Bush Delivers Major Arms Sale To Saudis

$123 Million Hi-Tech Weapons Sale Meant To Bolster Defense Against Iran, Push Mideast Peace

(CBS/AP)  President Bush delivered a sophisticated weapons sale for Saudi Arabia on Monday, trying to bolster defenses against threats from U.S. adversary Iran and muster support in this oil-rich kingdom for a long-stalled Mideast peace agreement.

On a surprisingly cold day with blustery winds, Mr. Bush received a warm embrace from King Abdullah, whose family wields almost absolute rule. Among ordinary Saudis and across much of the Mideast, Mr. Bush is unpopular, particularly because of the Iraq war and unflinching U.S. support for Israel.

Mr. Bush and Abdullah were going to some lengths over two days to emphasize their strong personal ties.

Saudi Arabia holds the world's largest oil reserves and surging fuel costs are putting a major strain on the troubled U.S. economy. The issue has come up in earlier stops on Mr. Bush's eight-day trip, largely in the context of his quest for alternate fuels and sources of energy, the officials said.

A senior administration official confirmed to CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante that the subject of $100-a-barrel oil, a prospect with serious repercussions for U.S. consumers and the economy as a whole, had not come up in any meetings he attended in Dubai.

White House counselor Ed Gillespie said Mideast leaders have "talked about the nature of the market and the vast demand that's on the world market today for oil." He said that was "a legitimate and accurate point."

Mr. Bush, who dislikes late nights, also stayed up well past his regular 9:30 p.m. bedtime for after-dinner talks with the king in the walled compound of his opulent palace. Its marble floors and walls contain sheets of gold, colored with precious stones and embedded jewels.

In a show of hospitality, the king invited Bush to come Tuesday to his lavish horse farm where 150 Arabian stallions are stabled. The visit, including an overnight by Mr. Bush, is a payback for the president hosting Abdullah at his Texas ranch.

U.S. officials said much of conversation over Monday's palace dinner was about chill temperatures that dropped into the 40s. Gillespie said there were predictions for snow Tuesday, the first to fall here since 1968.

Coinciding with Mr. Bush's arrival, the administration officially notified Congress it will offer Saudi Arabia sophisticated Joint Direct Attack Munitions - or "smart bomb" - technology and related equipment. The deal envisions the transfer of 900 of the precision-guided bomb kits, worth $123 million, that would give Saudi forces highly accurate targeting abilities.

Some lawmakers fear the systems could be used against Israel but Congress appears unlikely to block the deal because of Saudi Arabia's cooperation in the war on terror and in deterring aggression from Iran.

"We need to be convinced that the sale makes sense militarily and ensure that it in no way harms our security or those of our allies," said Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "We must also make certain that the administration does not just try to use a few arms sales to substitute for the comprehensive, coherent strategy we need for the region."

The United States already has notified Congress of five other packages to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, including Patriot missiles. The total amount of eventual sales as part of the Gulf Security Dialogue is estimated at $20 billion, a figure subject to actual purchases.

The sales are a key element in Mr. Bush's strategy to shore up defenses against Iran, which the president has deemed the world's top state sponsor of terrorism. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, with majority Sunni Muslim populations, harbor deep suspicions about Shiite Iran's rising power and want to make sure the U.S. remains committed to keeping Tehran's ambitions in check. At the same time, Arab allies are worried that the world economy would suffer heavily if the U.S. dispute with Iran turns into a military confrontation.

On Mideast peace, Saudi Arabia handed Mr. Bush a coup by taking part in the U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference in Annapolis, Md., in November. The president was expected to encourage Saudi Arabia during his visit to use some of its vast wealth to help struggling Palestinians build the foundations of a future state. Mr. Bush also sees support from Arab neighbors as crucial to the Palestinian leadership being able to successfully negotiate with Israel over borders and other contentious issues.

Abdullah, for his part, was expected to urge Mr. Bush to keep up the pressure on Israel to halt settlements in Palestinian territories.

