DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - U.S.A./SAUDI ARABIA/SYRIA: U.S. WEAPONS SOLD TO SAUDI ARABIA END UP IN SYRIAN (SOON TO BE IRANIAN) HANDS

Bush blunders, enables Syria to get U.S. weapons from Saudis

President Bush ignored warnings from senior military officials against providing an advanced air munition to Saudi Arabia.

The officials warned that the U.S.-origin Joint Direct Attack Munition could be transferred or stolen from Saudi storehouses within months of arrival. They said Riyadh has quietly enabled allies such as Pakistan and Syria to acquire advanced U.S. weapons banned for export by Washington.

"The Saudis have been known to send some of our stuff to their allies," said an official. "We caught them several times but know that there have been many other unauthorized transfers."

But Bush dismissed the warnings and approved the first shipment of 900 JDAMs to Riyadh. The president, who urged Riyadh to increase oil production, does not expect Congress, with a deadline of Feb. 14, to block the proposed sale.

"The promise of $20 billion worth of new arms may not produce much leverage," said Simon Henderson, a researcher at the Washington Institute.

Officials said the Pentagon was blocked from pursuing cases of unauthorized Saudi transfers of U.S. weapons to third countries. In the 1990s, they said, the Pentagon discovered that thousands of U.S. general purpose bombs, combat vehicles and even an F-15 fighter-jet were sent to such Saudi allies as Bangladesh, Iraq, Pakistan and Syria. The F-15 was returned.

All of the transfers were deemed as in violation of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act. But officials said pressure by successive administrations prevented any action against Riyadh.

"The administration must guarantee to Congress' satisfaction that selling JDAMs to Saudi Arabia will not harm U.S. forces or our democratic ally Israel," said Rep. Mark Kirk, an Illinois Republican.

Officials said Riyadh also violated the conditions of a 1978 sale of F-15s to the Saudi Air Force by deploying the advanced aircraft at the Tabouk air base near Israel. They said the White House, amid Saudi threats of a crisis, won congressional silence over the violations.

Over the last year, officials said, Bush was warned that the JDAM was regarded as a prize weapon by Saudi allies and rivals, including Iran and al Qaeda. The officials asserted that the U.S. military would not have permission to properly safeguard the JDAM arsenal in the Arab kingdom.

"In the past, Congress has sought and received specific assurances from the President regarding the security and use of weapons systems sold to Saudi Arabia," said the Congressional Research Service in a report released on Jan. 14.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Bush blunders, enables Syria to get U.S. weapons from Saudis