The main U.S. concern for South East Asia during the 60's was that a North Vietnam, subserviant to the USSR and China, would attempt to spread the 'revolution' to other parts of the region. With hindsight, and due to talks held between Robert Mcnamara and other U.S. officials with the main North Vietnamese decision makers in recent years, we know now that though North Vietnam was heavily dependent on Soviet and Chinese military and diplomatic support, it had an independent policy and was not interested in spreading communism elsewhere in the region after unifying Vietnam.
Effect of the massive Saudi military purchases on the region?
- Thread starter Eeshaan
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The sales to india probably have less to do with America's economic woes and more to do with countr balancing a growing PLA threat. Yes I used the world threat because a military with nuclear weapons and no moral compass and strict loyalty to the party is and will continue to be a threat to the region and the world. Seems more like we are preparing for a major war and are arming our proxies/emerging powers.
madandlucky
New Member
The SA (Saudi Arabia) is ally with USA. The US supports them in Middle East because of the US profits... And US knows that the SA has too money, so they sell some expensive equipments... The relation is only based on money (oil) 
surpreme
Member
Yes that is part of it but it goes deeper than that. The relationship between SA and US started during World War II . In the 1940's US signed a deal with the king to developed the oil fields and help defense issues. But the Saudi get the short end of the deal because of Israel during the 60's. The thing is that the Saudi want to modernize the society but don't want to go against Islam principles. The Saudi US has a defense deal to help them in a conflict with Iran. This is done in secret because of the Saudis King is the guardian of the Holy Sites. The Saudis are in a tough position they have to keep peace within there own society and the citizen do not want alot of US soldiers on there soil this was discussed in the 90's after Desert Storm. The Saudis know the power of the US so they maintain a healthly relationship with the USThe SA (Saudi Arabia) is ally with USA. The US supports them in Middle East because of the US profits... And US knows that the SA has too money, so they sell some expensive equipments... The relation is only based on money (oil)
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also considering the neighborhood. the rise of Iran as a regional power player is unsettling to the Saudi and they don't want to end up like Kuwait should they come to blows. they have the money to fund such an army and they have an need to have one.
The reason that states like Saudi Arabia are still wary of Iran today is more to do with historical factors - the Shite and Sunni schism within Islam - rather than the fear of an overland Iranian invasion which Iran is not capable of and has no interest in doing. The main security concern of the Sunni Gulf states then and even now is Iran exporting the 'revolution' and encouraging the Shiites there to rise up against their Sunni rulers.
During the 80's, the fear was that if Iran was victorious over Iraq it might move closer to the Gulf, to teach the Gulf states, who pumped in billions of dollars in ensuring that Saddam had the edge over Iran, a lesson and to export their 'revolution'. During that period in response to a possible iranian overland threat and due to a shortage of manpower, the Saudi's had a brigade that was mostly manned by Pakistanis. Trouble was the Pakistanis later announced that they would not participate in any action involving Iran.
surpreme
Member
Looking at picture of the Saudi forces I'm impress with how they look. Starting to see effect of all this money the Saudi spend on its military lol. GCC doing what it was design to do assist gulf states.
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The Saudi armed forces should look impressive after all the billions spent. Bear in mind that the Saudi armed forces still relies on thousands of foreign contractors to mantain it's equipment due to a lack of qualified manpower. The question is whether Saudi Arabia is able to even limated combat operations, unaided, against a regional threat, something it was unable to do in the Gulf War. It also remains to be seen if the RSAF will participate in Libya which is within it's abilities, on paper at least, after the billions spent on buying stuff and developing it's groubd infrastructure.
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surpreme
Member
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Just because the Iranians have been training does not indicate they are 'waiting for the right time'. Training is one thing, having the capability is a very different thing. The main agenda of the Iranian leadership is regime survival and watching out for it's strategic interests - a unprovoked strike against another country in the region would bring U.S. military power to bear and this would be counter productive and disastrous for the Iranian leadership. The Iranians don't have the intention of invading anyone and do not have the logistics capability and other means to support an invasion of Saudi Arabia. This is not to say that if strikes are conducted on it's nuclear facilities, Iran will not retaliate against countries in the region.
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surpreme
Member
Also it be can be counter productive for the U.S. if they strike Iran You don't know what they got up there sleeve. It will be a reason for them to attack SA that common sense they not going just strike or invade for nothing.
Saudi veiw point
As a saudi arabian I must say that in the past 5-10 years our military have changed in more ways than one.
First: There is an ongoing correction of all mistakes in our military the sad'ah war was just to test out flaws and see how the system works and what needs to be corrected.
