HRC's State Dept. Increased Chemical Arms Sales To M.E. Countries That Gave to Clinton Foundation

[peecoolyour]

As Egyptian democracy protesters massed in the streets of Cairo in 2011, provoking a bloody crackdown from the authoritarian regime of Hosni Mubarak, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented herself as a champion of human rights. Clinton was “deeply concerned about the use of violence by Egyptian police and security forces against protesters,” she told reporters at the State Department. “Egyptian authorities,” she urged, should not impede “peaceful protests.”

But behind the scenes, Clinton pursued contrasting aims. She cautioned the White House about backing the ouster of President Mubarak, whom she had previously described as a family friend. Her State Department cleared Egypt to continue purchasing arms the U.S. government classified as "toxicological agents,” a broad designation that included chemical and biological weapons, as well as vaccines -- this, at the very moment Mubarak’s forces were unleashing one toxicological agent, tear gas, against protesters demanding his ouster.

The Clinton-run State Department’s approval of chemical and biological exports to the Egyptian government increased in volume just as dollars flowed from Mubarak-linked entities into the coffers of Clinton family concerns. A group closely associated with the Mubarak government paid Bill Clinton a $250,000 speaking fee in 2010, less than 4 months before the Egyptian revolution began. In 2012, a firm with an ownership stake in the company that manufactured the tear gas reportedly used by Egyptian security forces against the uprising paid $100,000 to $250,000 for another Bill Clinton speech.

The approval of American chemical weapons sales to Egypt as Mubarak’s associates were stocking Clinton family interests with cash is but one example of a dynamic that prevailed though Hillary Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state. During the roughly two years of Arab Spring protests that confronted authoritarian governments with popular uprisings, Clinton’s State Department approved $66 million worth of so-called Category 14 exports -- defined as "toxicological agents, including chemical agents, biological agents and associated equipment" -- to nine Middle Eastern governments that either donated to the Clinton Foundation or whose affiliated groups paid Bill Clinton speaking fees.

http://www.ibtimes.com/hillary-clintons-state-department-increased-chemical-arms-sales-middle-east-countries-1949653

[cali]

1. unfair right wing attack!

Clinton was just following Obama's orders.
This is a normal practice
There is no appearance of conflict of interest

Did I miss anything?

[peecoolyour]

3. Yes.

You forgot to mark the "FREE SPACE" on your apologist bingo card.

[Scuba]

22. But countries weren't actively using the weapons on their own people at that moment, so it's OK.

Or at least that's what I was told on another thread.

[sadoldgirl]

6. Perhaps this? typical smear tactics

[peecoolyour]

14. That's perfect. nt

[MissDeeds]

23. The sources have to be discredited

Because, ya know, they are right wing rags. It never fails.

[misterhighwasted]

2. OMG I knew it!! THIS just HAS to be the smokin gun this time

Well hot diggity dog.

June 13, 2015
HRHHRC

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. LOL

[cali]

7. if Hillary and Obama do it, it must be the right thing!

[ChisolmTrailDem]

8. So, you approve of the sale of chemical weapons to Clinton Foundation donors? n t

[cali]

11. can't you tell? not a problem. it's Hillary. everything she does is

for the greater good. Get with the program.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. Like the gentleman or lady I was referring to I am immune to the criticism of Ms. Clinton

And no amount of trying to cow me by Mr. Sanders' supporters can make me feel otherwise.

It only strengthens my resolve.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

16. YOU did not answer my question. Do you approve of the sale of chemical weapons to donors of

the Clinton Foundation?

Yes or no, please.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. I wholeheartedly approve of the good works the Clinton Foundation does including...

I wholeheartedly approve of the good works the Clinton Foundation does including

-their efforts to combat HIV in Africa

-their efforts to provide clean water in areas of Africa where it is rare so kids don't die of dehydration by literally pooping themselves to death

-empowering young women in Third World Countries to finish school and go on to college...

My biggest regret I have about not being rich is I can't write a seven figure check to the Clinton Foundation to support the good works they do.

When I think of the calumnies against the Clinton Foundation I am reminded of what Jesus said on the cross ,"Forgive them Father for they know not what they do."

[cali]

17. no one is trying to cow you.

I actually find your single minded devotion interesting.

[cali]

5. hey cool

Nice that you approve of selling tox weapons to such countries.

[misterhighwasted]

10. oh please, I see another smokin gun that's going to jam like all the others.

Next?

2016

[cali]

12. they aren't jamming. you just aren't paying attention

or you're in that well known Hillary state of mind; denial.

[Lancero]

15. Do we have a breakdown of the sales?

The article doesn't provide a breakdown, just that items classified as toxicological agents were sold.

The article outright says that vaccines are classified as such. The article tries to paint off the deals as weapons, but it shoots itself in the foot when it admits that vaccines - medicine - could have been what the deal was over.

The article says that the agreements were for 'arms' but right below backtracks on that that saying that they gave approval for chemical and biological exports. A lot of medical supplies fall under such labeling.

[peecoolyour]

19. When she was at state, Clinton put a stop to that kind of transparency and lumped them all together.

From the same article:

Prior to Clinton’s tenure at State, Congress and the public could see some of the details of Category 14 exports. Those interested in scrutinizing the sales were supplied a breakdown of the transactions into separate categories such as “tear gases and riot control” and other wares classified as “medical countermeasures” like vaccines to protect against exposure to chemical and biological warfare. But as Clinton’s State Department increased its export approvals, it also stopped providing a breakdown of such exports. Key details are now effectively secret.

[cali]

20. disturbing. unless you're a Hillary supporter

In that case, it's a brilliant humanitarian move. Or something

[leveymg]

21. Good point. Another case of lack of transparency creates the appearance of conflict of interest here

It's part of Hillary's MO. She can't help herself.

[leveymg]

18. I think this was more like ongoing sales of police tear gas rounds than VX with air delivery systems

Go back to the 1980s, when the Reagan-Bush Administration was secretly arming both sides with WMDs in the Iran-Iraq War, for that. Iran-contra was part of that. The covert program worked as intended - hundreds of thousands died. Now, that was a real proliferations and arms scandal, or should have been.

While the Saudis and other ME states have been contributing hundreds of millions to the Clintons, this isn't the "missing link" or good evidence of a quid pro quo, IMHO.

[bigdarryl]

25. Stop posting rightwing bullshit on my girl Hillary

[AtomicKitten]

26. quid-pro-Clinton Foundation-quo

<<ugh>>