[The administration has also been drafting another request for a huge
naval deal with Riyad. Congressional sources said Saudi Arabia has sought
$30 billion worth of naval platforms, weapons and subsystems from the United
States, Middle East Newsline reported.]
The congressional letter, signed by both Democrats and Republicans,
demanded information on Saudi military requirements, ability to absorb
combat platforms, regime stability and whether Israel
could eventually be threatened by the advanced F-15s and Apache attack
helicopters. The letter also questioned Saudi policy and whether it was
helping U.S. interests.
The administration was said to have been surprised by the congressional
response to the Berman-Ros-Lehtinen letter. Officials, citing lack of
Israeli opposition, had predicted that congressional interest in the Saudi
deal would wane after the November elections, in which the Republicans won
the House.
"But we feel comfortable that we have done adequate pre-consultations
members of Congress that there will not be a barrier to completing this
sale," Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro said on Oct. 20.
The letter does not openly oppose the U.S. arms sale to Saudi Arabia.
But congressional sources said formal objections could be raised within
the House and Senate that would delay the deal.
"First, Congress needs a serious discussion with the administration that
would justify this and other major sales planned for Saudi Arabia," a
Republican congressional aide said.