TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

'Smart Bombs' Offered To Saudis

ADVERTISEMENT

By JAMES GERSTENZANG, The Los Angeles Times

Published: January 15, 2008

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - President Bush began two days of talks with Saudi leaders Monday as his administration sent formal notice to Congress of a controversial U.S. sale of "smart bomb" technology to this desert kingdom.

The visit here with Saudi King Abdullah is one of the most diplomatically challenging stops of the president's six-nation passage across the Middle East. Bush is pressing the Saudis to support both peacemaking efforts between the Israelis and Palestinians and U.S. moves to limit Iran's influence in the region.

The weapons technology is part of a broad program announced in July that eventually could transfer an estimated $20 billion worth of military hardware to six Persian Gulf nations. The effort, along with arms sales to Israel and Egypt, is intended in part to help U.S. allies offset Iran's military power and political clout in the region.

The most controversial element of the sales is the offer to the Saudis of Joint Direct Attack Munitions, technology that allows standard weapons to be converted into precision-guided bombs. The deal envisions the transfer of 900 upgrade kits worth about $120 million to Saudi forces.

Under U.S. provisions governing such arms sales, Congress has 30 days in which it may disapprove the transaction now that lawmakers have receive the formal notification.

Israel has expressed concerns about the sale but has not protested formally. Nonetheless, two U.S. lawmakers said they would introduce a resolution of disapproval today.

"It's mind-bogglingly bad policy because the Saudis at every turn have been uncooperative," said Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., who is sponsoring the resolution of disapproval with Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla. The sale of smart bomb technology has drawn the greatest opposition from Congress.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT