Rand Paul: F-16 Sales to Egypt 'A Mistake that Could Haunt Us' Do you trust Egypt with F-16 planes ?
CAPISCE
2013/01/26 13:33:31
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Sen. Rand Paul is calling the U.S. sale of 16 advanced F-16 fighter jets to Egypt "a huge mistake" that could come back to "haunt" America in the years ahead, depending on the direction Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi takes his country.
" I think it's a huge mistake," the Kentucky Republican told Fox News' Greta Van Susteren Thursday night.
" I think there's a potential that it elevates an arms race, and what we give to Egypt, Israel wants more or needs more to defend themselves," Paul continued. "And I think there's a risk. President Morsi's had words . . . calling those who are in favor of Israel, calling them bloodsuckers, and apes, and descendants of pigs. I'd be a little bit concerned about arming a person who had that kind of language.
"I'm also concerned that these are weapons that could come back to haunt us," Paul added, recalling how the United States helped arm Osama bin Laden in the 1980s when he was part of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan.
I'm not sure exactly what would happen, necessarily," he said. But he added that they would likely be willing to negotiate.
What would the U.S. ask for in return for planes? "I would say to them, 'Maybe you should protect our embassy. Maybe you shouldn't let hordes of people jump on top of our embassy and burn our flag and chant death to America."
"I would condition money and anything we give to them on good behavior. And I don't think we've been getting good behavior from Egypt," he added.
Paul acknowledged, however, that Egypt has the potential to play a broader role in helping to stabilize the Middle East and still controls the important Suez canal.
"I'm not for . . . saying we have no relations with Egypt. I'm for friendly relations with Egypt. And as friendly as they want to be to us, we should be," he said. "But you don't always have to buy friends and you don't always have to arm friends.
" I think it's a huge mistake," the Kentucky Republican told Fox News' Greta Van Susteren Thursday night.
" I think there's a potential that it elevates an arms race, and what we give to Egypt, Israel wants more or needs more to defend themselves," Paul continued. "And I think there's a risk. President Morsi's had words . . . calling those who are in favor of Israel, calling them bloodsuckers, and apes, and descendants of pigs. I'd be a little bit concerned about arming a person who had that kind of language.
"I'm also concerned that these are weapons that could come back to haunt us," Paul added, recalling how the United States helped arm Osama bin Laden in the 1980s when he was part of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan.
I'm not sure exactly what would happen, necessarily," he said. But he added that they would likely be willing to negotiate.
What would the U.S. ask for in return for planes? "I would say to them, 'Maybe you should protect our embassy. Maybe you shouldn't let hordes of people jump on top of our embassy and burn our flag and chant death to America."
"I would condition money and anything we give to them on good behavior. And I don't think we've been getting good behavior from Egypt," he added.
Paul acknowledged, however, that Egypt has the potential to play a broader role in helping to stabilize the Middle East and still controls the important Suez canal.
"I'm not for . . . saying we have no relations with Egypt. I'm for friendly relations with Egypt. And as friendly as they want to be to us, we should be," he said. "But you don't always have to buy friends and you don't always have to arm friends.
Top Opinion
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Icanbean Arschloch 2013/01/26 15:03:23
obama is trying to follow in his foot-steps... "I am the Leader, What I say is LAW... Any and all who disagree shall pay the price"
I agree with you.....just seems like it would be a no vote considering you wouldn't be giving them hardware.
the loser could not bs me so he blocked me
As for the Keystone pipeline, as I understand it, Texas refineries intend to export to the Asian market. This supposedly reduces our trade deficit, but not really. It just makes us more dependent upon global trade incidentally enabled by petroleum. The leaders of both political parties are beholden to business interests who only care about money.