U.S plan 5 billon doller arms sale to Pakistan

The Bush Administration said on Monday that it planned to sell Pakistan up to 36 advanced F-16 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin in a weapons package that could be worth more than $5 billion (2.7 billion pounds).

The U.S. State Department said the proposed sale was part of an effort to broaden the United States' strategic partnership with Pakistan and advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests in South Asia.

The new F-16 C/D fighters would be used for close air support in the U.S.-declared global war on terrorism, the Pentagon Defence Security Cooperation Agency said in a notice to Congress. The agency, responsible for government-to-government arms sales, said the F-16s would be worth $3 billion if all options were exercised.

The proposed sale also includes a support package for up to 26 refurbished F-16s that Pakistan eventually may buy and upgrades for Pakistan's current fleet of 34 F-16s, said Jay Greer, a U.S. State Department spokesman.

The Pentagon said these 60 "mid=life upgrade" kits for older F-16s could be worth as much as $1.3 billion.

source


what the heck are they thinking? They provided iraq weapons years ago only to have them turn the weapons against them in a war, they have provided many so countries with weapons and training etc and those same countries end up in a conflict with the U.S some time later. This is what i call making an iron rod for your own back.

Because they are f***ing stupid. They want to make friends so China and Russia don't become the most popular kid on the block in that area. Yet the US has never learned from history. And they aren't going to start now.

Well...ermmm...hasn't America signed some nuclear deal with India? Pakistan and India still have old wounds still open, i doubt India will be happy with this arm's deal.

I think they just want a secure place in south-asia For the upcoming war. It's like Risk at this point. It will be interesting to see who ends up taking Pakistan in the deal. If the US stays allied with India and Pakistan, one country is sure to jump ship and side with the 'enemy'. I'm thinking of taking up a spot on a Caribean Island and watching the whole thing play out.

Originally posted by RetinoidReceptor
Yet the US has never learned from history. And they aren't going to start now.

It will all end in tears....again.


It's to keep the Pakistanis on side.....but it could backfire in so many ways.

Is not surprised here, this is the way of making allies and keeping ties with all kind of governments so later either we have to fight them or US will used diplomacy when they need a country with an airport to keep planes in case of war.

Is nothing more than, foreign diplomacy, politics and taking risk.