thailand gets ready to rumble

[jambo]

Thailand to spend US$14.5 billion in arms

Thai armed forces plan US$14.5 billion in arms purchases
BANGKOK, Jan 26 (TNA) - Thailand's Ministry of Defense Thursday announced its plan to procure nearly US$15 billion in foreign military hardware spanning a nine-years timeframe.

Defense Ministry permanent secretary Gen. Sirichai Tanyasiri said his ministry will open bids for the planned procurement of the military hardware, largely involving combat maneuverabilities, mobilisation of forces, firepower systems, communications and information technology totally worth about 567 billion baht.

So far, 115 foreign arms firms have expressed interest to offer arms packages to the Defense Ministry, details of which are yet to be disclosed.

Each firm has different fields of expertise and technical capabilities for the Thai military to compare, Gen. Sirichai said.

Gen. Sirichai said the Defense Ministry's arms purchase plans would not be deterred by any budget constraints.
Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Army plans to purchase Bt206 billion (US$5.25 billion) in military hardware and weapons systems as part of a Bt567 billion (US$14.5 billion) arms package of the Ministry of Defense.

Royal Thai Army commander in chief Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin said Thursday that the Army needs to have more weapons to strengthen its manpower forces and maintain combat readiness in addition to
modernising its personnel.

Under the Defense Ministry's arms procurement scheme, set to span a nine-year time period -- beginning with the current fiscal year, the Army will seek inexpensive, light weapons for individual soldiers, among others.

Gen. Sondhi said he believed the Bt206 billion arms purchase plans for the Army was Thailand's biggest ever arms purchase.

However, the Defense Ministry and Office of Supreme Commander will conduct the negotiations for procuring the military hardware, mostly from abroad, on behalf of each branch of the armed forces, he said.

The budgets for Thailand's largest ever arms purchase packages have yet to be approved by the cabinet.

[johnnyk]

Should be a nice layer of cream to skim off here.
The airport scam may pale by comparison.

[jambo]

suspisious minds johnny
how far into the post was you when you thought this ?
i think i got to the 5th word in the 3rd paragraph when i had similar thoughts
chok dee
jambo

[Guess]

Thailand to spend US$14.5 billion in arms

This is obviously a misspelling. It was meant to read alms.

If it is not I would dearly like to know what the money is to spent on. Are we expecting a nuclear attack on Bangkok from North Korea and intend to invest in a satelite defense system or is to provide the whole population of Thailand with Walther MPK machine pistols.

Anyway I have now realised that after six years here that no statment of intention has ever been executed. The new Bangkok airport was only built because the European Union told them that it was necessary and lent most of the money for the project.

It is ridiculous to spend that amount of money on arms anyway, legs are more important.

[lomuamart]

Have some of you noticed how Thailand is expecting to pay for some of these armaments?
Ie, it was in the press recently that a "chicken (and prawns, I think) exchange deal" had almost been struck, or already was finalised, with Sweden for fighter aircraft.
And no, it wasn't April 1st.

[david83]

Have some of you noticed how Thailand is expecting to pay for some of these armaments?
Ie, it was in the press recently that a "chicken (and prawns, I think) exchange deal" had almost been struck, or already was finalised, with Sweden for fighter aircraft.
And no, it wasn't April 1st.

Yes, we had alot of arguments about that back home and sadly it is true. The Thai will pay in food and also some kind of investments... Popular belief seems to be that it is the two royal families that have made some kind of agreement, appearantly they are good friends, to strengthen bonds between our countries

We have tons of those planes anyways so no one is really upset but I think it´s hilarious...

[jambo]

Popular belief seems to be that it is the two royal families that have made some kind of agreement, appearantly they are good friends, to strengthen bonds between our countries

when did the states get a royal family?

[tuktukmike]

This must be a mistake,

From the amount of swedes i have seen here in Hua Hin forget the chicken and prawns, more like girls for arms.

Although maybe chicken, prawns, and the girls are closely linked,

Mai pen rai.

