American bullying, threats of military action (against Iran and Pakistan), active support for Israel's military action (Lebanon), and actual invasion and occupation (Iraq) have already shown that 'stability' is the opposite of what it promotes in the Middle East . Pay attention to America's actions and give the rhetoric its rightful place. The current bribe being offered to Sunni Arab states and Israel is certain to incite an arms race. The neocon motive of 'creative chaos' apparently remains central to this administration's Middle East policy.

dick la roche, Sarasota, Florida, USA

$20billion arms deal

military aid to Israel worth $30bn over 10 years

So this is what supporting the gulf war is about to US industry

I know $1 billion is alot of money,,,but somehow $20 billion does not seem to be enough,, when you consider this is what is gained by our (US and UK ) gulf war.

I suppose they have to have some major contracts for credability, but it does not seem enough.

It will be interesting to follow the $ exchange rate as the contract goes through, it is normally noticeable the little flip as the currency hits the markets, bearing in mind the fall in the dollar already in the last few years. Perhaps it will be US election timed.

"I will assume someone has had there 10% and it will get hidden by the secret service like here in the UK"

It is strange after finding peace is not achieved by invading Iraq (actually the opposite has been achieved)
Why not have open dialogue with Iran, it can only save money in the long run

Nicholas Iles, Oswestry, United Kingdom

I am glad that there are so many with vast wisdom in writing world politics. We have been blessed in the U.S. with the sacrifice of many patriots who died for our freedom. We will take a stand for what we believe in by casting our vote of politics through our leaders who have a little more knowledge about what is going on behind the scenes than the general public. Yes we want peace and freedom, but it doesn't come cheap! When it comes time I hope all of those who choose peace are ready to stand by and receive it at the hands of their enemies because that's where we'll be if we lay down our swords and walk away. There's a lot more to fighting a war than guns and knives.... pray if you believe and ... if you don’t!

StevieD, Gilbert, AZ

Why can't they just leave they whole region alone?

chris, london, uk

A sensible move by the USA which should help balance the influence of Iran in the region.

John, Carshalton, Surrey

I suppose America could not be persuaded just to give them the cash,imagine 20 billion in infrastructure. my vote is "take the money"

ken moody, sheffield, england yorkshire

I'm no expert, but I do know military hardware is extremely pricey. So 20 billion may sound like a lot these days, but what does it really buy?....3 tanks and a jet fighter? Seriously though, other then a great amount of small arms weaponry, which can be devastating enough, what is the true impact of those numbers?
Anyone have any idea or insight on this?
Either way, I feel it's a foolish and dangerous maneuver.

William, Toronto, Canada

"London currently there is an increase in gun crime, so presumably the way to remedy this situation is to give everybody that hasn't already got one?"

Yes, it really does work that way! History has proven that an armed and vigilant nation (or household) is less attractive to predatory invaders than a nation (or household) of voluntary victims. If arms control works so well, why is violence increasing in nations or regions that have it?

Marco, Miami, USA

Have a look at the photos -- my heavens what a babe! She could sell *anything* to those fellows.

Maynard, Oxford, UK

I imagine 30 billion dollars would provide a good start at providing all US citizens basic health care.

I suggest to all US citizens stand for their democratic right. Spread the word and tell your local politician to use your tax dollars instituting basic health for all US citizens instead of arming Middle Eastern countries.

The people win with better health care, the industry gets a boost which helps the economy and employment, and the weapons that would have been supplied won't get turned against you if the country decides you're now the enemy.

themiddleway, Ottawa, Canada

Wow, a $50 billion dollar arms give-away.

Doesn't sound like the most obvious way to promote peace and stability but what do I know bout these things. I personally would have done something crazy like try and invest it in businesses in the more stable parts of Iraq, creating jobs so that the young men there have an option of an alternative future.

Guess Iran will just have to divert more of it's oil revenue to promoting peace and stability in the middle-east too.

Chris, Belfast, via London

I have read many news reports where middle eastern countries have clearly stated that Iran is not a threat, even if they possessed nuclear capabilities. Infact Bush's illegal wars have created a nuclear arms race in the middle east. They may be trying to defend themselves from being 'Iraqed' by Bush and Co.

