The Arab countries purchase weapons from the United States. We need weapons to defend ourselves against enemies, but… There is always a ‘but'. The Congressional Research Service shows that Egypt was the largest purchaser of U.S weapons between 2001 and 2004, followed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while Kuwait was the eighth largest buyer. Saudi Arabia then became the largest buyer between 2005 and 2008, followed by the UAE, and then Egypt (4th largest buyer), Iraq (6th) and Morocco (10th). According to news reports this month, Saudi Arabia will purchase 84 American-made F-15 fighter jets, to be delivered over ten years with a cost of 30 billion dollars (it currently has 150 fighters of this type). Saudi Arabia will also purchase 132 Apache attack helicopters, and other combat helicopters (Blackhawks), which will also cost 30 billion dollars bringing the total value of the deal to 60 billion dollars. It is no question that Saudi Arabia needs a formidable military capacity to defend itself, as it is the focus of both the East's and the West's greed, while its oil is the cornerstone of the world economy. I was pleased to hear about this deal until ‘but' entered the subject: I read in the Israeli press several news items regarding a deal between Israel and the United States, whereby Israel would purchase 20 F-35 Lightning-2 fighters, the fifth generation of this aircraft that have a stealth ability, carry high-precision bombs and can penetrate the most advanced air defense systems in service today. The value of the U.S-Israeli deal is 2.75 billion dollars, which will surely be covered by the U.S military assistance program for Israel (the Egyptian military acquisitions are also funded by the U.S military assistance to Egypt). It is foolish to ask Saudi Arabia or all the Arab countries combined to put pressure on the United States to halt its sales of F-35s to Israel, because that would never happen. Hence, I will overlook this and ask for what is instead possible, which is that Saudi Arabia and any capable Arab country, such as the UAE and Kuwait, ask for weapons that are equally advanced as any U.S weapons acquired by Israel. Arab states pay for the weapons they purchase from the United States, while Israel is offered these weapons as a gift. Meanwhile, Egypt receives U.S weapons as a price for the peace treaty, and hence, this falls under the U.S military gifts to Israel. In truth, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia needs no one in this world. Instead, it is the world that needs Saudi oil exports, which are higher than the local economy requires. Moreover, Saudi Arabia has the largest state aid-to-GDP ratio in the world allocated to poor countries, aid that is not just aimed for Arab countries. What I mean to say is that Saudi Arabia is in the strongest position to acquire any weapons it needs from the United States, as it pays for them in cash while Israel robs the U.S taxpayer despite the financial crisis, all thanks to the Israeli-aligned U.S Congress that has been bought and pocketed by the lobby. I even read in the Israeli press that Israel manufactures the wings of the American F-16 fighter jet, and that as a result of this deal the Israeli military industry gains one hundred million dollars annually. In other words, not only does Israel receive American weapons for free, it also steals from the revenues of the U.S companies that manufacture them. What is as important as the above is that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not occupy another people's lands, has no significant border disputes, and does not have any ambitions in the lands or resources of neighboring countries. Subsequently, its weapons are for the defense against the ambitions of other countries. In contrast, Israel is a fascist occupation state that snatched the lands of the Palestinians, and continues to do so today, in addition to enforcing a barbaric occupation that murders women and children, engages in destruction and commits Nazi-like crimes. Hence, the weapons Israel receives are used to continue committing crimes that the whole world has condemned. One last point: I read in the yellow Israeli press objections against the Saudi deal which cited that the terrorists in the attacks of 11/9/2001 were Saudis. I want to say here that it was Israel that spawned these terrorists with its ongoing crimes against the Arabs and Muslims. Also, these terrorists have attacked Saudi Arabia before attacking the United States. I also read that Saudi Arabia is arming itself against Iran. Here, I would like to put it on the record that [I believe] that Saudi Arabia will not be involved in a war with Iran, and will never allow its territories to be used in such a war. I accept to be held accountable for these statements in the future. Saudi Arabia is arming itself to protect its peace, while Israel is arming itself to continue its wars. [email protected]
