Germany OKs subsidized submarine sale to Israel

[King_David]

BERLIN (AP) — A senior German official says the government has approved the subsidized sale of another Dolphin-type military submarine to Israel.

The official says Germany has set aside euro135 million ($180 million) in next year's budget to pay for about a third of its cost.

Dolphin-class submarines are capable of carrying nuclear-tipped missiles, but there is no evidence that Israel has armed them with such weapons.

Israel already has three Dolphin submarines from Germany — one half-funded and two entirely funded by Berlin, a staunch Israeli ally.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ilUo_9r691F3751peImOeG34mfgQ?docId=0b22f796550c43a49e757a51c65f558c

[Arctic Dave]

1. I've heard of "white guilt". What is this called?

Gave the two submarines and will subsidize another?

[vminfla]

6. Typical Government subsidizing private businesses to create jobs

It's no different than the unfair advantage Airbus has over Boeing. The only difference is that the Airbus subsidies are for planes and this is for subs.

[teddy51]

2. Isn't that special! Israel with it's current leaders really need more Nukes... WTF n/t

[vminfla]

3. Germans are sticklers for their contracts

They committed to the submarines, and they deliver. Good for them.

[wuushew]

4. money poorly spent

If Germany is to be the economic savior of Europe not a single Euro should be above scrutiny.

[vminfla]

5. Germany is the seller

It is not as if the Germans are going around spending money on pimped out gold plated subs. The Germans are creating high paying manufacturing jobs by making a quality submarine.

[LeftishBrit]

7. Germany is selling, not donating.

Like a number of countries, they are putting money *into* the arms trade, in the expectation of getting more money back.

I hate the arms trade, but as one of the few businesses that is still flourishing in these economic times, it's not likely to end any time soon.

[vminfla]

8. Never let the facts get in the way of a good meme

just because this is a business transaction does not mean we cannot believe that the evil jews who control Hollywood are responsible for this.

[shira]

9. 'Israel released PA funds under German pressure'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel threatened Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu with the halting of a German plan to deliver a submarine to Israel if the latter refused to resume the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported on Sunday.

According to the report, Jerusalem yielded to pressure from Berlin and unfroze the funds. Shortly afterward, a German government official announced her country would build and pay up to one-third of the cost of a sixth Dolphin-class submarine to be delivered to the Israeli navy.

more...
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=248052