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Monday, August 6, 2007

Congress questioning Saudi arms deal

WASHINGTON — Congress wants an additional briefing on a proposed $20 billion U.S. arms package to Saudi Arabia.

Leading House and Senate members have questioned the deal. Some of them have warned that advanced U.S. weaponry to Riyad could fall into the hands of Al Qaida or its supporters.

Congressional sources said the House and Senate would be briefed by the administration after their return from summer recess, Middle East Newsline reported. House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Tom Lantos has asked for a briefing on the arms sale package in September.

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"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."

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