Mr. Bush's drive to spread democracy across the Mideast was another likely topic. The king has tried to push some reforms on education and women's rights and there have been limited municipal council elections. But he has been cautious and limited in his effort.

Posing for pictures, the king and the president did not speak about political matters. Abdullah presented Mr. Bush with what appeared to be a medallion of gold with white and green stones, suspended from a gold palm tree emblem with crossed swords.

"The least we can do in providing you hospitality is to provide you with the highest order of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and that is the Order of the late King Abdul Aziz, founder of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Abdullah said, speaking through a translator.

Gillespie said there was a lot of interest over dinner about turmoil in U.S. financial markets as well as the U.S. presidential race.

He said some Mideast leaders were looking past the Bush presidency to his successor and what changes might occur. At the same time, he said it was helpful for the leaders to deal with Mr. Bush, someone they know.

The president began the day in the Persian Gulf city-state of Dubai, the cosmopolitan banking and business hub propelled into the news when a locally-owned company agreed to manage six of the United States' largest ports. The deal was aborted after a storm of protests about foreign control of key U.S. facilities.

National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said the president, in talks with local leaders, had to reassure them that the United States was open for foreign investment.

"I also want you to understand something about America - that we respect you, we respect your religion and we want to work together for the sake of freedom and peace," Mr. Bush told the group.

[samsel3]

Russia is the second largest supplier of oil on the planet, the Saudis are number one. After Saddam was removed they lost one of there sources and moved to Iran to fill the void. In exchange they also negotiated contracts to build multiple nuclear power plants in Iran. Russia is well aware of the Cheney plan for the Casapian Sea pipeline which will be cheaper to build if the US goes through Iran. Iran does not want to negotiate with the US on this pipeline. Cheney wants regime change, but Russia does not because it''s not in there economic interest. Thats the real deal !
Russia reneged on contracts with BP oil UK for new Siberian wells and also renegotiated contracts for existing BP production wells in Russia for less money. BP was not happy and teamed up with US oil interests for the Caspian Pipeline deal now under construction.

[samsel3]

Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Co. major Israeli oil company needs more crude and this is why the Turkey Israeli pipelines are going to be built......From there corporate site some info..".One of the reasons that triggered this project was the assumption that part of the crude oil produced in Russia, the Central Asian Republics or in the Caucasus and loaded at Black Sea ports can be marketed at competitive prices for distribution in Southern Asia and the Far East".

[samsel3]

January 9, 2007 Bush met with the president of Turkey on the 10th he was in Israel. The connection is the Turkey Israeli pipelines, the real purpose of the recent middle east peace summit . The actual story are the proposed oil pipelines that will be built down the coast from Turkey to Israel. Condi Rice is trying to broker this deal. BP oil, US oil interests and the Saudis all have a stake in that pipeline. Domonique Strauss- Khan managing director of the International Monetary Fund and Robert Zoellick president of the World Bank were in attendance. Big money won''t finance the venture without stability in the region.
In the Daily telegraph, July 22, 2006 Condoleeza Rice stated her main objective in the middle east was not to push a ceasefire in Lebanon, but to cause an isolation of Syria and Iran. The strategic objective is all tied to oil and oil pipelines. In April of 2006 Israel & Turkey made their announcement which included four pipelines which will bypass Syria & Lebanon. The source of the oil is the BTC pipeline from the Caspian Sea Region. Shareholders in the BTC pipeline are: British Petroleum, AzBTC, Chevron, Statoil, TPAO, ENI, Total, Itochu, INPEX, Conoco-Phillips & Amerada Hess. Another very important factor on the war with Lebanon is that Israel will have a strategic role in protecting the pipeline and transportation corridor out of Ceyhan Turkey. The strategy will weaken Russian oil''s role in central asia and also isolate Iran.

[tngreen]

I thought at first that the photo that accompanies the article was a movie poster for an upcoming feature: "Evil and Eviler."

