LaxPower Back-Up Stick

Israel's accord.

https://flip.it/c8SzIz

Matnum PI wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 1:57 pm Israel's accord.

https://flip.it/c8SzIz

Fingers crossed that this will provide some positive momentum, regardless of who is in power in US and Israel next year.

Palestinians are PO'd

Israelis are not happy that part of the DOPUS plan is to sell F-35 stealth fighters to UAE and Bahrain which would render much of the Israeli air defense systems a lot less effective than they are today. Bibi, of course, wants his cake and to eat it, too. Another Trump sycophant.

Additionally, while Netanyahu was speaking in DC, sirens sounded in the Israeli cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod, indicating possible rocket fire from militants in the nearby Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the Israeli army.

They are NOT signing any peace treaties.

That is most certainly clear. This accord has done nothing good for relations between Israel and the Palestinians. This accord is about $, not peace, not stability. Just business. Which, as Kismet is touching on, is not good for Israel. But I would love to be wrong.

Kismet wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:10 pm Israelis are not happy that part of the DOPUS plan is to sell F-35 stealth fighters to UAE and Bahrain which would render much of the Israeli air defense systems a lot less effective than they are today. Bibi, of course, wants his cake and to eat it, too. Another Trump sycophant.

Additionally, while Netanyahu was speaking in DC, sirens sounded in the Israeli cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod, indicating possible rocket fire from militants in the nearby Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the Israeli army.

They are NOT signing any peace treaties.

No peace treaties, because there really has not been a state of war between UAE and Bahrain, ever. So while that has not happened, you do at least have the diplomatic openings.

But within the Trumpist camp, there is a whole lot of "Middle East peace" talk that is unwarranted at this point. What has happened is a good, positive development, but in some sense is picking off the lowest hanging fruit, and selling it as a giant deal (I wonder who likes to do that?). Timed very well for the political season, of course.

It's very big, positive development.

Score one for Team Trump. Well done.

Kismet wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:10 pm Israelis are not happy that part of the DOPUS plan is to sell F-35 stealth fighters to UAE and Bahrain which would render much of the Israeli air defense systems a lot less effective than they are today. Bibi, of course, wants his cake and to eat it, too. Another Trump sycophant.

Is this in the works? Source?

it's spoken to within the Original Post/Piece.

a fan wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:50 pm It's very big, positive development.

Score one for Team Trump. Well done.

a more accurate post would be:

It's a positive development.
Score one for Team Trump. Well done.

Matnum PI wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 3:17 pm

a fan wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:50 pm It's very big, positive development.

Score one for Team Trump. Well done.

a more accurate post would be:

It's a positive development.
Score one for Team Trump. Well done.

It is a very big, positive development.

UAE & Bahrain are 2 of the 3 most advanced, progressive, forward looking Arab states (Qatar being the 3rd).

It's big strategically, since Bahrain is our Persian Gulf naval base, homeport & 5th Fleet HQ.
UAE hosts one of our 2 major air bases in the region. Qatar hosts the other.

If Trump's re-elected, he'll bring in Oman, Sudan, Kuwait, Qatar & eventually Saudi Arabia, in an Arab version of NATO, to deter & contain Iranian expansionism & terrorism.

If Biden wins, it will all be for naught, as he & the EUroburghers grovel their way back to the JCPOA table to finance resurgent Iranian terrorism.

This news was NBC’s 12th piece tonight.

Media are neutral though.

old salt wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:22 pm

Matnum PI wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 3:17 pm

a fan wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:50 pm It's very big, positive development.

Score one for Team Trump. Well done.

a more accurate post would be:

It's a positive development.
Score one for Team Trump. Well done.

It is a very big, positive development.

UAE & Bahrain are 2 of the 3 most advanced, progressive, forward looking Arab states (Qatar being the 3rd).

It's big strategically, since Bahrain is our Persian Gulf naval base, homeport & 5th Fleet HQ.
UAE hosts one of our 2 major air bases in the region. Qatar hosts the other.
The UAE has the most capable Arab air force, having funded development of the F-15X which carries an enormous weapons load & can link with the stealthy F-35, in pairs. It's the same F-35/F-15 mix that the USAF & IAF are pursuing. If Israeli & UAE F-35s are in the sky together, it will most likely be as allies with the US, against Iran.