US and Israel are the 'biggest threat' to world peace.

Mohammed, London, UK

A competent president would meet with Iran.

Emma H., Ottawa, Canada

Wow... I'm astounded that more people can't put last weeks news and this weeks news together and see the patterns...

This week the US is offering $20 billion in military aid to the Saudi's and their friends in response to last week's agreement between Iran and the US last to set up a joint subcommittee on Iraqi security that doesn't include Riyadh. So to ensure Saudi commitment to help quell Sunni insurgent violence in Iraq, we're buying them off with weapons... but due to the Jewish lobby in the US we can't arm Arab states without giving more/better military aid to Israel. hence Israel's $30 billion dollar military aid package...

All the rhetoric coming out of Tehran, and Washington DC, an Riyadh is just that... rhetoric... nothing more or less... they are all accusing each other and blaming each other and threatening each other, but at the same time they all have to deal with each other and they all have something the other wants.

Chris, Atlanta, GA, USA

didn't we do this before? isn't that why soldiers are getting blown up by their own bombs laying wait on the sides of roads? or why this underdeveloped country is so heavily armed?
"they will sell us the rope we hang them with" -carl marx [but in this case it's $20bn worth of bombs and guns]

jason, baltimore, md

How wonderful, it now appears that the problems with Iraq are down to interference of other third parties and nothing whatsoever with the bungling US.

The logic the USA used for the war can be summed up using school playground logic. I will punch Saddam first because I think he may punch me next week. I will also become a bully and force all his friend to adopt civilised ideals (mine obviously) and once we have gotten rid of Saddam everyone will thank me and be my new best friends. Oops should have possibly done some homework.

Joseph Kellie, Edinburgh, Scotland

What is America trying to do.? Arm the whole of middle east so that they can kill each other.
On the one hand it wants to disarm Iran and on the other it arms the rest of the middle east. This is a recipe for disaster. President Bush will go down in history as the president who messed up this planet.
The sooner his term ends the better the world will be.

Robert Pereira, Perth, Australia

Iran... wakeup and smell the coffee.. Stop being a rouge state..and get your house in order...

Steve Lockwood, Manchester, U.K

The U.S. removes the one regime that balanced power in the Mideast and now is offering 20 billion to it's neighbors in an attempt to offset Iran's new found influence. Would it not have been better to leave well enough alone?

John Ellison, Kamloops, B.C.

That's it. Bush needs to be recalled from office now. It is just too dangerous for him to remain in office for 17 more months.
The Saudi deal must be cancelled.

Emma H., Ottawa, Canada

I would no tbe surprised to read in news that Putin is going to sell S-300 to Iran. It looks like Bush & Putin are playing same game (Bush sells weapon making profit - same for Putin.) Have they got a secret deal or something ???

peter, Liege,

Will the US ever learn?

CRL Child, Ajaccio, Corsica, France

Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Are the US intentionally promoting war and gaining favours through gifts and promises of finacial input?
In London currently there is an increase in gun crime, so presumably the way to remedy this situation is to give everybody that hasn't already got one, a gun, or perhaps missles or perhaps an arms deal? So that those that want to can kill each other quicker better?
Stupid, stupid, stupid.

T.Bishop, London, uk

I'm so glad that this is where my tax dollars are going to now-

Scott Benowitz, Rye, New York, U.S.A.

How can America afford this? They are already borrowing to finnance the Iraq war and are paying $250 billion dollars a year in interest alone to service that debt they simply haven't got all these billions to slash around like this.

bernard weir, london, uk

Uncle Sam is never having the wrong policies, From One big Oil exporting country of the Arab World, Iraq he is getting free Oil and from the other big Oil producers in the Region, he is selling them Arms and then by the Money of same Arms, he will be buying the Oil from them..and the Arms which will be sold to them will never be used against anyone..as America will never allow them to use them...Nice deal ..Well done..and Long Live America !!!

Suhail Kureishi, Bochum, Germany

It's all about destabilizing the Middle East to create "religious" war conditions. Religions don't negotiate until the people start turning away and stop funding them, THEN they "quietly" negotiate to go after the power that started the oppressions. This naturally will create even more hatred towards the US . Causing ANOTHER attack in the US. = MORE money towards our "War on Terror". Neverending war- Perfect for Military Industry.` One of the many reasons they had to demonize Clinton.

