US offers arms to friendly Arab states

Last Modified: 31 Jul 2007
By: Sarah Smith

The US seeks to arm the Saudis and others against Iran and Syria as America's man at the UN says half the insurgents entering Iraq come from Saudi Arabia.

Never before have the US secretary of state and the defence secretary, undertaken this kind of joint trip anywhere. It shows how seriously they take the need to try to reshape the balance of power in the Middle East.

They are there in part to ask their friends for more help in Iraq - obviously - but mostly to try to build stronger alliances against Iran and what the Americans believe are their attempts to develop a nuclear bomb

They came bearing gifts - a huge arms deal for their friends to strengthen them against growing Iranian influence in the region. Next stop for Condeleeza Rice is Saudi Arabia, where most of the weapons will go. She knows they have not been helping in Iraq. They may not be a reliable friend but they are an Iranian foe

"What this does is send a very clear signal to Iran & Syria and to those who are seeking to expand their influence at the expense of the forces of moderation in the region that the US is committed to the security of our friends and allies and we are going to make sure they can defend themselves against these threats." - Tom Casey, US State Department Spokesman

US Arms to Middle East

The $20bn will be spread over 10 years. It'll go to Arab states seen as allies of the US, in contrast to Iran and Syria. The bulk of it will go to Saudi Arabia though five other gulf states will each get a share as well. It'll pay for new or upgraded military hardware including air-to-air missiles, advanced precision-guided bombs, fighter planes and naval ships.

And to ease Israeli concerns over all this going to Arab countries, the US is to increase military aid to Israel by 25 per cent - to $30bn dollars. While Israel's friend and neighbour Egypt receives a further $13bn for weaponry.

It all comes back to Iraq where the US invasion ultimately led to increased Iranian influence - and where Sunni insurgents attacking American troops are being supported by Saudi Arabia. Money and fighters flow across their shared border.

President Bush still keeps the Saudi close and hopes this arms deal may buy their support for the Shiite government in Iraq, but he may struggle to persuade Congress.

Does it all sound familiar?

In the 1980s Donald Rumsfeld met Saddam Hussein as the US sold him arms - to counter Iran after the revolution. It backfired then and could again today

The problem with strengthening everybody around Iran is that it assumes that Iran won't have a destabilising response. There are some who would say - 'See, this is why we need a nuclear deterrent because the US is arming all our enemies'

So as even more weaponry is are headed for the Middle East Germany pointed today that the region is not suffering from a lack of arms but from a lack of stability.

This deal has to be approved by the congress and they are very sceptical. Many staunch friends of Israel in congress worry about selling missiles to Arab states - even if the Israeli government have been placated by additional military aid for them as well.

But there are also deep concerns about whether pouring more weaponry into such a volatile region - in effect starting a new arms race in the Middle East - and is this really the way to build peace and stability?