US looks to sell arms in Gulf to try to contain Iran (Boston Globe)

[Eugene]

US looks to sell arms in Gulf to try to contain Iran
Congressional OK needed

By Farah Stockman, Globe Staff | March 21, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The State Department and the Pentagon are quietly
seeking congressional approval for significant new military sales to
US allies in the Persian Gulf region. The move is part of a broader
American strategy to contain Iranian influence by strengthening Iran's
neighbors and signaling that the United States is still a strong
military player in the Middle East, despite all the difficulties in Iraq.

But the arms sales, which would come on top of a recent upgrade of US
Patriot antimissile interceptors in Qatar and Kuwait and the deployment
of two aircraft carriers to the Gulf, could spark concerns that further
military buildup in the volatile region would bring Washington closer
to a confrontation with Iran.

Senior US officials have been tight-lipped in public about what systems
they hope to sell, citing the need to get congressional support for the
measure first and skittishness among Arab allies that don't want the
publicity. Current and former US officials and analysts familiar with
the discussions say items under consideration include sophisticated air
and missile defense systems, advanced early warning radar aircraft that
could detect low-flying missiles, and light coastal combat ships that
could sweep the Gulf for mines and help gather underwater intelligence.

-snip-

Some analysts suggested that any arms sales will be merely symbolic,
since none of the Gulf states have militaries capable of driving off an
Iranian attack by themselves.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/03/21/us_looks_to_sell_arms_in_gulf_to_try_to_contain_iran

[crikkett]

1. oh boy let's throw gas on the flames!