Carter Administration Lobbying in Congress for Its Aircraft Sales

The Carter Administration is lobbying strongly in Congress for its proposed $4.8 billion aircraft sales to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, has announced that it was cracking down on the sales of civilian aircraft and spare parts to Libya because of that country’s aid to international terrorists, and promoted career diplomat Harold Sounders to replace Alfred L. Atherton as Assistant Secretary of State for Near East and South Asian Affairs. Atherton himself has been promoted to Ambassador-at-large with special responsibility for the Middle East, subject to Senate confirmation.

Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, appearing yesterday before the House International Relations Committee at the opening of hearings on the Administration’s $14 billion foreign aid program, told the Congressmen that he would “find unacceptable” a “partial rejection” of the aircraft sales proposals and that its “total rejection would be very damaging.”

The Administration plans to sell 60 advanced F-15 fighter planes to Saudi Arabia, 50 shorter range F-5E fighter-bombers to Egypt and 15 F-15s and 75 F-16 fighter-bombers to Israel. It has submitted its proposals to Congress for the first time as a single package.

WARNS AGAINST DISTORTING THE BALANCE

Rep. John Cavanaugh (D. Neb.) asked Vance for his reaction to the possibility that Congress might approve the aircraft sales to Israel but not to Egypt or Saudi Arabia. Vance replied that “our role as a trusted intermediary would suffer most if the package is turned down.”He said that if Congress tried to take the package apart, “you would further distort the balance which currently exists in the area.”

Supporters of Israel contend that the balance would be upset by the Administration’s package that includes the first deliveries by the U.S. of lethal weapons to Egypt. Egypt and the U.S. have been saving that Egypt needs the combat jets to offset Soviet military influence in the horn of Africa.

Meanwhile, the Administration took steps to block the sale of American civilian aircraft and spare parts to Libya. The State Department said it was opposing the export of two Boeing 727 jets to the Libyan Airlines and the further export to that country of spare parts for American-built aircraft there.

It also seeks to discontinue maintenance work by American technicians in Libya on American-built aircraft there, including eight C-130 military transports. The State Department said “These decisions reflect the U.S. growing concern with Libya’s continued support for international terrorism.”

Saunders, who has been Assistant Secretary of State for Research, is regarded as a specialist in Middle Eastern affairs. Three years ago he provoked a storm of protest when he testified before Congress that the Palestinian question was the primary issue in the Middle East conflict. The then Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, concurred, saying it was “academic” and promoted Saunders from Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.