Statement on Senate Approval
of the Sale of AWACS to Saudi Arabia
(October 28, 1981)
The President. I want to express my gratitude to the
Members of the United States Senate for their approval of the sale of
the AWACS defense system to Saudi Arabia. Today, I think, we've seen
the upper Chamber at its best. The United States Senate has acted with
statesmanship, with foresight, and with courage.
I can't fully express my gratitude to Senator Baker and the other Senate
leaders, Democrats as well as Republicans, who played such a crucial
role in this decision.
Today's action by the Senate will not only strengthen Saudi-American
relations but will also protect our economic lifeline to the Middle
East, win favor among moderate Arab nations, and most important, continue
the difficult but steady progress toward peace and stability in the
Middle East.
We've acted in concert to demonstrate that the United States is indeed
a reliable security partner. Our friends should realize that steadfastness
to purpose is a hallmark of American foreign policy, while those who
would create instability in this region should note that the forces
of moderation have our unequivocal support in deterring aggression.
This vote alone doesn't mean that our security problems in that part
of the world have been completely solved. This package is but a part
of our overall regional security strategy. Our strategy seeks to enhance
the capacity of friendly states to defend themselves and to improve
our own ability to project our own forces into the region should deterrence
fail. We'll continue to pursue efforts in both areas.
Our support for the security of Israel is, of course, undiminished
by today's vote. The United States will maintain its unshakeable commitment
to the security and welfare of the State of Israel, recognizing that
a strong Israel is essential to our basic goals in that area.
Much work still remains ahead. I trust that all of us who disagreed
openly and vigorously in recent days can now put aside our honest differences
and work together for common goals -- friendship, security, and peace
at last, in the cradle of our civilization. Because of actions like
today's by the Senate, the cause of peace is again on the march in the
Middle East. For this, all of us can be grateful.
Q. When did you know that you had won?
The President. When they came in and handed me the votes.
Q. Didn't you know earlier today that you could count it up?
The President. A little while ago, this afternoon, I felt that the
count was -- that at least we were going to be assured of a tie. And
that would have been a victory, because it required a majority vote
to stop this.
Q. Do you think this will be an inducement to get the Saudis into the
Middle East peace process now?
The President. Yes, I do. I think that, as a matter of fact, the Saudis
have shown by their own introduction of a peace proposal that they are
willing to discuss peace in the Middle East.
Q. With Egypt and Israel?
The President. Yes, they submitted a plan. We couldn't agree with all
the points, nor could the Israelis, but it was the first time that they
had recognized Israel as a nation, and it's a beginning point for negotiations.
Q. What do you think this vote means for your ability to conduct the
office of the Presidency?
The President. I think that it's going to have a very good effect.
We had heard from many leaders who had expressed their concern about
what this could mean in the whole world scene, if it had not turned
out the way it did.
Q. Do you think it will help you put the budget fight ahead? The next
budget round?
The President. I don't know. I don't know whether the two are connected
at all.
Q. What aspect of what you told the Senators did you think was the
convincing aspect, and what final thing do you think turned the tide
in the last few days?
The President. Well, contrary to some of the things that have been
said, there have been no deals made. None were offered. I talked strictly
on the merits of the proposal. And basically I tried to point out, in
every instance, the progress that has been made so far in the Middle
East towards stability and peace and the part that was played in that
by Saudi Arabia and Prince Fahd, beginning with the cease-fire that
we were able to secure in Lebanon, in which they played a major role.
And I simply played on that; that this, I felt, was essential for the
security of Israel, for the entire Middle East, and for ourselves on
the world scene.
Q. Do you foresee any circumstance under which, by 1985, this sale
might be canceled if the Saudis aren't cooperating in the Middle East?
The President. Well, I would think that the only thing that could happen
to make us not fulfill that would be if by some chance, the radical
elements that we know are there and that have made themselves tragically
evident in the last few weeks, that if they should gain control in the
Middle East and gain control of all of those governments we're talking
about, I think the very fact of what we've done and the knowledge now
that the United States and our allies are not walking away from the
Middle East is going to contribute to the stability and make it very
unlikely that the other can happen.
Q. A big smile, Mr. President.
The President. I'm trying to smile with dignity. I don't want to look
jubilant. [Laughter]
Sources: Public Papers of the President |