Tyrant in the Tank

[bigtree]

Israel asks to buy US jet fuel for military aircraft

Fri Jul 14, 5:36 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The
Pentagon notified Congress of an Israeli request to purchase up to 210 million dollars in JP-8 aviation jet fuel for its military aircraft.

"The jet fuel will be consumed while the aircraft is in use to keep peace and security in the region," the Pentagon's Defense Security and Cooperation Agency said.

The notice to Congress came two days after Israeli fighter jets attacked targets in Lebanon, including the international airport in Beirut, following the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah guerrillas.

The Pentagon said the sale would help "improve the security of a friendly country which has been, and continues to be, an important force for stability and economic progress in the Middle East."

The US Congress has 30 days to act to block the sale; otherwise, it is automatically approved.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060714/pl_afp/mideastisraelus

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. "..an important force for stability" When did that happen?

Of course, our heroic congress will do the right thing and deny the request to throw (jet) fuel on the fire.

Won't they?

[Freedom_from_Chains]

2. I wouldn't bet on it if I were you. n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. What? You don't think congress will stand up for peace??

Not to mention support budding democracies in Palestine and Lebanon???

But, they're so brave, so outspoken in their love of peace and democracy!!

Just ask 'em. They'll be glad to send you a form letter explaining how killing people is absolutely necessary to maintaining our peace loving reputation around the world.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

6. Yeah, I'm sure they will. That's what concerns me. n/t

[acmejack]

3. AIPAC is lobbying against it!

I think it is the Anti Israeli Petroleum Action Committee? I hear they are a very powerful group so certainly the fuel sale will be thwarted.

[teryang]

5. Sale? Don't we have to pay for it?

Something seems unfair about this. Don't we have to pay for their military expenses?

[Bigmack]

7. Last time I looked....

Israel gets about $3 Bil in aid from the US yearly. ($84 Bil over the years) Maybe they'll pay us with some of our aid money.

The question is... how will the fuel be delivered? I'd bet it's gonna be aerial refueling... one plane at a time.

[ladjf]

8. allowing them to reach targets in Iran.

[Solo_in_MD]

9. I don't think so

Sales like this are worked on for months before they get announced, this must have been in the works for some time, well before the kidnappings.

Done some research since from and earlier thread. While they don't need it to fight in Lebanon or Gaza. the IAF does have indigenous AAR capability and would not need tankers from the USAF.