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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: GROUND ZERO™ who wrote (745144)	7/12/2006 8:04:53 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

"I don't think their missiles are worth much right now," Actually... there's a pretty large market for their missile right now... They sold systems and designs to Pakistan and to Iran already.... "right now, we can take them out with little effort or cost..." REALLY? (When you say "take them out" what are you talking about? Their long range missiles, their nuclear bomb-making or research facilities [mostly underground, I understand... and some that we are not even sure where they are...], or WHAT?) And, as far as "cost" you are assuming that they won't shoot back at Japan and South Korea and especially our military based there, right? What makes you think that?

To: GROUND ZERO™ who wrote (745144)	7/13/2006 3:13:47 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Respond to of 769670

Rep. Asks to Halt F - 16 Sale to Pakistan July 13, 2006 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 11:53 a.m. ET nytimes.com WASHINGTON (AP) -- A senior Democratic lawmaker has asked the Bush administration to withdraw its offer to sell $5 billion worth of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, saying the deal raises security worries. The action by Rep. Tom Lantos of California, the top Democrat on the House International Relations Committee, apparently led to the postponement of a congressional hearing Thursday to examine the jet sale. Lantos told administration officials that he and other lawmakers, including committee chairman Henry Hyde, R-Ill., had serious concerns about the arms sale, which Pakistan has long pushed for, Lantos' spokeswoman, Lynne Weil, said in an interview. Lawmakers' biggest worry, Weil said, is that China, which has close military ties with Pakistan, might gain access to F-16 technology. Lantos is a strong supporter of India, Pakistan's nuclear-armed rival and neighbor. State Department officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Weil said administration officials told Lantos they would consider the lawmaker's request. Late last month, the Bush administration notified Congress that it had approved the sale of 18 new fighter jets to Pakistan, a major ally in the U.S. fight against terrorism, and gave lawmakers 30 days to consider the deal. The administration usually provides Congress an informal ''pre-notification'' period of 20 days before the formal 30-day notification to consult on the deal. ''The State Department didn't give adequate notice to Congress, and basically violated 30 years of precedent,'' Weil said. ''When the notification arrived, it came as a surprise, and there were problems with the agreement as originally construed.'' The package includes an option to purchase another 18 F-16 fighter jets and an offer to modernize 26 used aircraft already in Pakistan's arsenal, as well as logistical and other support. Lockheed Martin Corp. produced the jets. The proposed sale to Pakistan comes as the White House pushes for congressional endorsement of a landmark nuclear cooperation deal with India. U.S. officials have said the Pakistani jet sale is not meant to counter the Indian nuclear deal. Pakistan and India have fought three wars since their 1947 independence from Britain -- two over Kashmir, a Himalayan state that both claim in its entirety but that is divided between them by a U.N. line of control. In an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said that top U.S. officials he had spoken with this week during a trip to Washington conveyed the impression that the deal would not be hindered by lawmakers' objections. He rejected claims that F-16 technology would be used irresponsibly. ''Of course we have a strong relationship with China. That's not a secret. But when we enter into an obligation, it's in our own interests to fulfill it,'' Kasuri said. ''Pakistan is a very responsible country.'' Pakistan believes the new jets are needed to counter India's ability to buy large amounts of weapons and equipment. Copyright 2006 The Associated Press