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ARTICLE: 'U.S. Plans New Arms Sales to Gulf Allies: $20 Billion Deal Includes Weapons For Saudi Arabia,' By Robin Wright, Washington Post, July 28, 2007; Page A01
Now comes the goodies list for Israel and all our allies in the region. Iran does have its uses, yes?
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Comments (4)
Dr. Barnett, you're just going to encourage the "Military Industrial Complex" conspiracy types by posting this! ;)
Posted by Brad B. | July 28, 2007 8:24 PM
No conspiracy here, just acceptance of the only path in Iraq: the status quo anti.
In the 20's the Brits set up a Saudi Prince as the King of Iraq. Before that the Turks sent a one of thiers to rule the different provinces.
We will eventually find some acceptable Sunni to run the country.
Iran will be further isolated.
Israel will be happy.
So find that Sunni Stooge!
Or perhaps start the peace process with some credible and laudable action like a joint effort to clear those cluster bombs in Lebanon.
All bets are off, however, if the US bond market fails. Then, its into the abyss of instability for a decade, at least.
Posted by J Canepa | July 28, 2007 11:29 PM
No wonder Brad B is worried. The $28 billion arms deal with the Middle East would be the largest negotiated by this administration. At the same time, the US government is giving military aid to the ME - Israel and Egypt are getting $43 billion over 10 years.
But isn't the US accusing a British company of bribery to obtain arms sales.
It's all very confusing.
Posted by IJ | July 29, 2007 6:31 AM
I'm not worried at all, I'm just making light of the fact that some people out there will accuse the Bush admin. of intentionally creating instability for the purpose of being able to sell arms to every player in the region.
According to Tom's annalysis in PNM, the US has a history of exporting security to the rest of the world by setting up bases where we are invited. That allows local governments to step down their defense spending. This exporting of arms rather than security goes against that. I don't deny it's happening, but I don''t suspect that was the intention all along. We've just riled up Iran so much that its neighbors are understandably getting nervous and seeing how Congress is making a weekly effort to bail out of the whole region, these neighboring countries feel they have to take security into their own hands.
Like I said, I don't deny it's happening, I just don't think it's a conspiracy.
Posted by Brad B. | July 29, 2007 9:57 AM