Russian build-up termed grave

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32661, 17 July 1971, Page 17

Russian build-up termed grave

* tN.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, July 16. Senator Henry Jackson (Democrat, Washington) said today that the Russians, in an “extremely grave” build-up in the Middle East, had stationed 600 supersonic military jets in Egypt, Syria, and Iraq.

Senator Jackson is re-' ported by United Press In- i temational as saying that the Russians had put about 100 i generals and admirals and i 200 combatants on duty in Egypt and that some of the 300 jets in Egypt are MiG23s, i “extremely sophisticated air- 1 craft not yet widely available i even within the Soviet Air Force.” < Senator Jackson, who has i access to Pentagon intelligence as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, declined to divulge the source of iris figures, which are considerably higher than those previously published. But a United States official with access to intelligence files generally confirmed the figures given. Senator Jackson, who is considered a possible Presidential candidate in 1972, inserted the figures in the Congressional Record along with strong criticism of the Nixon Administration’s

“weakness and vacillation” in supplying arms to Israel and in permitting the Russians to engage in a “cynical violation” of the cease-fire which started in August last. The Soviet build-up meant that Israeli jets were outnumbered at least five or six to one, Senator Jackson said. “The situation in recent days and weeks has grown extremely grave,” he said. “While the Administration has been withholding from Israel the arms she requires ■ to defend herself, the Soviet . Union has poured vast quantities of weapons into Egypt, including extremely sophisticated aircraft .... “The over-eager, somei times frantic, manoeuvring of : the Secretary of State (Mr Rogers) has helped to make i the Soviet Union a major ■ Middle-East power,” said • Senator Jackson. ! “We have played into the ; hands of the totalitarians at ! the expense of our dernoi cratic friends,” he said.