Parts to Iran

America, more specifically the Pentagon, is selling spare parts to F-14 Tomcats to Iran and China. Some Senators are looking at these sales as a national security issue and asking for its immediate cessation. The planes are no longer in use in the U.S. but some other nations still use them. Some question how wise it is to sell these parts to Iran in light of recent issues.



Dick Cheney would call this a no-brainer. Selling parts to a member of the axis of evil? If Iran is such a threat why would we supply them with anything that might keep a fighter plane in the air? Or is this a case of where national security meets economic interests? We are getting very used to that phrase national security in the post 9/11 era but how could this obvious lapse of security escape detection for so long?

If this is indeed as dangerous as it seems, shouldn’t someone be held accountable. Perhaps their phones should have been tapped and they could have been placed on a no-fly list. Clearly they could be construed to be an ‘enemy combatant’ and suspending their right to habeas corpus would be justified. How is that an administration that talks so much about national security actually does so little about it? Do you feel safer?

Since the U.S. is the world's #1 arms dealer it doesn't surprise me one bit. Watch the small print, betcha this administration comes out against the sales making noise about how it was an oversight or rogue elements, and then turn around and block any efforts to cut of the sales from behind the scenes... after all is there a more blatantly capitalistic administration than this one? Blocking sales would hurt profits. Can't hurt profits.

Cynical yes.... but from what I have seen over the past 6 years... more than likely... probable.

[edit on 30-1-2007 by grover]

Curiously, the song that is playing in my radio at this moment is:

Metallica - "Sad but true"

So many calls for embargo, so much talk about "axis of evil", but when it comes to get some dollars everything goes.

Well, I would rather sell them parts for a plane that is obsolete and no longer in service than do what bill clinton did. bill clinton should be charged with treason with what he sold to the chinese. Clinton sold enough classified technology to china to turn them into the next super power all in exchange for campaign contributions. He should be charged with high treason and executed.

You forget that deal was approved by congress... and as such legal. We have exchanged and or given away tech. to our enemies many times:

Check out this article from the Chiago Tribune as posted on truthout.org

www.truthout.org...

What they were doing was far more dangerous than whatever you think Clinton did.