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U.S. Splits Proposed $20B Mideast Arms Sale

[Defense News] William Matthews - In the face of strong congressional opposition to a proposed $20 billion sale of weapons to six Middle Eastern countries, the U.S. State Department has decided to break the sale into smaller pieces, a U.S. official said Dec. 6. The department notified Congress on Dec. 4 of proposed sales to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates worth about $10.8 billion, but a State Department official said the department has postponed the more controversial sale of satellite-guided bomb kits to Saudi Arabia. News of that possible sale last July prompted nearly 250 members of Congress to sign two letters to President Bush opposing the sale. Some expressed concern that the precision bombs could be used against U.S. troops in the Middle East or against Israel. Others accused Saudi Arabia of supplying suicide bombers and insurgents to the war in Iraq.
2007-12-11 01:00:00
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