Mugabe to order FC-1s from china

guy's country in turmoil and famine yet where does he get the money to buy them ?

http://iafrica.com/news/sa/52746.htm

On 15 Jun 2004 06:07:06 -0700, (Prowlus) wrote:

guy's country in turmoil and famine yet where does he get the money to buy them ?

http://iafrica.com/news/sa/52746.htm

It's likely the Chinese loaned him money in order to gain influence.



Eric Pinnell

(Author, "Steel Rain", "Claws of The Dragon", "The Omega File")

For a preview, see: http://www.ericpinnell.com/books/previews.shtml

On Tue, 15 Jun 2004 13:55:41 -0400, Eric Pinnell seemywebsite wrote:
On 15 Jun 2004 06:07:06 -0700, (Prowlus) wrote:

guy's country in turmoil and famine yet where does he get the money to buy them ?

http://iafrica.com/news/sa/52746.htm

It's likely the Chinese loaned him money in order to gain influence.

I doubt it. China gains nothing from lending money to him, since it
would be money down the drain. And how would China benefit from
"influence"? What's Zimbabwe got that China wants?

--
"It's easier to find people online who openly support the KKK than
people who openly support the RIAA" -- comment on Wikipedia
(Email: zen19725 at zen dot co dot uk)

On Tue, 15 Jun 2004 20:52:46 +0100, (phil hunt)
wrote:

I doubt it. China gains nothing from lending money to him, since it
would be money down the drain. And how would China benefit from
"influence"? What's Zimbabwe got that China wants?

Who can say? Maybe the Chinese want to have an airbase or military
facility. Mugabe is a dangerous lunatic who's going to destroy his
country. Worse yet, Thabo Mbeki seems to want to do the same thing.



Eric Pinnell

(Author, "Steel Rain", "Claws of The Dragon", "The Omega File")

For a preview, see: http://www.ericpinnell.com/books/previews.shtml

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 17:22:51 -0400, Eric Pinnell seemywebsite wrote:
On Tue, 15 Jun 2004 20:52:46 +0100, (phil hunt)
wrote:

I doubt it. China gains nothing from lending money to him, since it
would be money down the drain. And how would China benefit from
"influence"? What's Zimbabwe got that China wants?

Who can say? Maybe the Chinese want to have an airbase or military
facility.

Why would they want one in Zimbabwe? maybe in 20 years time, but
China isn't in a position to have worldwide power projection yet.

--
"It's easier to find people online who openly support the KKK than
people who openly support the RIAA" -- comment on Wikipedia
(Email: zen19725 at zen dot co dot uk)

"phil hunt" wrote in message
rg...
On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 17:22:51 -0400, Eric Pinnell seemywebsite wrote:
On Tue, 15 Jun 2004 20:52:46 +0100, (phil hunt)
wrote:

I doubt it. China gains nothing from lending money to him, since it
would be money down the drain. And how would China benefit from
"influence"? What's Zimbabwe got that China wants?

Who can say? Maybe the Chinese want to have an airbase or military
facility.

Why would they want one in Zimbabwe? maybe in 20 years time, but
China isn't in a position to have worldwide power projection yet.

You folks are IMO overlooking the obvious; the much more likely reason
behind China providing FC-1's to Zimbabwe would be simply to pump up the
export potetial for the aircraft by being able to point to a customer other
than Pakistan. They essentially gift them to Mugabe in hopes that it helps
them develop a larger paying customer export basis elsewhere around the
world in the near future. Desperate times/desperate measures--its not like
oodles of potential customers are scratching and clawing to get on the early
delivery list for "advanced" (ahem!) PRC manufactired combat aircraft, now
is it?

Brooks


--

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 23:28:32 +0100, (phil hunt)
wrote:

Why would they want one in Zimbabwe? maybe in 20 years time, but
China isn't in a position to have worldwide power projection yet.

Yeah, but they'd be in a position, for example, to stomp on third
world tin pot dictatorships anytime they want.
Africa is a big mess, maybe China's looking to become a major
player.
One has to wonder why Mugabe wants modern air power, since his
neighbors don't have much in the way of an air force, and air power
isn't all that useful if there's an armed rebellion.


Eric Pinnell

(Author, "Steel Rain", "Claws of The Dragon", "The Omega File")

For a preview, see: http://www.ericpinnell.com/books/previews.shtml

(Prowlus) wrote in
om:

guy's country in turmoil and famine yet where does he get the money to
buy them ?


By the simple expedient of not being in touch with reality and not caring
that his own population is starving. Easy really.

--
Regards
Drewe
"Better the pride that resides
In a citizen of the world
Than the pride that divides
When a colourful rag is unfurled"

"Prowlus" wrote in message
om...
guy's country in turmoil and famine yet where does he get the money to buy
them ?

http://iafrica.com/news/sa/52746.htm

It's easy really, Libya already owns large chunks of Zimbabwe from deals
done - I guess that China is getting the rest.

OK, my news server has been out the last few days, so I am trying this one
more time. If anyone has seen this before, my apologies....

What if Mugabe has diamonds, industrial and otherwise, to offer? Ones not
going through the usual channels? Also, China gets to crow about sales of
this system to someone when the US, Russia and Europe are already the big
names on the sophisticated arms export block.