So the U.S. is offering to provide nuclear technology to the government of Iran which has a president who advocates that Israel be wiped off the map. :confused:

Sauron

It would also appear that the Tiger recon helicopter is a bit of a dud as well. Maybe the army will have to sue France for development costs.

Sauron

Interesting thread and great pictures.

I have to agree. The two seat Rafale is the ugly sister. There is simply not enough fuselage to accomodate the second seat without destroying the upper lines of the aircraft. The M2000 is hands down better looking that the Rafale.

This applies to the Typhoon as well, which simply starts out homely and gets positively ugly when the second seat is added.

The shape of the F-18 on the other hand, accomodates the second seat rather gracefully which is no suprise given the utility of the Hornet.

Sauron

Don’t any of you worry about the F-22.

The first time there is a war game with non U.S. forces, they will be slaughted! 😉

Sauron

I understand that the UK firm Doncasters Group has just agreed to be taken over by Dubai International Capital. Dubai firms seem to be on a buying spree and it looks like they aren’t detered by the fuss in the U.S. about the aborted (?) deal to buy the U.K. company that manages six of the largest U.S. Atlantic seaboard ports.

In any event, assuming this deal is for real, it would be interesting to know to what degree Doncasters is involved with performing engineering work for UK firms involved in F-35 development and production, if at all. Apparently Doncasters has longstanding relationships with many companies directly involved in F-35 development including RR, Honeywell, GE. etc.

Could be that reported disagreements over the technogy transfers, security, etc are more of an issue than we know. Given the political outcry in the U.S. Congress over the ports deal, can you imagine it’s reaction to the possibility that an Arab owned company has any significant role in the F-35 program? An Arab company from a country that recognized and financially supported the Taliban and from which two of the 9/11 attackers came from.

I am not certain if there is anything to this…..but.

Sauron

actually, a considerable (if not the largest) amount of those opposing the deal were actually other Republicans.

I am not aware of the exact numbers but yes you are correct, a large number were. Due to the “security” issue which is where GOP policy gets strong support with the voters, the Republican members are afraid to take support for the ports deal into the Nov elections. It’s not unusual for the U.S. executive branch to be at odds with the two branches of the U.S. congress.

What is most astounding about this issue is the fact that no one is making a fuss about the fact that most of the major ports are already managed by foreign owned firms.

Is the nationality of the management of european ports an issue (in Europe) by the way, or are they all public?

Sauron

Jbrichford

I tend to agree with you but it is difficult to draw the line.

The DPW purchase of U.S. ports was interesting. The U.S. lamestream media played up the security issues mainly because they dislike GWB. The politicans who are thinking ahead to the 2006 Nov election cycle, joined in and the public got hysterical. You are aware that the seller was a U.K. firm and that the majority of major U.S. ports are (already) managed (not owned) by foreign companies based in Singapore, PRC,etc. Those deals were all pre 9/11 of course.

A potent mix of conflicting interests. Free trade, capitalism, respecting allies, loyalty, racism, terrorism, security concerns, politics, etc. It look like the deal will not go through now as the DPW is looking at another deal.

Interesting that GWB had no personal involment in the approval of the sale as such matters are handled by federal agencies. He sopported the deal, however, and argued that security would not be endangered simply because the port business management would have been handled why an Arab company. He pointed out that USN ships use the UAE ports and have been good allies and that opposing it would seen as racist. Perhaps this is evidence that he is simply more broadminded than most people and sees the big picture. 🙂

Regards

Sauron