Congressmen Try to Block Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia

by D. Cupples | A few days ago, we learned that President Bush wants to sell weapons systems to Saudi Arabia  -- not crates of simple guns, but bomb-guidance kits.  Some members of the U.S. House of Representatives want to pass legislation to block the sale. Congress has only 30 days to do it, otherwise the sale goes through.  Yesterday, Reuters reported:

"U.S. lawmakers announced legislation on Tuesday to block a planned sale of Boeing Co bomb-guidance kits to Saudi Arabia and said they would urge the chairman of a key House panel to allow a vote.

"Calling the Bush administration's plans to sell the sophisticated weaponry to Saudi Arabia 'folly,' Democratic Representatives Anthony Weiner and Robert Wexler said Riyadh had been more of an enemy than an ally in the war on terror. They have 51 co-sponsors in the 431-member House for their resolution to block the $123 million transaction....

"The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Tom Lantos, has said he has no plans to schedule such a resolution for a vote....

 

"Weiner and Wexler said they would write to Lantos, urging him to change his mind.  (Reuters)

       

R.E.M.'s "Shiny Happy People" is likely looping in the minds of people who watched Michael Moore's film Fahrenheit 9/11 -- as they try to lower their blood pressure.

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