Dems to Saudis: "Give Us Oil Or No Guns"

[Etta Place]

Congress to Saudis: Give Us Oil or No Guns
By Sharon Weinberger May 14, 2008 | 3:30:00 PM

A group of Democratic senators wants to make a massive arms sale to Saudi Arabia contingent on getting cheaper oil, reports AFP. "We are saying to the Saudis that, if you don't help us, why should we be helping you?" says Chuck Schumer, a Democratic senator from New York. "We are saying that we need real relief, and we need it quickly. You need our arms, but we need you to cooperate and not strangle American consumers."

At issue is an arms package worth some $20 billion. The group has introduced a resolution in the Senate to block the pending sale. When the controversial deal was announced last July, Noah wrote that he was "utterly, completely flummoxed by the Bush Administration's decision to sell $20 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf potentates."

I'm not as surprised, since the sale is consistent with our arms sales to the region in the past. The precedent of linking oil prices to arms sales is interesting, however.

The resolution is carefully timed. President Bush this week will be in Saudi Arabia.

Congress to Saudis: Give Us Oil or No Guns | Danger Room from Wired.com


More great foreign policy - selling more arms to the Saudis.

[longtalltechsan]

Will this really make any difference to the Saudis? How hard will it be for them to get the guns elsewhere?

[one-eyed-fatman]

Originally Posted by longtalltechsan

Will this really make any difference to the Saudis? How hard will it be for them to get the guns elsewhere?

It ain't about guns, it's about making our government suck their asses which our government is willing to do especially if your name is Bush.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by longtalltechsan

Will this really make any difference to the Saudis? How hard will it be for them to get the guns elsewhere?

It's about forking time they did that. The Sauds have been buying our most advanced F-14's for years and their bozo "pilots" have had reserved setas at the "top gun" school they used to run at Miramar Naval Air station.

I would have laid the law down to the Sauds a decade ago and told them that the next time a tinpot dictator rolls tanks to their border they can throw oil cans at him....

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by one-eyed-fatman

It ain't about guns, it's about making our government suck their asses which our government is willing to do especially if your name is Bush.

True, but he is only one in a long line of ankle-grabbing presidents from both parties who kissed Saudi tush. The difference is Bush actually ignored and covered up the fact the Sauds were behind 9/11 and continue to funnel money to Al Qaeda. So, Bush doesn't just take it in the rear for oil, he even covers up the people who finance the murderers of Americans.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by longtalltechsan

Will this really make any difference to the Saudis? How hard will it be for them to get the guns elsewhere?

Where are they going to buy F-14's?

Where they will get bozos like Bush 41 who will mobilize a force of a HALF MILLION SOLDIERS to defend their stinking borders?

Remember OPERATION DESERT SHIELD?

Didn't get the press as Desert Storm, but it was specifically to defend Saudi Arabia using US forces.

[trik396]

More political posturing considering we get such a SMALL PERCENTAGE of our oil from the Saudi's. Something around 10%. So you can consider this more bullsh*t from our political hacks.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by trik396

More political posturing considering we get such a SMALL PERCENTAGE of our oil from the Saudi's. Something around 10%. So you can consider this more bullsh*t from our political hacks.

NO, you can consider it making an example of them to set the standard for foreign policy in the ME. Screw us over, and we will let the wolves eat your lunch. The "seven sisters" (you can look that up) are like a bad episode of cops: always fighting and trying to kill each other. Without our benevolent umbrella, the sauds will be heating their tents burning camel poop again REAL soon... just like they did when we found them.

[east_stingray]

Originally Posted by bountyhunter

It's about forking time they did that. The Sauds have been buying our most advanced F-14's for years and their bozo "pilots" have had reserved setas at the "top gun" school they used to run at Miramar Naval Air station.

I would have laid the law down to the Sauds a decade ago and told them that the next time a tinpot dictator rolls tanks to their border they can throw oil cans at him....

I don't always agree with you, but you're right on the money here.