US approves $1.29 billion sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia

Gerry Rio · 17-11-2015 12:40AM #1

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 · 17-11-2015 12:44AM

The boom is back then?

degsie · 17-11-2015 12:44AM

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

Nodin · 17-11-2015 12:45AM

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 · 17-11-2015 12:48AM

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 · 17-11-2015 12:48AM

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 · 17-11-2015 01:02AM

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 · 17-11-2015 01:04AM

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

Banjo String · 17-11-2015 01:31AM

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 · 17-11-2015 01:45AM

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 · 17-11-2015 02:33AM

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 · 17-11-2015 02:35AM

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 · 17-11-2015 02:45AM

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 · 17-11-2015 02:59AM

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 · 17-11-2015 03:29AM

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 · 17-11-2015 03:33AM

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 · 17-11-2015 03:34AM

Raytheon, oh yeah.

KomradeBishop · 17-11-2015 03:34AM

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 · 17-11-2015 03:34AM

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 · 17-11-2015 03:40AM

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 · 17-11-2015 03:56AM

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 · 17-11-2015 04:06AM

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 · 17-11-2015 04:10AM

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 · 17-11-2015 04:25AM

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 · 17-11-2015 04:37AM

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 · 17-11-2015 04:39AM

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 · 17-11-2015 06:38AM

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

From about 15,000 feet.

Anita Blow · 17-11-2015 09:48AM

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 · 17-11-2015 09:59AM

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 · 17-11-2015 10:19AM

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 · 17-11-2015 10:27AM

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 :-)

US approves $1.29 billion sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia

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