Page 6-Thursday, May 4, 1978--The Michigan Daily
SA LES CALLED'VITALLY IMPORTANT':
W
lea
fici
ding
Ara
sect
S
Def
Air
Carter aides defend pla
'ASHINGTON (AP)-The nation's UNDER PARLIAMENTARY Committee had introduced a resolution
ing diplomatic and military of- procedures,. Congress has 30 days to to kill the entire sales deal.
als told Congress yesterday the pen- disapprove of an arms sale sent to VANCE, NONETHELESS, reiterated
g sale of jet fighters to Israel, Saudi Capitol Hill by a president. If it fails to the administration's view that the sales
bia and Egypt will enhance Israel's act by May 28 on the current proposal, are necessary.
urity, not imperil it. the deal will go through. The only way "These sales will maintain essential
eeretary of State Cyrus Vance, Congress can stop the sales is to pass links that permit us to play the fun-
ense Secretary Harold Brown and resolutions of disapproval in both the damental role as a mediator between
Force Gen. David Jones, acting House and Senate. the parties." he said.
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
caled the proposal a step toward peace
in the Middle East and "vitally impor-
tant" to U.S. interests there.
THlE TRIO, testifying before the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
opened the Carter administration's
formal defense of the warplanes sales.
President Carter wants to sell 60 F-15
jet fighters to Saudi Arabia, 75 F-16s
and 15 F-15s to Israel and 50 less
sophisticated F-5Es to Egypt.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader
Howard Baker (R-Tenn.) said he per-
sonally approves of the most controver-
sial element of the sales plan-the sale
of the F-15s to Saudi Arabia.
But Baker also said Congress many
well not go along with the deal unless
the Carter administration com-
promises on the number and mix of the
planes, delivery dates and restrictions
on their use.
'Ihese sales will cen -
tinu e to assure that the
military balance will re-
main in Israel's faror.'
--Defense Secretary
Harold Brown
While Vance, Brown and Jones were
defending the sales plan, several mem-
bers of the Senate committee expressed
concern that it may be unwise and
could harm Israeli security interests.
One day earlier, 22 of the 37 members
of the House International Relations
sF auure to proceeo witn sne sales
will seriously undercut the American
role in the peace process and raise
grave doubts about U.S. readiness to
work with moderate governments in
the region," Vance added.
Brown said, "These sales will con-
1(EEPINQ
OUR BIKE
tne sales
tinue to assure that the military balan-
ce will remain iin Israel's favor. Indeed,
Israel will be relatively stronger after
receiving these additional F-15s and F-
16s, while giving Egypt and Saudi
Arabia a more reasonable assurance
that they can defend themselves again-
st potential attacks from other quarters
about which they have real reason for
concern"
SEN. FRANK CHURC i(D-Idaho)
contended that the F-15 has "immense
offensive capabilities." But Brown said
that although the F-15.is at the "top of
the line" as an interceptor, it is of
significantly lesser use as an offensive
weapon.
While all airplanes can drop bombs,
he said, the F-15 is not an appropriate
air-to-ground weapon "in the same way
as the Cadillac is not at the top of the
line for hauling gravel."
Brown and Vance said Saudi Arabia
needs the F-15 to replace its aging fleet
of British-made jets and to provide an
effective defense of its oil fields and
cities against what is perceived as a
growing military threat from Iraq,
South Yemen, and possibly Ethiopia.
All three of Saudi Arabia's neighbors
have received military supplies from
the Soviet Union.
Italy vows
generosity'
for Moro
release
ROME (AP) - Showing new
flexibility, Italy's ruling Christian
Democrat Party promised yesterday to
give "generoisity and clemency" to
prison inmates if the Red Brigades
release kidnap victim Aldo Moro and
stop their terrorism.
But party leaders once again refused
to negotiate with the terrorist gang for
Moror's freedom and indicated that any
amnesty or reforms by the government
would take place after, and not before,
the release of the 61-yearold party
president and five-time Italian
premier.
THE CHRISTIAN Democrat
message was seen as an indirect appeal
to the Red Brigades holding Moro for
seven weeks. In Turin, meanwhile, Red
Brigade leaders on trial on seduction
charges blasted Italian prison con-
ditions.
The party statement said: "If Aldo
Moro is released and if there is a
change in the use of violene, the
Republic will certainly find some form
of generosity and clemency according
with the ideals and norms of the con-
stitution."
Premier Giulio Andreotti's office
later clarified thestatement, saying the
Italian government would not grant
clemency to murderers or "forget the
pain of families who are crying from
the tragic consequences of the criminal
operation of the destroyers."
There was still no news on the fate of
Moro, who was abducted from a Rome
street in an ambush that killed his five
bodyguards. Since then dozens of com-
muniques and purported letters from
Moro have been distributed by the Red
es to o fficials and the news
UN IHL 1
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