World Saudi Arms Sale Proposed administration deal spurs congressional concerns. Special Report I n a demonstration of bipartisan- ship, both the top Democrat and Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee are demanding answers to concerns about the proposed $60 billion Saudi arms deal, the largest such arms sale in U.S. history. U.S. Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., current chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., ranking mem- ber and former chair who is expected to Rep. Berman reclaim the top slot of the committee in the 112th Congress, asked their colleagues to cosign a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Rep. Ros- Robert Gates raising Lehtinen misgivings about the transfer of advanced weaponry to Saudi Arabia. The letter was released on Nov. 5, just three days after the U.S. elections and on the eve of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the U.S. The deal is part of a $123 billion arms sale to the Persian Gulf states — justi- fied as part of a coordinated response to contain Iran. The executive branch only notified Congress of the sale three weeks ago, when members of Congress were cam- paigning in the mid-term elections. Following review, Congress could block or amend the deal. The letter was sent to the White House last Friday before members of the 111th Congress reconvened this past Monday for its final weeks. So the co-authors had to scramble to get the letter signed during the congressional recess. Failed Vetting? According to the Endowment for Middle East Truth, the executive branch has failed to do proper due diligence on how arms sales to the Gulf countries affect U.S. national security and has failed 18 November 18 • 2010 "What U.S. policy goals and interests are advanced by this sale and have we placed any conditions on it? What is the threat or threats that this sale is intended to address? Do the Saudis share our assessment of those threats, and will they be amenable to, and capable of carrying out these missions?" Letter Signers From Michigan Thaddeus McCotter Mike Rogers Candice Miller Fred Upton Mark Schauer Gary Peters Dale Kildee - Berman/Flos-Lehtinen letter to certify, as reported by the General Accounting Office, that the sale will not threaten Israel's qualitative military edge, a certification required by law. The letter states, "We are also con- cerned about the potential repercus- sions for our friends and for our own forces in the region in the event of political change in Saudi Arabia." The letter also calls into question Saudi Arabia's role in stemming ter- ror financing and proliferation and its involvement in the Middle East peace process, given the kingdom's failure to normalize relations with Israel. U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Livonia, was the first member of the Michigan congressional delegation to be among the early signatories. Others from the Michigan delegation who are among the 198 signers include: Reps. Candice Miller, R-St. Clair Shores; Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township; Mike Rogers, R-Brighton; Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph; Dale Kildee, D-Flint; and Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek. Peters told the Jewish News last week, "A $60 billion arms sale should always warrant serious vetting and oversight from Congress, but especially when the country involved is in such a pivotal player in a pivotal region of the world. Moreover, the Saudis interests in the Middle East on critical issues like the security of Israel or the Iranian nuclear threat are not in close alignment with those of the U.S.; therefore, the State Department needs to explain its ratio- nale and which U.S. policy goals and interests are furthered by a sale of this magnitude." A September effort, spearheaded by Reps. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Chris Carney, D-Penn., tried to block the sale. In a let- ter to their colleagues, the trio noted: "Saudi Arabia has a history of financing terrorism, is a nation that teaches hate of Christians and Jews to their school- children and offered no help to the U.S. as gas prices surged during the spike in oil prices." The letter added, "This deal would destabilize the region and undermine the security of Israel, our one true ally in the region?' The Saudi arms package report- edly includes 84 new F-15 fighter planes, nearly 200 Apache, Black Hawk and Little Bird helicopters, as well as upgrades to the kingdom's naval forces and its existing fleet of 150 F-15s. The transfer would be spread out over five to 10 years. Israel's Advantage Israel now receives roughly $3 billion a year in military assistance from the U.S. In August, the U.S. and Israel jointly announced that the U.S. will sell Israel 20 F-35s at a cost of $2.75 billion, with delivery expected in 2015.