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Enthusiast Joined: Nov 13, 2006 Posts: 24 Status: Offline

Quote:

US boosts Israel's annual defense aid to $3 billion

Compiled by Daily Star staff
Monday, July 30, 2007

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced a new $30 billion US defense package to Israel Sunday and voiced satisfaction over Washington's plan to supply state-of-the-art weapons to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states as a counterweight to Iranian influence. The aid boost to Israel has been widely seen as a US bid to help allay Israeli concerns over a package of arms sales, that could be worth some $20 billion over the next decade, which Washington is preparing for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.

"We understand the need of the United States to support the Arab moderate states and there is a need for a united front between the US and us regarding Iran," Olmert told a weekly Cabinet meeting. The rare agreement reflects shared US and Israeli concern with the potential threat of an Iran with nuclear weapons.

He said he and US President George W. Bush, in talks at the White House last month, agreed Israel would receive $30 billion in military aid over the next decade, averaging $3 billion a year. Current US defense aid to Israel stands at $2.4 billion a year.

"This is an increase of 25 percent for the military aid to Israel from the United States. I think this is a significant and important improvement of the defense aid to Israel," Olmert later told reporters.

"Other than the increase in aid, we received an explicit and detailed commitment to guarantee Israel's qualitative advantage over other Arab states," said Olmert.

A senior Israeli government source said that under the defense package, the United States agreed to sell the Jewish state the new generation F-35 fighter jet, advanced bombs and laser-guided missiles.

A senior US defense official has said Washington is readying a major arms package for Saudi Arabia and the five other Gulf state with an eye to countering the changing threat from Tehran.

The proposed arms deal to Saudi Arabia would include advanced weaponry and air systems that would greatly enhance the striking ability of Saudi warplanes. It will also include new weapons for the United Arab Emirates.

One leading Israeli hard-liner warned that Saudi Arabia, although not belligerent at present, could be taken over by extremists. The western Saudi border is just a few kilometers from southern Israel.

The Haaretz daily on Sunday cited US officials saying Saudi Arabia has asked that Congress be notified in advance of the planned sale, to avoid another showdown with Israel, while the Pentagon is asking the Saudis to accept restrictions on the range, size and location of the satellite-guided bombs, including a commitment not to store the weapons at air bases located nearby Israeli territory.

Israel's southern tip is about 15 kilometers from Saudi Arabia across the Gulf of Aqaba.

Meanwhile, Oman said on Sunday that Iran did not pose a threat to the Gulf region.

"We do not see that Iran poses a threat to the Gulf region,"

Youssef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, the Omani Foreign Minister, told reporters after meeting Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheit.

"Iran is a neighboring state and we have a common interest which is to maintain stability and security in the region," he said.

Oman and Iran are co-guardians of the strategic Strait of Hormuz entrance to the Gulf, and the two have consistently maintained good relations.

Although the Israeli right voiced worries about the latest plan, it stopped short of outright calls to block it.

"I am very concerned," Yuval Steinitz, a key hawk on Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, told The Associated Press. "I can understand the need to support moderate states like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, but on the other hand we have to remember that governments can be toppled, as in Iran."

Senior administration officials said Friday that Bush would seek congressional approval for additional military aid to Israel and also to Egypt, which currently gets $1.3 billion a year. - Agencies

Source: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp ... e_id=84187

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Nice very nice. Just outta curiosity why does America give Israel money? I'm trying to think of the organization that pushes this kind of stuff. Any one know what I'm talking about?

Enthusiast Joined: Jul 16, 2007 Posts: 38 Status: Offline

Oh ya. They're huge lobby that makes us feel so sympathetic for them because they gotta deal with the Arabs. Watch, they're gonna be asking for the Raptor soon and we better have the balls to say no. I think we're all kind of sick of billions of our taxpaying dollars going to a foreign country.

Elite 1K Joined: Apr 26, 2004 Posts: 1198 Status: Offline

Yes I am sick with all the dollars we spend there. However check out what we spend elsewhere. Giving them the money for weapons is a good spend. They not only keep a balance of power in the region , but also are a proving grounds for all our weapons.

We also have granted money to many other country's and it has backfired.....check out Iran............

Aaawwwaaahh, this planet is revolving around 'Capital' (money, business); 'Church' (religion, power) and 'C$nt' (pelvic arena). I am not sick with all the bucks we spend/t overthere, oohh yes it has backfired: in negative ways but also in positive ways = business. Ask Saudi Arabians about US Mil. aid, they do not see it as a gift, but big business for UncleSam. Foreign Military aid is also an instrument of the State Dept. to get 'leverage': for example in the eighties, Saddam was visited by Donald Rumsfeld and he did not come overthere to drink some chai (tea).

Enthusiast Joined: Mar 13, 2007 Posts: 98 Status: Offline

Though this is not a politcal forum, politics has found its way onto this airplane site.

To those who question why we, the US, gives financial assistance to our allies, you must look at the situation with an unbiased perspective. Israel is a nuclear armed nation which survives in the most hostile area on the planet Earth. Israel is the enemy of our enemies and therefore is "my" friend. In Israel there are no schools which teach young children to hate America and that to die killing x'ians gives one the keys to gates of heaven and their 42 virgin nymphs. Israel stands at the ready, and is capable of wiping clean the entire region of ALL military threats. My friends, Israel (like it or not) is for time being an extension of the US Armed forces. Yes, there have been traitors in Israel, but there have been more traitors within the US itself who have sold or given secrets away to the Russians or the Chinese.

