America's Biggest Arms Sale Of 2014 Is To A Country With 250,000 Citizens

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http://www.businessinsider.com/america-sells-patriots-to-qatar-2014-7


The Doha skyline.

Qatar is purchasing $11 billion in Patriot missile batteries and Apache attack helicopters from the United States, according to AFP. It's the largest single sale of U.S. weaponry in 2014, and it's to a country with only about a quarter-million citizens.

With this purchase, Qatar might be swapping soft power for military might. The gas-rich emirate gambled on the region-wide success of the Muslim Brotherhood in the years after the "Arab Spring" protests. But its strategy toppled with the military coup that removed Mohammed Morsi in Egypt. Qatar's neighbors also became increasingly suspicious of its support for Islamist movements throughout the Middle East, leading to one of the biggest diplomatic crises in the history of the Gulf monarchies.

Qatar's been unable to insulate itself from regional chaos through its diplomatic outreach, which has had substantial blowback. But Patriot missiles will do just fine: They're perhaps the most advanced projectile of their type, and have the ability to intercept incoming missiles and destroy enemy tanks and planes.

The Qatari monarchy has yet another hard power asset insuring its survival: Qatar is home to Al Udeid Air Base, one of the most important U.S. military installations in the Middle East.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/america-sells-patriots-to-qatar-2014-7#ixzz37WUxFeDC

[Octafish]

1. Spare no expense for oil.

It's the patriotic thing to do, America.

[Lee-Lee]

2. Huh?

But Patriot missiles will do just fine: They're perhaps the most advanced projectile of their type, and have the ability to intercept incoming missiles and destroy enemy tanks and planes.

While I was never in ADA, even this old logistics NCO is pretty sure Patriot missiles don't have any ability to hit a ground target like a tank.

[johnnyreb]

3. I never saw any of this on tv.

It woulda been interesting.

[reddread]

4. middle men

conduits.

[NM_Birder]

5. Hope and Change baby !

Gotta protect that indoor ski resort.

[tammywammy]

6. Qatar was in the market for defense systems for a long time

They want them in place before the World Cup. The award of sales to Qatar follow years of deciding on what systems and then negotiations. It'll be years before these systems are delivered, it's well known they want them in place before 2022.

So while the Arab Spring maybe part of their decision thinking, again it'll be years before this is in place. Also the Patriot system can't hit land based targets, it's an air & missile defense system.

Edited to add: since Qatar was awarded the World Cup before Arab Spring began, beefing up their defense system would have been planned well before Arab Spring started. Again, these things take years to decide on a system and then negotiate a price & delivery. It's not like Qatar will be taking delivery of a bunch of helicopters and a Patriot battalion next month.

[stevenleser]

7. Sounds very defensive to me...

Patriot missile batteries are for defending against attacks by aircraft and missiles, and Apache's, in the inventory of a country without a large amount of tanks or infantry, would be used to defend against tank invasions by other countries.

[reddread]

9. Apaches to keep the slaves in line

worthy of defenses we supply, they are?

[stevenleser]

10. Can you un-Yoda that for me? I'm having a hard time making it out. nt

[reddread]

11. Surprised, I should be?

[marmar]

8. K&R