If Trump's re-elected, he'll bring in Oman, Sudan, Kuwait, Qatar & eventually Saudi Arabia, in an Arab version of NATO, to deter & contain Iranian expansionism & terrorism.

If Biden wins, it will all be for naught, as he & the EUroburghers grovel their way back to the JCPOA table to finance resurgent Iranian terrorism.

Well said. And as Red added, the "diplomatic opportunities" are there for further deals.

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 6:46 pm This news was NBC’s 12th piece tonight.

Media are neutral though.

How many Americans can find UAE on a map, Pete?

Gee, ya think that's why it wasn't the opening story?

Naaaah. Conspiracy.

old salt wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:22 pm If Biden wins, it will all be for naught, as he & the EUroburghers grovel their way back to the JCPOA table to finance resurgent Iranian terrorism.

Oh, for heaven's same, OS.

Turns out, btw, that US intel on Iranian nuclear development was wrong-----again. The problem wasn't Obama. It was intel.

If the intel said: they're YEARS away from getting a bomb? Totally different ballgame, and Obama ignores the problem, just as Bush did.

This is the second serious, horrible mistake US Intel has made in this region in 20 years.

old salt wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 4:22 pm

Matnum PI wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 3:17 pm

a fan wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:50 pm It's very big, positive development.

Score one for Team Trump. Well done.

a more accurate post would be:

It's a positive development.
Score one for Team Trump. Well done.

It is a very big, positive development.

UAE & Bahrain are 2 of the 3 most advanced, progressive, forward looking Arab states (Qatar being the 3rd).

It's big strategically, since Bahrain is our Persian Gulf naval base, homeport & 5th Fleet HQ.
UAE hosts one of our 2 major air bases in the region. Qatar hosts the other.
The UAE has the most capable Arab air force, having funded development of the F-15X which carries an enormous weapons load & can link with the stealthy F-35, in pairs. It's the same F-35/F-15 mix that the USAF & IAF are pursuing. If Israeli & UAE F-35s are in the sky together, it will most likely be as allies with the US, against Iran.

If Trump's re-elected, he'll bring in Oman, Sudan, Kuwait, Qatar & eventually Saudi Arabia, in an Arab version of NATO, to deter & contain Iranian expansionism & terrorism.

If Biden wins, it will all be for naught, as he & the EUroburghers grovel their way back to the JCPOA table to finance resurgent Iranian terrorism.

As usual, you completely miss the big picture. Normalizing relations between Israel and Arab nations is a positive development and should be encouraged.

However, the idea of forming a Gulf-centered “NATO” is insane. Absolutely insane.

First, all those nations you list are autocratic regimes. Signing agreements for U.S. military bases is one thing, but selling those same autocratic regimes the most advanced weapons system in the U.S. armamentarium is reckless. Just ask Israel. The Pentagon certainly hasn’t signed off on such a sale (and shouldn’t).

Second, if you (or that moron, Trump) think that the United States would lead such a Gulf “NATO”, then you are completely delusional. MBS, the murderous, genocidal, sociopathic tyrant who is the de facto King of Saudi Arabia, would lead that “NATO”, and there is no way the United States should further empower that destabilizing psychopath.

Third, you seem happy to abandon the real NATO comprised of democratic nations while embracing a new NATO of autocratic regimes. That is really twisted.

Fourth, if you think Israel and the UAE will be merrily flying F35s together against Iran, then you are completely off your rockers. Selling F35s to Gulf nations will only encourage a regional arms race, and that in no way is good for the United States. The Gulf nations hardly agree on everything, and there’s no good reason to give them F35s to raise the stakes.

Trump doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s buying these agreements with F35s (UAE, Bahrain) and promises of political support (Netanyahu, who reportedly never briefed his own foreign minister and chief of staff on the contents of these agreements https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/mi ... story.html ).

Normalization of relations? Good.

Sales of F35s and a Gulf “NATO”? Reckless idiocy.

DocBarrister

DocBarrister wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:18 pmNormalization of relations? Good.

Sales of F35s and a Gulf “NATO”? Reckless idiocy.

