I wrote time and again that the U.S. Congress is even worse and more extremist than the Knesset when it comes to Arabs and Muslims. Today, I have further proof of this, although the existing evidence is more than enough. 198 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives called on the Obama administration to provide assurances that a major arms deal with Saudi Arabia will not give the Saudis new military capabilities that threaten Israel. Before I carry on, I want to highlight here the fact that these members are Representatives in the incumbent Congress, and that the midterm elections that were held this month have increased the number of pro-Israel extremists. Those will begin their terms in the new Congress next January, which means that the stances in favor of the fascist occupation state that murders, destroys and steals people's homes will increase even more. Israel almost shares borders with Saudi Arabia, so what do the American Representatives want so as not to threaten Israel's security? Do they want fighter planes without weapons? Or do they want planes with weapons systems that have a range limited to the suburbs of Riyadh and Jeddah? I noticed that the letter signed by the U.S. legislators was sponsored by Howard Berman, incumbent Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, who is a Democrat, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Republican female representative (or ‘the disaster' as the phrase in Arabic implies). In fact, she is poised to succeed Berman as the Committee Chairperson when the new House of Representative takes over in two month with a Republican majority. Both representatives are Jewish, but this does not matter since there are many moderate Jews. What matters, however, is that they are both extremist Likudniks who have endorsed every Israeli war against the Palestinians, and who have stood against every Arab and Muslim interest. In my opinion, they represent Israel in the House of Representatives above all, and help increase hostility to their country all around the world. The Saudi arms deal is worth a record 60 billion dollars, and includes 84 new F-15 fighter jets, the upgrading of 70 existing planes in the Saudi air force, in addition to attack helicopters and guided bombs. Also, the costs of spare parts, maintenance and upgrades in the coming years will increase the value of the deal by several billion dollars. On 25/8/2010, I wrote about the Saudi arms deal, before the issue became ‘fashionable' in the media. At the time, I called for the acquisition of the best, most modern and most advanced weapons, because Israel will acquire F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, which have not yet entered service in the U.S. Air Force, all for free through U.S. military aid, and all while we have to pay the highest prices for weapons. Now I hope that the reader will compare 60 billion dollars, not 70 or 80 billion as a final figure, with the figure of 5.8 billion dollar, which is the value of an American arms deal with India. For the sake of this deal, President Obama took along with him, during his Asian tour, a group from Boeing to sell India C-17 military transport planes in return for this amount. I also read that this deal will create 22,000 new American jobs. If 5.8 billion dollars will create 22,000 jobs, then how many jobs will a 60 billion dollar deal create? The answer is more than 220,000 jobs for Americans in their country, and over many years. If President Obama travels to India for a 5.8 billion dollar deal, then logic would require him to come with his entire government to Riyadh for the sixty billion dollar deal, and perhaps also to bring with him Michelle and the two girls to see Mada'in Saleh, and encourage others to try tourism in Saudi Arabia. But the above is not sufficient alone. I, as an Arab citizen, also insist that the Saudi government demand from the Obama administration, as good and as not reproachable by me, for a political price in return the deal. Saudi Arabia can indeed obtain such a price, against the will of Israel's representatives in both houses of the U.S. Congress, who supported the wars on Lebanon, Gaza and every other war, and back settlement and the theft of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem. Even if the Netanyahu government is to bulldoze Al-Haram al-Sharif tomorrow, they would support this, and would also support any future war against us. I do not ask for only a 'Palestinian' price for the deal, but also for an Arab price. Today, Saudi Arabia is engaged a massive process of construction, development and reform, and the United States can no doubt provide the technology to stimulate the Saudi economy for the benefit of Saudi society. I hope that the Saudi negotiator will thus succeed in securing every possible advantage from the arms deal with the United States. While Saudi Arabia can acquire weapons from other sources, the United States cannot possibly find a country other than Saudi Arabia, capable to conclude a deal of this size during a global economic downturn. [email protected]
