US approves $1.29 billion sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia

Gerry Rio

Washington (AFP) - The United States has approved a $1.29 billion deal to replenish the Saudi air force's arsenal, depleted by its controversial bombing campaign against rebels in Yemen.





Congress has 30 days to block the sale but is unlikely to do so, and shipment of the more than 19,000 smart bombs is urgent, with strikes continuing daily.


The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Saudi Royal Air Force stocks are low "due to the high operational tempo in multiple counter-terrorism operations."


Oil-rich Saudi Arabia has long been one of the US arms industry's most avid customers, and the deal between the close allies is no surprise in the current climate.

Full article here


How can this be allowed? I mean, I know that War = Money but surely the UN or some power that governs the governments can step in?

vicwatson

The boom is back then?

degsie

Shur what else can they sell to the Saudi's, sand?

Nodin

Gerry Rio wrote: »

Full article here


How can this be allowed? I mean, I know that War = Money but surely the UN or some power that governs the governments can step in?

Even if it came under UN remit, the US has a veto on the UN security council and like the others could stop any action. They've supported worse regimes in the past.

Gerry Rio

Nodin wrote: »

Even if it came under UN remit, the US has a veto on the UN security council and like the others could stop any action. They've supported worse regimes in the past.

Then can we get someone to govern the UN?

What a world!

Captain Chaos

Gerry Rio wrote: »

Full article here


How can this be allowed? I mean, I know that War = Money but surely the UN or some power that governs the governments can step in?

Sure where else are they ment to buy their bombs from. They bought their jets from the US and UK in the first place. The EU only sold them a batch of Eurofighters just recently.

Zebra3

Common knowledge that Saudi is massive sponsor of terrorism in the region and the US, an even bigger one.

But there's money to be made. We're only meant to get upset about the dead in Europe and N America.

Don't forget An Taoiseach recently praising Saudi Arabia for their human rights. Yet he's out in sympathy with the victims of Paris. Classy.

XR3i

whoever said the next war will be fought with sticks and stones was right

Banjo String

degsie wrote: »

Shur what else can they sell to the Saudi's, sand?

Flintstone dvds?

(The shops in Saudi don't sell them, but the ones in Abu Dhabi do)

KomradeBishop

US funding Saudi's (who help fund ISIS), US private munitions companies salivating over French declarations of war against ISIS:
https://theintercept.com/2015/11/16/stock-prices-of-weapons-manufacturers-soaring-since-paris-attack/

Gee, maybe it's all bullshít, and nobody cares if there is war and terrorist attacks, so long as there's money to be made?

Fact is, the wars have been a gigantic cash-cow for a huge number of people - it's going to continue in that vein, and there's nothing US and other western countries would like more, than permanent war/money-making-opportunities.

end of the road

Zebra3 wrote: »

Don't forget An Taoiseach recently praising Saudi Arabia for their human rights.

i know, you really couldn't make this **** up could you?

Gatling

end of the road wrote: »

you couldn't make this **** up. saudi wouldn't know the meaning of the term human rights if it bit them on the backside.

We just want there money

AngryHippie

KomradeBishop wrote: »

Fact is, the wars have been a gigantic cash-cow for a huge number of people

I think you'll find it's a relatively small number of people, compared to the number of people that have been sucked in and killed in/by them.

I know the old Quincy adage "guns don't kill people, people kill people" still holds, but personally I think that anyone contributing means or motive to murder has an ethical case to answer and until that starts to happen, the world will continue be a less safe and less pleasant place to be every day.

the_syco

Gerry Rio wrote: »

How can this be allowed? I mean, I know that War = Money but surely the UN or some power that governs the governments can step in?

America is pretty much the UN's army, so no.

AngryHippie wrote: »

but personally I think that anyone contributing means or motive to murder has an ethical case to answer and until that starts to happen, the world will continue be a less safe and less pleasant place to be every day.

Until someone polices the world, this won't happen.

But when someone does, someone else will need to supply them with weapons...

Kermit.de.frog

Funny thing is Saudi does not have junkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets. They have principles we could certainly learn in Ireland. They respect their own culture and traditions far more than we do. As with the UAE. Their philosophy is basically go there for a good life but don't dare take us for fools or get out. Admirable compared to what is tolerated in the west.

PARlance

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Funny thing is Saudi does not have junkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets. They have principles we could certainly learn in Ireland. They respect their own culture and traditions far more than we do. As with the UAE. Their philosophy is basically go there for a good life but don't dare take us for fools or get out. Admirable compared to what is tolerated in the west.

Someone should really chop your hand off for saying that about your country.

Atlantic Dawn

Raytheon, oh yeah.

