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View Full Version : US Fighter Sales Soar in Time For Campaign.....



MMC
01-02-2012, 07:09 AM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Booming Middle East purchases of U.S. fighter jets will be a bright spot in what is expected to be a sluggish economy in 2012, possibly paying dividends for President Barack Obama's bid for a second term.
Beneficiaries include Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co, whose respective F-16 and F-15 production lines are being extended by U.S. government sales to Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Oman, among other rich arms deals announced in recent weeks.

The sales of fighters, missiles and other advanced U.S. weapons will help provide jobs as the United States heads into an election campaign expected to focus on the domestic economy. It has been growing at only half the pace needed to get the jobless rate down from 8.6 percent, a problem for Obama as the incumbent.

Deliveries of 84 of the most advanced F-15 fighters are expected to start in 2015 with upgrades to 70 others expected to start in 2014, the administration said. Congress had cleared the sale in the fall of 2010, setting the stage for the freshly completed negotiations on the government-to-government contract.

The program involves roughly 600 suppliers in 44 of the 50 U.S. states and give the economy a $3.5 billion annual boost, Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro told reporters at a State Department briefing.
"This will support jobs not only in the aerospace sector but also in our manufacturing base and support chain, which are all crucial for sustaining our national defense," he said.

The Defense Department awarded Lockheed a $600 million contract on December 14 to build 12 late-model F-16s for Oman, the second firm order in two weeks.
Lockheed received an $835 million Pentagon contract on December 5 to build 18 F-16C/Ds for Iraq. Only months earlier, the company, the Pentagon's No. 1 supplier by sales, had warned it would have to start shutting down its supplier base by year end absent new F-16 orders.
On top of the contracts for Iraq and Oman, the Obama administration told the U.S. Congress on December 12 that it was proposing to sell Iraq another 18 F-16s, advanced munitions and related gear for an estimated $2.3 billion.

Friday, the Defense Department said the United States had reached a $3.5 billion agreement to supply an advanced antimissile interception system to United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. Congress had been notified of the proposed sale of the Lockheed Martin system - known as Theater High Altitude Area Defense -- in September 2008 by former President George W. Bush's administration.....snip~

http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-u-fighter-sales-soar-time-campaign-221322593.html

Here is where the Demos will use this part of our Foreign policy to say they have helped create jobs and boosted or infused the Economy at the End of this year. Look to Obama to start touting these numbers as he has Chosen to Start his Campaign Tomorrow Night with the Republican Caucus'. (obviously designed to divert attention from away from the Republican contenders.) Since he is going to give a speech in Iowa at the same time.

Questions abound? Note that is the most advanced F-15's and F-16's. Why are we selling the most advanced tech to those in the Middle East? Great it helps with a small part of the economy. Yet our very own think-tank experts all agree we do not know what type of Governments will rise up from the Arab Spring. While both Sunni and Shia Countries tell all they are willing to accept Democracy. Should we be advancing these people with technology of any kind. Even if it postive for us to do so. Which would be only something that seems to be viewed in the short term for us. Why is there no looking in the direction of the long term and what relations might be then and not now!

We use to follow the policy of knowing what devil one was dealing with when it came to those in the Mid East.. Yet all these so called experts state that it was great to see this region of the world rise up and embrace freedom. Once again the embracing the Economists world strategy of opening markets that have not been open before. The Arabs have no problem making promises they cannot keep. Using their Ancient Divisions as their means for Geo-political engagement. It is clear they look right at Europe and see they have done the same thing with their attempts at the Creation of the European Union.

Included is the validation that we have grown only at half the rate of what was needed to come out from this recession. Which must be something that Republicans need to keep harping on throughout Campaign. That Obama attacked Bush on the deficit. That each year Obama has been in Office we have tacked on an another trillion dollars to the deficit. Thats One trillion for each year Obama has been in Office.

Preventive maintenence is not Isolationism. Politicians should not be allowed to dictate that course when it comes to debate. Neither party should be allowed to play on any political points when coming to such an issue. Nor should they be allowed to use the rationale of National Security Interests. If any do, then they need to expalin in detail how such is so.

What argument can be used in opposition of supplying deadly weapons to those who cannnot prove they can act responsibably in the World of Grown-ups and Adults? We preach in this country to keep Weapons out of the hands of Children. So why should we put them in the hands of toddlers?

Conley
01-02-2012, 10:42 AM
This is dangerous for a few reasons. Even if these weapons are never used against us -- which is a big guess, as we have seen US weapons used on our men in Iraq and Afghanistan when were supporting them militarily), giving them our advanced tech lets them study it, reverse engineer it, and allow others to inspect it as well. What's to keep an Iranian from gaining access to those housed in Saudi Arabia? It's a bad move IMO and Obama is putting his own reelection way ahead of national security interests.

MMC
01-02-2012, 10:54 AM
Moreover we could be arming governments that should only be in power for a short time. Wherein they could use our tech to hold power over others in their so-called democracies.

Mister D
01-02-2012, 10:55 AM
Moreover we could be arming governments that should only be in power for a short time. Wherein they could use our tech to hold power over others in their so-called democracies.

That's definitely true.

MMC
01-02-2012, 10:58 AM
I think this will come to happen with Iraq and the Shia. Which we know they use on the Sunni and without hesitation.

Conley
01-02-2012, 11:01 AM
Moreover we could be arming governments that should only be in power for a short time. Wherein they could use our tech to hold power over others in their so-called democracies.

Very true about Oman, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.

MMC
01-02-2012, 11:08 AM
I noticed Oman was allowed to Observe the Iranian Naval Exercises.....:wink:

Conley
01-02-2012, 11:12 AM
Really?! Jeez...what is our government doing?

Mister D
01-02-2012, 11:18 AM
Really?! Jeez...what is our government doing?

Being incompetent and dangerously naive?

jgreer
01-02-2012, 02:34 PM
Doesn't congress decide these deals? Some of you blame Obama for everything

Mister D
01-02-2012, 02:46 PM
Doesn't congress decide these deals? Some of you blame Obama for everything

Government = BO? Man, he's got some ego. :grin: Anyway, he's the POTUS. It comes with the territory.

MMC
01-02-2012, 03:54 PM
Doesn't congress decide these deals? Some of you blame Obama for everything

"the Obama administration told the U.S. Congress on December 12 that it was proposing to sell Iraq another 18 F-16s, advanced munitions and related gear for an estimated $2.3 billion."


Then again JG some things are just Obama's fault for the blame..... especially when he is attempting to make more deals than what was orignally called for. Do you think Obama should be giving Iraq 18 more newly advanced F-16's? Do you think we should be giving these people our technology? It is like CL said they will reverse engineer it, offer it to others, and may even use it against us or our allies.

Conley
01-02-2012, 04:01 PM
Yep, seems like the Obama administration proposed it. Maybe they need Congress to approve it but the idea didn't start there.

MMC
01-02-2012, 04:07 PM
Moreover why would we give the Shia the Same weapons that we are giving the Sunni? Yet we will put in a Defense system with Sunni and even more of an extensive one with the Saudis. Especially knowing that Maliki has been dealing with Iran and going behind our backs.

Conley
01-02-2012, 04:35 PM
We are also responsible for defending Saudi Arabia from Iran, who have said they will attack SA oil depots if Israel or the US goes after them.

MMC
01-02-2012, 04:39 PM
We are also responsible for defending Saudi Arabia from Iran, who have said they will attack SA oil depots if Israel or the US goes after them.

But we are not suppose to be giving Iran any of our tech. Yet what do you think the Shia in Iraq will do?