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Iran Is Critical as U.S. Unveils Arms Sales in the Middle East
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said of arms and aid to Middle Eastern countries: "We are working with these states to fight back extremism."
(By Charles Dharapak -- Associated Press)
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"This isn't an issue of quid pro quo," Rice told reporters. "We are working with these states to fight back extremism."
But in Washington, Burns acknowledged that the United States has some expectations. "Given the fact that Iraq is the number one American foreign policy interest globally, we would want our friends in the region to be supportive not only of what the United States is doing in Iraq, but of the Iraqi government itself," he said.
Washington has only a notional list of the weapons sought by allies and has not provided specifics. But Saudi Arabia is expected to receive upgrades to its warplanes, new naval vessels and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), which turn standard bombs into "smart" precision-guided bombs, U.S. officials say. Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman are expected to make smaller purchases.
The $20 billion figure is seen as a "floor," and more assistance could be forthcoming, a senior defense official said, but requests that ultimately must go to Congress have not been finalized.
To shore up two other allies in the region, the Bush administration plans to wrap up new military assistance agreements providing $30 billion in aid to Israel and $13 billion to Egypt over 10 years, the State Department announced.
In contrast to past objections over large arms sales to Arab countries, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that his government will have no objections to the arms sales to Arab governments.
"We understand the need of the United States to support the Arab moderate states, and there is a need for a united front between the U.S. and us regarding Iran," Olmert said at a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday.
Key Democrats, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), are already voicing reservations about the arms package.
Rice said that consultations had already begun on Capitol Hill. "I'm certain that we can convince Congress first of all that we know how to maintain our obligations in terms of accountability for the security packages. We know how to be aware of and responsive to everyone's concerns that there not be any shift in the military balance between the parties in the region," Rice said, referring to concerns that Arab nations would endanger Israel's security.
Staff writer Josh White, traveling with Gates, contributed to this report.
