You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Kerry: Arab countries offered to pay for invasion
2013-09-05
Gee....kind of makes you wonder whose voices our leaders politicians a$$hats are listening to....
Don't knock it. As I recall we turned a profit on the Gulf War, too...
HT: Drudge
Posted by:Uncle Phester

#20  I suspect that announcing that "Arab countries have their checkbooks open and pens ready" was an attempt to mute concerns that any 'kinetic action' would be unaffordable.

Sounds all quite upper-crust and inside-the-loop. Sort of an Ivy-League mafia thing.

"I'll get your son out of Boston. You're welcome. No, no - I'm we can think of a suitable way to show your appreciation later".

I suspect the elites are used to this sort of thing and didn't realize how it would play outside their circle.
Posted by: Pappy   2013-09-05 22:24  

#19  I would think that a formal Declaration of War would allow money from foreign sources to be used; in a sense a ratified treaty.

Without that, it looks like the president's personal mercenary force; something outside the checks and balances.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2013-09-05 15:17  

#18  Barbara,

I remember an early introduction to politics. I was about 14 and there was a book published about LBJ the title of which I think fits this current PoS PotUS to a tee...."None Dare Call it Treason".

Well, I do.
Posted by: AlanC   2013-09-05 14:45  

#17  "this borders on disloyalty"

Borders? Borders?
Posted by: Barbara   2013-09-05 14:40  

#16  Bush sr paid for the first gulf war largely with Arab money. Not a big deal if you ask me. Still, I'd rather the Arab nations put their planes and tanks and butts on the line instead of just writing checks and singing Onward Christian Soldiers!

Sunni, you want war you be the boots on the ground.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2013-09-05 14:38  

#15  From Wretcherd: "One reason why Congress is vested with the power to declare war is because whoever pays the piper calls the tune. If the KSA et al. are paying the piper, they will certainly be calling the tune. For the executive branch to order a Syrian operation bankrolled by the Arabs is to effectively shift the allegiance of the executive branch from its legitimate paymaster — the American people — to a foreign one. From an intellectual and moral perspective, though probably not a legalistic one, this borders on disloyalty."

Posted by: Deacon Blues   2013-09-05 12:14  

#14  If this administration is owned by the Sunni royal families and doing their shit is supposed to be so damn profitable, how come we're going broke?
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain   2013-09-05 11:14  

#13  The important thing to remember is that irregardless of what happens we all have a piece of the action.
Posted by: Shipman   2013-09-05 10:56  

#12  Just wait for the bidding war on the naming rights for the stadium operation.
Posted by: ExtremeModerate   2013-09-05 10:54  

#11  Don't knock it. As I recall we turned a profit on the Gulf War, too..

Yes, as P2K said, after the Bush administration obtained permission from both the UN and Congress. The latter meaning that the US intended to foot the bill, not hire out its military and foreign policy.

The technical questions are: Will the charges be by the hour or by the night day? Will there be additional gratuities involved and who will get them? Will there be advertising space involved? Will the administration charge extra for 'special services', such as obfuscation, deflection, and the occasional personal appearance by various political personalities?

So many questions.
Posted by: Pappy   2013-09-05 09:56  

#10  Twerk it !
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-09-05 09:33  

#9  Never crossed my mind, why do you ask ?
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-09-05 09:26  

#8  ..without legal/Constitutional authority to act, yeah, probably. Thus the comment about sky diving public support.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-09-05 09:21  

#7  Is anyone besides myself troubled that our military may very well be viewed as Mercs...?
Posted by: Uncle Phester   2013-09-05 09:03  

#6  As I recall we turned a profit on the Gulf War, too...

Yes, but there were 'warrants' signed by Congress and the UN in that case.

General Officer exam on 'lawful' orders in 4,3,2...
I'm sure they'll find some who'd rather take 'orals'. As the poll on American confidence in their governmental institutions show all the other branches sky diving, I'm sure they'll find some GOs who'll be happy to take the military down with them.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-09-05 08:59  

#5  The US, France, + Turkey - and every one still a question mark ostensib until after 09/09th - 09/11-12th at the earliest.

Bush 41's coalition has shrunk mightily since the first GUlf War.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2013-09-05 02:47  

#4  Maybe they'll toss in a new boat?
Posted by: tu3031   2013-09-05 01:52  

#3  Whoredom, something Washington decision makers can relate to.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-09-05 01:49  

#2  I'll believe it when the checks clear, you know, like John Kerry's check on the sales tax he skipped out on when he moored his yacht in Rhode Island...
Posted by: Raj   2013-09-05 01:30  

#1  Wikipedia on Janisarry's like our elite leadership cadre
Posted by: 3dc   2013-09-05 00:36  

00:00