US approves $1.15 bn tank, weapons sale to Saudi: Pentagon

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: AFP

Washington (AFP) - The United States has approved the possible sale of up to 153 tanks, hundreds of machine guns and various other military gear to Saudi Arabia in a deal worth $1.15 billion, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Riyadh had requested the possible purchase of up to 133 American M1A1/A2 Abrams tanks that would be configured to Saudi needs, plus another 20 to replace damaged tanks in their fleet.

Additionally, the deal would include 153 .50-caliber machine guns, 266 7.62mm M240 machine guns, smoke grenade launchers, armored recovery vehicles and a range of other hardware.

The US State Department has approved the "possible" sale and notified Congress on Monday, the DSCA said. "This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic regional partner which has been and continues to be a leading contributor of political stability and economic progress in the Middle East," the DSCA said in a statement.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-approves-1-15-bn-tank-weapons-sale-195907765.html

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Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen food factory kill at least 14 people

More than a dozen people have been killed in Yemen after the Saudi-led coalition resumed airstrikes on the capital Sana’a, following the collapse of UN-brokered peace talks.

In the first such attacks since 11 April – when an often-violated ceasefire was put in place – coalition jets bombed a potato factory in the capital’s Nahda district on Tuesday, killing at least 14 people working there, mostly women.

The airstrikes came days after the suspension of inconclusive peace talks in Kuwait .

The factory targeted was situated inside an army maintenance camp. Firefighters scrambled to control the resulting blaze but were unable to rescue people inside the building. More than half of those killed are believed to be women. Abdullah al-Aqel, the factory director, said the death toll stood at 16, with more than 10 people injured.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/09/saudi-led-airstrikes-yemen-food-factory-kill-people

[get the red out]

1. Sickening

Just sickening, the Saudi human rights record alone should prevent this.

[villager]

2. That'll show 'em! nt

[Chasstev365]

3. The Saudis Play US like Violins

After 911, we should sell them NOTHING!

[jimmil]

4. The United States

Supplies almost 40% of the TOTAL world's arms on the vast military market. We are far ahead of 2nd place Russia. I am sure the United States is responsible for more deaths in the world than any 10 countries combined. We are death merchants.

[timlot]

5. Another bad deal under Hillary's watch.

Somehow.

[tom_kelly]

6. Holy shit! They're acting like us!

[bananas]

7. This is part of the Iran nuclear deal. nt