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Bush’s Saudi Arms Deal Escalates Arms Race (Rep. Barbara Lee)

by Calif. Dem. Rep. Barbara Lee - 01/03/08 1:09 PM ET

Despite significant Congressional opposition, the Bush administration intends to formally announce their plan to sell precision-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia later this month.

This arms package is reckless and has the potential to create a powder keg that can ultimately spark a regional arms race. It appears that, once again, this Republican administration is out of touch with reality if they think that they can buy peace through arms.

Selling precision-guided bombs, including joint direct attack munitions and satellite-guided bombs, to Saudi Arabia will only flare up an already volatile region and further weaken our national security.

This Bush-Saudi arms deal is expected to eventually total $20 billion, but what will be the human cost? I intend to work closely with my colleagues in Congress to block these arms sales.

Rep. Lee is co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, co-founder of the Out of Iraq Caucus and sits on the State Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations committee.