Mike.

Koon mai poot Thai,

[Guess]

when did the states get a royal family?

Have we got a misfunctioning Babel Fish on this site. I thought that the subject was Thai exchange of Gung and Guy for Fighter planes.

Sounds like the basis of millenia old commercialism to me.

Two interest parties meet where each has something that the other wants.

I.e Thailand has plenty of shrimps and chickens and no fighter planes. Sweden has a need for prawns and chicken and more fighter planes than there are pilots sober enough to fly them.

Both Nations have Royal families who are indeed friends. In fact the Royal Family of Thailand has good relationships with nearly all the Royal Families around the world.

The Swedish Royal Family have in the past also had very good relationships with the Saudi Royal Family and the Bin Ladens.

I am glad that the fighters are coming here rather than to the Middle East.

[david83]

when did the states get a royal family?

I am a swede living in the U.S

[jambo]

Have we got a misfunctioning Babel Fish on this site. I thought that the subject was Thai exchange of Gung and Guy for Fighter planes.

the origanal topic was

Thailand to spend US$14.5 billion in arms

not

This is obviously a misspelling. It was meant to read alms.

or

If it is not I would dearly like to know what the money is to spent on. Are we expecting a nuclear attack on Bangkok from North Korea and intend to invest in a satelite defense system or is to provide the whole population of Thailand with Walther MPK machine pistols.

or

It is ridiculous to spend that amount of money on arms anyway, legs are more important.

or even

I thought that the subject was Thai exchange of Gung and Guy for Fighter planes.

so i would most definatly suggest

Have we got a misfunctioning Babel Fish on this site

is true
GUESS the name ?

[Guess]

Have we got a misfunctioning Babel Fish on this site. I thought that the subject was Thai exchange of Gung and Guy for Fighter planes.

the origanal topic was

Thailand to spend US$14.5 billion in arms

not

This is obviously a misspelling. It was meant to read alms.

Sarastcic remark which I agree can easily be misunderstood when written without seeing facial expression. I was agreeing with Johnny's reply and your reply in that I do not believe that that amount of money is going to be spent on defense without some ulteria motive. The spelling of arms/alms means that they are more likely to be giving the money to someone who of course will not be someone in need of it.



or

If it is not I would dearly like to know what the money is to spent on. Are we expecting a nuclear attack on Bangkok from North Korea and intend to invest in a satelite defense system or is to provide the whole population of Thailand with Walther MPK machine pistols.

The same again. Why should Thailand suddenly need to spend over budget when there is no apparent imminent threat.

or

It is ridiculous to spend that amount of money on arms anyway, legs are more important.

Similar but supposed to be humourous. I.e there are people in this region who are still in the need of artificial legs due to action by previous SE ASsan military regimes.

or even

I thought that the subject was Thai exchange of Gung and Guy for Fighter planes.

Sorry for that but I have been here a while and shrimp, prawns or whatever you want to cal them to me are Gung or Kung. Chicken is Guy or Gai. I was referring to the earlier post made by Lomu (which I believe ther is some sunstantiation of in the Thai media) on that same subject which BTW is what I thought the topic was about. I.e Thailand to spend US$14.5 billion in arms even though it it named "thailand gets ready to rumble".


so i would most definatly suggest

Have we got a misfunctioning Babel Fish on this site

Which of course if you read again was a reference to someone whose address is in the US but is from Sweden and refers to his royal family. A bit too subtle for most maybe but no different from your comment "when did the States get a royal family" which is exactly the sort of thing I would have written if you had not done it first.


is true
GUESS the name ?

Looks like I will have to answer these one at a time. Looks like you have got the wrong end of the stick completely. Answers in red.

[jambo]

hi guess
maybe i did get the wrong end of the stick ( a little defensive )

now is mr t looking for a new defence minister?
maybe i should send the post as a cv
chok dee
jambo

[Norseman]

I think it's about time to end this expressions of opinion and get going.
Ok?
Thanks.