Bush backs sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan

[e-brake]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5131566.stm

Bush backs F-16 sale to Pakistan

US President George W Bush has asked Congress to approve selling 18 new F-16 jets to Pakistan as a US nuclear deal with India progresses. The administration submitted a package also including an option to purchase a further 18 jets and an offer to upgrade Pakistan's existing F-16 fleet.
Congress has 30 days to consider the deal with its traditional ally.
The state department said the deal was not related to the passage of a bill on nuclear co-operation with India.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee took an hour to endorse the Indian agreement by 16-2 on Thursday after it was cleared by a House of Representatives panel on Tuesday.
State department spokeswoman Julie Reside said the F-16 deal with Pakistan was not related to the agreement with its historic rival.
"We believe in treating each country individually," she said. "Each faces defence issues different from the other."
The sale was, she said, "part of an effort to broaden [America's] strategic partnership with Pakistan".
Indian and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir and both have nuclear arsenals.

[la dj]

this sounds like we're the ref in karate champ.

3, 2, 1, FIGHT!

[e-brake]

Originally Posted by la dj

this sounds like we're the ref in karate champ.

3, 2, 1, FIGHT!

Well this worked out so well when Rumsfeld sold weapons to Iraq, why not try out the same policy with Pakistan.

[Hey Bubu]

gotta get rid of some excess inventory and get some MONEY!!!

[PETA]

those planes are 1970s technology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-16

Originally Posted by wiki

Following the devastating earthquake in Kashmir in October-2005, the Pakistan Government postponed the Pakistan Air Force's F-16 deal; which involved 50 new-built F-16 Block-52 and 26 used F-16A/B. On April 2006 the Pakistani cabinet approved the purchase of up to 77 new and used F-16s. Currently the PAF is planning to order up to 36 new-built F-16C/D Block-52 and 26 used F-16A/B Block-15OCU (which were embargoed from Pakistan in the 1990s).

[e-brake]

Originally Posted by TypeH

gotta get rid of some excess inventory and get some MONEY!!!

Its not like, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Australia arent all lined up begging for some as well. I guess batshit crazy middle eastern nations get prefrence in the weapons department.

[e-brake]

Originally Posted by xian

those planes are 1970s technology

Yes and we sold 1950's Korean war surplus to Iraq in the 70's/80's they were still quite effective to this day against our troops.

[Hey Bubu]

Originally Posted by e-brake

Its not like, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Australia arent all lined up begging for some as well. I guess batshit crazy middle eastern nations get prefrence in the weapons department.

Arm each country with enough fire power to create a mini cold war between them should do the trick.

[PETA]

Originally Posted by e-brake

Yes and we sold 1950's Korean war surplus to Iraq in the 70's/80's they were still quite effective to this day against our troops.

Iraq flew sorties against ground forces in GWII?

I thought Saddams entire airforce flew to Iran in GWI.

[e-brake]

Originally Posted by xian

Iraq flew sorties against ground forces in GWII?

I thought Saddams entire airforce flew to Iran in GWI.

Its the rocket propelled grenades, small arms, landmines, training, and anti-tank weapons that have been turned against us. Between the Made in USA weapons and the USSR weapons the arms dealers *coughRumsfeldcough* are responsable for quite a few Americn deaths.

[PETA]

I said

Originally Posted by xian

those planes are 1970s technology

You siad

Originally Posted by e-brake

Yes and we sold 1950's Korean war surplus to Iraq in the 70's/80's they were still quite effective to this day against our troops.

I replied

Originally Posted by xian

Iraq flew sorties against ground forces in GWII?

I thought Saddams entire airforce flew to Iran in GWI.

You answered

Originally Posted by e-brake

Its the rocket propelled grenades, small arms, landmines, training, and anti-tank weapons that have been turned against us. Between the Made in USA weapons and the USSR weapons the arms dealers *coughRumsfeldcough* are responsable for quite a few Americn deaths.

scratching head.... why mention the 1950s planes at then?

[e-brake]

Originally Posted by xian

scratching head.... why mention the 1950s planes at then?

I didnt, I mentioned 1950's war surplus. While it did include planes and helecopters, and tanks a majority of it was small arms, backed up with training. The small arms and training is what came back to bite us in the ass.

[PETA]

Originally Posted by e-brake

I didnt, I mentioned 1950's war surplus. While it did include planes and helecopters, and tanks a majority of it was small arms, backed up with training. The small arms and training is what came back to bite us in the ass.

ah - my bad - I read planes into your comment and it wasn't there - solly chalie

So, the IEDs are 50-60 year old materials?

Also, I was under the impression that GWI was an event that used up a great deal of Saddam's arsenal?

Additionally, the BB defense wasn't that excluively a Soviet defense technique with Soviet ordnance.

lastly, Richard Clark* in his book** claimed that we never sold arms to Iraq (and he was a harsh critic of GW and the war) the closest we came was to breifly take them off the state sponsors of terrorism list so that allies wouldn't run afoul of US lqaws when they sold arms to Iraq during the Iran Iraq war in the 1980s. Whenever I bring this up - Josh tells me that this is incorrect but I'm not sure what he's relying on to make that claim - still - point is that he's made it - anyway - check these links out if you like.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_A._Clarke

**http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/074...227110?ie=UTF8

[e-brake]

Originally Posted by xian

ah - my bad - I read planes into your comment and it wasn't there - solly chalie

So, the IEDs are 50-60 year old materials?

Also, I was under the impression that GWI was an event that used up a great deal of Saddam's arsenal?

Additionally, the BB defense wasn't that excluively a Soviet defense technique with Soviet ordnance.

lastly, Richard Clark* in his book** claimed that we never sold arms to Iraq (and he was a harsh critic of GW and the war) the closest we came was to breifly take them off the state sponsors of terrorism list so that allies wouldn't run afoul of US lqaws when they sold arms to Iraq during the Iran Iraq war in the 1980s. Whenever I bring this up - Josh tells me that this is incorrect but I'm not sure what he's relying on to make that claim - still - point is that he's made it - anyway - check these links out if you like.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_A._Clarke

**http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/074...227110?ie=UTF8

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/...ndshake300.jpg

[PETA]

Originally Posted by e-brake

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/...ndshake300.jpg

yes, we've all seen that picture but that isn't the sale of arms its a hand shake