Why should the United States sell Saudi Arabia advanced arms when it is harming efforts to restore security in Iraq? That’s what members of Congress are wanting to know, and why they are opposing a Bush administration plan to sell $20 billion in weaponry to Saudi Arabia and five other Persian Gulf countries, the Washington Post reported. In addition to being the home country of nearly all the 9/11 terrorists, Saudi Arabia has offered financial support to Sunni groups in Iraq and opponents of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. And nearly half of the foreign fighters entering Iraq each month come via Saudi Arabia, the New York Times reported.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/22
- American_Way on Open thread 11/22
- American_Way on Health care reform would save state money
- satatom on Open thread 11/22
- satatom on Open thread 11/22
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
- American_Way on Open thread 11/22
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
- Raptor on Open thread 11/22
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
48 Comments
The Bush regime passes a declaration that allows the government to seize assets of anyone hurting the effort in Iraq. The majority of the foreign insurgents are from Saudi Arabia and are financed by other Saudis. So it’s only consistent that Bush will reward a theocratic dictatorship by giving them more weapons.
Maybe the neo-cons will come around to admitting that the “war on terror” is nothing more than a move to create a fascist dictatorship just like Prescott Bush wanted.
Analogous to saying that foreign countries should worry that the U.S. has nuclear tipped missiles and some red-neck militia from the U.S. might launch them towards said foreign countries.
The “fighters” from Saudi Arabia are not associated with the Saudi government nor do they have access to government weapons.
Next!
As usual, I see the “Administration” has their “Sunni good / Shia bad” big picture guiding decision-making. Yet another sign that the Bushes, in fact, have no Mideast policy in place other than mercantilism.
Is CF2K alone in thinking that more heavy-duty tactical armaments in the Middle East, particulalry in the hands of the Wahhabists, are not a good thing?
As was the case with North Korea, the Administration’s foreign policy fecklessness and ineptitude leaves it no choice but to reward bad behavior in the hopes of securing some response.
What Bandar wants, Dick provides. Pathetic.
“The “fighters” from Saudi Arabia are not associated with the Saudi government nor do they have access to government weapons.”
Those same fighters are being paid via factions within the Saudi government. That usually means the government is giving its okay, if not its blessing.
Having no understanding of the Muslim religion, its various factions, including the fanatics, Bush goes blithely along supporting anyone who is willing to shake hands with him. Quite a leader, huh?
The biggest reason is obvious- we need their oil. The Saudis have tremendous power in the fact that they can make oil fall or rise overnight. All they have to do is say something like “we are cutting production 20%” and the stock market dives to the abyss and we are paying $4.50 a gallon to get to work. So it is not that we have alot of choice when dealing them. They got us “over a barrel” literally.
The fact is that it doesn’t matter when we sell to whom over there. It was not the Saudis, Kuwait or Bahrain that kept Iran in check. It was Iraq under Saddam. We are just going to have to get used to the idea that Iran is going to a regional power and we are going to have to deal with them for better or worse. I think the administration already has realized this and are starting to talk to Iran about issues.
Because it benefits the Carlyle group? Are y’all ignorant or what? Carlyle group, Halliburton. If either can profit, it’s good policy by God.
The carrot or the stick?
I think people are missing the picture here. It isn’t the US Government selling arms to these counties.It is private military weapons manufacture that is asking the government if it is ok to sell weapons to these countries.
You think this is Bush doing it? No! It is the congresspeople in districts that have these weapon manufactures that are asking Bush to allow the sales.
Look! These companies ramped up production and hired a lot of people in the past 4 years because of the Terrorist Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now that will most likely start slowing down as the Terrorist keep losing and we keep winning, drawing down the troops and etc.
Now these companies are employing a lot of people, the Congresspeople of their districts want those jobs to stay, so they ask the President to allow sales of weapons to states we hardly sell to, just so these weapons manufactures can keep employing people.
It’s the same reason why just several years ago Lockheed sold 20 F-16 fighter jets each to both Pakistan and India. Because the F-16 fighter jet line in Lockheed was going to be shutdown and they were going to layoff a few thousand people. Don’t need them anymore. But the Congressman in the district begged them to keep the F-16 line going and that he would get more sales for them. So he went to Bush to allow Lockheed to sale jets to Pakistan and India for the sake of keeping people employed for a few years at Lockheed.
So, Joe, what you’re really saying is that the current situation in the Middle East is nothing more than a way to keep these weapons manufacturers in the money?
Military Industrial Complex, anyone?
You got it Rox.
Although I do believe we have legitimate reasons to fight and destroy the gathering storm of terrorist in the Middle East, the MIC is a strong force to keep conflicts prolong and started. Jobs, jobs, jobs! And Congresspeople love it.
You can put all your blame to the President, but you sure need to put it squarely on Congress.
