posted on August 1, 2007 12:42:59 AM newGerman media commentators question the wisdom of the Bush administration's plan to increase weapons aid to Saudi Arabia. None of America's Mideast allies is furthest from the Bush administration's democratic ideals, newspapers say.
On Monday, the Bush administration officially announced its plan to provide advanced weapons worth billions to friendly states in the Persian Gulf in order to curb growing Iranian influence in the region.
Washington plans to sell $20 billion worth of satellite-guided bombs, and fighter and naval upgrades to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates over the next 10 years. A further $13 billion is pledged to Egypt, and Israel will remain, with $30 billion in arms aid, the greatest recipient in the Middle East of American largesse.
The conservative Die Welt writes:
"With its plans for weapons shipments worth billions to the Gulf states, Washington has now made it official: The democratization of the Middle East is no longer the focus of American foreign policy. In the name of limiting Iran's influence and restoring stability in the region, the US is returning to a Cold War strategy: The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
"But doubts about whether this strategy is prudent in the case of Saudi Arabia can be heard beyond Israel and Europe. Many within the US administration are also convinced that international Islamic terrorism is something akin to the Saudis' exported civil war. Why else would half the foreign fighters traveling to Iraq be Saudis? And of the 19 men responsible for the 9/11 terror attacks, 15 were from Saudi Arabia. From Cologne to Karachi, Saudi embassies very openly operate Wahhabite Koran schools -- the most rigid, backward and dangerous form of Islam."
"The strategy's effectiveness is very doubtful. In the 1980s, people placed their bets on Osama bin Ladin, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein when it came to dealing with the Soviets and Iran. Today we are struggling with the bloody consequences of those strategies. Courting Saudi Arabia is unwise and dangerous."
The left-wing Die Tageszeitung writes:
"The only thing the Bush administration has left to offer after six and a half years in power is a mixture of fear, helplessness and panic. Out of acute desperation, the US government now wants to provide help and weapons deals over the next 10 years to the countries that are best able to launch a new arms race in the region. No one can seriously believe that the already weapons-satiated Mideast can be satisfied or held in check by yet more weapons."
"If Congress approves the plan, the Bush government's already appalling foreign policy record will only get worse. The only clearly identifiable victor would be the US defense industry -- which, incidentally, has considerable influence in Washington."
Center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung uses the weapons deal to look at a broader worsening of relations between the US and Riyadh:
"No other country in the Middle East is further from the democratic ideals preached by the US than Saudi Arabia. Mildly put, the human rights situation doesn't meet Western standards."
"And beyond political realism, the (current) king is far less pro-American than his brother, who ruled before him ... The cooling of relations was most obvious when Abdallah described the US presence in Iraq at the last Arab Summit in Riyadh as an 'illegal foreign occupation.' Last fall, the king warned he would attack in Iraq if a civil war were to ensue after a withdrawal of US troops. But that's not the only point of irritation. Washington is also displeased about the Saudis' desire to create a nuclear partnership with Pakistan even if, as the Saudi's claim, it would be limited to the exchange of information."
posted on August 1, 2007 07:24:37 AM new
Most of the 9/11 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia so it seems as if this is arming the enemy - even though they are considered an ally.
Saudis' role in Iraq insurgency outlined
Sunni extremists from Saudi Arabia make up half the foreign fighters in Iraq, many suicide bombers, a U.S. official says.
By Ned Parker, Times Staff Writer
July 15, 2007
BAGHDAD — Although Bush administration officials have frequently lashed out at Syria and Iran, accusing it of helping insurgents and militias here, the largest number of foreign fighters and suicide bombers in Iraq come from a third neighbor, Saudi Arabia, according to a senior U.S. military officer and Iraqi lawmakers.
About 45% of all foreign militants targeting U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians and security forces are from Saudi Arabia; 15% are from Syria and Lebanon; and 10% are from North Africa, according to official U.S. military figures made available to The Times by the senior officer. Nearly half of the 135 foreigners in U.S. detention facilities in Iraq are Saudis, he said.
Fighters from Saudi Arabia are thought to have carried out more suicide bombings than those of any other nationality, said the senior U.S. officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the subject's sensitivity. It is apparently the first time a U.S. official has given such a breakdown on the role played by Saudi nationals in Iraq's Sunni Arab insurgency.
He said 50% of all Saudi fighters in Iraq come here as suicide bombers. In the last six months, such bombings have killed or injured 4,000 Iraqis.
The situation has left the U.S. military in the awkward position of battling an enemy whose top source of foreign fighters is a key ally that at best has not been able to prevent its citizens from undertaking bloody attacks in Iraq, and at worst shares complicity in sending extremists to commit attacks against U.S. forces, Iraqi civilians and the Shiite-led government in Baghdad.
