lily
08-03-2007, 01:55 AM
Link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/28/AR2007072801172.html)
House Members Say They Will Try to Block Arms Sales to Saudis
By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 29, 2007; Page A06
The Bush administration's plan to sell $20 billion in advanced weaponry to
Saudi Arabia and five other Persian Gulf countries is running into
congressional opposition and criticism from human rights and arms control
groups.
Members of Congress vowed yesterday to oppose any deal to Saudi Arabia on
grounds that the kingdom has been unhelpful in Iraq and unreliable at
fighting terrorism. King Abdullah has called the U.S. military presence in
Iraq an "illegitimate occupation," and the Saudis have been either unable or
unwilling to stop suicide bombers who have ended up in Iraq, congressional
sources say.
Human rights groups warned that new U.S. arms meant to contain Iran's rising
influence could backfire, allowing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to rally
greater support for his hard-line faction in the run-up to parliamentary
elections next spring.
And arms control groups said Bush's strategy would accelerate an
already-dangerous trend that could increase tensions rather than generate a
greater sense of security.
The administration plans to sell advanced satellite-guided bombs, fighter
aircraft upgrades and new naval vessels to six Gulf Cooperation Council
countries, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and
Oman, U.S. officials say.
U.S. officials acknowledged that congressional reaction has been mixed but
cautioned that details of a broader arms package -- including $30 billion in
military aid to Israel and $13 billion to Egypt over the next 10 years --
have yet to be released. "As we move forward, we will work very closely with
Congress, as well as our friends and allies in the region," State Department
spokesman Sean McCormack said.
But Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
who was briefed on the deal Tuesday, said he had several reservations. "This
is not a sale at Macy's that you go in and buy a bunch of stuff. There are a
complex set of relationships behind it, and while it's very desirable to
have the Saudis and others recognize that Iran is an existential threat,
there is also a degree of responsibility that they have to show on broader
U.S. foreign policy interests," he said in an interview.
In the context of the arms deals, Lantos said the oil-rich countries should
use windfall profits from high oil prices to cover the expenses of Iraqi
refugees who have flooded Jordan. Saudi Arabia should not try to re-broker
reconciliation between Palestinian moderates and militants, he added, and
Qatar should look at the television network al-Jazeera's role in the region.
Reps. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) and Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) said yesterday that
they will introduce a joint resolution of disapproval to block the deals
when Congress is formally notified. They have seven Democratic co-sponsors.
In an interview, Weiner said any arms proposal would find broad bipartisan
opposition on the Hill. "The reputation of the Saudis has taken quite a
beating since 9/11, and despite the fact that the administration has done
everything to portray them as part of the moderate Arab world, members of
Congress of both parties are increasingly skeptical."
Under the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, Congress must approve major arms
sales. In 1986, the threat of a joint resolution of disapproval played a
role in persuading the Reagan administration to cut back an arms package to
Saudi Arabia.
Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), a senior member of the House Foreign Relations
committee who was also briefed last week, said a pivotal issue will be
whether Israel maintains the "qualitative military edge" in the region.
Arms experts called for a serious debate on the quality and quantity of
weapons going to the Gulf states. "This administration does not have an arms
sales policy, except to sell, sell, sell," said Daryl G. Kimball of the Arms
Control Association. "That approach in the Middle East can be like throwing
gasoline on a brush fire."
Human Rights Watch said the arms deals would undermine long-term U.S. goals
in the Middle East. "This will reduce pressure on Egypt and the Arab states
to reform their politics. It's another case of trying to purchase stability
at the expense of liberty," said Washington director Tom Malinowski.
House Members Say They Will Try to Block Arms Sales to Saudis
By Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 29, 2007; Page A06
The Bush administration's plan to sell $20 billion in advanced weaponry to
Saudi Arabia and five other Persian Gulf countries is running into
congressional opposition and criticism from human rights and arms control
groups.
Members of Congress vowed yesterday to oppose any deal to Saudi Arabia on
grounds that the kingdom has been unhelpful in Iraq and unreliable at
fighting terrorism. King Abdullah has called the U.S. military presence in
Iraq an "illegitimate occupation," and the Saudis have been either unable or
unwilling to stop suicide bombers who have ended up in Iraq, congressional
sources say.
Human rights groups warned that new U.S. arms meant to contain Iran's rising
influence could backfire, allowing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to rally
greater support for his hard-line faction in the run-up to parliamentary
elections next spring.
And arms control groups said Bush's strategy would accelerate an
already-dangerous trend that could increase tensions rather than generate a
greater sense of security.
The administration plans to sell advanced satellite-guided bombs, fighter
aircraft upgrades and new naval vessels to six Gulf Cooperation Council
countries, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and
Oman, U.S. officials say.
U.S. officials acknowledged that congressional reaction has been mixed but
cautioned that details of a broader arms package -- including $30 billion in
military aid to Israel and $13 billion to Egypt over the next 10 years --
have yet to be released. "As we move forward, we will work very closely with
Congress, as well as our friends and allies in the region," State Department
spokesman Sean McCormack said.
But Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
who was briefed on the deal Tuesday, said he had several reservations. "This
is not a sale at Macy's that you go in and buy a bunch of stuff. There are a
complex set of relationships behind it, and while it's very desirable to
have the Saudis and others recognize that Iran is an existential threat,
there is also a degree of responsibility that they have to show on broader
U.S. foreign policy interests," he said in an interview.
In the context of the arms deals, Lantos said the oil-rich countries should
use windfall profits from high oil prices to cover the expenses of Iraqi
refugees who have flooded Jordan. Saudi Arabia should not try to re-broker
reconciliation between Palestinian moderates and militants, he added, and
Qatar should look at the television network al-Jazeera's role in the region.
Reps. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) and Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) said yesterday that
they will introduce a joint resolution of disapproval to block the deals
when Congress is formally notified. They have seven Democratic co-sponsors.
In an interview, Weiner said any arms proposal would find broad bipartisan
opposition on the Hill. "The reputation of the Saudis has taken quite a
beating since 9/11, and despite the fact that the administration has done
everything to portray them as part of the moderate Arab world, members of
Congress of both parties are increasingly skeptical."
Under the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, Congress must approve major arms
sales. In 1986, the threat of a joint resolution of disapproval played a
role in persuading the Reagan administration to cut back an arms package to
Saudi Arabia.
Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), a senior member of the House Foreign Relations
committee who was also briefed last week, said a pivotal issue will be
whether Israel maintains the "qualitative military edge" in the region.
Arms experts called for a serious debate on the quality and quantity of
weapons going to the Gulf states. "This administration does not have an arms
sales policy, except to sell, sell, sell," said Daryl G. Kimball of the Arms
Control Association. "That approach in the Middle East can be like throwing
gasoline on a brush fire."
Human Rights Watch said the arms deals would undermine long-term U.S. goals
in the Middle East. "This will reduce pressure on Egypt and the Arab states
to reform their politics. It's another case of trying to purchase stability
at the expense of liberty," said Washington director Tom Malinowski.