U.S. arms for Saudi oil?

HERALD SUN CAPTION: Arabian knights: President Bush's car is escorted by riders as he arrives at the guest palace in Riyadh. Picture: AFP

UPDATED BELOW

The Herald Sun in Australia reports an arms deal with Saudi Arabia "to counter Iran's growing military clout." Snip:

Just hours after [Bush's] arrival for the first time in Riyadh, the US Administration said it had notified Congress of its intention to offer the Saudis a controversial package of advanced weaponry as part of a multi-billion-dollar deal with Gulf Arab allies.

Precision-guided bomb kits, or "smart bombs", would give the country's armed forces highly accurate targeting abilities.

[Keep reading... more after the jump.]

But the deal has raised concerns in Israel and among some of its allies about the military balance of power in the region.

The sale appeared to be part of Mr Bush's effort to persuade Saudi Arabia, one of the Arab world's most influential states, to help contain Iran and offset what he has branded a danger to world security.

USAToday headline announces, "Saudis rebuff Bush's call for increases in oil production." Bush had requested that OPEC "increase the supply of oil in hopes of lowering gas prices and avoiding a U.S. recession." What did the Saudis say?

...Saudi Arabia's oil minister said such action would be premature.

"We will raise production when the market justifies it," says Ali Al-Naimi, minister of petroleum and mineral resources for the world's largest oil-producing nation.

Bloomberg News added:

Saudi Arabia has held back about 2 million barrels a day of oil that could be supplied to the market if needed, Naimi said.

And so the horse trading begins. Was the Strait of Hormuz kerfuffle with Iran -- which turned out to be a hoax -- fronted as justification for a U.S.-Saudi arms deal to ultimately cajole more oil out of OPEC? I dunno but all of this smells...greasy.

UPDATE: Via Iran Nuclear Watch:

Yesterday, the Bush administration initiated the formal 30-day notification process for the proposed sale of 900 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) to Saudi Arabia. In response, my colleagues Travis Sharp and Katie Mounts released a report they have been working on for some time arguing that the administration continues to use deadly technologies as the flawed currency of friendship with foreign nations.

The report concludes that instead of working with countries to improve political freedom, the $20 billion sale rewards an oppressive Saudi monarchy whose human rights record has not met expectations of improvement following the accession to the throne of King Abdullah in August 2005.

Report available from the Center for Arms Control and Non-proliferation.

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At the end of the day

If only the mainstream press had exhibited the same foresight as Manifesto Joe in reporting the incident with Iran. But, noooooo... they jumped for Bush. Amy Goodman interviewed historian and national security expert Gareth Porter about the Case of the Yapping Lapdogs, the Pentagon, and the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking of fakery, Faux News' John Gibson kinda implies that Tweety is more sexist than he. What's the difference between a super duper sexist and super shrill misogynist? Tell us in comments.

The election of real Democrats: "Mark Pera goes up against corrupt establishment Democrat Dan Lipinski" in Illinois.

Dday offers more on Pera along with the Maryland match-up between Rep. Al Wynn and challenger Donna Edwards. Go Donna! Plus, another Illinois contest, fighting progressive John Laesch vs. "Rahm Emanuel-backed" Bill Foster.

On the eve of the Michigan primary, Mitt 27%, McCain 22%, and Huck 16%, according to the Detroit Free Press. McClatchy/MSNBC puts Romney at 30%, McCain at 22, and Huck at the bottom of the top three with 17%.

[That's all....No more after the jump.]

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