There’s Less than Meets the Eye in Trump’s Saudi Arms Deal

[Swordsmyth]

So what we have is a deal that is mostly a mix of offers already made and promises yet to be kept. And when and if some of the new offers are formally notified to Congress – a process that will at least reveal what systems are to be provided at what cost – there is no guarantee that they will produce signed contracts and actual deliveries of weaponry. For example, during the Obama years, Congress was formally notified of offers of weapons, training, and military support services to Saudi Arabia worth $115 billion. So far only about half of those offers have resulted in formal agreements, and less than $20 billion in goods and services have actually been delivered. And deliveries of major systems can take years. For example, an offer of F-15 combat aircraft to the Saudi Air Force that was announced to Congress in October 2010 didn’t result in the first planes being delivered until December 2016.

More at: http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2017...ref=d-dontmiss

[merkelstan]

interesting, thanks