Presidential Power as a Domestic Constraint on Foreign Policy: Case Studies Examining Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia

AMERICAN JOURNALISTS AND COMMENTATORS HAVE FREQUENTLY CLAIMED THAT THE PRO-ISRAELI LOBBY, SPECIFICALLY THE AMERICAN ISRAELI PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, DICTATES U.S. POLICY REGARDING ARMS SALES TO ARAB NATIONS. IT IS ASSUMED THAT BECAUSE PRO-ISRAELI LOBBIES CONTRIBUTE LARGE SUMS OF MONEY TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, THIS WILL INSURE SUPPORT FOR THEIR POLICIES. HOWEVER, THE EVIDENCE PROVIDED HAS BEEN ANECDOTAL AND DOES NOT CONSIDER COMPETING THEORIES. THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES FOUR HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL ARMS PROPOSALS TO SAUDI ARABIA IN ORDER TO EVALUATE THIS INTEREST GROUP EXPLANATION OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY ALONG WITH THEORIES THAT FOCUS ON PRESIDENTIAL POWER AND THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.