KomradeBishop

AngryHippie wrote: »

I think you'll find it's a relatively small number of people, compared to the number of people that have been sucked in and killed in/by them.

I know the old Quincy adage "guns don't kill people, people kill people" still holds, but personally I think that anyone contributing means or motive to murder has an ethical case to answer and until that starts to happen, the world will continue be a less safe and less pleasant place to be every day.

Agreed yes - a small number of people in proportion to the population - but a huge number of people, where it comes to those engaged in the actual military industry.

What reason is there for them to give a toss, about people killed or terrorist attacks spawned as a result of their wars/profit-seeking? Not much really - not when there's a profit to be made.

KomradeBishop

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Funny thing is Saudi does not have junkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets. They have principles we could certainly learn in Ireland. They respect their own culture and traditions far more than we do. As with the UAE. Their philosophy is basically go there for a good life but don't dare take us for fools or get out. Admirable compared to what is tolerated in the west.

Haha - yea they have a lot to teach the rest of the world about human rights as well...

Canis Lupus

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Funny thing is Saudi does not have junkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets. They have principles we could certainly learn in Ireland. They respect their own culture and traditions far more than we do. As with the UAE. Their philosophy is basically go there for a good life but don't dare take us for fools or get out. Admirable compared to what is tolerated in the west.

Well when you have an atrocious human rights record it easy to keep the streets clean of undesirables.

However, I'm all for hiring in labour from poverty stricken countries, confiscating their passports and treating them like slaves or of course, that wonderful case where a woman was gang raped and then sentenced to 200 lashes and a custodial sentence because of it...

Ah yes, Saudi Arabia, the land of principles. We should hold the country up as something to aspire to....

AngryHippie

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Funny thing is Saudi does not have junkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets. They have principles we could certainly learn in Ireland. They respect their own culture and traditions far more than we do. As with the UAE. Their philosophy is basically go there for a good life but don't dare take us for fools or get out. Admirable compared to what is tolerated in the west.

Unless you are female, or gay

They respect traditions like stoning, death penalties, and limb amputation.

Their philosophy has nothing to do with a good life, it is about control.

Drug and theft problems are a symptom of social problems, inequality, desperation, poverty and ignorance, but do you seriously think that crushing people with fear of punishment is more effective than helping people, giving people a future and a hope, educating and enlightening them?

You are blissfully aware of cause and effect if this is the case.

You can have all the admiration for the Saudi's you want, but it amounts to ignorance of the human condition and of ethics.

hatrickpatrick

And in another thread, people deny that Western governments are giving radical Muslims a valid reason to hate us.

If we want to stop the spread of anti-Western hatred, start here. Stop doing business with regimes which are despised by the majority of their own people. Our governments are seen as colluding in their oppression - that has to change or these people will never stop trying to hurt us.

Cookie_Monster

The real question though, is what are the giving to the rebels as well.

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Funny thing is Saudi does not have junkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets. They have principles we could certainly learn in Ireland. They respect their own culture and traditions far more than we do. As with the UAE. Their philosophy is basically go there for a good life but don't dare take us for fools or get out. Admirable compared to what is tolerated in the west.

you must have missed the massive slums in the UAE last time you visited. You should take a look, though they won't be on the tourist to do lists...

hatrickpatrick

Every city in the world has its slums. Dublin is just a bit weird in that the slum areas are interspersed with nice ones so closely - in other cities, there are entire areas / swathes which locals will tell you not to enter. In Dublin, you could have three streets next to eachother, with streets 1 and 3 being perfectly civilised, but street 2 in between them being a no-go zone.

I don't know if there are other cities like this, but it means that it's easier for people to suggest that Dublin has a worse problem than other cities, or conversely that it's not as bad. In reality, it's probably more or less the same.

Realt Dearg Sec

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

. They respect their own culture and traditions far more than we do.

They most certainly do not. They've been bulldozing historical mecca for the last thirty years to build five star hotels for millionaires. But don't let the facts get in the way of your rant. Maybe you should move there, see how you like the place.

fatknacker

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Funny thing is Saudi does not have junkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets. They have principles we could certainly learn in Ireland. They respect their own culture and traditions far more than we do. As with the UAE. Their philosophy is basically go there for a good life but don't dare take us for fools or get out. Admirable compared to what is tolerated in the west.

Funny thing is, neither do South Korea or Japan. Where would you prefer to be?

suicide_circus

I would certainly support $1.29b worth of bombs being delivered into Saudi.

From about 15,000 feet.

Anita Blow

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Funny thing is Saudi does not have junkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets. They have principles we could certainly learn in Ireland. They respect their own culture and traditions far more than we do. As with the UAE. Their philosophy is basically go there for a good life but don't dare take us for fools or get out. Admirable compared to what is tolerated in the west.

