Boeing F-15 fighter jets like these would be a large part of the reported arms deal.
The United States may be on the verge of its largest arms sale ever, a package of aircraft and weapons systems for Saudi Arabia that could total $60 billion when the final bill is done, according to a report in Monday’s Wall Street Journal.
If completed, the deal could also generate more than 75,000 jobs, the Journal reported.
The Obama administration is expected to notify Congress of the planned sale this week, according to the Journal report. Production would take place over five to 10 years, the Journal said.
Key components of the sale would be Boeing F-15 fighter jets – as many as 84 new ones and the refurbishment of 70 others – and helicopters including 70 Apaches, 72 Black Hawks and three dozen Little Birds.
Discussions are also under way over naval and missile defense systems for the Saudis, the Journal reported.
Meanwhile, Boeing is a contender in another F-15 sale, this time to South Korea.
The Korea Times reported Monday that the Pentagon has approved a Boeing request to market a stealth version of the F-15, dubbed the Silent Eagle, to Seoul.
The Times points out, however, that Lockheed-Martin’s F-35 Lightning and the Eurofighter Typhoon may be stronger contenders to win a South Korean order for 60 fighter jets.
What a waste. The weapons will just sit on an airfield over there. The Saudis don't fight. They pay others to fight for them. That is except for the US. We are stupid enough to do it for free. You think I'm kidding. I remember mine hunting in '89 during "Ernest Will Operations" for escorting oil tankers through the gulf during the Iran/Iraq War. We worked leaky wooden WWII minesweepers while state-of-the-art fiberglass Saudi sweeps sat in port.
Since the Republicans had control... This Country has had no control over what Our Military Manufactures can do with Their products!!! I bet if You check you would find out that Cheney Company is involved with the Sales in the First Place???
Nevertheless, the powers planning the future bombing & invasion of Iran need Saudi help. WE used THEIR airfields in the invasion of Iraq. In fact used their whole country as a base of attack. Did you forget that?? The news media was ablaze back then about how Saudi Arabia's royal family was turning a deaf ear to the Muslim world & even their own people. ( Don't you remember reading about the terrorist attacks within Saudi Arabia to protest cooperation with the USA??) That's because the Saudi royal family doesn't care about religion. They care about oil dollars. There sure is lotza oil in Iraq & even more in Iran. This was all planned it the 80's & they (read oil interests) are half way through the plan now. THink about it. All these wars on your tax dollar do not benefit you in anyway, unless you buy EXXON Mobil stock.
Awesome!
$60,000,000,000 and 75,000 jobs is ALWAYS a good thing. Gotta protect Saudi Arabia from Iran...
USA! USA! USA!
Sure with the Salary of $10.50 hr to Employees and the GEO and others get the rest of the profits with not paying taxes on the sale!!!
Good sale, bad reasons, our military in Iraq needs somewhere to continue middle east deployments...
All you Obama haters... click here-> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/28/washington/28weapons.html
Typical American exports – Death and Distruction... though better that than American lives. Whatever the amount it won't help our balance of trade. Though a stronger Saudi Arabia may be a stablizing factor in the region. We already train their pilots. The Military Industrial complex is hard at work making money. Now that the war is winding down they can keep their profits by shifting from selling to the US to other foreign countries.
I agree with Pres Obama. Let's make GREEN ENERGY & other GREEN PRODUCTS and sell them to the world – then maybe we can get out of the Death & Destruction business. God Bless America. God Bless Pres Obama.
Absolutely no more weapons or high-tech sales to Islamic States! PERIOD!
What a bunch of naive fools!
$60 B? Is that number right? I feel like SA has $60 B laying under thier sofa seat.
And I dont buy the 17,000 jobs at all.
Amazing! Saudi Arabia and Pakistan attacked America on 9/11, and not only did they get away with it, but are still getting billions of dollars in American military aid while America goes bankrupt on two useless wars. I've never seen anybody get punked so bad!
1. The issue is not whether they are our ally now, but whether they will continue to be.
2. The issue is not whether they are our friends, but how they treat their own people.
3. The issue is not whether they will use the weapons on us, but whether they will use them on their neighbors.
4. The issue is not whether the US needs the money, but what we are willing to do to get it.
You have the morally higher ground. Those ARE the issues to anyone who values human life. Unfortunately, the oil interest planning the future invasion of Iran care about petrol dollars & not ANY of the issues on your list.
This works out great. We give them all our money for oil. Then they spend a small part of that on buying weapons from us. This way they can be assured we will not develop clean energy sources because if they do they will kill us with our own weapons. Perfect.
All you cretins who need a history leason, read this –> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1575371/George-Bush-to-push-20bn-Saudi-arms-deal.html
Gotta love the pic!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1575371/George-Bush-to-push-20bn-Saudi-arms-deal.html
What! A bleeding heart liberal proposing the sale of weapons? Don't they know these things can kill people?
I love how all the gop or old religous white people have selective hatred. where were all these nay sayers when bush was even more brilliant and decided to sell nuclear technology to the United Arab Emirates and dont forget try to sell our most vital port's security to the same people whose country you could spit on iran from. I think its insane people ok nuclear secrets sharing with one group of people and turn around and call for a coup against our president for selln conventional mostly outdated vehicles to their neighbors which do already own half the country because of the bush family and their bin laden family allies