Putin Meets Top Saudi Official As Russia Eyes Arms Sale

[Purveyor]

MOSCOW (AFP) -- Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz held talks here Friday with President Vladimir Putin expected to pave the way for the first purchase of Russian weapons by the kingdom, a close U.S. ally.

Greeting the crown prince at the Kremlin, Putin said discussions would address a range of an international issues, while the prince described Russia as a ""friend"", news agencies reported.

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A Russian diplomat in Riyadh, speaking earlier this week, said he expected the Moscow talks to produce a ""framework agreement for military cooperation"" that would open the way for Saudi Arabia to buy Russian arms.

Speaking earlier this year after Putin visited Riyadh, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said the desert kingdom was in talks with Russia over the possible purchase of Russian weapons.

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Saudi Arabia has traditionally purchased U.S. and other western military equipment but has signaled that it is looking at other suppliers to diversify its arsenal.

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http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=157785

[Purveyor]

1. Also consider: U.S. Opposition Rises to Mideast Arms Sale

Opponents of a $20 billion weapon sale to six Middle Eastern countries are gaining ground in the U.S. House of Representatives, but they remain short of enough votes to stop the deal.

Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., said nearly 250 House members have signed two letters opposing the arms sale. While that’s more than enough to pass a “resolution of disapproval” to block the sale, it is not enough to override a presidential veto of the resolution.

Kirk and Rep. Christopher Carney, D-Pa., gathered 188 signatures on a Nov. 15 letter warning President George W. Bush that they may oppose selling satellite-guidance kits for bombs to Saudi Arabia.

The pair said they have “serious concerns” that the precision guidance kits could “fall into the wrong hands” and be used against U.S. troops in the Middle East or against Israel.
The letter attracted supporters as diverse as liberal Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and conservative Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C.

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Kirk and Carney told Bush that “the administration must guarantee to Congress’ satisfaction that selling JDAMs to Saudi Arabia will not harm U.S. forces or our democratic ally Israel. Without such assurances, we will oppose the sale.”

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http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=3197959&C=mideast

[MadMaddie]

2. So let me get this straight....The US is selling Arms to Saudi Arabia

Russia is selling Arms to Saudi Arabia....Bin Laden has supporters in Saudi Arabia? Am I missing something here....the weapons will go straight to terrorist....WTF is wrong with these people...and why isn't there more opposition?

They are setting the US up to get hammered again....WTF?