President Bush and King Abdullah (AP)
"These tools should be for defensive purposes and ensure that there is a regional balance for Israel and that equipment that we sell to the Saudis and other countries are particularly suited for these defensive purposes."
Can you give us the context for the Saudi arms package about which the U.S. administration just informed Congress?
The war in Iraq has created great turbulence in the Middle East. Iran is attempting to exploit that turbulence. It supports groups that destabilize the region like Hamas and Hezbollah. The Gulf States are now concerned about Iran’s destabilizing power.
The Saudis play a critical balancing role in the region. Their leadership in terms of containing the Iranian threat and the threat of terrorism is essential. U.S. security assistance programs allow our partners in the region to create stability though mutual security initiatives.
With the administration’s proposed security package the Saudis would receive JDAMs (Joint Direct Attack Munitions). The system is based on satellite navigation and is highly accurate. JDAMs had an important impact in Bosnia and Kosovo.
How do security assistance packages get put together?
There’s a process that the United States follows for these security packages. One of the missions of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) is to receive requests from U.S. allies and assess the utility of providing them with military equipment. They look at regional security, shaping the package to meet the needs of partners in the region, at protection of technology and set clear operational requirements in terms of how the equipment is to be used. For example, the Royal Saudi Air Force has worked with U.S. Air Force personnel for many years.
When examining a military equipment sale to the Middle East the administration begins with its own regional review. Usually a Three Star general at the DSCA and the U.S. State Department assess the situation.
Normally, the administration would then begin informal dialogue with Congress, prior to submission of any proposal. There is a long history of trying to work out security assistance by consensus of the legislative and executive branches.
After this informal discussion, the President will notify the House and the Senate about each equipment sale under the Arms Export Control Act. Congress then has a thirty day period to reject the sale.
The disapproval process is quite clear: when the President notifies Congress, the thirty day clock starts. A rejection requires a joint resolution of Congress and must spell out the specific rejection of the equipment. This process is necessary for any defense articles above $50 million, construction articles above $200 million and major defense equipment above $14 million.
What should Members of Congress be looking at when assessing this proposal?
Members of Congress need to look at whether the package advances the U.S. interest of regional security in the Middle East. They must examine it through several lenses: One, the fight against terrorism. Two, whether the package is consistent with the long-standing U.S. commitment to our ally Israel. Three, will the package help our allies meet their security needs. Four, will the package further help in the creation of a regional balance, particularly given the role Syria and Iran play in disrupting this balance.
This means that the package should strengthen our allies. The package recognizes that U.S. partners in the region need American assistance, particularly since Iran is not a neutral player in the region. Until Iran does logical things like accept UN inspectors, it will be important for our allies to have the necessary tools to ensure their security. These tools should be for defensive purposes and ensure that there is a regional balance for Israel and that equipment that we sell to the Saudis and other countries are particularly suited for these defensive purposes.
