Emails show Clinton Celebrating F-15 Sales to Saudi Arabia

[_theldsthinker]

The shockingly brutal Saudi air campaign in Yemen has been led by American-made F-15 jet fighters. The indiscriminate bombing of civilians and rescuers from the air has prompted human rights organizations to claim that some Saudi-led strikes on Yemen may amount to war crimes. At least 2,800 civilians have been killed in the conflict so far, according to the United Nations — mostly by airstrikes. The strikes have killed journalists and ambulance drivers.

Hillary Clinton made weapons transfer to the Saudi government a “top priority,” according to her closest military aide. And now, newly released emails show that her aides kept her well-informed of the approval process for a $29.4 billion sale in 2011 of up to 84 advanced F-15SA fighters, manufactured by Boeing, along with upgrades to the pre-existing Saudi fleet of 70 F-15 aircraft and munitions, spare parts, training, maintenance, and logistics. The deal was finalized on Christmas Eve 2011. Afterward, Jake Sullivan, then Clinton’s deputy chief of staff and now a senior policy adviser on her presidential campaign, sent her a celebratory email string topped with the chipper message: “FYI — good news.”

https://theintercept.com/2016/02/22/sau ... s-present/

[_The CCC]

Has anyone really doubted that the US is the largest arms provider in the world?

[_Res Ipsa]

I missed the part where Clinton was celebrating...

[_theldsthinker]

I missed the part where Clinton was celebrating...

perhaps not a party, but “FYI — good news.” suggests that Clinton and her aids were happy!

[_MeDotOrg]

If you have to build your Air Force around just one plane, it would be hard to beat the F-15. It can be outfitted for reconnaissance, electronic jamming, anti-radar Missiles, guided and gravity bombs, as well as being very capable of self defense. It's a first-class air to air combat weapon, a bit large and less maneuverable that the very best, but very capable.

Most other countries buy the much less expensive and less capable (but better bang for the buck) F-16.

So I'd imagine that Clinton was happy for a lot of reasons: Nice big fat contract for Boeing, good for the balance of trade, cements ties with the Saudis and sends a nice veiled warning to Iran. It was a win-win.

Except of course, you are in the wrong place in Yemen.

I don't know if Secretary Clinton had an inkling that the planes would be used for this purpose. I wonder if she is able to compartmentalize the sale of the planes away from the dropping of the bombs, that the bombs themselves were 'collateral damage'.

But I think it's a fair question to ask: "Secretary Clinton, how does it make you feel knowing that the arms deal you pushed with Saudi Arabia supplied the Saudis with the instruments to cause the death of innocents?" I suppose some could say it's an unfair question, but then again being killed by a Saudi bomb when you're minding your own business probably doesn't feel terrible fair either.

[_Some Schmo]

I suspect Hillary is a sociopath. She seems to value power more than relationships (see Monica L affair). She'll say whatever she thinks her audience wants to hear rather than what she really thinks. (Does anyone know what she really thinks? Does she, even? Can she distinguish what she thinks from what the polls tell her to think?)

She's a Republican in centrist clothing. I don't trust her at all, and I have a hard time understanding how anyone can, given her history.

[_Res Ipsa]

I missed the part where Clinton was celebrating...

perhaps not a party, but “FYI — good news.” suggests that Clinton and her aids were happy!

Perhaps she did think it was a good thing FOUR YEARS before the Saudis intervened in Lebanon. Do you know why she might have thought of it as "good news?"

[_Gunnar]

If you have to build your Air Force around just one plane, it would be hard to beat the F-15. It can be outfitted for reconnaissance, electronic jamming, anti-radar Missiles, guided and gravity bombs, as well as being very capable of self defense. It's a first-class air to air combat weapon, a bit large and less maneuverable that the very best, but very capable.

And no F15 has ever been shot down in actual air to air combat. At least one F15 even managed to make it back to base and land safely after losing an entire wing!. The admittedly lucky and incredibly skilled pilot didn't even realize he had lost an entire wing until after the landing! According to him, he would have ejected right away had he realized that.