U.S. moves to sell howitzers to Pakistan - I thought they needed tents?

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=6325508&cKey=1134770728000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration said on Friday it tentatively planned to let Pakistan buy 115 155mm self-propelled howitzer artillery pieces as well as related gear and services valued at up to $56 million.

The sale of M109A5 howitzers would not affect the basic military balance in the region, the Pentagon's Defence Security Cooperation Agency said in a notice to Congress.

The big guns at issue are in the U.S. Army's current inventory, said Jose Ibarra, an agency spokesman. The total value of the deal, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $56 million, the notice to Congress said.

Such notice is required by law. Congress has the power to block such a government-to-government arms sale but has never done so. No contractor would be involved in the deal.

But we can damned sure build some fine weapons!

with howitzers you can make caves, bingo, no homelessness.

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repulses me about this admin. :grr: How many years will it take for them to turn these weapons on us? History repeats but no one pays attention.

such a government-to-governmentarms sale but has never done so.

there is your key

losing a few here and there is not that big of a deal if you can use your money to buy weapons :sarcasm:

Then in turn they will send the $56 million to Iraq

Taliban/Afghan/Contra/Iraq scandal

I though all of you at DU were better researchers...... You missed the key line in the article

"The sale would help Pakistan enhance "internal command and control of the mountain range bordering its country," the notice said."

That sounds like they are to be used in the lawless parts of Pakistan where Bin Laden and other Alqaeda types are hiding. The howitzers are a reward for Pakistan's cooperation in combating AlQaeda. 56 million seems kind of cheap for 115 self propelled Howitzers with support included.