Latest Breaking News

Indi Guy

(3,992 posts) Mon Aug 26, 2013, 12:03 AM Aug 2013

US plan to sell cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia draws condemnation... [View all]

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

Source: Press TV

The United States has announced to sell controversial cluster munitions worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Saudi Arabia, a move that has drawn condemnation from campaigners and rights groups.

Last week, the US Defense Department gave a contract valued at $641 million to manufacture 1,300 cluster bombs for Saudi Arabia to Textron Defense Systems, a unit of Textron Inc. (TXT.N), according to the Pentagon and Textron.

Anti-arms campaigners and human rights groups condemned the US for formalizing the sale of Textron's CBU-105 cluster bombers -- munitions blamed for killing and injuring civilians long after conflicts end, Inter Press Service news agency reported on Saturday.

“Both the US and Saudi Arabia have recently condemned the use of cluster munitions… that’s ironic given this new sale, because a cluster munition is a cluster munition, no matter what kind it is,” said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, a watchdog group in Washington...

Read more: http://presstv.com/detail/2013/08/25/320492/us-to-sell-cluster-bombs-to-saudi-arabia/

43 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

US plan to sell cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia draws condemnation... [View all] Indi Guy Aug 2013 OP

Yeah, that's what that pos country needs. Arctic Dave Aug 2013 #1

Why is this surprising? branford Aug 2013 #2

Ahh, that makes it all OK then. RC Aug 2013 #3

No, not OK. As I said, just not very surprising and hardly late breaking news. branford Aug 2013 #8

But nothing in your post suggests it's "not OK". delrem Aug 2013 #10

My post only concerned my opinion on the value of the story as late breaking news. branford Aug 2013 #11

I'm curious ConcernedCanuk Aug 2013 #24

Huh? Although I've lurked for a while, I only joined DU in July. branford Aug 2013 #26

It's not surprising to me in the least. DeSwiss Aug 2013 #19

Saudi Arabia's chief adversary is Iran, as is demonstrated by each of their actions in Syria. branford Aug 2013 #23

Saudi Arabia's military concerns definitely include Iran...... DeSwiss Aug 2013 #27

+100 Celefin Aug 2013 #30

Well put indeed and thank you! -- n/t mazzarro Aug 2013 #31

Wow: deurbano Aug 2013 #35

You don't recognize sarcasm? RC Aug 2013 #34

I understand that Iran is not happy about that.... Sand Wind Aug 2013 #4

would kinda figure considering the source PatrynXX Aug 2013 #5

Here it is on Reuters: limpyhobbler Aug 2013 #6

Thanks. Indi Guy Aug 2013 #9

FYI, my mention of PressTV or that I didn't find the story surprising, branford Aug 2013 #14

Doesn't matter that it's an Iranian Government site TomClash Aug 2013 #28

WASHINGTON | Tue Aug 20, 2013 6:46pm EDT , and nobody is outraged.... Sand Wind Aug 2013 #16

At least they aren't chemical bombs. ForgoTheConsequence Aug 2013 #7

Again, why exactly should i be happy Obama is doing this? Kelvin Mace Aug 2013 #12

111 countries have banned cluster bombs. Ash_F Aug 2013 #13

Many countries with large militaries who are likely to see actual combat did not sign the treaty. branford Aug 2013 #17

Nice framing Ash_F Aug 2013 #22

Is that really what you gathered from my comments? Wow. branford Aug 2013 #25

America is the world's policeman? Ash_F Aug 2013 #40

K&R DeSwiss Aug 2013 #15

Heh! Sadly, the Nobel was joke well before Obama received it early in his first term. branford Aug 2013 #18

Yeah, but now it's a travesty and an insult..... DeSwiss Aug 2013 #21

Uh, who would they use these for? AFAIK, they've never used any of our weaponry except for bluff. freshwest Aug 2013 #20

Unless they have a good delivery system they are useless warrant46 Aug 2013 #29

delivery system? google Textron they make helicoptors, jets, they can even mow your golf courses. Sunlei Aug 2013 #33

Oh, no, you're behind the times on that joke. They have many first class planes they've been buying freshwest Aug 2013 #37

I know the Saudis have a wealth of equipment and planes of a modern Air Force warrant46 Aug 2013 #39

This may answer a few questions, 'Lockheed Martin training Saudi Arabian pilots to fly fighter jets' Indi Guy Aug 2013 #41

Hope they do better warrant46 Aug 2013 #42

They used them in the first gulf war, but that was a UN sanctioned operation. Outside of that, they stevenleser Aug 2013 #36

so what people will Saudi Arabia use their Textron Corp. cluster bombs on? Sunlei Aug 2013 #32

The fear of Iran brightone Aug 2013 #38

We're going to lock this because the article is not from a reputable mainstream news source. greatauntoftriplets Aug 2013 #43