I genuinely think this could be the stupidest thing I've ever read.

Sunnyisland

I I

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

Every city in the world has its slums. Dublin is just a bit weird in that the slum areas are interspersed with nice ones so closely - in other cities, there are entire areas / swathes which locals will tell you not to enter. In Dublin, you could have three streets next to eachother, with streets 1 and 3 being perfectly civilised, but street 2 in between them being a no-go zone.

I don't know if there are other cities like this, but it means that it's easier for people to suggest that Dublin has a worse problem than other cities, or conversely that it's not as bad. In reality, it's probably more or less the same.

What part exactly of Dublin has Slums. ?


A slum is a heavily populated urban informal settlement characterized by substandard housing and squalor. While slums differ in size and other characteristics from country to country, most lack reliable sanitation services, supply of clean water, reliable electricity, timely law enforcement and other basic services.

NoCrackHaving

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

F[B]unny thing is Saudi does not have junkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets.[/B] They have principles we could certainly learn in Ireland. They respect their own culture and traditions far more than we do. As with the UAE. Their philosophy is basically go there for a good life but don't dare take us for fools or get out. Admirable compared to what is tolerated in the west.

Do you mean the way that Saudi accounts for 30% of the world's amphetamine users while only making up 0.1% of its population? Or the way that 111kg of heroin is seized every year? (That's only what's found mind you, probably about ~5% of what is being smuggled in).

Or the way that the Saudi murder rate is at least the same if not higher than Ireland's?

Or the Saudi regime's sentencing of blogger Raif Badawi to a thousand lashes for the crime of writing a mild blog regarding the wish for a bit more free speech?

Their culture and traditions of stoning gay people to death and whipping women who had the misfortune to get raped for the crime of sex outside marriage?

How about chopping the heads off of people who dare to try to leave Islam?

Also slave labour, rape, prostitution etc. etc. etc

Saudi Arabia has literally nothing to be admired for.

Sunnyisland

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Funny thing is Saudi does not have junkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets. They have principles we could certainly learn in Ireland. They respect their own culture and traditions far more than we do. As with the UAE. Their philosophy is basically go there for a good life but don't dare take us for fools or get out. Admirable compared to what is tolerated in the west.

Says the Royal kermit the frog :-)

keithclancy

realies wrote: »

I I




What part exactly of Dublin has Slums. ?


A slum is a heavily populated urban informal settlement characterized by substandard housing and squalor. While slums differ in size and other characteristics from country to country, most lack reliable sanitation services, supply of clean water, reliable electricity, timely law enforcement and other basic services.

Sounds like a halting site.

smash

And I only posted this last night... http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=97758120&postcount=4720

smurfjed

Funny thing is Saudi does not have HASjunkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets.

I corrected your post for you as you have obviously never visited Saudi Arabia.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/11/lebanon-charges-saudi-prince-record-drugs-haul-151102163604201.html

Who do you think is using all these drugs and where are they getting the money to finance their purchase? As for beggars, just look at every traffic light.

Just to add that most of these problems exist in Makkah and Madinah so they are totally moslem issues.

_Brian

War is big business. In the UK and US it generates huge revenues and supports many Many jobs.
There is very strong lobbying and financial support to political parties from these companies supplying military goods.
Money trumps near all morals.

wes

This is not news, the US arms most of the world despots and terrorists, sorry there freedom fighter when the US supports them, and has done so for years. Sure they have even sold weapons to both sides of a conflict in the past.

asherbassad

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Funny thing is Saudi does not have junkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets. They have principles we could certainly learn in Ireland. They respect their own culture and traditions far more than we do. As with the UAE. Their philosophy is basically go there for a good life but don't dare take us for fools or get out. Admirable compared to what is tolerated in the west.

No beggars eh?

Dream the fuck on:

end of the road

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Funny thing is Saudi does not have junkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets.

yeah. delusianel as usual.

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

They have principles we could certainly learn in Ireland.

yeah. slavery, vast human rights vialatians. sounds absolutely lovely. plenty of principals and values ireland should have.

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

They respect their own culture and traditions far more than we do.

oh yes, it respects its culture and traditions all right. as i've been reminded the slow destruction of mekkah means they are very respectful of their culture. what traditions and aspects of our culture don't we respect?

