U.S. Plans New Arms Sales to Gulf Allies
Washington Post
I was brought to the brink of tears after reading this article:
“The Bush administration will announce next week a series of arms deals worth at least $20 billion to Saudi Arabia and five other oil-rich Persian Gulf states as well as new 10-year military aid packages to Israel and Egypt, a move to shore up allies in the Middle East and counter Iran’s rising influence, U.S. officials said yesterday.”
The other countries to which we are selling this sophisticated weaponry (including “smart bombs” and air-to-air missiles) are the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.
Oh God no.
You know how sometimes you can just FEEL when something is going to go horribly wrong?
Perhaps not right away. Perhaps not earlier than a decade from now.
Why is this happening??? Has history taught the leaders of this country NOTHING about providing generally violent and powerful states with weapons? This looks all too familiar.
All too familiar indeed.
Yes, let’s strengthen the pro-Western nations against Iran. They will always BE pro-Western. There is no possibility whatsoever that they may turn on us on a dime. No no. These are our allies.
I think we should take advice from one of the greatest leaders of this country, George Washington (you know, he’s the guy featured on the dollar bill): “Trade with many, ally with none.”
Opinions are like... 
July 28, 2007 at 1:56 pm |
Everyone who is pro-Cheney-Bush administration will agree that U.S. is the only country in the world who sells arms in the Middle-East for legitmate and noble reasons while other arms-producing countries sell arms to terrorists.
July 28, 2007 at 4:04 pm |
Woah. Very very good point.
August 6, 2007 at 9:40 am |
[…] anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Weapons Given to Iraq Are Missing– GAO estimates 30% of arms are unaccounted for Sorry, but I love the Washington […]
August 6, 2007 at 9:12 pm |
This is getting so ridiculous. I like how Bush ran on the “conservative/Constitutional” platform, and criticized Clinton. Yet what does Bush do? He does exactly what Clinton did. Clinton sold uranium (I think that’s what it was; I’d have to check again) to N. Korea. Look where that got us… Now Bush wants to sell weapons to Arabs? This coming from the man who is fighting in the Middle East so we don’t have to fight terrorists here, but then wants to open our borders to everyone, even terrorists. Why is no one in Congress trying to impeach him? I hope Cindy Sheehan does run against Nancy Pelosi, and bets her.
August 6, 2007 at 9:13 pm |
P.S. If he wouldn’t sell these weapons to terrorists, we wouldn’t need laws like this one: http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070806/NATION/108060067/1001
August 6, 2007 at 10:43 pm |
Oh man Trent.
I just… Ahh! Republican, Democrat, Independent… I don’t care! I can’t take this administration anymore! You are exactly right about the Clinton administration. How can we possibly think that giving ANYONE sophisticated weaponry is a good idea?!
Yikes!
January 18, 2008 at 1:15 pm |
The situation in the Middle East is a very complex dance. Its about keeping balance. We provide arms and support for alot of reasons.
For example, we provide arms and alliance to Egypt in return, they supply oil to Israel. They make nice to each other despite the 6th of October war. If you visit Egypt, they have museums claiming their great victory of this war. (They were creamed).
We are desperately trying to get the Middle East to take on more liberal views. By showing them our friendship, we think that we will do that. Behind our backs of course they laugh. We think them as backwards, and ignorant. We underestimate their sophistication.
I guess the thing to understand here is that no one ever goes into these nightmares with ill intentions. They always think that they are going to make great changes in the world and spark peace and harmony. They dance with the devil and sell their souls. Its sad but true.
Great post. … Good thinking