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US Approves $11 Billion Deal To Sell Combat Ships To "Brutal Dictatorship"
Submitted by Sarah Lazare via TheAntiMedia.org,
Defying the international call for an arms embargo over war crimes concerns, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced Tuesday it has approved an $11.25 billion deal to sell combat ships to Saudi Arabia, which has been waging a military assault against Yemen for more than six months.
“The selling of arms in the middle of a war will obviously send the message that the Saudis can do whatever they want and get away with it,” Farea Al-Muslimi, Beirut-based Yemeni writer and visiting scholar with Carnegie Middle East Center, told Common Dreams.
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which is part of the DoD, announced Tuesday that is has rubber-stamped the export of four “Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) Ships and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $11.25 billion” to Saudi Arabia.
“This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security goals of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic regional partner, which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East,” the U.S. agency stated.
The ships will replace older naval models, also built in the United States. While the transfer is being reported as a U.S. effort to bolster Saudi Arabia’s defenses in the wake of the nuclear deal between world powers and Iran, the arms sales are part of an ongoing trend. The IHS Jane’s 360 report, released in March, found that Saudi Arabia was the “number one” defense trading partner with the United States in 2014.
U.S. Congress now has 30 days to block sale of the ships before the deal goes into effect. While both Lockheed and Austal Ltd. manufacture such vessels, the deal applies to the “Freedom” versions produced by Lockheed.
The tentative deal comes despite mounting evidence that Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners - including the United States - are responsible for widespread war crimes in Yemen.
A report released by Amnesty International earlier this month concludes: “Damning evidence of war crimes by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, which is armed by states including the USA, highlights the urgent need for independent, effective investigation of violations in Yemen and for the suspension of transfers of certain arms.”
What’s more, the announcement came just days after the U.S. Navy admitted that Saudi-led warships are enforcing a naval blockade that is “slowing” aid to Yemen, which is facing critical shortages of food, water, and life-saving medicines.
Rooj Alwazir, a Yemeni activist and co-founder of Support Yemen Media, emphasized to Common Dreams that the Saudi coalition has already bombed hospitals, schools, homes, and factories, in a conflict that has killed 5,000 people, including 500 children, according to United Nations estimates.
“If what we’ve been seeing in Yemen is any proof,” said Alwazir, “Obama’s ‘democracy’ gift will only enable Saudi Arabia to intensify its illegal war and its heart-wrenching atrocities against the people of Yemen.”
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Plus we will loan them the money for purchase.
What did you expect from the biggest indebted country in the world
'Merika fuck yeah
$11 billion for 4 ships? My guess is the deal includes a load of optional extras such as large quantities of TOW missiles (suitable for towing the vessels, geddit), and AK-47 ammo.
All to be used against us at a future date...
Doesn't matter how much the Saudis spend on top tech. Fact is they are too dumb to use them properly. Stick to fucking goats.
But they're not spending USD 11B on "top tech" they're spending it on "top men". The fully loaded program costs for those ships should be a quarter of that. Even if the MIC doesn't trust BLS to calculate inflation, it's still twice as much as they should be paying... so where's the other 5 billion going?
There is probably a couple billion going to whatever camel jockey King Salman pays to fart in his face every morning, which will be promptly handed over the King himself in some perverted reach-around to fund his personal 24k gold bug out bag (and convoy).
Then there's probably a huge finder's fee of at least a billion going to some SPV domiciled in a tax haven, which will enrich not only an executive "friend of Lockheed" who was critical to them getting the deal but also the political action committee of any some "mission critical" Congress critter. Had they announced this deal last year, I would have said there would also be a slice of that SPV for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.
The arms trade is one of the few industries whose deals are so corrupt that neither the World Bank Group nor the US ExIm Bank will touch them.
Oh, it includes a crew of American sailors for each ship for 25 years. Health care and pensions after they retire.
.
"Positive" petro-dollar news. Remember: always recycle.*
* dollars
The US: now the "Crazy Eddie" of military hardware sales.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCGsqBn9pog
USD 11.25 billion for FOUR littoral (shallow water) patrol boats???
I thought the Saudi's were having cash flow problems (or is the US taxpayer picking this tab up)?
These deal makes French aircraft carriers look like the steal of the century.
Of course, if the Saudi's actually wanted the most BANG for whoever's BUCKS, then they should really look at Russian (or Ukrainian) LCSs.
The one Arab regeime that probably should get bombed out out of existance is the one that we sell weapons to.
The way things are shaping up in the middle east, with Putin 'doing something about it', the odds are getting higher all the time that those ships are going to be sent to Davy Jones' locker anyway. I think the US knows this. So they might as well be property of SA when they go down. I sure looks like Lady Karma has had enough bullshit from a whole lot of governments on this earth. Israel will not be getting a 'free pass' either.
What do you expect from the chocolate Messiah who bows down low enough to the Shady Arabia king to lick his sandals?
Did it start? It just started didnt it? Ohhhh man.....there isnt any comment that can fully realize this situation! How does one comment on current affairs that will lead to changes on a global scale for decades, if not centuries to come? Its all just too, imppressive? Who could have seen tis coming? in a real time evolving situation like tis all one can do is sit back and take it all in and hope one survives this in order to record and observe the outcome.
Saudi Arabia an important force for political stability and economic progress,step out of line and get your head cut off.
This country is more corrupt and more evil with every passing day.
Exactly . And the US has the b*lls to call the Saudis a "dictatorship"
Get used to it.
One up but what you mean is exports by teh Public MultiNationals and Taxes on the proles is the only way to not have to give back the stolen loot by teh US Troika.
