US offensive in bid to sell F-18 jets to Brazil

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Agence France-Presse

US offensive in bid to sell F-18 jets to Brazil
by Mauricio Rabuffetti Mauricio Rabuffetti – 1 hr 9 mins ago

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) – The arrival of a giant US aircraft carrier here Friday with F/A-18 jet fighters aboard is a step in Washington's offensive to win a multi-billion-dollar contract to supply Brazil's air force with modern jet fighters.

US Rear Admiral Ted Branch told reporters that the visit of the USS Carl Vinson is aimed at improving ties with the Brazilian navy following mercy operations in quake-stricken Haiti, and work with Brazilian personnel from the UN peacekeeping force in that country.

However, the presence of the nuclear powered craft and the Super Hornet fighters on its deck, along with Boeing representatives on land, are a clear sign of a US push to convince Brazil to buy the US-made planes.

Brazil's air force is seeking to buy 36 new jet fighters, and will choose between three finalists: France's Rafale, a fighter made by Dassault; the Gripen NG jet from Sweden's Saab; and the F/A-18 Super Hornet from US group Boeing.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100226/pl_afp/brazildefensefranceswedenus

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(Just as the Sec. of State's pending trip to Brazil is announced....)

[lib2DaBone]

1. Death and War R-Us.. that's all we can do anymore...

[Codeine]

3. They wanna buy fighter jets,

why not ours? Are they any less war-oriented for wanting fighter planes than we are for supplying them? :shrug:

[Arctic Dave]

2. What a strange little tie in.

"US Rear Admiral Ted Branch told reporters that the visit of the USS Carl Vinson is aimed at improving ties with the Brazilian navy following mercy operations in quake-stricken Haiti, and work with Brazilian personnel from the UN peacekeeping force in that country."

See, I meet this guy down in Haiti and i thought , WOW, we should sell him some military hardware because he seems like such a great guy.

[bossy22]

4. hey atleast it could create jobs

or save jobs in the US

[bergie321]

5. Sell them the carrier too

Use the proceeds to pay for basic necessities like health care.

[bossy22]

6. carrier has much more dollar value in use as it is

rather than the $6 billion you would get from selling it. I think that would cover maybe 2 days worth of american's healthcare....doesnt seem like a good investment to me

nor could could brazil afford such a weapon- i think it would cover close to 1/4 of their entire budget

[Angleae]

7. Brazil already has a carrier.

They bought a used one from france (ex-Foch) and it's all they could afford.

[Diclotican]

10. bergie321

bergie321

As long as it is an nuclear carrier I seriosy doubt that US wil sell a carrier to anyone... To mutch top srecret and abowe in a nuclear carrier you know...

On the other side, why should Brazil have a nuclear carrier, they have more or less what they can eat with the ex Foch as it is, and as I have understand it, the carrier they have, are in port most of the time... Why in the world should Brazil get a tvice as big nuclear powered carrier, who would eat up most of the military budget.. Its long since Brazil was ruled by the generals you know.. And todays politicals have some duty to the peopole of Brazil not just to have new toys to play around with

Diclotican

[Rapier09]

8. Is that why we are not backing the UK over the Falks?

Because we really really need to unload some crap........


Oh god help us.

[hayu_lol]

11. Ownership of the Falklands is debated between...

Argentina(not Brazil)and the UK.

[Rapier09]

12. Yes but I assume that Brazil isn't going to back the UK regardless

France,which has a region which borders Brazil,might on the other hand.Which could lead to Brazil looking for an other vendor.Bearing in mind that Brazilian-French ties run deep.

As for sending a gunboat named after a man who supported segregation to his dying day,that could be interpreted in a couple ways.

[Socal31]

14. UK doesnt really need our backing on that one.

I'm sure they will be fine.

[seeinfweggos]

9. isn't brazil one of the good guys - as in progressive government? nt

[bossy22]

15. every country

needs some form of a warfighting capability

[seeinfweggos]

16. yeah, i know, you misunderstood me

i brought up their progressive government to point out this isn't like we are selling weapons to "bad guys" - at least not in this instance, not to question their "good guy" status.

[Crowman1979]

13. Better to buy a used 20+ US fighter plane than a new Russian plane.

Because russian military technology is notorious for being unsafe.