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 Remarks
Following a Meeting With Former
National Security Officials on the
Sale of AWACS Planes and Other Air
Defense Equipment to Saudi Arabia
October
5, 1981
The
President: This distinguished
bipartisan group of former national
security officials have agreed to the
following statement of support for the
sale of AWACS and other air defense
equipment to Saudi Arabia. After
reading this statement, both Harold
Brown and Henry Kissinger would like
to make a further statement of their
own.
The
statement is:
The
sale of AWACS and other air defense
equipment to Saudi Arabia would make a
substantial contribution to the
national security interests of the
United States in a vital part of the
world. The rejection of this sale
would damage the ability of the United
States to conduct a credible and
effective foreign policy, not only in
the Gulf region, but across a broad
range of issues.
I want
to thank each one of these gentlemen
who are here for their recognition
that this sale is in the national
security interests of the Nation.
Their public appearance at this time
is an indication of the broad
bipartisan support this sale has among
knowledgeable former national security
officials from both Republican and
Democratic administrations, going all
the way back to the Eisenhower
administration.
And we
believe, as I've said before, that not
only is what we're talking about in
the interest of our national security,
but it is in the best interests of the
national security of our friend and
ally, Israel.
Now,
Henry. Dr. Kissinger.
Dr.
Kissinger: Mr. President, I'm
aware of the intense debate that is
going on on this issue, and I can
sympathize with many of the concerns
that have been expressed. It is my
strong conviction, however, that these
concerns cannot be met by rejecting
the sale of AWACS. I believe the sale
is in the national interests of the
United States; it is compatible with
the security of Israel; it is
essential for the peace process in the
Middle East; and it is important for
the President's ability to conduct an
effective and credible foreign policy.
And so, I would urge those who have
legitimate concerns to meet them in
conversation with the administration,
and to vote for the AWACS package
without attaching conditions that are
incompatible with the dignity of Saudi
Arabia and with the effective conduct
of our foreign policy.
The
President: Thank you very much.
And now, former Secretary Brown.
Mr.
Brown: Thank you, Mr. President. I
believe that American national
security depends very strongly on the
preservation of peace and of a
favorable situation in Southwest Asia.
One can understand the arguments that
well-meaning opponents of the AWACS
transfer make. I believe that when
these are weighed against the
advantages that this sale brings to
U.S. national security, that the
conclusion is that it would not help
U.S. security, it would not help
Israeli security, to have this sale
rejected.
I
think that both from a military point
of view and from a diplomatic point of
view the transfer is advantageous to
the United States -- from a military
point of view in terms of the ability
it gives us to have information on air
movements in the area, and from a
diplomatic point of view because the
United States needs, if it is to
continue to contribute to the peace
process, to have close relations with
Israel, with Saudi Arabia, and with
other countries in the region. I think
that would be severely damaged if this
sale were overturned.
I hope
that the Members of Congress who are
going to consider this matter take
into full consideration these facets
of the issue. And when they do, I
believe that they should come out in
favor.
Thank
you.
The
President: Well, this
concludes, but I think you can all see
that there's a who's who roster here
of men who have served this country
over a great many years and have
proven today they continue to serve
any time they're needed.
And on
behalf of all the people of this
country, I just want to express my
heartfelt thanks to all of you for
being here today and doing this. Thank
you very much.
Note:
The President spoke at 1:10 p.m. at
the North Portico of the White House.
Earlier, the President hosted a
reception in the Rose Garden and a
luncheon in the State Dining Room for
the former government officials.
In
addition to former National Security
Adviser and Secretary of State Henry
A. Kissinger and former Secretary of
Defense Harold Brown, the statement on
the sale of AWACS planes and other
equipment to Saudi Arabia was issued
by former Defense Secretaries Melvin
R. Laird, Robert S. McNamara, Elliot
L. Richardson, Donald Rumsfeld, and
James R. Schlesinger; former National
Security Advisers Zbigniew Brzezinski,
McGeorge Bundy, Gordon Gray, Walt W.
Rostow, and Brent Scowcroft; former
Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Gen. Lyman L. Lemnitzer, Adm. Thomas
H. Moorer, and Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor;
and former Secretary of State William
P. Rogers.
Source:
U.S.
National Archives and Records
Administration
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"..I
think that in order to talk about
where we're going here, it's useful to
look at how we got to where we are and
where we've been in this relationship.
Deputy
Secretary of State Richard
Armitage has applauded efforts
by Saudi Arabia to crack down
on terrorists, while
acknowledging that Americans
and American interests in
Saudi Arabia are under an
increased threat level.
[Washington,
DC] -- Saudi
Ambassador to the
United States Prince
Bandar bin Sultan
welcomed the capture
of Saddam Hussein
today and issued the
following statement: 