Date: 1981-07-21
Speaker: PHILLIP BURTON (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. the Reagan administrations proposed weapons sale to Saudi Arabia is in total disregard of the realities of thle Middle East and severely jeopardizes the already fragile security of Israel. The sale of AWACs and F15 equipment and weaponry has roused overwhelming opposition In Congress. Recently. the California State Legislature passed a resolution calling on. President Reagan to withdraw the sale. AJR 45 was introduced by Assemblymen Levine and McCarthy and coauthored by Assemblymen Berman. Bane. Willie Brown. Robinson. Rosenthal. Alatorre. Chacon. Greene. Kapiloff. Katz. Roos. Torres. Vasconellos and Wray and Senators Campbell. Roberti and Sieroty: Whereas. it Is in the best interests of the United States of America toencourage peaceful relations In the Middle East and to assist In maintaining the strength and security of the State of Israel. and Whereas. the President has announced that he will notify Congress of his decision to sell to Saudi Arabia Airborne Warning and Command System aircraft (AWACS). aerial tankers. and additional equipment for F15 Jet fighters currently. part of the Saudi arsenal. consisting of long range fuel and equipment pods and sophisticated airtoair missiles. and Whereas. when flown within Saudi airspace. AWACS. as highly sophisticated surveillance aircraft. could monitor and expose virtually. aUl major ndlitary movement in Israel. and Whereas. the fuel and equipment pgds would enable the P15 fighters to carry a heavier bomb load to distant targets and. by increasing the combat radius of the P15 jet fighters. Would enable them to. hit any target in Israel. and Whereas. the missiles feature "all aspect attack." enabling the missiles to be fired from any direction at a target aircraft with improved guidance. increased maneuverability. resistance to Jamming. and a highly lethal warhead. and IWhereas. the sale of AWACs and accompanying weaponry is likely to destabilize the balance of power in the Middle East. Jeopardize United States Interests In the region. and impair the security of the State of Israel. and Whereas. the Members of the Legislature of the State of California recognize the necessity for development of strategy to counter the threat of Soviet expansion In the Middle East and to defend the Persian Gulf. and Whereas. American interests In the Persian Gulf area could best be protected by retaining sophisticated and sensitive weaponry In the control of the United States. and Whereas. Americanmanned AWACs currently operating in Saudi Arabia are able to pro..ide advance warning of anyattack that rnay be launched against Saudi Arabia: and Whereas. Retaining AWACs under American control would help to ensure that use of AWACs would be for defensive purposes only: Now. therefore be it Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California. Jointly. That the Legislature of the State of California respectfully memorializes the President of the United States to reconsider and withdraw the decision to sell to Saudia Arabia AWACS. aerial tankers. long range fuel and equipment pods. and sophisticated airtoair missiles and the Congress of the United States to disapprove any decision to complete this sale. and belit further Resolve. That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States. to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. and to each Senator and Representataive from California in the Congress of the United States.9