Pentagon chief would back lifting restrictions on U.S. arms to Vietnam

[IDemo]

Source: Reuters

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Thursday he would support lifting restrictions on the sale of weapons to Vietnam, in the latest sign of thawing ties between former enemies whose focus has shifted in recent years to China's military buildup.

When asked by Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, if he would support lifting the restrictions, Carter said at a hearing: "We've discussed this in the past and I appreciate your leadership in that regard, chairman, and yes."

Carter did not elaborate, although his comments come ahead of a planned visit to Vietnam by U.S. President Barack Obama late next month.

The United States partially lifted a long-time ban on lethal weapons sales to Vietnam in October 2014, nearly 40 years after the end of the Vietnam War, to help the country patrol and defend itself in the South China Sea in the face of growing naval challenges from China. At the time, U.S. officials said future sales could include airborne systems.

Read more: http://in.reuters.com/article/usa-vietnam-arms-idINKCN0XP2IQ

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I am getting too old..

[elmac]

1. Supplying our friends with the means to blow each other up

a friend in need's a friend in deed

[Major Nikon]

2. So we can sell arms to a one-party communist state....

but you still can't vacation in Cuba.

Makes perfect sense.

[scottie55]

4. Castro Pissed Off The Mob

And his people had to pay for it for 60 years.

[scottie55]

3. Just Think Of The Profits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course they rarely think of anything else.

Especially corpses.

[PersonNumber503602]

5. This is Chinese blow back from their aggressive posture against their neighbors

China is just as capable of creating blow back as the US is.


Not saying the US should or shouldn't be arming Vietnam, but this is a direct result of Chinese actions.

[Jitter65]

6. Well, Hillary won't get blamed for this one...or will she? nt