[downtowner97]

You''ve all ruined my night by failing to realize how funny my last post was. Good night, jerks!

[pamk44]

Like father like son. Remember The Iran contra affair ?

[Con Mohrat]

Like adding oil to the fires, send more arms to the M.E., Dubya, before they run low. The Saudis need them to clobber the Zionists.

[watcher269-2009]

The United States already has notified Congress of five other packages to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, including Patriot missiles. The total amount of eventual sales as part of the Gulf Security Dialogue is estimated at $20 billion, a figure subject to actual purchases.


_________


Yep, Bush is in the Middle East to Promote Piece - that is a Piece of 20 Billion Dollars for himself and Cheney!

Why does Bush/Cheney HATE America soooo much???

[watcher269-2009]

President Bush, left, holds the King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit that was presented to him by Saudi King Abdullah, right, at Riyadh Palace,

-----------------------

Then, it was overheard the King saying - "This is a small gift for the 40 Trillion Dollars in extra Oil revenue you brought to us with this Illegal war".

I bet Bush will Keep this trinket too when he''s not suppose to.

[spaspy]

mcv57, no, the DUMBEST thing...stupidest isn''t a word! But, stupid is as "stoopid" does! All of you should be ashamed of yourselves! Don''t you know a terrorists 1st rule is "divide & conquer"? Stop dividing yourselves by these imbysillic arguments and childish name calling!! We are all Americans and all want the same thing! Peace and a healthy, happy life. Get over yourselves and grow up!

[downtowner97]

I love the amount. I can just see Bush sitting there, still struggling to grasp the plot of his favorite book, "My Pet Goat", and being asked how much to charge the Saudis for a huge shipment of weapons. He sets down his book and holds up 7 fingers and says "I''ve been president this many!!!". After being told that''s not the answer to the question, he happily blurts out "One, Two Three!!!", the state department then tells Saudi Arabia that the price is $123 million.

[downtowner97]

I want to see Bush in his flight suit wearing his Abdul Aziz medal. I want a poster of that on my wall. Please, Mr. President, I''m begging you! Just picture Franklin Delano Roosevelt standing in front of a camera grinning and wearing an Emperor Hirohito medal of honor.

You can tell this story is embarrassing Bush''s fans by the number of times Bill Clinton is mentioned in their posts. When the Bushies'' faces start to turn red, they name the red-faced man from Arkansas.

[ubrew12]

Bush to Americans:

Obvious dictatorship Saudi Arabia = our new best friend.

Faulty democracy Iran (still the closest thing to a democracy in the Arab world) = the TERROR THREAT of our future, best to bomb them NOW.

Oh, yeah, spreading democracy! One royal family at a time!

[fibonacci_]

You put your Jesus glasses on and you cant see anything.

[brianbwb-2009]

Lets have some real fun, let us follow the $123 million check, and see where the money ends up...

[downtowner97]

Bush gives arms to Saudis. Clinton gave arms to Saudis. The difference is that Bush is giving them arms AFTER 16 saudis attacked us on 9/11.

[fibonacci_]

Yea, they can restrict the rights of their citizens. They can sentence women to 200 lashes for being raped. But hey, Ill still buy their gas and sell them a hundred million dollars worth of weapons.

[worldview3]

I am so disappointed. So now who are we to tell any other countries who they are allowed to sell weapons to.

[shanev137]

Republican motto:

"Today''s allies are tomorrow''s terrorists"

[brianbwb-2009]

123 million to the guys who gave us the legendary "0/11 hijackers" and the neocons and the bible thumpers are saying "Amen"...

What planet are you blogging from?
Posted by red164

Red, you''ve been with us long enough, you ought to know by now that rick is from Klingon, (same as Texas) he just loves to hear of people dying at the hands of the US military. He needs no reason, it is the act itself he loves, but since there is no real reason he invents them to hide his sadistic predilection.