Israeli weapons sale to China irks Pentagon

[SouthernDaisy]

>>>
A new brouhaha has erupted between the US Pentagon and Israel's Defense Ministry of the sale of a sophisticated weapon system to China.

Defense officials confirmed Wednesday night that the Americans have demanded clarifications on the matter and that a joint inquiry had been launched.

However, both totally deny reports that the Pentagon has demanded the dismissal of Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Amos Yaron, the director-general of the Defense Ministry, for allegedly lying about the sale of a certain weapons system that is reportedly being upgraded now.

Israel Radio reported that a US Congressional committee had been concerned over the sale of unmanned aerial vehicles and assault rifles. They also criticized the visit to Beijing by Yaron at the time.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1103080758679

[Supersedeas]

1. time to sleep on that bed of nails: ya made it; ya sleep in it

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Now that's a sign China is a true global superpower

if Israel is willing to risk pissing the USA off just to be buddies with China. Is Israel tired of putting all its eggs in one basket? Better to hedge their bets in case the USA goes down the pan?

[IA_Seth]

4. I think its American conceit to assume they ever did....

Israel is our ally, no doubt, especially when on the receiving end of so much aid money over the past decades, but they are still a sovereign nation, and as such probably do a LOT of things like this.

It is the American Govt that puts all their eggs in one basket in my opinion. We need to be forming stronger ties with the greater middle east right now instead of relying on one nation that is in it for themselves.

[BeHereNow]

13. I's say China made a better offer...

Not hard to do given the DEBT of this country...
much of which is supported by China.
FOOLS!
The neocons are gonna fall.
And I can't wait.
Keep shopping for Chinese produced Walmart goods FOOLS.
Jeebus will save ya!
Yeah, that's the ticket!
China is the most learned civilization on the planet when it comes
to "mandates" and leaders...I'd say their many disasters are about
to pay off.
Some people DO learn from history and play it to their advantage.
Put a fork in us. we're done.
BHN

[orpupilofnature57]

3. MAYBE WE COULD GET SOME ARMOUR OFF CHINA?

wouldn't think of bothering israel.

[Just Me]

5. Gotta' admit,...this is pretty dang weird.

U.S. IS Israel's welfare "weapons provider".

Suddenly, Israel is able to be China's "weapons provider"?

Chucka,...chuckle huck.

[Sara Beverley]

6. Selling the weapons built with US foreign aid, eh? We get what we

deserve.

[acmavm]

10. and with assistance from Israeli engineers associated with Israel's US-fin

Nothing like getting screwed without ever being kissed.

[The Sushi Bandit]

7. Don't you get it?? time to END support for Israel!!!

we give them billions over the last 40 years and we keep getting screwed and Palestinians keep get killed.

[SOS]

8. Again?

From Asia Times on the Chinese J-10:

The J-10 is a multi-role single-engine and single-seat tactical fighter, with a combat radius of 1,000 kilometers. Although billed as a domestically produced fighter, in truth the J-10 could not have happened without the help of other countries, especially Israel.
The program began in the late 1980s and is thought to be based on an Israeli design. It contains Israeli and Russian avionics, and is powered by Russian engines.

Chinese engineers developed the J-10 from a single F-16 provided by Pakistan, and with assistance from Israeli engineers associated with Israel's US-financed Lavi fighter program, which was canceled in 1987, according to the Federation of American Scientists website. The Lavi was based on the US F-16 and built with US$1.3 billion in aid from Washington.
In 1983, when US support for the Lavi commenced, the program was opposed vigorously by the Defense Department, partly because of re-export concerns. An early supporter of the Lavi was George Shultz, then secretary of state in the administration of US president Ronald Reagan. Shultz would later label his advocacy of the program a "costly mistake".

Only in early 1995 did the US government make public its concerns about Israel's Lavi-related technology re-exports to China. David Lari, director general of Israel's Ministry of Defense, acknowledged in an Associated Press interview that "some technology on aircraft" had been sold to China and that some Israeli companies may not have "clean hands".

[Chicago Democrat]

9. No honor amoung thieves.

They use us way way way more than we use them. Its a game. A game Israel always wins.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

11. This might be a good place to drop this back in... it pretty much

backs up what you are hinting at.... well, not hinting... bluntly stating as fact!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2827427

[BeHereNow]

12. Now THAT is divine justice...LOL

The US has poured BILLIONS of tax dollars into Israel.
Now Israel has taken part of the advantage afforded by the
US and funneled it into China.
TOO funny.
Well not really "funny" but somehow karma at its finest.
Your scrap fed dog is your best friend UNTIL your neighbor offers steak.
BHN