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

As with the UAE. Their philosophy is basically go there for a good life but don't dare take us for fools or get out. Admirable compared to what is tolerated in the west.

what is tolerated in the west? oh, people less fortunate then yourself, and people who make mistakes? yeah, they should all be slaughtered, just like saudi probably do. maybe consider going to live in saudi. you won't be able to spout your headbanging nonsense though, they don't like headbangers different to them

asherbassad

wes wrote: »

This is not news, the US arms most of the world despots and terrorists, sorry there freedom fighter when the US supports them, and has done so for years. Sure they have even sold weapons to both sides of a conflict in the past.

Prescott Bush (George W.'s) grandpappy was selling arms and diesel to the Nazis while his own son, George H.W. was fighting on the opposite side.

Bush family values, eh?

smurfjed

Asherbassad, the majority of those videos show areas that are inhabited by illegals, human trafficking gangs purposely disable children and then smuggle them into Saudi to earn money as beggars. They are not provided with any funding by the government unlike illegals who enter Europe, so they earn their money from crime.

This doesn't mean that there is no poverty in Saudi, but your videos paint a picture that it affects Saudis a lot more than it actually does.

smurfjed

they probably murder them. all though they do indeed have junkies, alcoholics, and more. they aren't visible.

Garbage.... they are visible on the streets and reported in the media.

LorMal

While I am very uncomfortable about the Saud regime, I am glad that Saudi Arabia can defend itself from attack. Imagine what the world would be like if ISIS or Al Qaida took Saudi Arabia?

Facekicking 2 The Future

Zebra3 wrote: »

Don't forget An Taoiseach recently praising Saudi Arabia for their human rights. Yet he's out in sympathy with the victims of Paris. Classy.

Abhorrent.

NoCrackHaving

LorMal wrote: »

While I am very uncomfortable about the Saud regime, I am glad that Saudi Arabia can defend itself from attack. Imagine what the world would be like if ISIS or Al Qaida took Saudi Arabia?

Much the same as it is now except no monarchy and less arms deals for American and British weapons companies?

hatrickpatrick

realies wrote: »

I I




What part exactly of Dublin has Slums. ?


A slum is a heavily populated urban informal settlement characterized by substandard housing and squalor. While slums differ in size and other characteristics from country to country, most lack reliable sanitation services, supply of clean water, reliable electricity, timely law enforcement and other basic services.

Arguably many of the abandoned regeneration areas, particularly those which were the subject of a successful complaint to the ECHR last year, would fall into many of the above categories. For instance, regarding clean water, sanitation and law enforcement response, one I'm very well acquainted with is Dolphin House off the South Circular Road which seems to fit perfectly - an overdriven sewage system which results in seepage of waste through water pipes and walls, and an apparent reluctance on the part of the Gardai to enter the estate and respond to calls regarding anti social behaviour.

I mean all of these things are questions of scale, and I'm sure even the most deprived and neglected parts of Dublin are better than the slums found in Middle Eastern countries, but to deny that we do have a couple of shameful secrets in this regard is a bit naive. When people can successfully sue the state for human rights violations regarding the living conditions in their government-maintained estates, the word "slum" seems pretty appropriate.

Overheal

Listen to this Panel from Bill Maher, recently: "Why do they hate us?" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bill-maher-paris-attacks_56477a27e4b045bf3def648c

The first response: we do business with Saudi Arabia and other countries, we directly interfere in the politics of the Middle East.

The Yemenese bombings conducted by Saudi Arabia was in retaliation against Iranian-allied rebels that overthrew the existing Yemenese regime that was allied to US interests.

We aren't going to stop the sale of the bombs, but it will trigger outrage from groups that don't align with us. That includes ISIS. It would be no different if we sold bombs to be dropped on Tibet, the monks would come for us (and yes, there are militant, violent Buddhists out there)

the_syco

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Funny thing is Saudi does not have junkies and scumbags and beggars and thieves roaming the streets. They have principles we could certainly learn in Ireland.

They kill everyone who they like, kill any political opposition, and they take the passports from foreigner workers, don't allow them to leave, use them as slaves, and use the women as sex slaves.

Iran looks better, tbh.

Stealthfins

Isn't Iran more tolerant of ethnic groups.
Wasn't Iran actually secular at one stage.
Music and dancing is also allowed,and Art
I heard their flora and fauna is good too along with magnificent Islamic garden's and parkland.

Vandango

Zebra3 wrote: »

Don't forget An Taoiseach recently praising Saudi Arabia for their human rights. Yet he's out in sympathy with the victims of Paris. Classy.

Sounds like every other western politician - a hypocritical gobshyte speaking out of both sides of his mouth.

BeerWolf

"Boom goes the [Allahu Akbar!]"...

Capt'n Midnight

degsie wrote: »

Shur what else can they sell to the Saudi's, sand?

Crowd down in Wicklow used to do that.

"special sand" for water filters