Congressional Opposition Mounts to Missile Sale to Saudis

The Reagan Administration’s proposed sale of 1,600 Maverick air-to-ground missiles to Saudi Arabia is facing staunch opposition in the Congress, suggesting possible overturn of a Presidential veto.

A Senate resolution opposing the sale, sponsored by Sens. Bob Packwood (R. Ore.) and Alan Cranston (D. Calif.), was signed by 52 Senators as of Thursday, just 15 co-signers short of a two-thirds majority needed to override a veto. The House resolution was signed by 108 Representatives.

Congress, which was notified of the sale May 29, has until June 26 to disapprove of the sale.

Opposition to the sale comes in the after-math of the failure of Saudi Arabian, F-15s to force down the Iraqi jets that attacked the U.S. missile frigate Stark in the Persian Gulf. Congressmen have also cited concern over Saudi refusal to make a peace initiative towards Israel and its support of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

“I think there’s a pretty widespread belief that it’s the wrong thing at the wrong time,” said Rep. Larry Smith (D. Fla.), who sponsored the House resolution with Rep. Mel Levine (D. Calif.). “There’s a feeling of dissatisfaction with the Saudi noninvolvement and non-help in the process in the Middle East,” he said.

The Reagan Administration is contending that the Maverick sale was approved by Congress in 1984, but delivery was delayed at the Saudis’ request. The Administration is using the previous vote to deny Congress a 20-day advance notification of the sale before the 30-day disapproval period.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee noted that Saudi Arabia already has 2,582 Maverick missiles in stock compared to 900 earlier models in the Israel inventory.