Weinberg - Beware of Blowback

David M. Weinberg..
A Citadel Defending Zion..
01 January '12..

The US is pouring more than $100 billion worth of arms into the Middle East as part of an accelerating military buildup presumably meant to counter Iran. While it’s nice to think that the Obama administration might actually be getting ready to confront Iran, you have to question the wisdom of dumping sophisticated weapons systems into the currently turbulent and rapidly Islamicizing Mideast.

”This (arms) sale will send a strong message to countries in the region that the United States is committed to stability in the gulf and the broader Middle East,” said Andrew Shapiro, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, as he announced the sale of F-15 fighter jets valued at nearly $30 billion to the Saudi Air Force. ”It will enhance Saudi Arabia’s ability to deter and defend against external threats to its sovereignty.”

Yeah, right. As if the Saudis are ever going to be able to defend themselves against Iran!

I’m more worried about the possibility of blowback: that these weapons will end up one day in the hands of radical forces that could use them against Western interests and against Israel.

Arming Lebanon is arming Hizballah

Fresno Zionism
12 January '10

A few days after the start of the Second Lebanon War, on July 14, 2006, Hizballah fired an Iranian copy of the Chinese C-802 anti-ship missile, making a direct hit on the Israeli Navy’s corvette Hanit. The ship was seriously damaged; four sailors were killed and several others injured. It was remarkable that the Hanit managed to stay afloat, and even returned to Ashdod under its own power. Although the ship had sophisticated anti-missile capabilities, the systems were turned off, either because the crew did not believe that Hizballah had such a missile, or because they wanted to reduce the chance of accidentally firing at nearby Israeli aircraft. Several officers were disciplined as a result of the affair.

A short time later, the IAF bombed several coastal radar stations belonging to the Lebanese army. It’s thought that they provided tracking data to Hizballah. In 2006, Hizballah had far less power and control in Lebanon than it does today. Nevertheless, probably one-third of the Lebanese Army in 2006 consisted of Shiites who might be sympathetic at least to Hizballah.

Today Hizballah has complete freedom of action in Lebanon, and all but controls the government — and the army. It is hard to believe that arms supplied to the Lebanese army could be kept from Hizballah:

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