US approves $280 mln missile sale to Taiwan

[IA_Seth]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051026/pl_nm/taiwan_usa_dc;_ylt=AqxJd.gWZmi9ZVh8PEuX1yUa.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Defense Department on Wednesday notified Congress that it had approved the sale to Taiwan of 10 AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles and 5 AIM-7M Sparrow missiles -- both built by Raytheon Co.

(snip)

The Defense Security and Cooperation Agency said the sale was consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, under which the United States makes available sufficient defense items and services to allow Taiwan to defend itself against a possible attack by China.

(snip)

The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft. The AIM-7 Sparrow is a radar-guided, air-to-air missile with a high-explosive warhead.
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[BR_Parkway]

1. Didn't China tell us not to? What happens if they sit quietly at the

next Treasury Auction? Where are we going to get our money then to pay what these Credit Card Republicans have spent?

Does the new bankruptcy bill require the gov't to get professional debt counseling and make a minimum payment just like poor people will?

And this was the party responsible for our National Security? We don't have any anymore, we're mortgaged it to Asia in exchange for cheap labor and falling prices.

[0007]

4. ....and Rumsfeld finds it very interesting that China is building

up it's military! Doesn't China know that any update must be reported immediately to Rummy and his ship of fools? Cheez!

[cliss]

6. That was my first thought when I

read the headline.

Personal prediction: I expect China to come out with some kind of statement, very soon. Maybe tomorrow, at least this week. They will state their displeasure over the sale. There will be some other reference, or veiled threat implied.

When their statement comes out, we should scrutinize the statement to see what they mean. They may divulge what their next move is.

The point about the Chinese is: never underestimate them. They never bullshit, like RumsFailed or Bush. They mean what they say. It's never done in a cavalier way like the Bush people. They're low-key, and they mean business. "Speak softly and carry a BIG stick" is their motto.

If I were Bush, I'd be sweating bullets right about now. Doesn't he have enough headaches?

[longship]

2. China's gonna love this.

Why doesn't Bush just plant intermediate range nuke-tipped missiles on Taiwanese soil? That would make China very, very happy.

The idiots.

[daleo]

3. It could be the Cuban Missile Crisis in reverse.

Come to think of it, Bush would probably love a stand-off right about now. It would take the press's attention off of Rove.

[Orrin_73]

5. The next day they will sell

missiles for the same amount to China. Its capitalism at its best.