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Arm Transfers May
Doom F-15s to Saudis
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Attending Thl-Aviv University
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Saudi transfer of U.S. arms to Arab
states is jeopardizing its acquisition of T2
F-15s.
JAMES DAVID BESSER
Washington Correspondent
T
wo weeks ago, it ap-
peared that the ad-
ministration would
face a tough fight in Con-
gress over the long-rumored
sale of 72 advanced F-15 jet
aircraft to Saudi Arabia.
Now, with official confir-
mation of a long pattern of
illegal transfers of American
arms from the Saudi
government to Syria, Iraq
and Bangladesh, the odds
against the administration
have lengthened con-
siderably. -
In recent weeks, all sides
in the shadow debate over
the F-15s have been jockey-
ing for position before the
actual battle begins. In
typical Washington fashion,
participants have sent out
dark hints about what might
happen in the upcoming
debate.
The administration has in-
timated that the package
would include some of the
most advanced F-15s, which
could pose a threat to Israel.
But those suggestions might
just be the opening gambits
in a bargaining process that
could result in a compromise
formula.
Jewish groups have been
sending out signals that
they are ready to go to the
mat to derail the sale,
despite the fact that, in the
past, groups like the Ameri-
can Israel Public Affairs
Committee (AIPAC) have in
the past chosen to sit out
major tussles over Saudi
arms sales.
But this, too, might just be
an opening move in what
will surely be a complex po-
litical chess match.
For now, one thing is clear:
The defense industry, hard
hit by the end of the Cold
War, sees the possible F-15
sale as a watershed.
"We've seen an aston-
ishing amount of lobbying
on this," said a staffer for a
leading pro-Israel legislator.
"The contractors have been
all over the Hill, arguing
that if we reject this sale, it
will cost the jobs of hundreds
of American workers."
In an election year, that
could be an effective political
cudgel.
But Israel's friends in
Congress, stung by the ad-
ministration's victory in
killing $10 billion in loan
guarantees to Israel, are
making it clear that the ex-
pected administration pro-
posal will face stiff
resistance.
Recently, a letter cir-
culated by Rep. Mel Levine,
D-Calif., urging the ad-
ministration to abandon the
rumored sale was signed by
more than 240 legislators.
The administration, sens-
ing the rebellious mood in
Congress, appears reluctant
to pick a major fight over the
F-15 sale, especially just
before a presidential elec-
tion.
"The Administration has
no choice but to take into ac-
count congressional opposi-
tion," said Jess Hordes,
Washington director for the
The defense
industry, hard hit
by the end of the
Cold War, is
lobbying hard for
the F-15 sale.
Anti-Defamation League.
"So what we're seeing is pos-
turing and maneuvering by
both sides to get the lay of
the land, with regard to do-
mestic politics, the peace
process and arms control in
the region."
The best guess now is that
these maneuvers will con-
tinue through the summer
— with a possible interim
sale of a half-dozen or so jets
in June, enough to keep the
production lines moving un-
til after the election.
But last week's charges ,.
that the Bush and Reagan
administrations secretly
funneled arms to Iraq's
Saddam Hussein through
the Saudis will make even
that kind of limited sale
unlikely.
But a spokesman admitted
that some weapons sold to
the Saudis were transferred
to Iraq and Syria. This ad-
mission will aid the case of
arms-sale opponents, and
muffle the impact of recent
charges that Israel had
transferred sensitive Ameri-
can military technology to
China. ❑