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Re: Obama arming the Saudis
Posted: Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:20:17
by zephyp
TheGodfather wrote:zephyp wrote:
Would you rather have them buying our F-16s where we "control" what they get, the training, and the maintenance OR something from someone else where our only role is to sit back and watch...I know you dont like it and neither do I but thems the reality of the world we live in...
Making the largest U.S. arms deal ever with the Saudis is not exactly what I would call "control".
I agree, however, they are going to buy arms and its partly a question of who they buy them from...the converse position is our assumption that we have the most advanced aircraft and another country would sell them "less advanced" aircraft and hence we have the upper hand, but that opens another set of variables to deal with. Sometimes better to deal with the enemy you know.
Btw, I am not defending the administration position...merely trying to present a logical argument.
The bottom line remains however - when we sell them weapons we control what they get, the configuration, training, parts, logistics, etc.
Edit: btw, I deal with this issue peripherally and understand most of the issues...
Re: Obama arming the Saudis
Posted: Mon, 20 Sep 2010 21:15:49
by gunderwood
zephyp wrote:TheGodfather wrote:zephyp wrote:
Would you rather have them buying our F-16s where we "control" what they get, the training, and the maintenance OR something from someone else where our only role is to sit back and watch...I know you dont like it and neither do I but thems the reality of the world we live in...
Making the largest U.S. arms deal ever with the Saudis is not exactly what I would call "control".
I agree, however, they are going to buy arms and its partly a question of who they buy them from...the converse position is our assumption that we have the most advanced aircraft and another country would sell them "less advanced" aircraft and hence we have the upper hand, but that opens another set of variables to deal with. Sometimes better to deal with the enemy you know.
Btw, I am not defending the administration position...merely trying to present a logical argument.
The bottom line remains however - when we sell them weapons we control what they get, the configuration, training, parts, logistics, etc.
Edit: btw, I deal with this issue peripherally and understand most of the issues...
Or better to just back door everything you sell (which is exactly what everyone selling arms does)...
