US Surplus Pre-Owned Iraqi Weapons: Everything Must Go! (For As Low As $1.50!)

Such a deal!
Apparently it is cheaper for the US to sell the weapons than to transport them back to the US.

Israel is looking to purchase the weapons the US used--and no longer needs--from the war in Iraq:

The IDF Ground Forces Command is looking to renew its aging fleet of Humvee combat vehicles with ones that the US will be phasing out as it reduces its troop numbers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Israel is also interested in acquiring surplus weapons and ammunition the US will no longer require following the withdrawals.

“It seems that in some cases it is cheaper to sell to other countries than to transport back to the US or bases in Europe,” one defense official said.

But Israel apparently has competition--Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
No doubt this is because the Saudis are strapped for cash and Egypt has had a hard time repelling the repeated attacks it has suffered, not to mention its shortage of weapons.

Speaking of Egypt, the article also mentions the aid Egypt gets from the US:

Egypt is also the recipient of $1.3b. in annual foreign military aid from the US, and Congress was recently notified of Pentagon plans to sell the Egyptian military new Abrams tanks. It would be the first major sale to Egypt since the revolution earlier this year.

You have no doubt heard the outcry from all quarters on spending so much on aid to Egypt. This is no doubt balanced by the many benefits the US has had in return.

No word on when the sale ends.

UPDATE: A friend emailed me:

When I was in Israel a year and a half ago, my nephew showed me his M-16. According to him it was Viet Nam era surplus and cost the IDF $1.50 to purchase from the U.S.

Looks like the US would put Crazy Eddy to shame.



No, as far as I know--Crazy Eddie never sold M-16's.

Technorati Tag: Israel and US and Middle East.