Obama withdraws offer to donate 20 F-35s to Israel

[oberliner]

Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama has withdrawn its offer for another 20 F-35 fighter-jets. They said the offer was part of a U.S. proposal for an extension of Israel's construction freeze in Jerusalem and the West Bank as well as final status negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.

"We made a strong effort, and everyone tried in good faith to resume direct negotiations in a way that would be meaningful and sustainable," a senior administration official said. "But the extension wasn't actually going to do that."

http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/ss_military1225_12_09.asp

[polichick]

1. It would only have been a 90-day bldg freeze - another horrible deal for Americans. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

2. He'll give them to the Republican leadership instead

But on each plane he'll substitute a head of lettuce for one of the bombs, so that some people will get healthy food fropped on them instead of getting blown up.

Of course, that's only his opening offer to Republicans so we don't know how this will end up. Of course they'll be a negotiation, perhaps the lettuce will be replaced by neutron bomb if the Republicans ask.

[era veteran]

3. I hope any weapon system we give or sell is chipped with

a kill switch. The Israelis don't need weapon systems we don't even have yet.

[hayu_lol]

4. Sort of appears that the offer of the F-35s to Israel...

was to counterbalance the like number being offered to the Saudis(purchase). A possible effort to balance the technology? Stay tuned.

[azurnoir]

5. Israel is unlikely to object to the arms sale of up to 84 new F-15s and 1,000 'bunker-buster bombs'

that analysts say is meant to counter Iranian influence in the Middle East.

The Jerusalem Post reports that Israel is not expected to object to the arms deal, despite some reservations, as it does not threaten Israel's military advantage in the Middle East. However, Israel is "not thrilled about it," said spokesman Jonathan Peled of the Israeli Embassy in Washington.
But US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Colin Kahl said the deal doesn't include "the types of systems the Israelis would be most concerned about," i.e. long-range weapons that could potentially be used against Israel. The arrival of F-15s to Saudi Arabia would not begin until 2015, the same year Israel is slated to begin receiving more-advanced F-35s

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2010/1021/Eyeing-Iran-US-details-60-billion-arms-sale-to-Saudi-Arabia