Why Is Saudi Arabia Buying 15,000 U.S. Anti-Tank Missiles for a War It Will Never Fight? Hint: Syria

[Jesus Malverde]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by muriel_volestrangler (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Foreign Policy

— No one is expecting a tank invasion of Saudi Arabia anytime soon, but the kingdom just put in a huge order for U.S.-made anti-tank missiles that has Saudi-watchers scratching their heads and wondering whether the deal is related to Riyadh's support for the Syrian rebels.

The proposed weapons deal, which the Pentagon notified Congress of in early December, would provide Riyadh with more than 15,000 Raytheon anti-tank missiles at a cost of over $1 billion. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Military Balance report, Saudi Arabia's total stockpile this year amounted to slightly more than 4,000 anti-tank missiles. In the past decade, the Pentagon has notified Congress of only one other sale of anti-tank missiles to Saudi Arabia -- a 2009 deal that shipped roughly 5,000 missiles to the kingdom.

"It's a very large number of missiles, including the most advanced version of the TOWs [tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided missiles]," said Jeffrey White, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a former intelligence analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency. "The problem is: What's the threat?"

That's a tough question to answer. A military engagement with Iran, the most immediate potential threat faced by Riyadh, would be largely a naval and air engagement over the Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia has fought a series of deadly skirmishes with insurgents in northern Yemen over the years, but those groups have no more than a handful of military vehicles. And Iraq, which posed a real threat during Saddam Hussein's day, is far too consumed by its internal demons and the fallout from the war in Syria to ponder such foreign adventurism.


Read more: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/12/12/why_is_saudi_arabia_buying_15000_us_anti_tank_missiles_for_a_land_war_it_will_ne

[russspeakeasy]

1. ....because they found some loose change under the couch cushions ?

[roamer65]

2. Of course they're going to Syria.

Must be the price for Saudi silence on our deal with Iran.

[boomersense]

3. That's what I think too. But that may not work out well for SA. nt

dddd

[go west young man]

4. We're still fully involved in this war...indirectly of course...

and the extremists we support are becoming more extreme according to Janes Defense Weekly. http://www.janes.com/article/30639/osint-summary-syria-s-most-powerful-islamist-militant-groups-unite

How the US thinks that can be better than what they have I can't imagine. The only real reason must be to please the Saudis and take a pawn from Russia.

http://www.janes.com/article/28498/training-of-syrian-insurgents-steps-up-in-saudi-arabia

[cosmicone]

5. This will allow Russians to arm Syria even more

utterly stupid.

Saudis should stand down and stop dreaming of a fucking Islamic republic everywhere in the world.

[nikto]

6. Clearly, the NEOCONS have something planned

False flag attack?

Planting nerve gas on Syria so we can "bust" them?

They've got something rotten in the works, for sure.


WATCH FOR IT!!!!

[joshcryer]

7. All the more reason for Russia to agree to arms sanctions.

Until then the US and Russia will profit from this travesty.

[jmowreader]

8. Antitank missiles are also designed to be anti-fortification missiles

Pretend you're a platoon leader whose unit is pinned down by sniper fire from a block building in an inhabited area. Machineguns won't penetrate the structure. It's too far away to use a grenade launcher, and howitzers, mortars, bombs etc., will kill a lot of people who you're trying not to kill and may not kill the guy who needs it. The safest, surest thing is to call the battalion TOW missile section. They send one Humvee with a TOW launcher and a good gunner, he puts one of his wire-guided missiles through the window this asshole is shooting out of...problem solved with minimal loss of life.

[hack89]

9. What about Iran and Iraq?

Two traditional enemies on the other side of the Shia - Sunni divide. Iranian influence in Iraq must be of major concern to SA.

[Laelth]

10. Interesting.

Key excerpt:

What may be happening, analysts say, is that the Saudis are sending their stockpiles of anti-tank weapons bought from elsewhere to Syria and are purchasing U.S. missiles to replenish their own stockpiles.

That would make sense.

-Laelth

[Lurks Often]

11. Saudis get the most modern equipment to replace what they gave the Syrian rebels

So they support the Syrian rebels by giving them older anti-tank missiles that can also be used against fortifications, bunkers and buildings and even parked aircraft and upgrade their own military with the most modern equipment to replace what they gave the Syrian rebels.

[Laelth]

12. Precisely.

And the US had to know that this is what the Saudis intended when they authorized this purchase. Although our official foreign policy is neutral in regards to the Assad regime, it's clear that we're willing to let SA pursue their own agenda despite our alleged neutrality.

Very interesting.

-Laelth

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. Locking - analysis, not LBN

The deal, as it notes, happened, and was announced, in early December - this is analysis of it.

Please repost in GD, Good Reads or another suitable forum/group.