1. Even the UN Nuclear Watchdog says that at this moment there is no evidence that they are developing Nukes. Look at what happened to Saddam Hussein even after he allowed all sorta inspections ?

2. Clerics in the Arab World issue more fatwas than any Ayatollah. And for far sillier reasons as well.

3. And the Saudis do not do that ? The Wahabi laws are much worse than Ayattollah ones.

4. Yes evil Iranians fighting the good Saddam Hussein at the time….And God fearing Mujahedeen brotheren fighting Evil Commies.

Iran is not innocent/perfect place to be, but its a lot more open even now than the Sauids who get off easily because they are allied. Look at the number of terrorists in wanted list and tell me how many are from Iran and how many are from Saudi/ Arab world.

1) Wrong on this count, UN now suspect Iran may be developing weapons
2) Saudia issues more Fatwas then Iran? That is the basis of Iran being more tolerant? VERY flawed argument here….
3)I dont want to get into whose laws are more repressive, I dont really care, but will settle for the fact people still get whipped and ordered to be stoned to death in Iran. As this also happens in SA, does not make Iran more better
4) Does not matter who they were fighting, why bring in other wars. My point is they attacked innocent shipping. Not the sign of a stable power.

Of course SA gets let off the hook by the Yanks. No dount about that. It does not make Iran a nice guy.

Iran is one of the most dicatorial states in the world. Arguing otherwise seems insane.

Iranians being Persians have a different culture. Iran may hate the U.S after the revolution but their cultural roots mean that majority of the population do not hate western culture, movies etc. like many fundamentalists in the Arab world does. The people of Iran also have more freedoms than those of Saudi Arabia. And it is also very clear they do not harbor terror like Arab counties (against the will of their governments). Actually Iran itself suffers from terrorism who has their bases across their Pakistan border.

Iran basically wants its cut in the geo-politics of the region. It want to be recogonized as a major player in the middle east and want to further exert its influence. I think in the long term Iranians will be a stabilizing force.

A Middle East with a powerful Iran and Israel along with Turkey calling the shots will be better than what we have now.

Wow! You must know a very different Iran to the one the rest of us do.
I suppose in your rosy little world the Ahotollahs have no power nor the revolutionary guard.

People get massacared at demonstrations in Iran. Saudia Arabia may not be the most liberal of places, but they do not

1) Try and fool the world into not thinking they are developing nuclear weapons
2) Make threats to almost everyone they oppose
3) Engage in massive internal suppression to the point of extra-judicial killings
4) These guys engaged in a 8 year war with Iraq where they attacked NEUTRAL shipping

I am not here to defend the records of Arab states, but lets please not pretend Iran is an innocent here.

Well, even 24 aircraft is double their current strength

Dont see what Qatar hosting Al Jeezera has to do with anything….

Qatar Seeks Up to 40 Fighter Jets

LONDON – Qatar has asked a number of leading manufacturers to respond with proposals for an upgrade of its fighter fleet near the end of this month.

This latest battle for supremacy in the Gulf fighter market is likely to involve BAE Systems with the Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing offering the F/A-18 E/F, Dassault with its Rafale, Lockheed Martin with the F-16 and Saab offering the Gripen NG. It is not clear whether other manufacturers will submit proposals.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4713226&c=FEA&s=CVS

This is a massive leap for QEAF. From 12 Mirage F-1s to 12 Mirages 2000s to 40 new fighters. Should expect to see France push hard to win this, yet basing of US forces in Qatar and US nature of GCC air defence network may see it go to America…

Mods. Can we start seeing the difference between positive contributions and people flaming now?

Predator approved for Pakistan

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., the privately held maker of Predator drones, said it has won U.S. approval for an export version of the unmanned plane that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are interested in buying.

“There’s interest from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates,” Frank Pace, president of the Poway, California-based company, said in an interview at the Farnborough Air Show near London today. The U.S. recently approved the company’s request for an unarmed version of the Predator drone for export to countries beyond the NATO block, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, Pace said.

The company may sell as many as 100 of the so-called Predator XP models that is approved for export, Pace said. General Atomics has sold about 435 Predator series of drones. The average price of the plane ranges from about $4 million for the basic model to about $15 million for the latest Avenger version, according to spokeswoman Kimberly Kasitz.

“Saudi Arabia is a huge country and if they want to cover the country well they alone could get 50 aircraft,” Pace said.

The export version of the Predator, based on the model used by the U.S. Army and the Air Force, will lack the ability to carry weapons and will be designed only for surveillance and reconnaissance missions, Pace said.

General Atomics also builds the Predator B model with extended range and a newly launched Predator C or Avenger version that can evade enemy radar. Boeing Co., Northrop Grumman Corp., and Lockheed Martin Corp., also make unmanned air vehicles used by the U.S. military for surveillance and armed missions.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-07-20/general-atomics-gets-approval-to-sell-drones-to-pakistan-egypt.html

The United States to Accord Pakistan Priority Status for Excess Defense Articles

After the bilateral Strategic Dialogue meeting in Islamabad today, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that the U.S. has accorded Pakistan priority status for the allocation of U.S. excess defense articles.

The Administration will seek legislative authorization to include Pakistan as a priority country for the delivery of excess defense articles in accordance with Pakistan’s status as a Major Non-NATO Ally. This action demonstrates the continuing commitment of the United States to support Pakistan’s security forces.
The Secretary’s announcement builds on other recent military equipment transfers aimed at supporting Pakistani counterinsurgency efforts in the border regions. In June 2010, three of 18 F-16 aircraft purchased by Pakistan were delivered to the Pakistan Air Force, with the remaining 15 scheduled for delivery by January 2011.
Since 2001, the United States has provided more than $12 billion to Pakistan in security assistance, training and equipment, and Coalition Support Fund (CSF) reimbursements (which total $8.1 billion).

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/07/144821.htm