Opponents of a $20 billion weapon sale to six Middle Eastern countries are gaining ground in the U.S. House of Representatives, but they remain short of enough votes to stop the deal.
Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., said nearly 250 House members have signed two letters opposing the arms sale. While that’s more than enough to pass a “resolution of disapproval” to block the sale, it is not enough to override a presidential veto of the resolution.
Kirk and Rep. Christopher Carney, D-Pa., gathered 188 signatures on a Nov. 15 letter warning President George W. Bush that they may oppose selling satellite-guidance kits for bombs to Saudi Arabia.
The pair said they have “serious concerns” that the precision guidance kits could “fall into the wrong hands” and be used against U.S. troops in the Middle East or against Israel.
The letter attracted supporters as diverse as liberal Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and conservative Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C.
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Kirk and Carney told Bush that “the administration must guarantee to Congress’ satisfaction that selling JDAMs to Saudi Arabia will not harm U.S. forces or our democratic ally Israel. Without such assurances, we will oppose the sale.”
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http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=3197959&C=mideast