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It is in the context of this kind of U.S.-Saudi relationship that the Saudis asked the U.S. to sell them 60 F-15 jet fighters. They have been astounded by the controversy that the deal has caused in the U.S., in part because they believe the sale would be as much to the advantage of the U.S. as it would be to their own. They point out that they would pay in cash for the $2.4 billion purchase, after all. and that the sale would be contributing to the defense of a strategically placed U.S. ally.
Beyond that, the Saudis feel that they have effectively answered most of the Israeli charges regarding possible use of the F-15s. As Prince Fahd told TIME (see NATION), he is willing to pledge that the planes will not be transferred to another Arab state in the event of war. The Saudis have no intention of stationing the planes at Tabuk, just southeast of the Israeli border. Explains Prince Saud, the Foreign Minister: "Israeli warplanes overflew Tabuk 140 times during the past year. We certainly would not put our planes in such a vulnerable position."
The Saudis have emphasized that their present oil policy would not be affected, either way, by U.S. action on the F-15, though Prince Fahd acknowledges that his people expect the U.S. to reciprocate the Saudis' "good feeling and to translate it into action." Oil Minister Yamani is a bit more blunt. "Even if the F-15 sale should be killed, I don't think we would react immediately," he says. "We would continue our program to expand our production capacity. But we would have far less enthusiasm to cooperate with the U.S. at the same speed as before." He adds, "Anyone who tells you anything else is just being polite."
Perhaps the most compelling argument for selling the planes to the Saudis is the importance to the U.S. of strengthening this special relationship. The U.S.'s self-interest requires that it make every effort to reinforce this economically powerful, strategically vital but militarily vulnerable ally. A strong Saudi Arabia can help to stabilize the entire region—including Israel. For despite the anti-Zionist rhetoric that emanates sporadically from Riyadh, the Saudis are a strong moderating force in the Arab world, and no peace settlement will be possible without their tacit approval.
*According to one apocryphal tale, an American population expert went to Saudi Arabia to take a census. He called on King Abdul Aziz al Saud (Ibn Saud), who told him: "You're wasting your time. There are 7 million people here." With apologies, the American said there could not be more than 3 million. "You're wrong," said the King. "There are at least 6 million." Begging forgiveness for his audacity, the American insisted that surely there were no more than 4 million. At this point the King held out his hand and closed the deal, bazaar-style, saying: "All right, five and a half."