How to treat Turkey
Michael Rubin argues that the United States ought to be treating Turkey - and particularly when it comes to arms sales -
like Saudi Arabia or Egypt.
The question for American policymakers now is how to balance Turkey’s appetite for weaponry against the increasing likelihood Turkey will use such weapons for offense rather than defense. When it comes to arms sales to Arab countries, the United States guarantees how to balance their legitimate defense needs (against Iran, for example), with Israel’s need to maintain a qualitative military edge. While Turkey is a member of NATO, not every NATO member is entitled to an unlimited arsenal. It may be time for the Congress and the Pentagon to consider Turkey in the same category as Saudi Arabia or Egypt.
Actually, I'd put them in the same category as Syria and Iran - and Egypt is heading that way too.
Read the whole thing.
Labels: arms sales, Egypt, Iran, NATO, Qualitative Military Edge, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey
Israel sought to block military sales to Saudi Arabia
We were told that Israel
would not seek to block that $60 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia because there was no point to trying. Now, thanks to Wikileaks, we know that we were
told wrong (Hat Tip:
Martin Kramer). This cable that summarizes a meeting that took place on November 17, 2009 at which Israel did try to block arms sales to Saudi Arabia. It was something called the Executive Session of the 40th Joint Political Military Group (JPMG) and the discussion was about maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge (QME).
4. (S) The GOI continued to express concern over the F-15 sale to Saudi Arabia. U.S. participants noted that the USG is unable to provide more detailed information about the sale until Saudi Arabia officially sends a Letter of Request (LOR). The GOI expressed additional concerns about stationing these new aircraft at Tabuk airfield in the northwest corner of Saudi Arabia -- close to the Israeli border. U.S. participants stated the USG understanding that this should not be an issue, as the Saudis are considering stationing new Typhoon aircraft at Tabuk. The GOI also raised AMRAAM sales to Jordan; U.S. participants explained that the new C-7 AMRAAM is an export version with capabilities similar to the C-5 version -- and therefore provides little to no increase in capabilities.
Hmmm.
Labels: Qualitative Military Edge, Saudi arms package, Wikileaks
Michael Rubin argues that the United States ought to be treating Turkey - and particularly when it comes to arms sales - like Saudi Arabia or Egypt. 
