Lawmakers seek conditions on arms sale to Saudis

Ray

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Lawmakers seek conditions on arms sale to Saudis

bipartisan House group wants to try to prevent the weaponry — a record $60-billion purchase — from potentially being used against Israeli, U.S. or allied forces.

By Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times

November 15, 2010|5:11 p.m.


Reporting from Washington —
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is demanding more assurances from the Obama administration that a record $60-billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia won't give the kingdom new military capabilities that threaten Israel......

House members aren't likely to block the deal, officials said, but want conditions applied to try to prevent the weaponry from potentially being used against Israeli, U.S. or allied forces.

Lawmakers noted, for example, that the administration could require modifications in aircraft guidance systems and other electronics to make it harder for the weapons to be used against Israeli targets. The U.S. also could require that the aircraft be based in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, to give Israel time to prepare for defense in the event of an attack, lawmakers said.

The deal would allow the Saudi government to buy up to 84 new F-15 fighters, to upgrade 70 more, and to purchase attack helicopters and satellite-guided bombs.

The administration has said the sales are aimed at helping the Saudis deter military aggression by Iran, which is expected to become even more assertive if it ultimately is able to construct nuclear weapons.......

The United States has long sought to assure, in weighing military sales in the Middle East, that Israel would retain a qualitative military edge. Israel hasn't objected to the sales, which have been discussed by U.S. and Israeli defense officials.''''

The group of lawmakers raising questions included liberals and conservatives, and the letter faults several Saudi policies. It says that Riyadh has not moved to normalize relations with Israel, has lagged on financial support to the Palestinian Authority and has not done enough to pressure Iran to curtail its nuclear program.

The administration is also promising Israel $3 billion worth of jet fighter sales as part of a deal to win its support for a 90-day freeze of Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank. The White House hopes the freeze can open the way to a resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.


Saudi Arabia up a gum tree?
While it is Middle East centric, the sale of sophisticated and modern state of art weaponry to the Saudis is prime concern to India too.

In the past, Saudis have supported Pakistan in all wars with India to include with weaponry.

Therefore, it become essential to keep a tab over such arms sales and in the strategic analysis, calculate what would come Pakistan's way in case of conflict with India.

It would not be wrong to mention that Pakistan is a client state of the Saudis, who always salvage Pakistan with weaponry and money whenever they are down and out. Saudis, in return, are allowed to spread their Wahabic strain of Islam in madrassa of Pakistan, which Pakistan gleefully accepts and uses as 'strategic assets' against India and against the world to include against the Western troops in Afghanistan.
 

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