How Obama Tried to Kill the Brazil-France Military Deal
BY : Brazzilmag
Les Echos, a French daily, has shown a little of what they say happened backstage during the negotiations between Brazil and France to buy the French military jet Rafale. Trying to upstage his French colleague, American president Barack Obama called Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva twice, says the Paris newspaper.
Les Echos revealed up-to-now unknown informati
More..on on the Obama administration’s efforts to make sure the Brazilian government would choose the F-18 manufactured by Boeing, instead of the French fighter. The planes are for the renewal of FAB’s (Brazil’s Air Force) fleet
As reported by the publication, “Until the beginning of 2009, the competition was only a French-Swedish duel. Starting in mid-July, however, there was a change of atmosphere: Boeing and the Obama administration deployed the steamroller.
“From his vacation spot, the American president calls Lula to tell him that the United States will go the extra mile in terms of technological transfer and Congress will guarantee it.”
According to Les Echos, the US started an “influence battle” and sent the following message to a French negotiator: “We didn’t think that this thing would go so far in disinformation.”
The newspaper tells that Obama only decided to personally take part in the negotiations after finding out how remote were the chances of the F-18 winning the bid against the Rafale.
The first Obama call happened during his vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, between August 23 and 30. According to the newspaper, Obama called Lula and offered himself as guarantor that the technology transfer of the F-18 would be approved by the American Congress. He then promised to call again when he got the confirmation of the Congress approval.
Despite Obama’s assurances, the French paper says that Lula called Sarkozy, August 31st, to tell the French president that he had chosen the Rafale. When he arrived in Brazilian capital Brasília, September 6, on the eve of the Brazilian Independence Day, Sarkozy tried to get a public statement that Brazil had opted for the French solution.
On September 7 all the signs indicated that Brazil had made its mind, but it seems that the Obama charm was already starting to work.
Since then the French seem to be in overdrive to secure the agreement. Les Echos tells that Nicolas Sarkozy was awoken at 3 am to agree to the terms that were concocted by the Brazilian Defense minister and the Air Force chief on one side and Sarkozy’s chief of staff and Dassault-Aviation boss on the other.
On September 16, Defense minister Nelson Jobim, who had complained in the past about the Rafale’s high cost, confirmed his preference for the French war plane mainly because of the promised technological transfer. More than once Jobim doubted the good faith of the Americans. “I’m a lawyer,” he said, “and I work with jurisprudence. The precedents I have from the United States are bad.”
Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo tried to check the information published by Les Echos and got some contradictory answers.
While a Brazilian source involved with the negotiations commented: “Whoever wrote the story seems to be an insider,” an aide to Lula dismissed the whole affair: “There’s absolutely nothing to it. I find very unlikely, almost impossible that there has been a call from Obama.”
Less..
Added: Oct 18 2009 In: news_politics,leak,technology,other
By: fatality09 
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Comments - sort by newest to oldest
The French president has said that Obama is an embarrassment! Why would they do business with a person like Obama? He is an empty suit! He is a do nothing, lying, anti-american, muslim loving marxist, period.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "klm123" (R)
first of all. your post is complete crap.
secondly, brazil opted for the rafale over all the other aircraft..f-18 included because the rafale was the best choice. not only this but dassualt offered them a great package along with it.
all single engined aircraft were cancled out early on due to the fact brazil has a massive coastline and forested area. operating over remote areas of forest and sea requires 2 engines as an insurance measure. not only this but the rafale and f-18 are also both carrier operational with other services. brazils up coming economy means they will no doubtr be getting carriers in the future.
so, it came down to the flankers, rafale, f-18E
the rafale is the most capable of these aircraft in terms overall performance, not just in the flight envalope but in its electronic warefare capabilities, sensor suite (AESA) radar, electronic countermeasures, self defense suite, weapons, training provided by the french etc etc.
the package was sweetened by dassualt to get a very much needed sale as the rafale has been losing out recently int he fighter market. brazil has itself an extremely good fighter here with a very good deal.
congradulations to them.
as for klm123, you are a numnut. obama the anti american marxist? grow the fvck up
"it came down to the flankers, rafale, f-18E"
Actually, Gripen (single-engined), Rafale, F-18. The choice was not officially released yet.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "ImTheMan" (R)
first of all. your post is complete crap.