DocBarrister

It's much better to fly in $1.7B in cash to Iran.

An alliance with Arab autocracies, formed to contain an Iranian autocratic theocracy that is bent on regional domination, destabilization & sponsorship of terrorist proxies.

Arab rulers like those in UAE, Bahrain, Qatar & even Saudi Arabia, are moving in the right direction compared to the Iranian theocracy & their IRGC enforcers & exporters of terrorism.

old salt wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 11:27 pm

DocBarrister wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:18 pmNormalization of relations? Good.

Sales of F35s and a Gulf “NATO”? Reckless idiocy.

DocBarrister

It's much better to fly in $1.7B in cash to Iran.

An alliance with Arab autocracies, formed to contain an Iranian autocratic theocracy that is bent on regional domination, destabilization & sponsorship of terrorist proxies.

Arab rulers like those in UAE, Bahrain, Qatar & even Saudi Arabia, are moving in the right direction compared to the Iranian theocracy & their IRGC enforcers & exporters of terrorism.

Details of the $1.7B transfer to Iran required by international courts and a negotiated treaty, including the legal reason why the payment was made in physical non-US currency and not by wire transfer. Recall the pallet of money was part of the “proof” that the transfer was shady.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/fortune.co ... -iran/amp/

old salt wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 11:27 pm

DocBarrister wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:18 pmNormalization of relations? Good.

Sales of F35s and a Gulf “NATO”? Reckless idiocy.

DocBarrister

It's much better to fly in $1.7B in cash to Iran.

An alliance with Arab autocracies, formed to contain an Iranian autocratic theocracy that is bent on regional domination, destabilization & sponsorship of terrorist proxies.

Arab rulers like those in UAE, Bahrain, Qatar & even Saudi Arabia, are moving in the right direction compared to the Iranian theocracy & their IRGC enforcers & exporters of terrorism.

MBS had an American permanent resident (in plain English, an American) murdered and chopped up in pieces. You’re going to trust a psychopath like that to lead a Gulf “NATO” armed with the most advanced fighter jets in the world? You can’t be serious.

DocBarrister

DocBarrister wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2020 12:37 am

old salt wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 11:27 pm

DocBarrister wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:18 pmNormalization of relations? Good.

Sales of F35s and a Gulf “NATO”? Reckless idiocy.

DocBarrister

It's much better to fly in $1.7B in cash to Iran.

An alliance with Arab autocracies, formed to contain an Iranian autocratic theocracy that is bent on regional domination, destabilization & sponsorship of terrorist proxies.

Arab rulers like those in UAE, Bahrain, Qatar & even Saudi Arabia, are moving in the right direction compared to the Iranian theocracy & their IRGC enforcers & exporters of terrorism.

MBS had an American permanent resident (in plain English, an American) murdered and chopped up in pieces. You’re going to trust a psychopath like that to lead a Gulf “NATO” armed with the most advanced fighter jets in the world? You can’t be serious.

DocBarrister

No, I'm going to trust the US to lead it, just as we currently lead our alliance with the Gulf Arab states, which includes Saudi Arabia, as we have for the past 3 decades.

Selling the F-35 to the UAE is a far different thing than selling it to Saudi Arabia, but apparently all Arabs are the same to you.

SCLaxAttack wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 11:45 pm

old salt wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 11:27 pm

DocBarrister wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:18 pmNormalization of relations? Good.

Sales of F35s and a Gulf “NATO”? Reckless idiocy.

DocBarrister

It's much better to fly in $1.7B in cash to Iran.

An alliance with Arab autocracies, formed to contain an Iranian autocratic theocracy that is bent on regional domination, destabilization & sponsorship of terrorist proxies.

Arab rulers like those in UAE, Bahrain, Qatar & even Saudi Arabia, are moving in the right direction compared to the Iranian theocracy & their IRGC enforcers & exporters of terrorism.

Details of the $1.7B transfer to Iran required by international courts and a negotiated treaty, including the legal reason why the payment was made in physical non-US currency and not by wire transfer. Recall the pallet of money was part of the “proof” that the transfer was shady.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/fortune.co ... -iran/amp/

Salty doesn't care...