Israel okays $1.1 bn Phalcon sale to India

[Resistance]

The Times of India

JERUSALEM : Israel 's security cabinet on Sunday approved a $1.1 billion deal for the sale of three Israeli-Russian early warning aircraft systems to India , paving the way for the final deal to be signed, the prime minister's office said.

The deal is for the Phalcon, a competitor to the US-made AWACS. The Phalcon consists of avionics from state-owned Israel Aircraft Industries fitted onto Russian Ilyushin airliners.

"This is an important milestone on the way to finalising the deal that we began working on several years ago," IAI chief executive Moshe Keret said.

Last year, US officials pressed Israel to postpone the Phalcon sale, citing increased tensions between India and Pakistan , two nuclear powers, but later withdrew its objections.

[packerssuck]

1. So what?

[Scurrilous]

2. Pakistan warns on Israeli arms sale to India

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1077690793610

<snip>

"Pakistan said Monday that Israel's approval on Sunday of a $1.1bn sale of sophisticated military technology to India could destabilise the region and undermine the fledgling peace process between the nuclear-armed neighbours.


Islamabad warned that the deal, in which India would acquire three Phalcon early-warning aircrafts from Israel and Russia, could fuel the arms race between the two countries. The technology, which could be used both defensively and offensively, would also encourage Pakistan to seek a similar system, it hinted.

"The sales of sophisticated weapons to India will accentuate strategic and conventional imbalance in South Asia," said Masood Khan, the Pakistan government spokesman. "Such transactions also undermine the spirit of peace and stability being pushed by Pakistan, India and the international community."

[Resistance]

3. oh well

profit > stability

:party:

[fujiyama]

6. Arms race...

The only one fueling an arms race in the region is China. They've proliferated weapons technology for years - Pakistan being the main beneficiary. What bullshit.

[Scurrilous]

8. Don't forget Russia....

...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3408437.stm

India, Russia sign defence deal

<snip>

"India has signed a $1.6bn deal to buy a refurbished aircraft carrier and 12 warplanes from Russia.

The agreement was signed in the Indian capital, Delhi, and witnessed by Defence Minister George Fernandes and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Ivanov.

Russia says it will deliver the carrier, the Admiral Gorshkov, by 2008.

Russia is India's largest supplier of military hardware and military co-operation forms a key part of relations between the two countries."

[fujiyama]

12. It may be so...

but the US is right up there with Russia when it comes to military aid disbursement and proliferation.

[lefty_mcduff]

4. Ahm, because the will-nilly distribution of

weapon and military systems, potentially destabilizing, or shifting the power balance in, one of the world's nuke hot-spots is considered ill-advised. It could also fuel yet another arms-race that in turn, could touch off a nuclear exchange between two countries that have been itching to have a go at eachother for years.

The US also advise against this, and considering the $US pouring into Israel, it even appears like bad form.

That's just for starters.

[fujiyama]

5. Who cares...

what the US has to say about "stability"? We also just gave Pakistan billions of dollars in military aid. The last nation that should speak of stability is the US.

[lefty_mcduff]

7. Well, I guess

you'll agree we need less arms proliferation, not more?

[packerssuck]

9. Hasn't Pakistan supplied Iran and North Korea with nuclear technology

[lefty_mcduff]

10. Dude.

I'm against arms proliferation. Period (much more progressive ways to spend $$$ than things that go 'boom'!).

Yes, Pakistan supplied Iran, North Korea with nuclear technology and know-how. Not sure of your point.

But it *is* ironic - they're supposed to be one of Bush's 'closest allies' in the 'war on terrah'. Proving once again that willy-nilly arms proliferation is *not a good idea*. Alliances are fleeting. Common interests temporary.

Which was my answer to your 'so what' question.

[fujiyama]

11. Ok...

Thanks for clearing that up. I think you're right for the most part, but what the US govt (usually the State Dept) says regarding arms proliferation is absolutely irrelevant. The US is one of the greatest weapons proliferators around the world. It's absolute hypocrisy for the US to criticize India for doing what it feels are necessary for its security concerns.

[lefty_mcduff]

13. Oh, I agree with you.

I was merely pointing out (in the context of the ME) that Israel - a client state backed and financed by the US - is going against what the US is suggesting.

Seems like bad form for the Israelis to ignore the nudging of Uncle Sam, espcially with the US$ and weapons pouring into the IDF coffers.

The US is still being hypocritical.

[packerssuck]

14. So, why are you singling out Israel for their arms dealings? Your

agenda of "blame Israel" is quite clear.

[Forkboy]

15. Speaking of clear agendas

[lefty_mcduff]

16. Ahm.

Perhaps because that was the topic of the original post, and subsequent thread.

Blame Isreal?

What exactly do you claim I'm blaming Israel for?

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

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[lefty_mcduff]

18. Then why did you respond to my post (#10)?

Perhaps you should refrain from smug comments until you're a little more familiar with the 'reply' link.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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[lefty_mcduff]

20. Ouchie!

Me - like Bill O'Reilly.
Now *that* stings....

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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