Second: There are over 107 thousand saudis studying abroad in almost all countries of the world many of which are studying and training on fixing and even building hardware and software regarding military. a close friend of mine is currently studying in japan on guided missile software programming. another right here in my city is studying how to fix the new typhoon jets and even building one from scratch if need be.
Third: The Al-Faris defence industry spending by the goverment have increased on research from 50mil$ a year to 300mil$ a year.
Fourth: Training of military personnel have reduced dependency from contractors now with saudi trainers being more than 90% of instructors.
Fifth: A joint indugionous programs have been signed between saudi arabia and pakistan in almost all fields of research regarding military equipment.
Sixth: The rise of active military personnels numbers in the main army and the SANG in almost 50% increase.
Seventh: The gov influence on the baia'h have renewed with shieks singing pacts of protection making almost 7 Million tribal persons an uncounted for reserves.
As the second son of a tribe's shiekh the responsibility of leading those reserves fall into my shoulders as my tribe has almost 175,000 people belonging to the tribe and it is common for a father to teach his sons regarding weapons handling etc....
So yes there are some serious plans regarding our military. which in turn worries me about the reasons behind it and why are they suddenly so worried.
As a saudi arabian I must say that in the past 5-10 years our military have changed in more ways than one.
First: There is an ongoing correction of all mistakes in our military the sad'ah war was just to test out flaws and see how the system works and what needs to be corrected.
Second: There are over 107 thousand saudis studying abroad in almost all countries of the world many of which are studying and training on fixing and even building hardware and software regarding military. a close friend of mine is currently studying in japan on guided missile software programming. another right here in my city is studying how to fix the new typhoon jets and even building one from scratch if need be.
Third: The Al-Faris defence industry spending by the goverment have increased on research from 50mil$ a year to 300mil$ a year.
Fourth: Training of military personnel have reduced dependency from contractors now with saudi trainers being more than 90% of instructors.
Fifth: A joint indugionous programs have been signed between saudi arabia and pakistan in almost all fields of research regarding military equipment.
Sixth: The rise of active military personnels numbers in the main army and the SANG in almost 50% increase.
Seventh: The gov influence on the baia'h have renewed with shieks singing pacts of protection making almost 7 Million tribal persons an uncounted for reserves.
As the second son of a tribe's shiekh the responsibility of leading those reserves fall into my shoulders as my tribe has almost 175,000 people belonging to the tribe and it is common for a father to teach his sons regarding weapons handling etc....
So yes there are some serious plans regarding our military. which in turn worries me about the reasons behind it and why are they suddenly so worried.
If the U.S. attacks Iran after an unprovoked Iranian strike on Saudi, it will have the support of most of the Muslim world and the international community, so it will not be 'conter productive'. Unless Iran is attacked over the nuke programme issue, it is contend to mantain the satus quo and not attack anybody.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #76
That is true. Iran's nuclear programme's goal in my opinion is not just having the ability to attack Israel or it's neighbors. It's also about regime survival.
Why would they do something so stupid as attacking SA or Israel without good reason ? And even if they did, now these 2 targets, along with the western powers of course, are more than capable of repaying such an attack in kind.
Why would they do something so stupid as attacking SA or Israel without good reason ? And even if they did, now these 2 targets, along with the western powers of course, are more than capable of repaying such an attack in kind.
surpreme
Member
Iran don't have the capability or the desire to attack SA. If they did attack SA they pay a heavy price. What if the Kingdom of SA become unstable? Someone has jump in and take over. The Shite in eastern part of the kingdom if not taken care of properly could revolt and that when the equipment the SA brought from the US could be use in full effect. It only matter of time if the Shite aren't taken care correctly this will happen. Will Iran come to there aid if it became arm revolt?
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The biggest threat to Saudi Arabia is Saudi Arabia and the vast social and political changes taking place around it.
Despite all the rhetoric and beating of war drums by right wing neo-conservatives and the western etablishment press about the danger posed by Iran, the million dollar question has yet to be asked - just why would Iran attack Israel or lob a nuclear missile at Europe????
Despite all the rhetoric and beating of war drums by right wing neo-conservatives and the western etablishment press about the danger posed by Iran, the million dollar question has yet to be asked - just why would Iran attack Israel or lob a nuclear missile at Europe????
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #79
Looks like KMW managed to snag the deal after all. Threat or not, money is money. And it' simply not possible to ignore well-paying buyers such as SA.
surpreme
Member
That is correct. Waiting to see what the detail of the deal is.
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