— Secretary of State Alexander Haig reiterated today that the Reagan Administration plans to go ahead with its multi-billion dollar arms package sale to Saudi Arabia but said the Administration cannot submit the proposal to Congress until the “modalities” have been worked out.
Haig maintained the Administration’s position in testifying before the House Appropriations Sub-committee on Foreign Operations, whose chairman, Rep. Clarence Long (D. Md.), introduced a resolution in the House yesterday to reject the proposed sale.
A spokesperson for Long told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today that the resolution, which already has 26 co-sponsors, from both parties, is the first legislative action against the proposed sale of five AWACS and enhancement equipment for the 62 F-15 Jet fighters previously sold to the Saudis. The spokesperson said that Long acted even though a proposal has not been officially submitted to Congress because of the strong opposition to the sale in both house.
“I want to put the Administration on notice that Congress will not tolerate any aims sale that would jeopardize Israel’s security,” Long declared after he submitted the resolution.
The Administration is not expected to submit the proposal officially to Congress before the fall. Senate majority leader Howard Baker (R. Tenn.) has persuaded the Administration to delay submission to allow Congress to work out some changes in the proposal that would be more acceptable on Capitol Hill.
HAIG’S RATIONALE FOR THE SALE
Haig did not specifically mention the weapons sale to Saudi Arabia in his prepared statement which he read to the subcommittee. But he claimed that by strengthening the defense systems of “friendly states” the United States “strengthened ourself” at a lower cost.
“In practical terms, this means that the air defense system we help a friendly state develop could one day serve as a prepositioned shield under which Western relief forces would move, ” Haig said.
The Secretary noted that almost 70 percent of the $6.87 billion in security assistance the Administration is asking for the 1982 fiscal year goes to the Middle East, with Israel and Egypt getting the bulk of the funds. “Adequate defense capability for Israel, Egypt and other responsible Arab states will not only help deal with outside pressures but will support our objective of a lasting Middle East peace, “he said. “Individual and regional insecurity undermines every prospect for peace.”
Haig stressed that “the security at Israel remains a major U.S. concern and a binding U.S. commitment. We are determined that Israel retain the military capability to deter threats from hostile forces.”
He added that the U.S. recognizes Israel’s importance to the U.S. in “developing regional strategy. Israel constitutes an important deterrent in the region and indeed can play a major role in countering the more serious threats involving the Soviet Union.”
Haig also praised Egyptian President Anwar Sadat for his decision to turn away from the Soviet Union and become a friend of the United States. “President Sadat has had the vision not only to see and deal with the larger Soviet threat but also to join the peace process with Israel, ” Haig said. “There is no alternative to a strong, Western-oriented Egypt.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
