|
US Agrees to Permanent F-15 Deployment at Tabuk
From Middle East NewslineThe Bush administration has agreed to lift restrictions on the deployment of advanced U.S.-origin aircraft procured by the Saudi Royal Air Force. U.S. officials said the changes would allow the Saudi air force to deploy its fleet of F-15 fighter-jets anywhere in the kingdom. They said this would include the deployment of the F-15 in the Saudi air force base of Tabuk, about 150 kilometers from Israel. We must figure now that the F-15s are targeted well enough by the IDF and that the Saudi and Pak pilots are not a threat. Congress was notified of the lifting of the U.S. restrictions in early 2003, the officials said. They said Israel was also told that Saudi F-15S aircraft could operate from Tabuk. Rummy: "The F-15s can now operate from Tabuk." Israel: "Hokay. [to assistant: âMoshe, kindly activate ordinance targeting program for Tabuk.â]" Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has sent a letter to Congress regarding the lifting of the U.S. restrictions on the F-15 in Saudi Arabia, officials said. The letter cited the Saudi need to defend its air space amid the deterioration of its aging F-5 and Tornado fleets. And what external threat to its airspace, pray tell, is the Saudis facing? Iran? Jordan? Yemen? Oman? Israel? Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-12-19 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=23022 |