Pentagon OKs $226 mln in missile sales to Pakistan

[UpInArms]

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7BDC4BDA61%2D6FFD%2D4216%2DA034%2DFEC9BE8BBD06%7D

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The Pentagon has approved two missile sales to Pakistan valued at $226 million in total, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Friday.

The agency notified Congress of two potential foreign military sales to Pakistan: $180 million in Harpoon Block II missiles and $46 million in AIM-9M-1/2 Sidewinder misiles.

"This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be a key ally in the global war on terrorism," the defense agency said in describing both deals.

The Harpoon missiles will be used to upgrade Pakistan's navy and reduce the risk of hitting non-combatant targets. Boeing Co. (BA) and Delex Systems Inc. are the principal contractors, the defense agency said.

...more...

[havocmom]

1. Won't that piss off India?

Where our tax returns and bank card accounts get processed? Gee, I see all sorts of ways this could cause problems.

Blowback can be a bitch.

[DrDebug]

2. It's for catching the '#3' guy ;) n/t

[Tempest]

3. U.S. is also selling weapons to India

Just like the U.S. did during the Iran/Iraq war, they're playing both sides of the fence.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=821174&C=commentary

[splat@14]

4. We'll be fighting against those weapons in the future..

Is history is any indication. Look at the list of former recipients of our wears - Iran, Iraq, Panama, Viet Nam, Haiti, El Salvador, Afghanistan, etc, etc....

[spanone]

5. Isn't Musharreff (sp?) the Military DICTATOR of Pakistan????

Hmmmmmm

[splat@14]

6. Yep, but hes a good guy now `cause we need him.

Remember Rumsfeld humping Saddams leg last decade?

[PATRICK]

7. Either or both

Either it is a prop to keep an hsotile by nature power friendly or we deliberately want to provoke war in the region. No way is the sale of weapons in the loing term a safe or sane proposition unless we expect to derive some benefit out of their being used. Or SOMEONE beyond national interests derives a benefit.

Of course arms proliferation has long been insane and irresponsible. Today though the very game has transcended brutal, pragmatic or exploitive policy into something just plain nuts.

It does indeed look that while securing short term benefits for our regime's special interests, they are creating a world of fear and conflict as a sustaining dynamo of division and destruction. Just how do they intend to deal with a Pakistan reverting to a renegade hardline Muslim regime turning those weapons loose against us? It seems a small matter to them and no wonder. We never elected our regime either.

[nine30]

8. Deleted

..Deleted ( wrong thread)