I found this cryptic little blurb in a pay-for-view on-line service called "Tactical Report".
Graff
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani is said to be still showing determination to give priority to acquiring the Lockheed Martin F-35 JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) for the Qatari Air Force (QAF). The following 446-word report sheds light on the subject and tells what about the latest US-Qatari contacts on the aircraft in question.I didn't buy the "446-word" report, however I had heard rumors that Qatar was very interested in buying the fighter. This gives some credence to those rumors. It would also add another country to the growing list of those who see the F-35 as the fighter of their future.
Graff
Sell F-35 to our Asian allies and a few Euro's. Then call it a day. Here's why.
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt that the F-35 will be, in time, a legendary aircraft much like the F-16 or F-15. However its time to tap the breaks on where we sell this thing. Turkey is a real problem as they are inching, no walking towards close defense deals with China. China is the major oil importer for Middle Eastern Oil now and for decades to come. The United States is on a fast track to 100% dependence upon domestic oil and gas and that means our days of safeguarding the Middle East are ending. Besides why should we make Qatari Oil safe for China?
Long story short, the Arabs have always been friends of necessity and the necessity is almost over. Why sell them top shelf stuff that China will get their hands on as they supplant the US in the Middle East?
http://www.meforum.org/3653/china-middle-east
ReplyDeleteThis is a good read along the above lines.
Israel is one I forgot to mention as an ally worth keeping. Well this is tough. In the past Israel sold American derived technology to China and got slapped with sanctions. If the US can negotiate iron clad guarantees of Israeli co--operation with American objectives, I'd say go ahead with F-35's. If not, any we sell to Israel will ultimately be turned over for Chinese inspection and replication.
The times are changing and the speed is increasing. The age of Fracking is a revolutionary event and it's deriving a new world order. It can also be the means to drive US economic growth to historic highs and clear out the US Federal budget debt too. Just got to get on with it.