US bid to her interests in Middle East

July 31: Recently announced military aid packages to Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other gulf countries has been termed by the US as to promote stability and security in the region which has been endangered by the budding of militant groups and the increasing influence of Iran.

This is definitely to contain Iran as has been announced very vocally by US secretary of state, Condoleeza Rice to counter ‘negative influences’. The deal is to enable these countries to prepare a shield against such sinister forces as Iran, Iraq and Syria. Total deal amounts to $ 60 bn.

Another purpose behind is said to be to erase the support system of Sunni insurgents from Saudi Arabia.

Washington has also promised a massive increase in the aid currently being provided to Israel to calm down its fear over the massive supply of arms to Arab countries. Arab will be instructed to base them away from Israel territories.

In wake of the removal of the support from its allies in Iraq US in a way is also preparing its supporting infrastructure to rebuild and ‘stabilize’ Iraq.

Despite all the verbal commitments of developing the region, critics say that US will unleash a new arms race in the region and this is also a reverse of the US policy of democratization of the region, one of the justification bush administration gave for attack on Iraq.

Analysts see the deal as the indication that US is short of the options but to cooperate Saudi Arabia in view of the current developments in Iraq and Afghanistan and terrorist groups budding in the area US needs Saudi Arabia’s assistance.

Iran has reacted angrily and has taken these arms deals as encroachment and interference in the region by US and disturbing the internal relations of the countries of the region. Iran saw it as a strategy to create market for weapons.

Iran foreign affairs spokesperson, Hosseini said, “What the Persian gulf region needs is security, stability, peace, prosperity and economic development”.

American officials term the current policy of US of Middle East as a realistic approach to the region. They accepted it to be a reversal of the policy of promotion of democracy as it produced undesirable results example being Hamas victory in Palestinian elections.

Today’s tour of Ms. Rice and Gates aim at uniting US allies in the region and conveying a message that security and stability of the region is their foremost priority.

Arms assistance to almost all the major countries of the region has two objectives on cards one to stop support to sunni militants and unite Iraq politically and halt the increasing influence of Iran.