U.S.-Israel Helicopter Plan Raises Concern
U. S. Congress
Date: 02-10-05
By KEN GUGGENHEIM, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - The government says it intends to buy 14 used military helicopters from Israel to support drug eradication in Afghanistan (news - web sites), raising concerns in Congress of an outcry in the Islamic world.
Many Muslims view Israel with hostility and most Islamic countries, including Afghanistan, do not have diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.
Afghanistan is the world's leading producer of opium, the raw material for heroin. U.S. officials have been concerned that its booming drug trade could undermine attempts to bring stability to a country that has served as the refuge for Osama bin Laden (news - web sites).
The House International Relations Committee has temporarily blocked the purchase while it seeks more information.
In a statement, Republican committee staff said the State Department would find it impossible "to counter possible false and unfounded rumors from our radical Islamic enemies about the source and purpose of these helicopters in this region of the world."
The State Department, through a spokesperson, declined to comment, saying the helicopter issue was still being discussed with Congress.
In documents submitted to Congress last week, the department said the 14 U.S.-made B-212 helicopters would not bear foreign markings and they would be owned by the State Department. It said it had considered leasing the helicopters, but buying them was "the most viable and cost-effective option."
Rep. Mark Souder (news, bio, voting record), who heads the House Government Reform Committee (news - web sites)'s drug policy panel, said the purchase from Israel could complicate the drug fight for the Afghan government.
"We are at the very least viewed as partners with the government," said Souder, R-Ind. "We don't need to make life any more difficult in what is arguably the toughest neighborhood and the toughest country in the world for anybody to get order in."
Souder and other Republican lawmakers have criticized what they see as inadequate U.S. efforts to stop opium production in Afghanistan. He said the plan to buy used, older helicopters instead of new ones reflects a "second-class" approach to the drug fight.
The U.S. government has a close relationship with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, but there have been tensions over drug programs. The State Department wanted to use spray planes to eradicate opium crops, but Karzai rejected this, fearing the spraying would harm villagers.
Details of the helicopter purchase emerged as the State Department informed lawmakers in writing of how it intended to spend $312.5 million previously approved by Congress for Afghan drug eradication.
Responding to questions from the International Relations Committee about whether foreign governments were involved in helicopter purchases, the department responded, "The intent is to procure the 14 B-212 helicopters now owned by the government of Israel, with the sale being brokered by a United States firm, IJB and Associates."
The choppers were manufactured by Bell Helicopters and have been in storage for two years, the State Department said. It did not give the age or price of the vehicles.
Though helicopters initially had been sought to provide security for the spray planes, they are also needed in manual eradication campaigns to transport and protect workers in drug fields.
An aide to Sen. Patrick Leahy (news, bio, voting record), D-Vt., Tim Rieser, said his main questions are whether buying the Israeli helicopters is cost-effective and whether safeguards are being taken to protect the helicopters and their crews. He said he is less concerned about the helicopters being purchased from Israel.
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