Pentagon chief defends arms sales to rivals India, Pakistan

[OhioChick]

Source: LA Times

January 22, 2010 | 5:52 p.m.

Gates acknowledges that selling more weapons to the two nations doesn't jibe with the goal of easing tensions, but says the deals help the U.S. earn the nations' trust and win support for other goals.

Reporting from Islamabad - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates leaned on India and Pakistan during his trip to South Asia this week to set aside a simmering rivalry and confront militant extremists. At the same time, Gates and other U.S. officials pushed arms sales that could fuel the antagonism between the two countries.

Gates' trip was framed by that apparent contradiction in U.S. policy. On his arrival in Pakistan, a television news interviewer put the question bluntly: "Why re-arm both countries?" The Pentagon chief darted around the question.

But Gates and other officials explained afterward that Washington hopes the military cooperation will help the United States win the trust it needs to advance its goals in the region. And, besides, they said, the two countries could get weapons elsewhere, so why not from us?

"I think we have to make these decisions judiciously," Gates said. "But we also do not simply want to turn over these military relationships to other countries who don't have as many scruples as we do in terms of making these decisions."



Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-gates23-2010jan23,0,6998676.story

[EFerrari]

1. Because arming everyone has worked out SO WELL for us so far!

[appal_jack]

5. not a US rifle beside Osama bin-forgotten-by-Shrubya

I'm not a fan of indiscriminate arms sales either, but that photo you posted lends credence to the idea that armies (and terrorists) will purchase weapons from any willing seller.

Of course, if I wished to conduct an insurgency in a sandy, poor, harsh environment (note to Agent Mike: I don't), the AK would be my choice of rifle too.

-app

[EFerrari]

8. Are you sure the CIA only sells US weapons?

:)

[formercia]

12. Nah, they wouldn't do that.....

:rofl:

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. He should be forced to stand in the middle.

[EFerrari]

3. Robert Gates, who presided over secret prisons and kidnappings

and torture and murder and ongoing COVER UPS is talking about scruples. :wtf:

[OrderedChaos]

4. Ethics

Next thing you know, he will be teaching Ethics classes at Yale or Harvard after he retires.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. You mean he isn't already?

Welcome to DU

[EFerrari]

7. Ken Blackwell went from stealing our election in 2004

to giving lectures on business ETHICS for the Chamber of Commerce.

It's just a matter of time. :hi:

[Downwinder]

9. Notice Gates didn't say that we had to sell arms to earn money

for his wars. We kissed all of the other manufactures good bye but kept the defense industries. They are the bread winners.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

10. If that's the best that he can come up with to defend the sales,

then he might as well just be honest and admit it's because it's what the US does best.

MIC at the controls and pulling the strings as usual.

[Hubert Flottz]

11. Obama said yesterday in Ohio, that...

"The US needs to increase exports to create new jobs."

"Would you like some Jeebus sights with your order," MacMurder

[benld74]

13. Our Military Industrial Complex AT ITS BEST

We should add the sales of exported military assistance to our exported goods. THAT would even out our trade!!!!

[Haole Girl]

14. "...who don't have as many scruples as we do..."

Lovely.

:eyes:

[classysassy]

15. Will those weapons

find their way to our to our enemy,where they will be used to maim and kill our military,or do you care?.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

16. How does Obama show his face in public? They don't even bother

to lie about their motives anymore. Gate's is over there dealing arms and we just allow it to continue.
Wonder if he's on the bonus plan making a nice commission on his big sale.

[daleo]

17. Krupp used to do it, during the pre-WWI arms race

It's just good business. As was WWI.