【英语国际】美国将向沙特阿拉伯出售F-15战斗机

The Obama administration plans to sell advanced F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia but won't equip them with the long-range weapons systems and other arms that had prompted concern in Israel, diplomats and officials said.

The proposed $30 billion, 10-year arms package, which would be one of the biggest single deals of its kind, has been a source of behind-the-scenes tension during months of negotiations. Israeli officials have repeatedly conveyed their concerns in private that the U.S. risks undermining its military advantage by equipping regional rivals with top-flight technologies.

U.S. officials say they provided 'clarifications' in recent weeks about the deal to help damp Israel's qualms. Two officials close to the negotiations said Israel still had some reservations, but that the country isn't expected to challenge the sale in Congress, which can hold up the deal or push for assurances of its own. The administration is expected to formally notify Congress of its plans as early as next month.

The information-sharing with Israel is part of a longstanding commitment by successive U.S. administrations to maintain its military edge in the region. Congress has the power to block any weapons sales deemed detrimental to Israel's military advantage.

The tussle is a window into the White House's delicate balancing act in the Middle East. The administration has championed advanced weapons sales to Gulf states as a way to check Iranian power. In addition to Saudi Arabia, the U.S. has moved to sell arms to the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states, as well as support on a smaller scale the Lebanese army and Palestinian security forces in the West Bank.

Under the proposed sale, the 84 Boeing Co. F-15s for Saudi Arabia will have onboard targeting systems similar to those offered to other foreign governments, officials say. They aren't as technologically advanced as F-15s flown by the U.S. military.

More critically for Israel, an official in the region said, was the Obama administration's decision to not offer Saudi Arabia certain weapons components. Top among them: so-called standoff systems, which are advanced long-range weapons that can be attached to F-15s for use in offensive operations against land- and sea-based targets.

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell declined to comment on the details of the negotiations, but said: 'We have been working very closely with the Israeli government at the highest levels to address their concerns on this and other issues.'

He added: 'Israel is not the only one with security concerns in the region and we have responsibilities to other allies as well.'

The Saudi Embassy in Washington said it had no comment on any arms sales. The Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment on any assurances Barak may have received. An Israeli official described the talks in the U.S. on the Saudi package 'constructive.'

Associated Press2009年1月25日的图片，沙特阿拉伯空军的F-15战斗机飞过利雅得上空。
外交人士及官员表示，奥巴马政府计划向沙特阿拉伯出售先进的F-15喷气式战斗机，但不会向他们出售远程武器系统及其他已引起以色列担忧的武器。

这一拟定中的价值300亿美元的10年期武器合同是此类单笔价值最大合同中的其中一个，造成了磋商几个月来的幕后紧张气氛。以色列官员多次私下传达了他们的忧虑，即美国为地区竞争对手配备先进飞机技术，有可能削弱以色列的军事优势。

美国官员表示，近几周关于这一交易他们已作出了澄清，以帮助减少以色列的不安情绪。接近谈判的两位官员说，以色列仍有一些保留意见，但以色列料不会在国会上对军售发难，国会有权阻止军售交易，或要求对军售作出保证。预计美国政府最早将于下月正式通知国会其计划。

与以色列分享信息是美国各届政府长期承诺的一部分，以维持以色列在该地区的军事优势。美国国会有权否决其认为不利于以色列军事优势的军售。

这一争执是展示白宫在中东问题上平衡技巧的一个窗口。美国政府已成功向波斯湾沿岸国家出售先进武器，以此遏制伊朗的力量。在对沙特阿拉伯军售以外，美国还向阿联酋和波斯湾其他国家出售武器，并对黎巴嫩军队和西岸的巴勒斯坦警卫队小规模出售武器。

官员称，根据拟定的军售协议，出售给沙特阿拉伯的84架波音（Boeing Co.） F-15喷气式战斗机将安装目标定位系统，与提供给其他外国政府的相似。但它们的技术不如美国军队自己使用的F-15战斗机那么先进。

对以色列来说更具有讽刺意味的是，该地区一位官员说，奥巴马政府决定不向沙特阿拉伯提供某些武器零件。其中主要是：所谓的远射系统，即可以携带在F-15战斗机上的、针对陆基和海基目标展开进攻的先进远程武器。

美国国防部发言人莫瑞尔（Geoff Morrell）拒绝就磋商细节发表评论，但他说，我们一直在与以色列政府最高级别官员进行紧密合作，以缓和他们就此事及其他事宜的忧虑。

他补充说，以色列不是本地区唯一有安全忧虑的国家，我们对其他盟友也承担着责任。

沙特阿拉伯驻华盛顿大使馆表示，对于军售没有任何评论。以色列驻华盛顿大使馆拒绝就奥巴马可能获得的任何保证发表评论。以色列一位官员说美国国内有关沙特阿拉伯军售谈判的言论是有“建设性的”。