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http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/7/28/100417.shtml?s=us
U.S. Plans Big Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia: Report
NewsMax.com Wires Saturday, July 28, 2007
The Bush administration is preparing to ask Congress to approve arms sales
totaling $20 billions over the next decade for Saudi Arabia and its
neighbors, The New York Times reported in Saturday editions.
Coming as some U.S. officials contend that the Saudi government is not
helping the situation in Iraq, the proposal for advanced weapons for Saudi
Arabia has stoked concern in Israel and among its U.S. backers, the Times
said. The package of advanced weaponry includes advanced satellite-guided
bombs, upgrades for its fighters and new naval vessels.
Senior officials, including State Department and Pentagon officials who
outlined the deals' terms, told the Times they thought the Bush
administration had resolved those concerns, partly by offering Israel more
than $30 billion in military aid over the next 10 years, which would be a
significant increase over recent levels.
Administration officials remain concerned, however, that the package could
draw opposition from Saudi critics in Congress, which is to be notified
formally about the deal this autumn, the newspaper said.
The State Department and the White House had no comment on the Times'
article, and a Pentagon spokesperson could not immediately be reached for
comment.
Assurances from the Saudis about being more supportive in Iraq were not
sought by the administration as part of the deal, U.S. officials told the
newspaper.
The Times said officials described the plan as intended to bolster Gulf
countries' militaries in a bid to contain Iran's growing strength in the
region, as well as to demonstrate Washington's commitment to its Arab
allies.
But they added that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense
Secretary Robert Gates still plan to use their joint visit to Saudi Arabia
next week to press for help with Iraq's government.
"The role of the Sunni Arab neighbors is to send a positive, affirmative
message to moderates in Iraq in government that the neighbors are with you,"
the newspaper quoted a senior State Department official as saying.
The official added that Washington wants Gulf states to stress to Sunnis
that engaging in violence is "killing your future."
Other salves to Israel in light of the proposed deal include asking the
Saudis to accept restrictions on the range, size and location of the
satellite-guided bombs, the Times said. The Pentagon is also asking for a
commitment not to store the weapons at air bases close to Israeli territory,
it added.
Along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab
Emirates are likely to receive equipment and weaponry from the arms sales
under consideration, the Times said.
U.S. Plans Big Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia: Report
NewsMax.com Wires Saturday, July 28, 2007
The Bush administration is preparing to ask Congress to approve arms sales
totaling $20 billions over the next decade for Saudi Arabia and its
neighbors, The New York Times reported in Saturday editions.
Coming as some U.S. officials contend that the Saudi government is not
helping the situation in Iraq, the proposal for advanced weapons for Saudi
Arabia has stoked concern in Israel and among its U.S. backers, the Times
said. The package of advanced weaponry includes advanced satellite-guided
bombs, upgrades for its fighters and new naval vessels.
Senior officials, including State Department and Pentagon officials who
outlined the deals' terms, told the Times they thought the Bush
administration had resolved those concerns, partly by offering Israel more
than $30 billion in military aid over the next 10 years, which would be a
significant increase over recent levels.
Administration officials remain concerned, however, that the package could
draw opposition from Saudi critics in Congress, which is to be notified
formally about the deal this autumn, the newspaper said.
The State Department and the White House had no comment on the Times'
article, and a Pentagon spokesperson could not immediately be reached for
comment.
Assurances from the Saudis about being more supportive in Iraq were not
sought by the administration as part of the deal, U.S. officials told the
newspaper.
The Times said officials described the plan as intended to bolster Gulf
countries' militaries in a bid to contain Iran's growing strength in the
region, as well as to demonstrate Washington's commitment to its Arab
allies.
But they added that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense
Secretary Robert Gates still plan to use their joint visit to Saudi Arabia
next week to press for help with Iraq's government.
"The role of the Sunni Arab neighbors is to send a positive, affirmative
message to moderates in Iraq in government that the neighbors are with you,"
the newspaper quoted a senior State Department official as saying.
The official added that Washington wants Gulf states to stress to Sunnis
that engaging in violence is "killing your future."
Other salves to Israel in light of the proposed deal include asking the
Saudis to accept restrictions on the range, size and location of the
satellite-guided bombs, the Times said. The Pentagon is also asking for a
commitment not to store the weapons at air bases close to Israeli territory,
it added.
Along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab
Emirates are likely to receive equipment and weaponry from the arms sales
under consideration, the Times said.
