Stinging Rebuff for the Saudis

Congress scuttles a politically sensitive missile sale

. Congress has sought more and more to assert itself in foreign policy, once an almost exclusively presidential preserve. Faced with political reality and understanding that Congress was increasingly wary about selling to Saudi Arabia any weapons that could be used against Israel, the Administration last fall chopped down an arms shopping list drawn up by the Saudis and the Pentagon. Out went the purchase of twelve Black Hawk helicopters, "enhancement kits" to upgrade 60 F-15 fighter planes, and about a dozen new F-15s. The Administration did accede, however, to the Saudis' $354 million offer to buy 800 shoulder-fired antiaircraft Stinger...

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