- WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The
United States said on Thursday it planned to sell $1.12 billion in F-16
fighter jets, laser-guided bombs and other arms to Oman, a key Gulf ally
and supporter of America's new war on terrorism.
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- The announcement by the Pentagon of the proposed sale
of 12 F-16 fighter jets, built by Lockheed Martin, and other sophisticated
arms came only hours after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld visited the
Gulf state for security talks.
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- Rumsfeld met Sultan Qaboos of Oman, which has pledged
backing for the United States following the Sept. 11 attacks on America.
The secretary and Qaboos discussed how the country could help target those
behind the attack.
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- The Defense Department said ``Oman has requested the
possible sale'' of 12 F-16C/D model fighters along with engines, radar
targeting pods used for all-weather attack and several different kinds
of air-to-air missiles and bombs.
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- Those would include 50 sophisticated AIM-120C advanced,
medium-range, air-to-air missiles made by Raytheon Co. Known as AMRAAMS,
the so-called fire-and-forget weapons can be launched by pilots against
enemy aircraft long before they are in sight.
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- SOPHISTICATED BOMBS
INCLUDED
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- The package also would include 100 Sidewinder air-to-air
missiles, laser-guided bomb kits, night-vision equipment for pilots and
sophisticated Joint Direct Attack Munitions bombs that are guided to
targets
by satellites.
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- ``The proposed sale will strengthen the military ties
between the United States and the Sultanate of Oman,'' the Pentagon said
in its formal notification to the U.S. Congress of the planned sale.
Congress
can disapprove such major arms sales, but defense officials said there
was no doubt of approval in this case.
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- Oman, strategically located at the entrance to the Gulf,
has been a U.S. ally and friend for over 30 years.
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- ``The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy
and national security of a friendly country which has been, and continues
to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress
in the Middle East,'' the Pentagon said.
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- Rumsfeld's visit to Oman stirred speculation among
regional
commentators that Oman, only three hours flying time from Afghanistan,
could provide military assistance to the U.S. effort to hunt down
Afghanistan-based
Osama bin Laden.
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- The secretary met Qaboos at a palace near Muscat on the
second leg of a regional tour to discuss America's ``war against
terrorism''
with allies. He later left for Egypt and will also hold talks in
Uzbekistan.
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- Rumsfeld earlier visited Saudi Arabia. U.S. officials
said Undersecretary for Defense Douglas Feith, who was traveling with
Rumsfeld,
would stay behind in the Gulf to have additional consultations with allies
in the region. They declined to elaborate.
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