Congress challenges Obama on Saudi arms sales
I have mentioned before Mitchell Bard's conclusion that Israel no longer bothers to oppose American arms sales to Saudi Arabia, because it's not a winnable battle. In light of that, what appears to be growing Congressional opposition to the proposed $60 billion arms sale to 'our friends the Saudis' is a refreshing surprise. California Democrat Howard Berman and Florida Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen are seeking support from other members of the U.S. House of Representatives for a letter outlining concerns and questions to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.Read the whole thing.
The letter stops short of opposing the sale, which would be the largest in U.S. history if all purchases are made. The package includes Boeing Co. F-15 fighter jets, attack helicopters and satellite-guided bombs. It also contains helicopters made by United Technologies Corp. and advanced radar from Raytheon Co.
The lawmakers raise “the potential repercussions for our friends and for our own forces in the region in the event of political change in Saudi Arabia,” according to the draft letter obtained by Bloomberg News yesterday. Ros-Lehtinen is expected to replace Berman as committee chairman in January, when Republicans take control of the House.
“We have serious concerns about the nature of Saudi involvement in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, particularly since the Saudis have failed to take steps toward normalization of relations with Israel or to augment their financial support to the Palestinian Authority,” according to the letter.
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On Iran, Ros-Lehtinen and Berman ask what Saudi Arabia has done beyond expressing anxiety at Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. The lawmakers cite potential Saudi “leverage in the international oil market to diminish Iran’s oil revenue” and actions to stem financing for terrorism or reduce the spread of nuclear-weapons technology.
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The letter questions how thoroughly the State Department and the Pentagon have considered the effect of the sale on U.S. policies in the region, including the goal of ensuring that Israel maintains a “qualitative military edge” over its neighbors.
The two lawmakers cite a report by the Government Accountability Office, which concluded that the Departments of State and Defense “did not consistently document how arms transfers to gulf countries advanced U.S. foreign policy and national security goals.”
Defense Department officials discussed the proposed sale with Israeli officials as the package was being developed, according to both sides. Jonathan Peled, a spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, has said that while his country isn’t “thrilled” by the proposal, it hasn’t requested such actions as congressional hearings or assurances.
Congress has until November 20 to object to the sale. I can think of some more reasons why Congress should object. Please send this post to your Representative or Senator.
Labels: arms sales, Howard Berman, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Iran, Saudi Arabia
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:15 AM
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