F-16s for Egypt but not for Taiwan
If you watch what the Obama administration does, as opposed to what it says, it becomes clear that the armed might of the United States is backing the Muslim brotherhood in Egypt, and abandoning Taiwan in its struggle to maintain independence and democracy in the face of China's expressed desire to conquer it. How else can one explain the approval of the "sale" (paid for with aid money from the United States) of F-16s to the government of Mohammed Morsi, who as declared "We must never forget, brothers, to nurse our children and our grandchildren on hatred for them: for Zionists, for Jews," while Taiwan's request to purchase 66 F-16C and F-16F fighter aircraft is languishing?
Investor's Business Daily has the details on this outrageous turn of American foreign policy. President Obama didn't run for re-election on the basis of abandoning Taiwan and embracing the Muslim Brotherhood, but if one pays attention to actions, not words, that is what he is doing.
Minority Whip Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, where the Lockheed Martin F-16s are built, is considering a hold on the nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel to be the next secretary of defense over the issue.
Cornyn warned in a letter to President Obama in late 2011 that Taiwan's air force is facing "continuing deterioration" in readiness due to aging aircraft, shifting the balance of power across the 100-mile wide Taiwan Strait in China's favor.
In February 2012 Cornyn placed a hold on the nomination of Mark Lippert, a close friend of President Obama, to be assistant defense secretary for Asian and Pacific affairs.
That hold was lifted after assurances from deputy national security adviser Denis McDonough that Lippert would consider the jet sales to Taiwan if confirmed.
But Taiwan's quest to add to and modernize its 20-year-old fleet of 145 F-16s remains stalled. The only thing the Obama administration has offered is an upgrade package for its existing fleet.