America wants to sell 40billion in arms to Saudi

Doom · 23-10-2010 10:11AM #1

WTF Americian DOD is seeking approval from the senate to sell 40 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia :eek::eek: things are bad enough over there without arming them to the teeth

Poor Uncle Tom · 23-10-2010 10:15AM

...sure, what can they do without the legs?...:p

Hande hoche! · 23-10-2010 10:37AM

Given the trouble the Saudis had with a couple of Yemen based rebels, I wouldn't worry too much.

goose2005 · 23-10-2010 10:37AM

Saudi Arabia has no real need for more arms - importing weapons is mainly a way for the leaders to divert state funds into their own pockets

Doom · 23-10-2010 10:42AM

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

...sure, what can they do without the legs?...:p

er....er...ok

Feeona · 23-10-2010 10:45AM

Prediction time I think! What's the betting that in ten years time America will suddenly have a reason to go to war with Saudi Arabia? (weapons of mass destruction blah de blah, armed to the teeth, danger to American way of life ad nauseum)

Nodin · 23-10-2010 11:00AM

Doom wrote: »

WTF Americian DOD is seeking approval from the senate to sell 40 billion in arms to Saudi Arabia :eek::eek: things are bad enough over there without arming them to the teeth

Them and the Brits have been arming them for decades now. This is nothing new.

Corsendonk · 23-10-2010 11:09AM

Nothing new there, Saudi spends over 8% or nearly 40 billion dollars a year anyway on its military.

The Russians also recently agreed to sell them 150 T-90S MBT and 250 BMP-3 IFV.

old_aussie · 23-10-2010 11:09AM

It's for the Saudi's to take out Iran.

Arab against mad Arab

Luv it.

Nodin · 23-10-2010 11:12AM

old_aussie wrote: »

It's for the Saudi's to take out Iran.

Arab against mad Arab

Luv it.

Iranians aren't Arabs. Don't let facts get in the way of your obnoxious ranting though.

pablomakaveli · 23-10-2010 11:12AM

This isn't really a big surprise. Saudi Arabia is probably Americas strongest ally in the Arab world.

heybaby · 23-10-2010 11:28AM

Ah what a surprise, the yanks reverting to type and arming regimes in various nefarious locations throughout the world because of their obsession with oil. The yanks will drop the saudis in a heartbeat and withdraw any interest when the oil dries up,but not before they do their utmost to stir the pot in the middle east first. What is it about the yanks and the brits that they cant help but interfere with the affairs of far flung countries? oh i remember, its their genetic arrogance and entitlement.

philologos · 23-10-2010 11:51AM

It's an awful idea. I don't see why Saudi Arabia merits this kind of deal, or this level of trust. It's an Islamic dictatorship. I'm fairly sure as heybaby pointed out that Saudi Arabia and the US will be enemies when the oil runs out.

MrMatisse · 23-10-2010 12:16PM

funny thing is they probably dont have enough soldiers to use all these weapons.

johngalway · 23-10-2010 12:46PM

I wish we had €40bn worth of arms to sell someone! Every little helps yanno

rossie1977 · 23-10-2010 12:53PM

and ALL the 9/11 hijackers were saudis too

speedboatchase · 23-10-2010 12:57PM

rossie1977 wrote: »

and ALL the 9/11 hijackers were saudis too

One was from Egypt, another from Lebanon and two from UAE. Why would even write 'ALL' without double-checking

Jeboa Safari · 23-10-2010 12:58PM

This is why we should be allowed to have a proper arms industry, could make some good money out of it and provide jobs.

tricky D · 23-10-2010 12:59PM

40Bn That'll get a lot of stones and swords. All those adulterers, petty thieves, politicos etc are going to get proper internal oppression now.

