Saudis in talks to buy Eurofighters

A Saudi Arabia deeply irritated at a tidal wave of U.S. hostility that
Riyadh has characterised as a ‘feeding frenzy’ could retaliate by placing a
series of major arms contracts with European suppliers.

Senior executives at the consortium that builds the state-of-the-art
Eurofighter told Gulf News that the United Kingdom’s official Defence Export
Services Organisation (DESO) has started initial talks with the Saudis about
a possible sale of Eurofighters that could be worth billions of dollars. In
London, DESO flatly denies it.

Propelled by past U.S. reluctance to supply sophisticated weaponry that, in
theory, might strengthen the Arab position against America’s ally Israel,
the Saudis have already taken big steps into the European arms market.

The United Kingdom has been a major supplier under the Al Yamamah deal
covering Tornado fighter-bombers, Hawk trainers and warships, while France
has supplied frigates and AMX tanks and armoured personnel carriers. A
possible deal for 240 French Leclerc tanks, valued at $2 billion, is under
high-level discussion.

The United States nevertheless remains a crucial source of weaponry for
Saudi Arabia. The air force flies F-15 and F-16 fighters and the army
operates 765 American M1A2 Abrams and M60A3 main battle tanks.

Hawkish U.S. officials and journalists have been sharply attacking the
Saudis, going so far as to accuse them of effectively collaborating with Al
Qaida network.

Last month it was disclosed that the Bush administration was considering a
plan to give Riyadh 90 days to move against supporters of terrorism or face
unilateral U.S. action.

Saudi Arabia’s reluctance to allow U.S. forces to use its bases for an
invasion of Iraq is another gripe in Washington.

The Saudis are very reluctant to be drawn into a conflict whose motives are
as unclear as they are questionable.

This month, Saudi anger exploded very publicly, with Adel Al Jubeir, a
spokesman for Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia,
condemning what he termed a ‘feeding frenzy’ and ‘Let’s bash the Saudis
time’.

He said that by choosing so many Saudis to perpetrate the 11 September
hijackings, Bin Laden had been trying to drive a wedge between the two
countries. ‘And you know what? I think he almost succeeded’.

Al Jubeir added: ‘Bin Laden, if he’s dead, is laughing at them (U.S. critics
of the Saudis) from his grave. If he’s alive and sitting in his cave, he’s
doing the same thing’.

Steve / Touchdown-News

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Touchdown-News