secondly, brazil opted for the rafale over all the other aircraft..f-18 included because the rafale was the best choice. not only this but dassualt offered them a great package along with it.
all single engined aircraft were cancled out early on due to the fact brazil has a massive coastline and forested area. operating over remote areas of forest and sea requires 2 engines as an insurance measure. not only this but the rafale and f-18 are also both carrier operational with other services. brazils up coming economy means they will no doubtr be getting carriers in the future.
so, it came down to the flankers, rafale, f-18E
the rafale is the most capable of these aircraft in terms overall performance, not just in the flight envalope but in its electronic warefare capabilities, sensor suite (AESA) radar, electronic countermeasures, self defense suite, weapons, training provided by the french etc etc.
the package was sweetened by dassualt to get a very much needed sale as the rafale has been losing out recently int he fighter market. brazil has itself an extremely good fighter here with a very good deal.
congradulations to them.
as for klm123, you are a numnut. obama the anti american marxist? grow the fvck up
As I understand it, the Brazilians haven't "chosen" the Rafale quite yet. Lula has stated that he has "chosen" Rafale, but the "official" decision is still pending.
What it probably means is that there are still some Brazililan bureaucrats and politicians left to brib... err, convince, before they will "choose" the Rafale.
As to the technical merits, one could wax eloquent for hours on why the Brazilians should have picked any one of the choices available to them.
An important factor must have been that Brazil's long term threat picture is quite different from that of countries that are near to Russia, China, US, or some of the more active terrorist states. From a military standpoint, what they really only need is an aircraft that can kick F-16 and Mig-29 b*tt, and hold its own against a Flanker.
With this in mind, it seems that many of the capabilities of the aircraft were less important than the political and economic factors. The Brazilians are engaged with the French on other military acquisitions as well, which would strongly favor a French product, regardless of the finer details of its capabilities.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "aki009" Premium
first of all. your post is complete crap.
secondly, brazil opted for the rafale over all the other aircraft..f-18 included because the rafale was the best choice. not only this but dassualt offered them a great package along with it.
all single engined aircraft were cancled out early on due to the fact brazil has a massive coastline and forested area. operating over remote areas of forest and sea requires 2 engines as an insurance measure. not only this but the rafale and f-18 are also both carrier operational with other services. brazils up coming economy means they will no doubtr be getting carriers in the future.
so, it came down to the flankers, rafale, f-18E
the rafale is the most capable of these aircraft in terms overall performance, not just in the flight envalope but in its electronic warefare capabilities, sensor suite (AESA) radar, electronic countermeasures, self defense suite, weapons, training provided by the french etc etc.
the package was sweetened by dassualt to get a very much needed sale as the rafale has been losing out recently int he fighter market. brazil has itself an extremely good fighter here with a very good deal.
congradulations to them.
as for klm123, you are a numnut. obama the anti american marxist? grow the fvck up
As I understand it, the Brazilians haven't "chosen" the Rafale quite yet. Lula has stated that he has "chosen" Rafale, but the "official" decision is still pending.
What it probably means is that there are still some Brazililan bureaucrats and politicians left to brib... err, convince, before they will "choose" the Rafale.
As to the technical merits, one could wax eloquent for hours on why the Brazilians should have picked any one of the choices available to them.
An important factor must have been that Brazil's long term threat picture is quite different from that of countries that are near to Russia, China, US, or some of the more active terrorist states. From a military standpoint, what they really only need is an aircraft that can kick F-16 and Mig-29 b*tt, and hold its own against a Flanker.
