Secretary of State Alexander Haig said today that the Reagan Administration intends to “proceed and win” the Congressional battle over the controversial proposal to sell Saudi Arabia five AWACS reconnaissance planes and enhancement equipment for their American made F-15 fighter jets.
Haig, appearing on ABC-TVs “Issues and Answers” program, said there is “no question it is a controversial issue” but stressed the sale would be a “fundamental improvement of U.S. strategic consensus in the Mideast.” He added that it was in the interests of this country to protect the Saudi Arabian oilfields from any type of attack.
Asked if the Administration intends to offer Premier Menachem Begin, scheduled to meet with President Reagan in Washington next month, something in return to compensate for the Saudi sale, Haig replied: “My experience with the government of Israel is that they won’t be bought off…” The Secretary of State said Israel’s “concerns are understandable … but we must explain why it (the AWACS) won’t harm the Israeli State.” He noted that it would not be in the interests of the U.S. to supply a potential aggressor of U.S. allies with AWACS.
It would be wrong to suggest that the U.S. is indulging in rewards for acquiescence of the AWACS package, Haig said, adding the decision “stands on its own merits.”
President Reagan said last week he will send to Congress tomorrow the informal notification of the proposed sale. However, the 50-day period in which Congress may reject the poposal will not actually start until after Congress returns from its summer recess in September. At that time, Congress will have a 20-day informal notification period followed by a 30-day formal period during which it can adopt a resolution voiding the sale. A majority of both houses is required to block such weapons sales.
NO GUARANTEES FROM THE SAUDIS
Meanwhile, reports this weekend said the Administration’s proposed sale contains no Saudi commitment to prevent the planes from being used against Israel. Furthermore Administration officials said the sale would not give the United States explicit or inherent legal control over their use, as some Congressional foes of the transaction have suggested might make the sale acceptable to them.
The officials, according to press reports, also said that the Saudi government has not agreed to restrictions on the use of the planes or the high performance 62 F-15 fighter planes the Saudis have ordered and for which they have also ordered enhancement equipment to give the F-15s greater range and fire-power.
Despite the lack of control conditions attached to the AWACS sale, the American officials contend that a threat, if there is one to Israel, would not be “significant” and that the United States would have a high degree of control because the Americans expect the AWACS and the F-15s will need “a high degree of control” for maintenance and technical support the Saudis will be unable themselves to provide.
It was also reported that the price of the Saudi transaction has rise to $8.5 billion which is reportedly nearly $4 billion more than the rough price estimates the Reagan Administration gave Congressmen last spring.
ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSED PACKAGE
In addition to the five AWACS reconnaissance planes, the Administration’s proposed package will include these items:
A total of 1,177 Sidewinder heatseeking air-to-air missiles for use by the F-15 fighters. These missiles are identical to those used by Navy F-14s last week against Libya’s Soviet-built jets.
A total of 101 pair of fuel tanks for the F-15s, to increase the planes range, however, causing only a slight reduction in acceleration and performance.
A fleet of KC-707 tanker planes totaling six with an option to buy two more, for in flight refueling of the AWACS and the F-15s as well as for the F-5 fighters already in the Saudi Air Force, and possible U.S. Navy planes.
Ground radar stations to provide an air defense screen when the AWACS are not airborne as well as stations for receiving electronic and voice messages from the patroling radar planes.
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