When are we citizens gonna wise-up that it is we who are being extorted by the Public Markets & Companies. Entreprenuers, Small Private Biz Guys and Gals and Citizens unite! Puuuuuullllllleeeeezzzzee while we still have a chance.
Too True and one up for you as well.
I am long axe handles and sharp things.
"important force for political stability"
Not sure who is the one here taking the crazy pills. One thing that I DO KNOW is that if you bother to "follow the money" that is sponsoring various terrorist organizations you will find the source in that magic kingdom of Saudi Arabia...
The MIC Monkeys are pulling teh pins on the grenades threatening to take down the world if not given their "way" adn teh pigeon in chief is doing exactly what? Blessing it all apparently?
Geez.....No way to run a lemonade stand....much less Banana Republic.
But stepping back and trying to rationalize it all its' sad to say it does kinda make sense. If we as citizens are not gonna storm the CONgressional Buildings, White House, Pentagon, US Supreme Court, and most importantly - the Marriner Eccles Building where the US Federal Reserve plots and began the destruction and transferrance of all the worlds' assets to the tiny tiny few dual passport citizens, then we will get exactly what we deserve i suppose.
Would you expect a man willing to engage in armed robbery to stop if you said you thought it was wrong? Why then the US Troika who have legislated themselves supra-sovereignty they believe will withstand your demands for JustUS?
Zionist MIC winning once again.
And if Iran or Russia provide weapons to the other side, they are terrorists.
Fuck GUS.
This is fuking stupid....
The way you fight a war is you fuking win!
Rape the pretty women kill the ugly ones and dstrtroy the country aND Cover it with a foot of salt.
Then the fukers will not try it again.............
This idea of war with rules that started with vietnam is just bullshjit.
War is hell and ment to be so that po\eople think twice befor e they pick a fight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Crude... but effective, escpecially given the limited abilities of governments to do aynthing complex efficiently on a large scale.
https://www.google.com/search?q=grozny+then+and+now&biw=1840&bih=1017&tb...
However, that reminder might enrage the local trolls, since it was their beloved Saint Puti who started using thermobaric bombs on urban civilian populations within weeks of being appointed Prime Minister. On the flip side, the data from and justification of that event will be invaluable to DHS when they stop complaining and start acting against all those "domestic terrorists" that they are anxious blame for any crisis and use as justification for further clampdown.
Mass murder escalation for fun and profit.
The only country openly implicated in 9-11 and here we are.
This is beyond pathetic people.
That's because the Saudis can do whatever they damn welll please, as long as the oil keeps coming. That's the deal they have with our masters. Saudi sovereignty, and only Saudi sovereignty, will be not only respected but defended at any price.
That's a deal the "Zionists" can only dream of.
THE MIC runs it all. DD Eisenhower and many others warned of this.
I guess people gotta write about something.
What a laugh to think the slimes that sell it ,give 2 sh*ts about the Saudi human rights record.
I honestly got a chuckle myself.
If Egypt just got two Mistral heli carriers for a billion dollars, the Saudi sharpies should be getting at least 20 warships for their $11 billion.
The talk about the Golden Gate Bridge being part of the package is prolly just a rumor.
Sell them some of our carriers. Might as well make some money off those anachronisms. They are only useful for attacking small, less technological countries and it's anyone's guess how long that advantage will hold.
On human rights records... Saddam Hussein was a bad man. We took him out. Is Iraq better for it? Quaddafi? etc?
Bullish?
BULLISH BITCHEZ!!!!
tough duty being the UN Human Rights Council http://gawker.com/heres-the-cias-just-released-top-secret-file-on-saudi-...
Citi GE plastics murder of thousands NYC first responders what 2 million Iraq Iran dead, 30 million dead since Korea mostly civilians... How in the heck is this defense? That is all right the thought police are here..... http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/congress/item/21817-dhs-lobbying-fo...
conspiracy theory conspiracy theory conspiracy theory conspiracy theory conspiracy theory
not war profiteering not war profiteering not war profiteering not war profiteering
Yea Bush 8 months to plan Iraq after the False (truth) Flag
USSA USSA USSA USSA USSA USSA
Sweet Caroline
Sweet Caroline Sweet Caroline
Goddamn, all traitors in congress if nobody steps up to block this crap and expose the Saudis (and their friends in government) for what they are, total fucking scumbags who should all be hanged and sent to hell
Eleven billion dollars of artificial reefs.
For many years I wondered what would happen if someone set off battlefield nukes in their major oilfields... Back to the stone ages for the sand critters for sure...
and germany sells tanks to quatar despite they are engaged in a civil war in jemen and its forbidden to sell arms in such circumstances.
funny, no english link available for this.
they say they fear the fines, if they dont sell.
wow. we dont need no more TTiP, its all allready working really smooth.
Whatever money saudis earned in past
Now is the time to take back all
by selling them over priced outdated western goods
Anyway Saudi Arabia is gonna broke
& then all hell will break loose
Saudi Arabia will break up
Let us see who eats the lunch
Fact : Satan America destroys its friends
4 ships for 11 B$?? what the hell SA bought??
Seconds, Nice target for this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e112MhpH7JA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl48bwYBDfA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbUU_9bOcnM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9_xTnmVuAQ
Oh.. before i forgot. Somebody mention TOW ATGM? Syrian SAA don't have this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMY0p_2KrYg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena_%28countermeasure%29
Russian's tanks? does..
Although it CAN'T protect attack from above? This Russian device does CAN protect its tanks colloumn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idByjzr47Z4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH8_gqZuSe0
(See when the warhead exploded, it spew up tungsten/DU rods?)
You can learn more at those video channels. They have many video's to watch..