With this in mind, it seems that many of the capabilities of the aircraft were less important than the political and economic factors. The Brazilians are engaged with the French on other military acquisitions as well, which would strongly favor a French product, regardless of the finer details of its capabilities.
the 2 biggest reasons for the rafale is that it is the purest 4.5 generation fighter of the entire group. the rafale, alongside the eurofighter typhoon are the worlds joint second best fighter aircraft after the f-22. once the f-35 is operational you could argue in its favour, but its not yet.
the other thing going for it as im sure you are aware of is that france is offering a hell of a lot of tech, weapon, training and support with the deal. the french and more importantly dassualt need this contract badly after the rafale losing out to the other major contracts, most notably to its rival the typhoon
Agreed. The situation is particularly dire for Dassault, because if Rafale doesn't get this deal, it will be the end of its saga as an export candidate.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "aki009" Premium
first of all. your post is complete crap.
secondly, brazil opted for the rafale over all the other aircraft..f-18 included because the rafale was the best choice. not only this but dassualt offered them a great package along with it.
all single engined aircraft were cancled out early on due to the fact brazil has a massive coastline and forested area. operating over remote areas of forest and sea requires 2 engines as an insurance measure. not only this but the rafale and f-18 are also both carrier operational with other services. brazils up coming economy means they will no doubtr be getting carriers in the future.
so, it came down to the flankers, rafale, f-18E
the rafale is the most capable of these aircraft in terms overall performance, not just in the flight envalope but in its electronic warefare capabilities, sensor suite (AESA) radar, electronic countermeasures, self defense suite, weapons, training provided by the french etc etc.
the package was sweetened by dassualt to get a very much needed sale as the rafale has been losing out recently int he fighter market. brazil has itself an extremely good fighter here with a very good deal.
congradulations to them.
as for klm123, you are a numnut. obama the anti american marxist? grow the fvck up
My post is crap, thats why you didn't even comment about it. Barack Slimebama is Anti-American, Muslim loving, empty suit just like I said. The French President has basically called him a weak ass pussyyyy. So yeah I guess I'm a numnut like you said, but the truth does hurt!!! Loving it everyday that this bogus potus fails.
%u201CWe live in a real world not a virtual world,%u201D the Frenchman told the 15-member council. %u201CAnd the real world expects us to take decisions.
%u201CPresident Obama dreams of a world without weapons %u2026 but right in front of us two countries are doing the exact opposite.
%u201CIran since 2005 has flouted five security council resolutions. North Korea has been defying council resolutions since 1993.
%u201CI support the extended hand of the Americans, but what good has proposals for dialogue brought the international community? More uranium enrichment and declarations by the leaders of Iran to wipe a UN member state off the map,%u201D he continued, referring to Israel.
The sharp-tongued French leader even implied that Mr Obama%u2019s resolution 1887 had used up valuable diplomatic energy.
%u201CIf we have courage to impose sanctions together it will lend viability to our commitment to reduce our own weapons and to making a world without nuke weapons,%u201D he said.
Mr Sarkozy has previously called the US president%u2019s disarmament crusade %u201Cnave%u201D.
Let%u2019s me make this as clear as possible: The President of the United States is being laughed at and having his ass handed to him by the President of France for being too timid and nave.
And he%u2019s right.
Holy shit, have we fallen a long way.
Here's what the pathetic White House had to say about the bogus potus and his weak empty suit..............
The White House refused, because he %u201Cdidn%u2019t want to spoil the image of success%u201D for Obama%u2019s debut at the UN and his call for a nuke-free world.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "klm123" (R)
Americans will kill their mothers for money...
They do.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "24038462" (R)
Whats the plan? It seems that the plan is to financially ruin this country. After he goes to Copenhagen at the end of this month he will sign away our sovereignty. He has tripled our deficient in only 9 months. He has spent more then every President in history, COMBINED. He has taken over the auto industry, the banking industry, soon health care. This is the road to the Republic of Barackastan. The UN wants to rid the world of the dollar. He has spit on the graves of our soldiers. He is getting them killed on the battlefields because he is indecisive and an empty suit. Iran laughs at him, North Korea launched missiles without recourse. He has told the elderly and retired that they WILL NOT get a cost of living raise this year because he has bankrupt the country.
The Iraq war when GB left office cost was 665 billion, next year, in one year, Hussein's Social programs will cost us 888 billion! ONE YR almost 1 trillion dollars.
His health care will cost us to the tune of what 1.4 trillion?
Bush is no longer the President, Hussein is. Everything that has happened since he took control on Jan 20th IS HIS FAULT, no one else's. When will the libtards and democracks take responsibility for their actions?
When will libtards and demospenders realize that the collapse was due to the worst Congress in the history of the United States?
You people are such morons that its starting to get pathetic.
Posted Oct-18-2009 by "klm123" (R)