Administration Hammers Away on Behalf of Plane Sales Deal

An array of top-level spokesmen for the Carter Administration presented its most persuasive arguments today in favor of the proposed sale of advanced jet combat aircraft to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Appearing at the opening hearings by the Subcommittee on Foreign Assistance of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee were Secretary of State Cyrus Vance; Defense Secretary Harold Brown; Paul C. Warnke, director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency; Gen. David C. Jones, Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force; and Deputy Secretary of State Warren Christopher.

In prolonged and detailed testimony they sought to convince generally skeptical committee members that the proposed sales are in the best interests of U.S. foreign policy and Israel’s security; that the planes for Saudi Arabia, the most controversial aspect of the package, will not be used against Israel; and that all three countries need the aircraft for the defense of their territory.

Vance declared, “In our best judgement, the proposed sales will maintain the basic military balance in the region. Israel will retain the ability to defend itself. Saudi Arabia and Egypt will strengthen their ability to defend themselves against nations determined to undermine regional stability” and “it is our conviction that these transfers will support the Middle East peace process.”

PLANE SHIPMENTS LATER THIS YEAR

Brown disclosed, in reply to questions by several Senators as to the timing of the deliveries, that if the package is approved, the shipment of F-5E jets to Egypt would begin later this year. The delivery of 60 F-15s to Saudi Arabia would begin in the third quarter of 1981 and extend through 1984. He said those deliveries would be delayed about six months to enable the U.S. to train the Saudis and provide technical support.

In his testimony, Brown said: “These sales will continue to assure that the military balance will remain in Israel’s favor–indeed, Israel will be relatively stronger after receiving these additional F-15s and F-16s while giving Egypt and Saudi Arabia a more reasonable assurance that they can defend themselves against potential attacks from other quarters about which they have real reason for concern.” He added that in his view and that of the Administration “these aircraft sales are greatly in our national interest.”

PUSHES FOR SALE TO SAUDI ARABIA

Warnke dwelt at length on the “positive arms control aspects to the proposed sales.” He noted that Egypt and Saudi Arabia are “virtually certain to buy such aircraft from one source or another, from us or from another supplier.”

He observed, “Some of the possible alternatives to the U.S. aircraft would have greater capabilities in the deep penetration strike role and thus would likely have a more significant adverse impact on the local military balance.” Warnke also stressed that other suppliers “would be likely to impose far less stringent constraints on any subsequent use or retransfer of the aircraft which they sold than the U.S. does as a matter of law.” He was apparently referring to statements by Saudia that it would buy planes from France if the U.S. turned down the plane deal.

Warnke maintained that “Saudi support is essential for progress toward an Arab-Israeli peace settlement” and “anything we can do to strengthen our ties with Saudi Arabia and thus their support for the peace effort is consistent with our arms control policies as well.”

RATIONALE FOR SALE TO THE THREE COUNTRIES

Vance outlined the needs of each of the three recipient countries. Describing Israel as “stronger now than at any time in its history, ” he said the 75 F-16 and 15 additional F-15 aircraft earmarked for that country were necessary as replacements for aircraft that will become obsolescent in the 1980s.

With respect to the 50 F-5E jets for Egypt, Vance noted that that country, “having ended its arms supply relationship with the Soviet Union, has not received significant supplies of aircraft or parts in about three years.” He said Egypt was understandably concerned about threats from the west and south and the American jets would help it “present a credible air defense posture and assure that the United States will assist that country in meeting its legitimate defense needs.”

Vance was more specific about Saudi Arabia’s military needs, noting that it must defend a vast territory of widely scattered population centers and vulnerable oil facilities and possesses among the smallest armed forces in the region. He referred to potential threats from Iraq “well supplied with the most modern Soviet military equipment” and from South Yemen which has attacked Saudi Arabia on three occasions in the recent past.