Bush: U.S. to Sell F-16s to Pakistan - March 26, 2005

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A800-2005Mar25.html

Bush: U.S. to Sell F-16s to Pakistan
Reversal, Decried by India, Is Coupled With Fighter-Jet Promise to New Delhi

By Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2005; Page A01

CRAWFORD, Tex., March 25 -- President Bush rewarded a key ally in the war on terrorism Friday by authorizing the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, a move that reversed 15 years of policy begun under his father and that India warned would destabilize the volatile region.

The United States barred the sale of F-16s to Pakistan in 1990 out of concern over its then-undeclared nuclear weapons program, but Bush has forged a close relationship with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf since Sept. 11, 2001, and considers his help crucial in the battle against Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist organization.

Pakistan initially wants to buy about two dozen aircraft, but Bush administration officials said there would be no limits on how many it could eventually purchase. The administration tried to balance the sale by announcing simultaneously that it would allow U.S. firms the right to provide India the next generation of sophisticated, multirole combat aircraft, including upgraded F-16 and F-18 warplanes, as well as develop broader cooperation in military command and control, early-warning detection, and missile defense systems. snip

Critics in Washington assailed the decision, saying the administration would effectively supply both sides in a new arms race in one of the world's most dangerous hot spots, even as it rewards an authoritarian government in Islamabad in conflict with Bush's stated commitment to promote democracy around the globe.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. This does not sound like a very good idea to me.

But then, what do I know? I can't even field-dress a moose.

[tabasco]

2. Giving modern jets to an unstable Muslim nation with nukes.

BRILLIANT!

[NNN0LHI]

6. Selling them to some Rapture Ready Christian nation would be just as bad

As I recall Nazi Germany was made up of over 90 percent Christians and we know how that went.

Don

[tabasco]

7. True dat!

Nightmare scenario: wacko fundie, rapture-ready, gets finger on button.

GAWD BROUGHT ME HERE FOR THIS PURPOSE!

:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:

[Hubert Flottz]

3. "Where there's smoke, there's work."

[RC]

4. The United States needs to be stopped from selling/giving war toys to

to countries with blow-back potential, which is most every country now, thanks to our meddling in the internal affairs of other countries.

The next DU post I saw after posting this was this:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3996767
Pakistan order to kill US invaders

What the hell are they doing in our name now?!!

[KewlKat]

5. If Palin had her way

she'd just throw them on ebay and sell to whomever...........remember there are "efficiencies" in all agencies......and she's gonna find em.