Sunday, August 05, 2007

AFSI Press Release: Saudi Arms Deal Threatens Israel

"The 20 billion dollar arms deal with Saudi Arabia destabilizes the region and threatens Israel," said Herbert Zweibon, Chairman of AFSI, today.
The sophisticated weaponry to be transferred includes JDAMS -- an inexpensive technology that turns regular bombs into smart bombs with pinpoint accuracy. The news follows on the heels of an announced deal between Russia and Saudi Arabia for advanced fighters.

According to Dore Gold, former Israeli ambassador to the U.N., the Saudi Arabian air force has been infiltrated by al-Qaeda – this is based on information that Israel received from al-Qaeda captives. The captives told of a plan to take Saudi F-15’s and fly them into Tel Aviv skyscrapers from the Saudi airbase in Tabuk, located in the northwest corner of the Saudi Arabia, and only a few hundred miles from the Israel’s border.

Mr. Gold also warns of the possibility of a militant Islamic takeover in Saudi Arabia as there is evidence of penetration by al-Qaeda into the Saudi National Guard and of their involvement in the planned attack on Tel Aviv.

"There is no telling where these weapons will end up or how they are used," said Mr. Zweibon. "It is the same situation that we saw in Gaza when Hamas captured arms given to Abbas. It wasn’t anticipated because no one wanted to see the obvious. Weapons that are handed over to Saudia Arabia can as easily end up in the hands of al-Qaeda as those given to Abbas ended up in the hands of Hamas."

Mr. Zweibon continued, "The Bush administration insists that the deal is necessary to counterbalance Iranian aggression but Saudi Arabia has never used the weapons given them to confront the aggression of its Muslim neighbors. What use does it have for these weapons other than to use them against Israel?

Are those that think the Saudis would use the weapons against Iran serious? For those who would say that the Saudis can look elsewhere, should we not try to prevent such deals?" Moreover, why should the United States risk the loss of its military secrets to potential enemies?"

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