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CRS-7
congressional adjournment when it would not be possible for Congress to make a
careful review of it. In response, this Bush Administration submitted a smaller arms
package of about $7 billion for Saudi Arabia for formal congressional review in
September 1990. This package was composed of only those weapons systems
deemed most urgently needed by the Saudis and ones for which the need for quick
American procurement decisions was especially critical. Agreement was reached at
the time between the Bush Administration and Congress that final decisions on other
major weapons sales to Saudi Arabia would be deferred until Congress reconvened
in January 1991 at the earliest.
SAUDI ARABIA MISSILES CASE
(1986)
On April 8, 1986, President Ronald Reagan formally proposed the sale to
Saudi Arabia of 1,700 Sidewinder missiles, 100 Harpoon missiles, 200 Stinger
missile launchers and 600 Stinger missile re-loads. On May 6, 1986, the Senate
passed legislation to block these sales (S.J.Res. 316) by a vote of 73-22. The
House concurred with the Senate action on May 7, 1986, by passing H.J.Res. 589
by a vote of 356-62. The House then passed S.J.Res. 316 by a voice vote and (in
lieu of H.J.Res. 589) sent it to the President. On May 21, 1986, President Reagan
vetoed S.J.Res 316. But, in a May 21 letter to then Senate Majority Leader Robert
Dole, President Reagan said he would not include the controversial Stinger
missiles and launchers in the sales proposal, in the hope that the Congress would
then agree not to block the other missile sales. On June 5, 1986, the Senate by a
66-34 vote, sustained the President's veto of S.J.Res. 316, and the sale of the
Sidewinder and Harpoon missiles to Saudi Arabia proceeded.