Post by unlawflcombatnt on Jul 30, 2007 12:28:35 GMT -6
Below are excerpts from an article from Yahoo News describing a "deal" the U.S. is making involving a $43 billion arms package. It's not clear how much of this "deal" is going to be funded by American taxpayers, and how much is going to be paid for by the involved foreign governments.
U.S. announces $43 billion Middle East arms package
By Sue Pleming and Andy Sullivan
"The United States on Monday announced military aid packages worth more than $43 billion for Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states in an effort to bolster Mideast allies against Iran and others.
The United States plans to offer a $13 billion package for Egypt over 10 years and a $30 billion package for Israel over the same period, increases over previous military funding, as well as unspecified defense aid to Saudi Arabia and Gulf states, said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The Saudi package is expected to upgrade the country's missile defenses and air force and increase its naval capabilities, a defense official told Reuters on Saturday. The package for Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf countries could reach $20 billion over 10 years, the official said.
The proposed aid packages still have to be approved by Congress and there is expected to be opposition by some lawmakers, particularly over assistance to Saudi Arabia, which is accused of not being helpful in Iraq....
Washington is striving to assure Gulf allies, worried by the growing strength of Iran and war in Iraq, that the United States is committed to the region and will stand by them, with arms sales part of that process...."
How much of this will be U.S. "sales", and how much will be a U.S. taxpayer-funded giveaway???
"(U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas) Burns said he saw no conflict between the aid packages to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, whose governments have a long record of human-rights abuses, and the Bush administration's long-term goal of promoting democracy in the region....
The aid package to Israel steps up annual military support to about $3 billion each year from the $2.4 billion Israel now receives annually under a 10-year plan negotiated by the Clinton administration in 1998, Burns said....
Burns said the final amount for the Saudi and Gulf states arms package was still being negotiated, although he expected it to be in the billions. A final package with a firm price tag will be presented to Congress in September, he said...."
"Price tag"?
Again, is this "price tag" being paid by American taxpayers, or by the government of the recipient countries?
The entire article can be found at
U.S. announces $43 billion Middle East arms package
U.S. announces $43 billion Middle East arms package
By Sue Pleming and Andy Sullivan
"The United States on Monday announced military aid packages worth more than $43 billion for Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states in an effort to bolster Mideast allies against Iran and others.
The United States plans to offer a $13 billion package for Egypt over 10 years and a $30 billion package for Israel over the same period, increases over previous military funding, as well as unspecified defense aid to Saudi Arabia and Gulf states, said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The Saudi package is expected to upgrade the country's missile defenses and air force and increase its naval capabilities, a defense official told Reuters on Saturday. The package for Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf countries could reach $20 billion over 10 years, the official said.
The proposed aid packages still have to be approved by Congress and there is expected to be opposition by some lawmakers, particularly over assistance to Saudi Arabia, which is accused of not being helpful in Iraq....
Washington is striving to assure Gulf allies, worried by the growing strength of Iran and war in Iraq, that the United States is committed to the region and will stand by them, with arms sales part of that process...."
How much of this will be U.S. "sales", and how much will be a U.S. taxpayer-funded giveaway???
"(U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas) Burns said he saw no conflict between the aid packages to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, whose governments have a long record of human-rights abuses, and the Bush administration's long-term goal of promoting democracy in the region....
The aid package to Israel steps up annual military support to about $3 billion each year from the $2.4 billion Israel now receives annually under a 10-year plan negotiated by the Clinton administration in 1998, Burns said....
Burns said the final amount for the Saudi and Gulf states arms package was still being negotiated, although he expected it to be in the billions. A final package with a firm price tag will be presented to Congress in September, he said...."
"Price tag"?
Again, is this "price tag" being paid by American taxpayers, or by the government of the recipient countries?
The entire article can be found at
U.S. announces $43 billion Middle East arms package