Rox! Watch this documentary. There is a good preview on their site. Will give you chills.
http://www.sonyclassics.com/whywefight/
The “fighters” from Saudi Arabia are not associated with the Saudi government nor do they have access to government weapons.
Next!
Posted by: Republican
And you know this because you are the smartest one in the room or are you privy to confidential information?
Get off the pot Republican. GWB said it himself – either you are with us or you are against us. Saudis are financing the insurgents so I see that as ‘not with us’.
Bush and his entire family has kissed the Saudis butts for years and that fact will never change. But the Congress does have the chance now to put a stop to GWB and his gang selling us out.
Nothing in this country will change until we get a president who is committed to finding alternative energy and then WE can tell the Saudis to go suck their oil!
As long as Bush and his cronies are greedy for the oil, nothing will change in the Middle East.
Right wing conservativess love to point out the ineffectiveness of past presidents everytime someone is critical of the present administration…it’s true that we have had some lame presidents…but can anyone name a past administration that has done more DAMAGE than George Bush’s?I just dare you to try.
Saudis are financing the insurgents so I see that as ‘not with us’. Posted by: fred | July 31, 2007 at 09:12 AM
Just what is your proof?
My proof has been previously posted in other topics when I referenced to the General in charge of the Saudi military was interviewed and the interview with the King.
Both talked about the problem of young Saudi men going across the border.
Funding from private Saudi citizens? Perhaps, I would have no idea who these private citizens are, Osama Bin Laden is one though.
The analogy I posted stands, these Saudis that go across the border do so on their own and get their pay from private individuals.
Sure Mary! Ex-President James Carter. He did and still continues to do more damage than President Bush is doing.
Lets make a deal with the Saudi govt. Use your troops to secure your border and stop your al-quida terrorist from crossing over for arms.The sauds have been long known to secure their peace at home by letting their wahabist expand their influence in the rest of the world, with indirect financing from the kingdom. They are like bush, fight over there; not here.
Thanks for the link, Joe. I’ve already watched Why We Fight. Ike warned us. We ignored it, and now it runs our country.
How so? Our position is the world as deteriorated so significantly since Bush invaded Iraq. The world is furious with us and rightly so due to Bush’s foreign policy catastrophies. Did you feel more threatened when Carter was president than you do now? Did Carter wage a premptive war that has killed hundreds of thousands of civilans in another country that were never a threat to us? What about the national deficit? Over a trillon dollars?At least Carter was an honest man…can you say the same about Dubya?
The analogy I posted stands, these Saudis that go across the border do so on their own and get their pay from private individuals.
Posted by: Kansas | July 31, 2007 at 09:21 AM
ROFL
Your analogy would be the same as “The Pakistan govt. does not sponsor the terrorist crossing over to Afghanistan, therefore if we want to sell them (or give) arms, what’s the big deal.Ignoring that a large part of the population in either country are actively trying to wrest control from the govt.The republican mentality of arming the mid-east has been an historical failure. Each time we do, we end up expending more arms and lives dis-arming those we have armed. It is a win/win proposition for the MIC: but, a losing proposition for Americans.
Amen Phantom….We supported Sadamn and gave him weapons…how did that turn out?
It’s all about Israel’s war and y’all are afraid to talk about that bunch. They’ve got you trained like the three monkeys. “See No” “Hear no” and above all: “speak no.”
And you call yourselves Americans?
The Pentagon is bragging that “only” 75 US Soldiers died in July { it’s August 1 in Baghdad }.
Well, go back to your knitting and think of some of the many Jewish Slogans to call me.
Have at it.
The Saudi Arms sale is the cover the give away to the Israelis of 30 billion in high-tech arms undercover {though, the NYT gives in back page mention.
And you call yourselves Americans….
“”The “fighters” from Saudi Arabia are not associated with the Saudi government nor do they have access to government weapons.”
So… Iraqi people were not ON the planes that hit us on 9/11. The iraquis were not sending fighters here, and they did not have access to government weapons.
Are you ready to agree, with your own statements above, that we should NOT have waged war on iraq? That we should have given saddam weapons of mass destruction to defend themselves, since they clearly have none?
The saudis do WORSE in the region and the world than iraq and saddam ever did. Yet we reward the saudis and destroy and occupy iraq?
Must be republican logic. It certainly IS all about the oil and NOTHING about national security or bringing democracy or peace to the middle east.
I mean, who are we gonna believe? Lying bloggers or our very own eyes?
The strategy is clear. We attack the enemies of alQuada (Iraq). Now we arm the friends of alQuada (Saudi Arabia). Now maybe alQuada will like us and not attack us again!
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Repuke–
Is that your regular nic?
Just wondering.
“SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt – The United States won no specific new promises of Arab help for struggling Iraq after a gathering Tuesday of several nations listed as recipients of an expanded aid and weapons package for friendly states in the region.”
