Missile offer to Saudis

Press, 25 May 1984, Page 6

Missile offer to Saudis

NZPA-AFP Washington The Reagan Administration had decided to renew its request to Congress to give Saudi Arabia Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to help that country counter Iranian attacks on Gulf shipping, “The Washington Post” reported yesterday. The newspaper, citing unidentified United States officials and Congressional sources, said that the Administration may submit the proposed sale of the shoulder-fired Stingers for Congressional review, “in the next few days.”

In March, in the face of Congressional opposition, the Administration withdrew a proposal to sell 1200 Stingers to Saudi Arabia and 1613 Stringers to Jor-

Administration officials had told the “Post” that, “changed circumstances caused by the Iran - Iraq war and its threats to vital Gulf oil supplies has made Congress more receptive to the argument that Saudi Arabia ... offers the best hope of preventing attacks on tankers carrying oil from the Gulf.” “It’s obvious that Congress and everyone else would prefer that collective security (in the Gulf) be carried out by Saudi Arabia and its allied smaller Gulf States rather than by the U. 5.,” said one official.

"So the argument is being made to Congress that if it prefers somebody else to do whatever fighting may be required, they have to have

the means with which to fight effectively.” If Congress “seems receptive,” to the Administration’s argument, the official said, Saudi Arabia, “will be invited to submit a request for Stringers and other American weapons.” A proposed sale could be ready for submission to Congress by the end of this week or early next week, officials said.

The Stinger is regarded as an effective weapon against low-flying aircraft but is not effective against high-altitude attacks. In a related development, American officials told the “Post" that Iraq had asked France to “speed deliveries of Exocet anti-ship missiles.” but that France had “apparently not responded to the new Iraqi request.”