Jackson Claims U.S. Errors Boosted Soviet to Mideast Power Role

Sen. Henry M. Jackson (D., Wash.) told the Senate today that “the overeager-sometimes-frantic-maneuvering of the Secretary of State has helped make the Soviet Union a major Middle Eastern power.” He said that “American policy in the Mideast imperils not only the security of Israel, but the peace of the world.” Referring to the recent massive delivery of Supersonic Soviet aircraft to Egypt and Syria and the continued delay in answering the Israeli request for additional Phantoms, Jackson said, ” We have been practicing in the Middle East a carrot-and-stick diplomacy in which the Soviet Union and the Arab States are offered the carrot while Israel gets the stick.” Jack son detailed present Russian assistance to the Arabs: 100 Russian officers of General or Admiral rank in Egypt, 600 Supersonic military aircraft based in Syria, Iraq and Egypt, and 200 fully trained combat pilots permanently based in Egypt.