[Newsbot]

Title: Death toll from Saudi-led air strikes on Yemeni market rises to more than 100
Category: World
Posted By: DrCaleb
Date: 2016-03-17 11:58:47

[DrCaleb]

Why is it that we need to sell these guys weapons again?

[BartSimpson]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Why is it that we need to sell these guys weapons again?

Oil.

[DrCaleb]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Why is it that we need to sell these guys weapons again?

Oil.

I though of that. Isn't what they are already doing to oil affecting our economy far more than the profit from sale of a few APCs? What could they do now that won't hurt themselves just as bad as us?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/busin ... 09496.html

[martin14]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Why is it that we need to sell these guys weapons again?

Because they are using them and they need replacements.

Repeat customer is best customer.

[BartSimpson]

It comes down to people in Foreign Ministries and State Departments playing geopolitical games.

Like how we needed to protect the Saudis in 1991 but when we got there the ungrateful bastards would let their religious police beat up on female troops.

And then we restored the Kuwaitis so they could turn around and legalize slavery.

The reality is that aside from the Israelis (and maybe the Kurds) everyone else over there is our enemy and they'll prove it every chance they get.

[DrCaleb]

martin14 martin14:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Why is it that we need to sell these guys weapons again?

Because they are using them and they need replacements.

Repeat customer is best customer.

And we have to ask ourselves if 'Made in Canada' is something we want on the side of weapons used to bomb the next civilian market. Many more customers are going to leave us if that's the sort of thing we support. No offense, but 'Made in the USA' would be better for Canada.

I applauded the Liberals for keeping Harpers' word in finalizing the sale to the Saudis, even though it was against their morals. A deal is a deal. But now . . . is this the sort of action Canada wants to lend it's name to?

I see no reason to further support the Saudis, given the numerous things they do that specifically undermine our economy, and now their further eroding record on killing innocent civilians! Let's face it, if Muslims bombed a market anywhere in the West, a good portion of CKA would lose their shit. Just because it's in Yemen, it doesn't change the dynamic of the tragedy.

[andyt]

Not just oil. The Saudis are "our allies" against terrorism, and they have the hate on for Iran, which makes Israel happy, and we always want to keep Israel happy, even if they don't have oil. It seems to be some sort of dirty ring around the rosies game that I've never quite been able to figure out.

[martin14]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

And we have to ask ourselves if 'Made in Canada'

I have no idea what 'we' sell to the Saudis... ahhh APCs, ok.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_industry

When you look at the list of top arms buyers, outside of Australia,
it's not a particularly moral bunch, so I wouldn't be worried about the customer base.


However, I think if you want to try and introduce 'morality' into a discussion over arms, we can all have a good chuckle,
and then just close whatever arms factories we have right now. The dust will look good right beside our mothballed shipyards as well.

By that measure, we should not be selling cars, either. Or knives.




Here, some fodder for your campaign:
http://thinkprogress.org/world/2016/03/ ... s-embargo/
The Dutch are happy to shoot themselves in the foot, so should we.

See, the problem with your thinking is, you try and justify it with the idea that:

a) the Saudis will be shocked at our morality and stop.
b) the rest of the world will also follow along.
c) at a minimum, you will be happy.

A) No
B) The Russians are happy to fill the vacuum.
c) May happen, but only a short sighted selfish prick thinks of his own puffed chest,
and does not consider the people who are working in the industry, or the simple fact
those industries need outside contracts to generate money to pay salaries to people.

$1:

dirty ring around the rosies game that I've never quite been able to figure out.

That's no surprise.

[DrCaleb]

martin14 martin14:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

And we have to ask ourselves if 'Made in Canada'

See, the problem with your thinking is, you try and justify it with the idea that:

a) the Saudis will be shocked at our morality and stop.
b) the rest of the world will also follow along.
c) at a minimum, you will be happy.

A) No
B) The Russians are happy to fill the vacuum.
c) May happen, but only a short sighted selfish prick thinks of his own puffed chest, and does not consider the people who are working in the industry, or the simple fact those industries need outside contracts to generate money to pay salaries to people.

Incorrect assumptions. I don't care what the Saudis or the rest of the world thinks of us selling arms. I care what we think of it. Most of the worlds countries sell arms to the others. But all of them, including us, decide if those countries uses for the arms will meet up with their own policies and morals. Some countries we don't sell to, specifically because we do not agree with the uses the arms will employ. We were freaking out just short days ago because Yemenis might be using Canadian rifles in combat.

And the arms trade in Canada is not a very big one. I'm sure those people are skilled enough machinists and welders that they can find employment elsewhere, like the Movie Rental store employees and Palm Pilot manufacturers. Business evolves. But I doubt that this order of APCs is going to put the whole industry out of business.

[martin14]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

And the arms trade in Canada is not a very big one. I'm sure those people are skilled enough machinists and welders that they can find employment elsewhere, like the Movie Rental store employees and Palm Pilot manufacturers. Business evolves. But I doubt that this order of APCs is going to put the whole industry out of business.

Good to see your morality is worth more than other people's livelihoods.

There's a lot of that going round Alberta these days.

[DrCaleb]

martin14 martin14:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

And the arms trade in Canada is not a very big one. I'm sure those people are skilled enough machinists and welders that they can find employment elsewhere, like the Movie Rental store employees and Palm Pilot manufacturers. Business evolves. But I doubt that this order of APCs is going to put the whole industry out of business.

Good to see your morality is worth more than other people's livelihoods.

There's a lot of that going round Alberta these days.

I'll always prioritize people's lives and well being over the need for commerce. No apologies from me.

$1:

There has grown up in the minds of certain groups in this country the notion that because a man or corporation has made a profit out of the public for a number of years, the government and the courts are charged with the duty of guaranteeing such profit in the future, even in the face of changing circumstances and contrary public interest. This strange doctrine is not supported by statute nor common law. Neither individuals nor corporations have any right to come into court and ask that the clock of history be stopped, or turned back, for their private benefit.

“Life-Line” - Robert Hienlien

[martin14]

Yup, other people's lives, and not your own countrymen. Or your own country.

[BRAH]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Why is it that we need to sell these guys weapons again?

Oil.

Yep because the Alberta Oil Sands are EVIL!

[BRAH]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

It comes down to people in Foreign Ministries and State Departments playing geopolitical games.

Like how we needed to protect the Saudis in 1991 but when we got there the ungrateful bastards would let their religious police beat up on female troops.

And then we restored the Kuwaitis so they could turn around and legalize slavery.

The reality is that aside from the Israelis (and maybe the Kurds) everyone else over there is our enemy and they'll prove it every chance they get.

Looking back maybe the West should have let Saddam keep Kuwait and the neighbors deal with it then again Monday Morning Quarterbacking isn't easy as it seems.