threats and friendly forces on an easy-to-understand relative position display," the DSCA said.

When combined with AWACS radar planes and ground command and control, the system "will provide allied forces greater situational awareness in any coalition operation," the agency said.

The third proposed sale, valued at up to 760 million dollars, was for continued technical and logistical support for a wide spectrum of Saudi military aircraft, aircraft engines and missiles, the agency said.

~end of article~

[Maggie_May]

17. Wasn't the men that flew plane in the world trade center

from Saudi Arabia?

[Catchawave]

20. ....and Osama's a Saudi, right?

:scared:

[YDogg]

21. Nope. Them's Eye-rackies.

:rant:

[Catchawave]

23. Yup....

Saudi Government Provided Aid to 9/11 Hijackers, Sources Say
By Josh Meyer
The Los Angeles Times

Saturday 02 August 2003

WASHINGTON - The 27 classified pages of a congressional report about Sept. 11 depict a Saudi government that not only provided significant money and aid to the suicide hijackers but also allowed potentially hundreds of millions of dollars to flow to Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups through suspect charities and other fronts, according to sources familiar with the document.

One U.S. official who has read the classified section said it describes "very direct, very specific links" between Saudi officials, two of the San Diego-based hijackers and other potential co-conspirators "that cannot be passed off as rogue, isolated or coincidental."

Said another official: "It's really damning. What it says is that not only Saudi entities or nationals are implicated in 9/11, but the government" as well.

Despite such a harsh assessment of the alleged role of the Riyadh government, those U.S.officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say congressional investigators found no specific evidence proving that top Saudi officials ? notably members of the royal family ? conspired in any purposeful way to fund the Sept. 11 plot or other acts of terrorism.

More at:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/080303A.shtml

[Chicago Democrat]

18. Lets sell them some SUVs with gun racks....

and that's all.

[ClintonTyree]

19. Two Billion Dollars?

That would keep bush's war in Iraq going for what....a day and a half? :shrug:

[Catchawave]

22. Is two billion more than a Brazilian ?

:rofl:

[Massacure]

25. About 10 days.

We spend about $200 million a day in Iraq.

[Inland]

24. Well, once Bush decided to not bother SA about slavery and trafficking

in child prostitutes, there's nothing left but the BIG SALE OF ARMAMENTS.

That's what friends are for.

[Gloria]

26. US Considering $2 BLN in Military Sales to Saudis--Daily Star

Just posted in the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com


1//The Daily Star, Lebanon Wednesday, October 05, 2005

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=19040



U.S. CONSIDERING $2 BLN IN MILITARY SALES TO SAUDIS

By Agence France Presse (AFP)

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has notified the U.S. Congress of possible military sales to Saudi Arabia valued at more than $2 billion, if all options are exercised. The proposed sales include a laundry list of armored personnel carriers, command vehicles, water cannons, a variety of trucks, ambulances, ammunition and assault rifles for the Saudi Arabian National Guard.



The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which notified Congress Monday of the possible sale, valued the proposed sale at nearly $918 million.



Another proposed sale, valued around $401 million, was for a system that distributes information through data links to fighter aircraft.


(SNIP)

The third proposed sale, valued at up to $760 million, was for continued technical and logistical support for a wide spectrum of Saudi military aircraft, aircraft engines and missiles, the agency said.

[Roland99]

27. Posted here earlier >>>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1825648&mesg_id=1825648

[Raster]

28. "considerng"????? surely they jest. the saudis are one of the BIGGEST

customers of the world's BIGGEST purveyors of arms and weaponry. I'd say that check is already in the bank.

[Catchawave]

29. This really needs a kick !

Where's the Du Outrage????