"Right now, the committees have a general idea of what the
administration wants to sell," a congressional source said. "By September,
the details should be finalized."
So far, about 120 House members, including some 20 Republicans, have
warned President George Bush that they would block the sale to Arab states.
In an Aug. 2 letter, 114 House members said they would introduce a Joint
Resolution of Disapproval of the sale "the minute Congress is officially
notified."
"People of all political stripes are coming out against this deal," Rep.
Anthony Weiner, a New York Democrat, said. "It's mind-bogglingly bad policy
because the Saudis 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."
At this point, Lantos has not staked a position on the U.S. arms
package. He said he would support the sale of U.S. defensive weapons to
Saudi Arabia.
"There is no merit to the general argument that if the United States
does not sell arms to these countries, they will go elsewhere and we will
lose influence in the region," Lantos said.
Most of the opponents of the administration's arms package have
been Democrats. One exception is Rep. Mike Ferguson, a New Jersey
Republican, who said he would lobby his colleagues to oppose the deal.
"I am deeply disappointed that the Bush administration decided to begin
negotiations with Saudi Arabia on a $20 billion arms deal," Ferguson said.
"It is our hope that Congress will take every step necessary to keep this
transaction from happening."
House members questioned any Saudi pledge not to use the U.S. weapons
and platforms against Israel. They said Riyad has repeatedly violated U.S.
conditions on the use and transfer of American weapons.
"The Saudis said before they entered the World Trade Organization they
would end the boycott against Israel," Rep. Robert Wexler, a Florida
Democrat said. "They have not done so. There is no reason to believe that we
can believe that the Saudis in this instance will act in any more
responsible manner."