Senate Record: 100th Congress

By Allan C. Kellum

For eight consecutive years as editor of the Mideast Observer, I produced an annual congressional voting record. With the Mideast Observer now incorporated in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, I am proud to present a ninth voting record.

What follows is a brief description of each of the four letters and seven votes relevant to the Middle East, along with a chart listing the voting records on these 11 issues of every senator in the 100th Congress. The number of each description below corresponds to the number in the voting record key in the chart. House votes will be covered in a forthcoming issue of the Washington Report.

Letter Critical of Shamir's No-Territorial-Compromise Position

In a March 3, 1988, letter, 30 senators who are mostly strong supporters of Israel expressly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir's resistance to the land-for-peace formula of UN Security Council Resolution 242. The letter, initiated by Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI) and Rudy Boschwitz (R-MN), praised Shultz's "efforts to break the dangerous Middle East stalemate," and noted that "peace negotiations have little chance of success if the Israeli government's position rules out territorial compromise."
Letter Opposing Sale of US Arms to Saudi Arabia

In a Sept. 25, 1987, letter to President Reagan, 62 senators expressed their vigorous opposition to a proposed arms sale to Saudi Arabia. The letter, initiated by Sens. Alan Cranston (D-CA) and Bob Packwood (R-OR), stated, in part: "We do not believe it wise to reward Saudi behavior ... with another sale of sophisticated arms. The Saudis have not made substantial efforts to achieve progress in the Middle East peace process, and they continue to fund terrorist organizations like the PLO." In addition to the 62 signatures actually on the letter, Sens. Rockefeller (D-WV) and Specter (RPA) also associated themselves with it.
Letter Urging Denial of Visa for Yasser Arafat

When it was first reported that Yasser Arafat might request a US visa to address the UN General Assembly in New York, 51 senators on Sept. 26, 1988, signed a letter urging Secretary of State Shultz to deny the Palestine Liberation Organization chairman a visa.
Letter Praising Shultz for Denying Visa for Arafat

After Secretary Shultz denied Yasser Arafat a US visa and the UN General Assembly debate on Palestine was moved to Geneva, to enable the PLO chairman to speak, 60 current senators and eight newly elected senators addressed a second letter to Shultz on Nov. 29, 1987, expressing pleasure at learning "of your decision to deny PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat's application for a visa to visit the United Nations in the United States."
Voted For Report on Gulf Reflagging Operation

In the wake of the attack on the USS Stark and the threat that the Iran/Iraq war might spill over to neighboring countries such as Kuwait, the administration made an agreement to use US warships to escort "reflagged" Kuwaiti tankers in the Persian Gulf. On May 21, 1987, while the administration was in the final stages of concluding this agreement with Kuwait, a wary Senate voted 91 yeas to 5 nays to require a report on security arrangements in the Persian Gulf prior to implementation of such an agreement. Sens. Byrd and Dole were the sponsors of the amendment which was attached to the supplemental appropriations bill (H.R. 1827).
Voted For Retaliatory Trade Embargo Against Hostile Countries

By a vote of 82-16, the Senate approved an amendment to an omnibus trade bill to impose a trade embargo against Iran, or any other Persian Gulf country, if that country launched a purposeful military or terrorist attack on US vessels, facilities, or personnel. Sens. Byrd (D-WV) and Dole (KS-R), as Senate majority and minority leaders respectively, sponsored the amendment that was approved on July 15, 1987.
Voted For Tabling War Powers Act Enactment

As the Iran-Iraq hostilities heated up in the Persian Gulf, Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger on Aug. 25, 1987, designated an area in that region of the world as an "imminent danger zone." Some lawmakers believed that this level of hostilities involving US forces should trigger the provisions of the War Powers Act. On Sept 18, 1987, Sen. Mark Hatfield (ROR) attached an amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill (S. 1174) to trigger the War Powers Act. The Senate voted on whether to table (kill) the amendment, and by a vote of 50 yeas to 41 nays (the nays favored triggering the War Powers Act), the amendment was tabled.
Voted For Engaging Iranian Forces In Persian Gulf

On Sept. 24, 1987, days after the defeat of the Hatfield amendment described above, the Senate voted 91-4 in favor of a hard-line approach toward belligerent Iranian vessels. The amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill, initially presented by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), was modified during floor debate. It expressed the sense of the Senate that the US Navy is fully justified in sinking any Iranian vessel which threatens the safe passage of any American warship or any other vessel known to have US citizens on board.
Voted For Conditions for Soviet Middle East Participation

In a unanimous vote of 95-0, the Senate on Oct. 8, 1987, approved the Wilson amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorization Bill (H.R. 1777). The amendment expressed the sense of the Congress that the Soviet Union should not be considered a possible participant in a Mideast peace forum unless and until it has: (a) re-established diplomatic relations with Israel at the ambassadorial level; (b) reaffirmed UN Security Council resolutions 181, 242, and 338; and (c) substantially, increased the numbers of Soviet Jews allowed to emigrate. In addition, the amendment stated that, even if the Soviets met these conditions, its participation would be subject to the approval and invitation of Israel, Egypt, and Jordan.
Voted For Condemnation of Iraqi Chemical Weapons Use

On June 24, 1988, by a unanimous vote of 91 yeas, the Senate approved S.R. 408, condemning Iraq's use of chemical weapons and urging President Reagan to continue diplomatic pressure to prevent their further use. The letter also urged the administration to step up efforts to establish an international ban on their use.
Voted For Proposed Foreign Aid Package to Israel

On July 7, 1988, the Senate approved passage of the foreign operations appropriations legislation (H.R. 4637) by a vote of 76 yeas to 15 Rays. Israel, slated for $1.8 billion in military aid and $1.2 billion in economic aid, is the bill's largest single beneficiary, followed by Egypt. In addition to the direct aid there are also a number of special provisions that benefit Israel. For example, Israel, unlike any other nation, can spend up to $400 million of its US aid monies on its own defense industry and $150 million for US research and development services for Israeli weapons production.

Litmus Test

Readers searching for a "litmus test" may find it in three of these actions. The letters opposing arms sales to Saudi Arabia (Column 2) and opposing a visa for Yasser Arafat (Columns 3 and 4) were all proposed and circulated to senators by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). It is fair to assume that those who signed any of these three letters did so in accordance with the wishes of AIPAC, Israel's US lobby.

Allan C. Kellum, founder and for eight years editor of the Mideast Observer, consults and writes on congressional and international development affairs in the national capital area.