Israelis to supply vehicles for Iraq

[OneAngryDemocrat]

JERUSALEM - An Israeli state-owned corporation has won a contract to supply the U.S. Marine Corps with state-of the-art armored vehicles for use in Iraq, the latest in a long line of Israeli defense sales for use in the war.

Amit Tzimer, spokesman for weapons maker Rafael, said Sunday that, in partnership with U.S. manufacturer PVI, Rafael has signed up to deliver 60 of its new Golan vehicles at a total price of $37 million.

Delivery will be made to the Marines in the United States in May, he said.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/world/16838190.htm


Why is America outsourcing ANY of it's military hardware to foreign contractors?

Please visit my anti-war website, www.shockedandawful.com

[ShortnFiery]

1. Lovely.

:eyes:

[Kagemusha]

2. To reply literally, because the US has no similar vehicle ready right now

The US is going to require YEARS longer to get a replacement to make armored Hummers completely obsolete in a manner that will properly enrich good, American defense contractors and fulfill future mission requirements. The Stryker vehicle isn't cutting it according to multiple Joint Chiefs chairmen and high ranking civilian defense officials so that's not being relied upon. The Israelis simply have a product ready to roll, figuratively and literally, and the Marines are done with waiting.

Now in and of itself I don't have a problem with buying off the shelf weapons that'll help save American lives but... sheesh, Israeli. It just looks wrong, regardless of the practicalities. I know nothing to suggest the Israeli vehicles are bad, either.

[OneAngryDemocrat]

3. Is the...

Is the Golan Armored Fighting Vehicle (named after an Israeli occupied Palestinian Territory(?)) in use with the IDF?

[Kagemusha]

9. It's occupied Syrian territory, actually.

And I'm pretty darned sure the vehicle saw extensive use in S. Lebanon last summer. But I could be mistaken. I'm just under the impression it's in current, and not particularly light, use by the IDF. Otherwise how would they be able to market it as a proven vehicle?

[ShortnFiery]

4. It's a disaster with regard to perception.

We already have the reputation of supporting every damn thing the Government of Israel does. NOW the fact of Israel supplying vehicles for our occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan is being (accurately?) perceived that we are in the process of building an Empire. :thumbsdown:

How about we cut the Pentagon's budget and use that money to help with humanitarian efforts for ALL PEOPLES within the M.E. (and elsewhere) who are poor and/or disenfranchised?

[OneAngryDemocrat]

5. The Fact...

The fact that the vehicle itself is named for an Israeli occupied Arab territory won't go over well, will it?

[ShortnFiery]

6. uh, NO!

This is seriously insensitive. :wow:

[The Stranger]

8. Insensitive? No, it just proves what they have feared all along.

[The Stranger]

7. It is not perception -- it is fact. The Arabs' perceptions about this are correct,.

[OneAngryDemocrat]

10. Does the IDF use the Golan Armored Fighting Vehicle?

Is the Golan Armored Fighting Vehicle (named after an Israeli occupied Palestinian Territory(?)) in use with the IDF?

[ShortnFiery]

11. Well, don't include this American as supporting it. :(

[dkofos]

12. That works out to OVER $600,000./vehicle

Are they that much better than what they have??