BuzzFeed
Rand Paul to propose banning F-16 sales to Egypt
Sen. Rand Paul told an off-the-record meeting of conservative donors and powerbrokers Monday that he plans to file a bill that would ban sending F-16 fighter jets to Egypt.
“The crowed loved it,” a source told BuzzFeed.
Last year, Lockheed Martin delivered 20 F-16 fighter jets to Egypt as part of $1.3 billion in military aid from the U.S. government, The New York Times reported.
Paul has expressed concern for the practice in the past — but his remarks via Skype to the so-called “Monday Meeting” in New York City showed even firmer support by the Kentucky senator for policies that might cater to Jewish voters, as well as Evangelical groups that are staunchly pro-Israel.
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We keep coming back to that old Bob Hope joke from ’68: Did you hear we’re selling Phantom jets to Isreal… and real ones to the Arabs?
apostic on January 29, 2013 at 12:40 PM
Paul 2016…
JohnGalt23 on January 29, 2013 at 12:41 PM
I have this lingering hope that these particular F-16s have a CIA-created fatal flaw programmed into the avionics. You know, something real simple such as a ID beacon that pings without being discernible to the pilot and unable to be shut off.
Yeah, it’s a dream. But I keep dreaming it just in case it’s a vision.
platypus on January 29, 2013 at 12:45 PM
Well that’s fine and dandy…but didn’t Ozero just give them the last batch???
BigWyo on January 29, 2013 at 12:48 PM
If we had an American president, such a measure would be unnecessary.
Bruce MacMahon on January 29, 2013 at 12:53 PM
Well it’s been all over his Facebook page so I don’t think it was real hush hush
gophergirl on January 29, 2013 at 12:54 PM
Stop sending them anything, F-16s, tanks, military aid in any form, any aid in any form.
Let them wallow in the filth of islam, without being subsidized by the US Taxpayers. See how that works out for them. Ditto for any and all islamic nations.
Rebar on January 29, 2013 at 12:56 PM
Rand Paul appears to be the only one in Washington who’s listening to the American people.
JPeterman on January 29, 2013 at 12:57 PM
Smart move. He gets to play noninterventionist AND friend of Israel at the same time.
Caiwyn on January 29, 2013 at 1:01 PM
I bet Lockheed Martin would not be too happy about that one…
To them, if the bill passes, it would merely be losing a client. Any repercussions of their toys being sold to said client are not their concern, right?
If this bill fails I would be the first to yell “military industrial complex”, and not even blush.
AlexB on January 29, 2013 at 1:05 PM
He’s got my support.
jawkneemusic on January 29, 2013 at 1:07 PM
Mine too.
JPeterman on January 29, 2013 at 1:11 PM
Yawn, keep on feeding red meat, huh? But not the tough stuff the cons need to hear. Hmm….. go on rand, figure us for rubes. Whats your take on immigration reform? And on other controversial issues?
tommy71 on January 29, 2013 at 1:13 PM
Double the delight!
Shy Guy on January 29, 2013 at 1:16 PM
You would be backing out on a done deal and that would insult and incense your Muslim partners. America won’t risk that in todays landscape. Still in “flail blindly” mode with no end in sight.
BL@KBIRD on January 29, 2013 at 1:19 PM
And doing the right thing instead of playing politics.
Dongemaharu on January 29, 2013 at 1:26 PM
Where to sign up?
aryeung on January 29, 2013 at 1:40 PM
This should be a no-brainer. Why would we sell our most sophisticated weapons to the same islamists who are fighting us in Afganistan, Libya, Mali and other secret locations in Africa?
tommyboy on January 29, 2013 at 1:42 PM
aryeung on January 29, 2013 at 1:42 PM
Even more of a no-brianer: they’re “buying” these weapons with US taxpayer’s money.
Rebar on January 29, 2013 at 1:48 PM
We need to tea party the F-16/tanks and sink them in Med.
Oil Can on January 29, 2013 at 1:50 PM
Oh no, you gave me the official Rand Paul position. Not in statements with regard to his colleagues. Yeah, a bland statement is normal. But right now, at the height of the amnesty debate, Paul is quiet as a mouse. Lol
tommy71 on January 29, 2013 at 1:57 PM
Campaign for Liberty
Young Americans for Liberty
Rand Paul’s Senate Page
Ig there is one lesson we should take from the arse kicking we suffered in November, it is that it is never to early to start organizing. ..
JohnGalt23 on January 29, 2013 at 1:58 PM
Oh, please. Paul is playing politics, just of a different sort. Grandstanding.
ddrintn on January 29, 2013 at 2:04 PM
Paul/Palin 2016
“Sanity, for a Change”
trs on January 29, 2013 at 2:16 PM
If he’s grandstanding on the right issues, then I don’t give a sh!t. But if Paul isn’t cuttin’ it for you right now, then you might as well pack up your stuff and head out into the forest and go off the grid, because I don’t see anyone else doing any better up there.
Dongemaharu on January 29, 2013 at 2:18 PM
I do. Ultra-ambitious people who slobber and pine and obsess with being president ot the extent that they give off an “I’d sell my firstborn or cut off my right arm” aura are the problem. I don’t trust such people.
ddrintn on January 29, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Wait, are you upset he doesn’t want to sell F-16s to Egypt? WTF are we complaining about here? This is totally consistent with everything he’s been saying about Egypt and the middle east. Can we wait till he actually starts selling out before writing him off?
Dongemaharu on January 29, 2013 at 2:43 PM
Wait, are you really thinking that it matters a shit what Rand Paul says to a bunch of conservative activists ion trying to build up his pro-Israel cred with the base because of the bad aura generated by his semi-kooky dad? Really, beyond his votes I couldn’t care less what Rand Paul says. It’s all calculated to get the rubes standing on their chairs and going “Whoooohooooo! Rand in 2016!!!!!” I am tired to death of baldly ambitious types. And that’s what Paul is.
ddrintn on January 29, 2013 at 2:59 PM
Whatever … Paul has no foreign policy experience anyway … I know this because the MSM told me so.
/
heretic on January 29, 2013 at 3:02 PM
That, and we should be leery of first term senators as a rule.
Let him do a term or two as a Governor, then we’ll see what he’s really made of.
Rebar on January 29, 2013 at 3:15 PM