What?! They can’t be bought? What will Georgy do now? And just how much did we give “friendly Israel” and just who are they friends with? Other than us, that is.
We voted in the Democrats to pull the plug on this so-called “war”, so why havn’t they done it?
Ed, “doing the arithmetic” tells me there were not a sufficient number of Democrats elected to accomplish this end.
Israel is not “friends” with us, they just “use” us and our money for all their nasty business: Whore Houses, Drug trafficking, Slave Trading, Forgeries, blood-diamonds, Arms sales { 60 million cluster bombs } and any illegal or immoral or dirty business as long as it makes money.
And you call yourselves Americans?
We could have cut-off the funding.
And still can.
The Jewish Religion is a beautiful Religion and deserves better the Zionists.
The Jewish Religion is a beautiful Religion and deserves better than the Zionists.
“Just what is your proof?”
“My proof has been previously posted in other topics when I referenced to the General in charge of the Saudi military was interviewed and the interview with the King.”
And do you believe everything the Islamic dictators tell you? When the Russians invaded Afghanistan, the Pakistani government swore up and down that they were not aiding the mujihadin. They were lying. And I’ll sell you a bridge over the Tigris if you think the Saudi royal family is not supporting Sunni fighters in Iraq.
It astounds me that Republicans talk about “Islamofascists” and then go on to defend and support the most brutal repressive Islamic dictatorship in the world. Saudi Arabia is worse than Iran when it comes to human rights. And they have no interest in spreading democracy. None.
Iran is more democratic than Saudi Arabia.
well, considering the number of nics, stolen and/or fabricated that he posts under, how the HELL could we verify what he posts and what he doesnt.
And when he isnt changing or stealing nics, he’s just making shit up, otherwise known as lying, or he’s trolling.
And we should take HIS word for ANYTHING, um, why?
well, considering the number of nics, stolen and/or fabricated that he posts under, how the HELL could we verify what he posts and what he doesnt.
And when he isnt changing or stealing nics, he’s just making shit up, otherwise known as lying, or he’s trolling.
Oh but yeah, let’s take his word that “he” previously posted some “proof” of something other than that he is a trolling, lying asshole.
And we should take HIS word for ANYTHING, um, why?
Sorry for the double post, but it was worth posting twice :)
See troll? Does posting :) after an asshole statement really matter? You act like it does.
regarding you? ;(
Is containment of Iran behind the Saudi arms deal? Has containment of Iran replaced bringing democracy to the region as the rationale for Iraq?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20055323/site/newsweek/
Good link. Thanx VT
The Saddam Boogie man is gone. We need another. Also, it is a way to give more arms to Israel.
Is it any wonder the Bush wants to arm the Saudis? He was the one that tried to push the Saudi based company to take over security for our ports. That went over like a lead balloon!
What sickens me is when Bush does his ‘patriotism’ theme as if he has any clue as to what a true American patriot is. He is to be pitied but, unfortunately, the country will have to live with the consequences of Bush and gang for a long time to come.
Sure Mary! Ex-President James Carter. He did and still continues to do more damage than President Bush is doing.
Posted by: Joe Williams
If the country had listened to Jimmy Carter and found an alternative energy source, the US would not have to kiss the Saudi’s butts for their oil.
The only thing that Carter did was to NOT play dirty politics. The man was too honest for the job. And, I might add, it was Reagan and Daddy Bush that made a deal for the hostages back then and look where that landed us.
The chickens are coming home to roost and we are STILL over the oil barrel because of presidents who were more interested in lining their own pockets than watching over our country.
Isn’t it ironic that Carter is known for his Habitat for Humanity work and Reagan and Daddy Bush are known for their ????. Name one thing Reagan did as a humanitarian. And only recently Daddy Bush got on the bandwagon but it took Bill Clinton to get the old fart on the fundraising trail.
What a sad commentary on the so-called ‘good’ Republican presidents.
Does it surprise anyone that Bush wants to sell arms to the Saudis? After all, GWB was the one that kissed the Saudi royalty. That tells all we need to know about Bush’s loyalty.
The strategy is clear. We attack the enemies of alQuada (Iraq). Now we arm the friends of alQuada (Saudi Arabia). Now maybe alQuada will like us and not attack us again!
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Posted by: Repuke | July 31, 2007 at 10:36 AM
Repuke–
Is that your regular nic?
Just wondering.
Posted by: CapnAmerica | July 31, 2007 at 10:40 AM
that was not me!
The Bin Laden family and the Bush family are both members of Carlyle. Saudis and Bushies and guess what Carlyle sells military equipment. So the Bush’s profit and the Bin Laden family profits. Score another one for the fictional war on terror.
How many Americans died for corporate profits today?