The problem casts a spotlight on the tangled web of alliances and enmities that underlie the political relations between Muslim nations and the U.S.
posted on August 1, 2007 08:19:00 AM new
Gee what have we "discovered" now?
1) Iraq is a proxy war between SA and Iran. Big surprise.
2) US is supplying allies a la "enemy of my enemy". How can a US policy for 60 years be a surprise?
And you are screwing up. The official whack pack line is that Iraq is a "civil war". Didn't you read last week's cut and pastes about no foreign nationals involved?
posted on August 1, 2007 09:01:32 AM new
This seems suicidal! And if there's any nation that can AFFORD weapons, it's those oil-rich Saudis. What on earth could Bush be thinking?!
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There is more to life than increasing its speed. --Mahatma Gandhi
posted on August 1, 2007 09:07:45 AM new
"Washington plans to SELL $20 billion worth of satellite-guided bombs, and fighter and naval upgrades to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates over the next 10 years.
Yep, the Saudis can afford the weapons, that's why we are selling them, not giving them away.
posted on August 1, 2007 09:13:45 AM new
Roadsmith, bushit has never had to think in his entire life...he has , and is, told what to do....a giggling puppet and nothing more.
Maybe all this is a "thankyou gift" from the people behind the bushit administration.......something promised several years ago..........
posted on August 1, 2007 01:29:38 PM new
"Didn't you read last week's cut and pastes about no foreign nationals involved?"
lol Yep....that's what they were claiming THEN. lol
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I think the Saudi's ought to be forced to fight the terrorist with their riyal....not weapons. That'll take care of them just like not selling these weapons to them is going to mean no one else EVER would. LOL
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"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on August 1, 2007 02:27:02 PM new
Saudi Arabia to Attend Peace Conference
By Associated Press
August 1, 2007, 3:21 AM EDT
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia will attend a Middle East peace conference proposed by President Bush for later this year, the Saudi foreign minister said Wednesday.
"We are interested in the peace conference," Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said at a joint news conference with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
"When we get an invitation from the minister (Rice) to attend, when this takes place, we will discuss it and we will make sure that we attend" the conference, al-Faisal said.
Saudi Arabia has no diplomatic relations with Israel and its presence at a peace conference with the Jewish state would be a diplomatic breakthrough.
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Don't elect dems/liberals....they know little about foreign policy.
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"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on August 2, 2007 12:03:23 AM new
etexbill
posted on August 1, 2007 09:17:49 AM
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Sell vs. give.
Hey mingo, hwahwa is insulting Hillary on another thread. She really gave it to her this time. Better go over there and vent. ""
Gee, Dukey, you sure have a weird need to get me to respond to Hwahwa...is that really YOU when you're lucid ?
posted on August 2, 2007 07:21:50 AM new
No, I want to see why you are playing the double standard. Just aching to berate her, aren't you. Well she get's better with each statement. How long can you stand it? We'll see.
posted on August 2, 2007 07:32:56 AM new
etex, you're just spoiling for a fight with me Why is that?
What double standard?
Why should I defend Hillary to Hwahwa? Because YOU say I should LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!
Why are you trying so hard to involve Hwahwa? That IS weird. It IS you when you're almost coherent, isn't it???
You think you can control how people post in here ???You haven't seen yet that that is not possible? How stupid are you?
Oh, I know you can handle only ONE point at a time what with your attention deficiency and all and I certainly don't expect any INTELLIGENT answers but give it a whirl...maybe you will ACCIDENTLY answer a question LOL!!!
OR maybe just maybe you could pick a topic other than ME and give an opinion ?????.....naw, forget it...not possible...
posted on August 2, 2007 07:42:11 AM new
You are a hoot, mingo. You started this whole thing with berating me when I came back. I only post back to you when you attack me. Let's turn it around. Why did you pick me, because I disagree with you. Because I point out your haha's and lol's and your foul mouth. Because I point out your contempt for the government that protects you? Because I point out, that most of your posts are berating someone else. You brought on just what you receive. Karma is a #*!@.
posted on August 2, 2007 07:56:11 AM new
AAAwwww, I "berated" you? I "attacked" you ? AWWW, poor baby...is the kitchen too hot ??? Now your only posts HAVE to be about me? OK, I can see learning is not your strong suit so just keep trying to control posters here and see where it gets ya, Dukey Must be very frustrating for you.
You're an old sexist control freak and it's funny! Yes, I laugh at you..
Don't like it? Gee, I feel soooo bad about that.... LOL!!!!
Oh, BTW, You CAN post everything in one post...not always two, three.....
