Pennies from heaven.... for Saddam?

[BURKE89]

Ukraine has allegedly sold a $65,000,000 aircraft detection system to Iraq. (drudge report)

[BubbaGump]

... in response to Pennies from heaven.... for Saddam?, posted by BURKE89 on Oct 14, 2002

We'll bomb it into oblivion before they finish making the payments.

[robobond]

... in response to That's OK Burke, posted by BubbaGump on Oct 15, 2002

I think the problem is that it is now going to be more difficult to bomb them into oblivion.  The reports I read mentioned $100 million vs. 65 and it's a pretty sophisticated system capable of seeing through some of our stealth.  It's not of Ukrainian origin per se - it's Russian (USSR) stuff that was "parked" in the Ukraine.  Unfortunately when the USSR broke up a lot of that type of prime equipment (including some nuclear devices) went into the hands of the countries that wanted independence.  The Ukraine is a prime example.  I have read that their economy sucks even more than that of Russia.  Being an agricultural economy, and not finding many buyers for vegetables and grains that potentially glow in the dark, about the only thing they have to sell are a bunch of sophisticated military toys - pretty tempting to them even at the risk of getting their US foreign aid cut off.  This is the primary reason we are giving the foreign aid - we are "urging" them to not start selling this stuff on the world market.  I don't want to seem like an alarmest but Saddam is a potential Hitler in the making.  Wouldn't it have been a lot cheaper in terms of money AND human lives if the world had "nipped him in the bud" BEFORE he started goose-stepping all over Europe.  Germany was not a very big country but look at the world havoc they caused under the helm of a mad man.  Can we afford to let that happen again?  Sorry for getting up on my soapbox but this stuff is not to be trivialized in terms of world peace.  I've got a hunch that it is going to become more and more difficult bringing a FSU woman into the US.  I am starting to question the wisdom for me to continue pursuing this quest.  I feel very sad for those of you who are now stuck in limbo as I see things getting worse before they get better.  Ain't life a grind...

Bob

[Oscar]

... in response to Pennies from heaven.... for Saddam?, posted by BURKE89 on Oct 14, 2002

in aid to Ukraine for the rest of the year..  Tough giving money to people who are supplying your enemies with weapons...

[BURKE89]

... in response to This is old news.. That's why the US has..., posted by Oscar on Oct 14, 2002

Oscar,
Is it (the aid issue) specifically tied to these guidance systems?

[Oscar]

... in response to Re: This is old news.. That's why the US..., posted by BURKE89 on Oct 14, 2002

.

[Quasimoto]

... in response to Re: This is old news.. That's why the US..., posted by BURKE89 on Oct 14, 2002

Yes! however, aid targeted toward relief agencies, and civilian projects is not being withheld! Only that aid that goes through the federal government. Supposedly Kuchma's voice is on tapes recorded by one of his security guards authorizing the deal, and also authorizing one murder of a journalist. He is a Mafioso Oligarch puppet!

Steve

[BURKE89]

... in response to Re: Re: Yes, posted by Quasimoto on Oct 14, 2002

.

[wsbill]

... in response to Pennies from heaven.... for Saddam?, posted by BURKE89 on Oct 14, 2002

http://www.thepost.kiev.ua/main/12030/

This is like old news.

[Dan]

... in response to Re: Don't you guys read Ukraine newspape..., posted by wsbill on Oct 14, 2002

n/t

[tfcrew]

... in response to Pennies from heaven.... for Saddam?, posted by BURKE89 on Oct 14, 2002

Again.....source?

[BURKE89]

... in response to Source?, posted by tfcrew on Oct 14, 2002

Drudgereport.com - 2nd column, at the bottom - I believe, the story was from the Telegraph (UK).