Worldwide Web WorldTribune.com

  breaking... 


Monday, November 19, 2007       Free Headline Alerts

White House faces battle over arms sales to Saudis for first time in 17 years

WASHINGTON — President George Bush has decided to send a proposed $20 billion arms package for Saudi Arabia to Congress over the next few weeks amid warning signals from several members of Congress.

"We have the support of most of the congressional leadership," an official said. But opposition is brewing, both privately and openly.

This would mark Congress' first battle with the White House over a Saudi arms deal since 1990. In that year, the House persuaded the administration of then-President George H.W. Bush to reduce a $20 billion defense package to $7.3 billion and remove the airborne early-warning and control aircraft and the KE-3 tanker aircraft.

Officials said the Bush administration has sent an initial notice that the proposed Saudi sale would be formally relayed to Congress soon, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the project would amount to billions of dollars worth of missiles, munitions and air defense systems.

Also In This Edition

"People of all political stripes have come out against this deal," Rep. Anthony Weiner, a New York Democrat said. "It's mind-bogglingly bad policy because the Saudi's at every turn have been uncooperative. The idea that we are going to reward the Saudi's with precision weaponry is a stunningly bad idea, and clearly deserves the full review of Congress."

Officials said prenotification of the Saudi arms deal was relayed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Nov. 13. They said Congress would consider the Saudi deal during the brief period before the House and Senate's Christmas recess.

"This week the Department of Defense provided Speaker Nancy Pelosi with an informal notification of its intent to move forward with a proposed $20 billion sale of high technology armaments to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Weiner, said. "This notice clears the way for formal notification to Congress from the Bush administration on or after December 4 of this year, or just as the current Congressional session comes to a close."

On Nov. 16, Weiner obtained signatures from Democrats and Republicans to a letter that urged Bush to delay formal sale notification until at least Jan. 15, 2008. The letter said the extension would grant Congress the 30 days stipulated by the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 to "thoroughly review the sale."

Opponents of the Saudi arms deal have focused on the White House agreement to sell the Joint Direct Attack Munitions. A letter signed by nearly a third of the 535 members of Congress warned the administration that the JDAM sale was dangerous to Israel.

Other components of the Saudi deal were expected to include the PAC-3 missile defense system or upgrades, the Littoral Combat Ship and advanced aircraft systems. Officials said Riyad was considering the purchase of 12 LCS platforms.

In July 2007, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States had begun negotiations with Riyad on a multi-billion-dollar arms sale package. Officials said the package would provide Saudi Arabia with new capabilities.



About Us     l    Contact Us     l    Geostrategy-Direct.com     l    East-Asia-Intel.com
Copyright © 2007    East West Services, Inc.    All rights reserved.