Germans - unprincipled profiteers?

[Syt]

The Poles are the Jews of Europe. Only, in general, less business savvy.

[The Brain]

I find Mart's threads strangely homoerratic.

[alfred russel]

With Saddam no longer in Iraq, and revolutions brewing across the middle east, arms sales to Saudi Arabia are looking a lot more dodgy than before.

They're still locked in a regional cold war with Iran.

That is true, but they don't have a land border with Iran. In the event there is a ground war involving Iran attacking Saudi Arabia either amphibiously or through another country, I would think the US would be in position to stymie the attack (if we are on their side--in 10-15 years who knows how things will have changed).

[Zanza]

That is true, but they don't have a land border with Iran. In the event there is a ground war involving Iran attacking Saudi Arabia either amphibiously or through another country, I would think the US would be in position to stymie the attack (if we are on their side--in 10-15 years who knows how things will have changed).

That's no problem. I am sure we can sell them ships, jets and missles too. 

But they need those tanks to roll over Bahraini democratic protestors fight evil terrorists.

We need to find new markets now that our best weapons customer, Greeece, is bankrupt. I fully expect that Angie will soon start lobbying in the EU to lift the arms embargo on China.

[Brazen]

Now, the first female Chancellor and the first gay minister selling tanks to the Saudis.

Why single out the Germans? Everyone's selling military hardware to the Saudis, they're the only country still buying big. After Eritrea, which is a statistical anomaly, Saudi Arabia spends the most on arms per capita in the world, followed by Oman, the UAE and Israel. Arms exports are the only thing keeping European arms manufacturers, and industry in general, ticking over.

[Viking]

Virulently anti-semitic and homophobic supremacists equipped with the best german made panzers. How can that possibly go wrong.

[Valmy]

Well they are going to buy them somewhere.  Might as well be from the Germans.

[alfred russel]

Well they are going to buy them somewhere.  Might as well be from the Germans.

It is a smart purchase. You know the Germans always make good stuff.

[Neil]

Well they are going to buy them somewhere.  Might as well be from the Germans.

It is a smart purchase. You know the Germans always make good stuff.

Their cars are pretty crap.

[alfred russel]

Well they are going to buy them somewhere.  Might as well be from the Germans.

It is a smart purchase. You know the Germans always make good stuff.

Their cars are pretty crap.

Is this because in Alberta if it isn't an F150 or a Silverado it is crap?

[DGuller]

They are simple people, they don't know how to take care of refined equipment.  German cars need to be maintained, you need to periodically change their oil, engine, and transmission, if you want them to keep runnig.

[grumbler]

They are simple people, they don't know how to take care of refined equipment.  German cars need to be maintained, you need to periodically change their oil, engine, and transmission, if you want them to keep runnig.

  Yeah, that was my experience, as well, with two Volkswagens.   Didn't have many transmission problems, but I might have just been lucky.

[alfred russel]

As I seem to have mini hijacked the thread with the statement, "You know the Germans always make good stuff," I want to mention that I was quoting the sham wow guy.

[crazy canuck]

you need to periodically change their oil, engine, and transmission, if you want them to keep runnig.

And I thought my old dodge caravan was bad.  Never actually had to change the engine or the transmission - sold it for scrap before it came to that.

[Razgovory]

Virulently anti-semitic and homophobic supremacists equipped with the best german made panzers. How can that possibly go wrong.

Well, it's likely the tanks sold are export versions and not the best.  If the Saudi Army is anything like other Arab armies, their crews won't be fully trained on the equipment either.