Wahabi dhabi dictator doo!!

ted1 · 23-10-2010 01:02PM

some one hi jacked a 911. Are you sure it wasn't a repossession?

sock puppet · 23-10-2010 01:03PM

rossie1977 wrote: »

and ALL the 9/11 hijackers were saudis too

To be fair to the Saudi Arabian government that's not their fault. It's akin to insinuating the British government were behind the 7/7 bombings because the perpetators were British.

squod · 23-10-2010 01:10PM

johngalway wrote: »

I wish we had €40bn worth of arms to sell someone! Every little helps yanno

http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/business/articles/2010/10/20/4000891-gibbstown-company-signs-deal-big-with-german-partnership/

There's at least four military systems exporters over here.

Corsendonk · 23-10-2010 01:23PM

heybaby wrote: »

Ah what a surprise, the yanks reverting to type and arming regimes in various nefarious locations throughout the world because of their obsession with oil. The yanks will drop the saudis in a heartbeat and withdraw any interest when the oil dries up,but not before they do their utmost to stir the pot in the middle east first. What is it about the yanks and the brits that they cant help but interfere with the affairs of far flung countries? oh i remember, its their genetic arrogance and entitlement.

Actually the French have the worst reputation for arms dealing. They don't care who they sell to as long as they secure orders plus they throw the best bribes in.

Son Of A Vidic · 23-10-2010 01:38PM

That's what the Americans do, arm everyone. It's a bit worrying though when you consider that the Saudis tolerate the prescence of extreme Wahhabism. But then again, I suppose it balances out really. Billions are pumped in Israels military machine yearly and that's a country with a wonderful history of Zionism and it's extremist ideology.

Nodin · 23-10-2010 01:41PM

Corsendonk wrote: »

Actually the French have the worst reputation for arms dealing. They don't care who they sell to as long as they secure orders plus they throw the best bribes in.

It would be hard to beat the cash BAE threw at that Saudi prince.....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jun/07/bae1

Ulysses Gaze · 23-10-2010 02:07PM

^^^^^^^^

There are apparently 20,000 members of the Royal 'Family' in Saudi. Even with all their wealth, keeping that number in the lifestyle they're accustomed to is costly (think Lear Jets, multiple sports cars, houses around the World etc.).

There are going to be many kickbacks involved in this deal to members of the Saudi Royal family.

Yakult · 23-10-2010 02:52PM

Why even bother? I know America's reason, money. But why does SA need so many arms?

kuntboy · 23-10-2010 03:03PM

heybaby wrote: »

Ah what a surprise, the yanks reverting to type and arming regimes in various nefarious locations throughout the world because of their obsession with oil. The yanks will drop the saudis in a heartbeat and withdraw any interest when the oil dries up,but not before they do their utmost to stir the pot in the middle east first. What is it about the yanks and the brits that they cant help but interfere with the affairs of far flung countries? oh i remember, its their genetic arrogance and entitlement.

Oil is required for plastics, medicines, fertilizers, so you can understand the obsession.

Remember the cold war? If the US didn't arm regimes, the USSR did. Did you know that China is planning a military base in Pakistan and already have troops there defending their interests? Did you know they gave the nuclear bomb to Pakistan? They are currently pilaging Africa for minerals using Chinese companies(and workers) to do the work, doing business with dictators that the West is forbidden to? Would you rather have the Chinese securing oil rights? How would you get your medicines then, eh? You personally benefit from the US's "interfering" as you call it so you are part of that "genetic entitlement", whatever that means.

nacho libre · 23-10-2010 03:17PM

let's just hope the Chinese don't in 15- 20 years decide there must be a cold war against America and eventually emerge victorious. will we excuse their conduct on the basis might is right, and further excuse it by saying well we could be ruled by the Russians.

Killer Pigeon · 23-10-2010 03:28PM

Classic ...

"Our arms for your oil"

Manic Moran · 23-10-2010 05:04PM

Jeboa Safari wrote: »

This is why we should be allowed to have a proper arms industry, could make some good money out of it and provide jobs.

That was my first thought.

$40bn may seem like a lot to the Irish defence budget, but it's not overly massive. Our unemployment levels in the US could certainly do with the help.

NTM

America wants to sell 40billion in arms to Saudi

Comments