America's generous military package for Israel, Egypt and the Gulf states covers up the fact that the US has decided to abandon the struggle against Iran Iran? That's your problemGuy Bechor
Published: 08.19.07, 14:04 / Israel Opinion
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in the Middle East with a basket full of worrisome gifts. On the face of it, the situation of pro-western states in the region following her visit would improve from now on.
Israel will receive $30 billion in aid for 10 years to purchase military equipment; Egypt will get $13 billion over 10 years, again as military aid; the six Gulf states – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates – will together receive $20 billion.
Rice's message was that this aid would help overcome the threat of al-Qaeda, the Shi'iteHizbullah, Syria and Iran (for some reason, she did not mention Hamas). So why the sour faces of the region's leaders? Because they're already beginning to understand the extent of the catastrophe.
All these goodies were meant to sweeten one simple fact: the United States is not planning to launch a military attack against Iran and is telling its allies in the region: We'll give you arms, and won't forget to encourage you. Good luck against Iran.
There is no other explanation for this outburst of generosity that aims to create a military safety belt around the Middle East, in a similar fashion to the diplomatic safety belt of the international conference, planned for the autumn. But this safety belt is a product of the Middle East that has to cope with Iran's conventional and nuclear armament program.
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