To not support Israel would be the equivalent closing up the shop, turning off the lights, and going home defeated with our tails between our legs.

There is also the strong x'ian support for Israel in the US due to out nations collective belief in the supernatural, in the green leprechan that lives under the porch, in the bible. Most x'ians I believe, see Israel as their distant "relatives"... But thats just my personal thought.

Needless to say, the US has a strong need for a well armed Israel given the proximity of Israel to our enemies, and lets be clear that most of the entire middle east is our enemy, more so than the Russians ever were... More so than the Chinese is a threat to the US. As technology advances and becomes more freely available, those countries in the middle east will one day pose a real threat to us. They hate us more than the Russians ever did, but only lacked the ability to transform their hate into action.

Enthusiast Joined: Jul 16, 2007 Posts: 38 Status: Offline

Ok, fair enough. We should support Israel, but to an extent. We can't just give them our best technology, just for them to sell it to other countries. Yes, they should get the F-35, but no way the F-22. It's not needed for fighting guerillas and the F-35 is more than capable to defeat Iran's half-grounded Air force.

I think letting Israel in on the program is well...not a bad thing. This program wouldn't have survived without our foreign partners, so like it or not...we are stuck with the politics. First off, if Turkey is a signed partner then why not Israel? Israel bought the F-16 and even the F-15 from us, and they've been using them to fight for freedom. And most likely...even thought they aren't dumping money into the program yet, they will probably make us the more money than UK or Australia. Its a tough call, but at least its not Russia or China lol.

The problem with Israel is twofold. They have been caught on several occasions selling our secrets to the Chinese. That in itself is not really a shocker and they are not the only ones that have done so. Anyone remember Toshiba and submarine props in the 80s? What I think the real problem is the fact that they take our technology, modify it or outright copy it and produce competing weapons which they sell to our economic detriment. But hey, that's not even such a big deal since we are basically giving BAE and Rolls Royce the keys to the castle with the F-35.

Elite 1K Joined: Jul 22, 2005 Posts: 1012 Status: Offline

Thumper3181 wrote:

But hey, that's not even such a big deal since we are basically giving BAE and Rolls Royce the keys to the castle with the F-35.

Allowing BAE and Rolls to buy up assorted US companies has allowed them a whole lot more than just the F-35. Take a closer look at just about anything in advanced propulsion and avionics that "BAE" is producing and you'll find a lot of it is made by former US companies that they bought.

afnsucks wrote:

Nice very nice. Just outta curiosity why does America give Israel money? I'm trying to think of the organization that pushes this kind of stuff. Any one know what I'm talking about?

The US Goverment gives both Israel and Egypt Billions of Dollars in Aid every year! See, while both countries signed a peace treaty.......the US paid for it! Unfortunately, your average American has no idea. Confused

Yes I know we give tons of moneys to other countries but there is an office in Washington thats sole purpose is Israeli/American relations (i.e. giving them our moneys). All that aside I'm glad that Israel is getting the F-35. I hope other countries get the F-35 as well like Saudi Arabia and France. I was just asking if anyone knew what office I was talking about.

Quote:

Allowing BAE and Rolls to buy up assorted US companies has allowed them a whole lot more than just the F-35.

I don't think that was such a good idea either.

Elite 1K Joined: Aug 19, 2004 Posts: 1090

Before Iraq and Afghanistan, Israel stood as the only democratic nation in the Middle East region. (Note that Iran had a fledgling democracy before the 1953 CIA-sponsored/planned coup of Mohammed Mosadeq.) Anyone who truly believes we should NOT give military aid to Israel basically believes that Israel should not exist. I'm not too well versed on Israeli espionage cases, but I can understand why Israel has engaged in spying/espionage within the US. Depending on the political climate, the US may or may not be willing to support Israel militarily. Being such a small country, maintaining a technological/strategic/tactical advantage over its many unfriendly neighbors is a challenge for Israel. Although our support for Israel is relatively unwavering these days, it hasn't been in the past. When the fate of your country depends on maintaining a significant military advantage over your enemies (and Israel has lots of CLEAR, unimagined ones), you sometimes resort to amoral acts like espionage to ensure its survival.

By the way, it usually took the help of Americans to supply Israel with US military secrets. Food for thought. More food for thought: there is still lots of anti-Sematism throughout the world. I even have a friend who tries to spout anti-Israel rhetoric to me once in a while. I don't know why he still bothers because I've gotten to the point where I just cut him off and tell him to share his anti-Sematism with someone else.

I generally agree with you Raptor One, but lets be honest, there is no excuse for the Israelis to have pulled some of the stunts they have with the US. While we should continue to support them they do need to understand that we give them these weapons so that they can defend themselves, not make money at our expense. Far too much American technology has been given to Israel only to wind up either as a competitive weapon or sensor or as tech given to China.

That fact that Americans have sometimes helped is immaterial. Frankly this is not the forum and I do not want to come of as anti semetic because I am not but I would point out to you that many of these "americans" where jews first and Americans second.

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