Han G Thesobs, Phoenix, USA/Arizona

What is America trying to do.? Arm the whole of middle east so that they can kill each other.
On the one hand it wants to disarm Iran and on the other it arms the rest of the middle east. This is a recipe for disaster. President Bush will go down in history as the president who messed up this planet.
The sooner his term ends the better the world will be.

Robert Pereira, Perth, Australia

35 years ago we sold hundreds of millions of dollars of arms to the Shah to counteract the Soviet influence in Iraq and turned Washington DC into Tehran West with all the students and military we were training. In December, 1972, we tacitly backed the Shah in seizing two strategic islands in the Straits of Homuz when the UAE became independent.

Twelve years later we provide intelligence support and precursors for chemical weapons to Saddam Hussein to use against Iran.

Somehow this keeps going full circle, just the numbers get bigger.

D Leach, Salem , MA

to craig schomp,

it is laughable of your logic...just a doubt that why in america every thinks he is under attack in form of the other..i think the britain is right to stay the way it is now...to get the idea of non violence you dont have to be armed!

raj, london,

JUST EXACTLY WHO IS PAYING FOR ALL THIS?
IF THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER IS FOOTING THE BILL, IT IS ABSURD FOR THAT REASON ALONE. THE MIDDLE EAST OIL PRODUCERS HAVE BEEN DROWNING IN MONEY WHILE WE ARE BORROWING FROM THE CHINESE, ET AL.

H. R. MERHOFF, RED BLUFF, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.

Hey T.Bishop in London...
Did you ever stop to consider that British gun control laws are what *led* to the increased gun crime that you say you have now? Criminals will think twice about attacking someone if they think they are armed and can fight back, but won't hesitate at all if their victims can't defend themselves... Gun control laws mean that people who obey laws don't have guns and people who don't obey laws have guns, exactly opposite what you want! To not to be able to defend yourself means you aren't free, that you live at the whim of criminals who don't have civilized ideals at heart. Same thing in the middle east. Iran has stated their intentions to destroy Israel. This is not civilized behavior and it is not unreasonable to arm those who would work to isolate them and give them cause to weigh the cost to them should they try to do what they say they want to do. I think your logic is what is dangerous and stupid!

Craig Schomp, Stow, MA, USA

Scott in Windsor. We're not donating money to anyone. Those guys are plenty rich. They're BUYING the arms from us. The $20 billion is going into the pockets of U.S. arms manufacturers. That's what this is really about, making those Merchants of Death wealthy.

JimBob, Los Angeles,CA, USA

I love it! Those who support us in the region should also receive unclear bombs, chemical bombs and what ever that could kill most of those who would not support our oil policy in the region. Arabs have our oil, we let them process it, and we give them some money for the privilege. Why not let them kill for us? We are great! Are we not?

Love us, or go to hell.

Saint Michael Traveler, San Diego, USA

I find it unbelievable that the US (any country infact) should be giving weapons to another as an incentive towards peace!! Surely the world should be trying to stop making weapons and really start to try and encourage peace. I really feel helpless as these super powers keep on encouraging war, viloence and death. it is very sad.

Charlie MacGregor, Amsterdam,

20$ billion in funding for advanced weaponry. Why fund countries and later blame them of terrorism? History repeats like it happened the same with Iraq and Afghanistan. US created Saddam and Osama and now they are/were the biggest enemies to US. Are we in the process of creating few more of them? Don’t we have a better way to use 20$billion.

kash, ny, usa

Colin Powell, the ex-U.S. Secretary of State resigned after he witnessed how Bush and his close gang operate. Now we still have Condoleeza Rice who does not seem willing to quit because she is an order-taker.
The United States will never regain the respect it had from the world nations unless it changes its behaviour and policies.
Everywhere you find trouble, you would see the U.S. being the instigator. Everywhere you see killings, you find the U.S. as the front troublemakers and contributors. Now, they are providing "military aid" to Israel and the Arab countries because this is the only thing they have to export.
The U.S. led the world in the past by its wonderful institutions and principles only to find out today that those have been twisted and geared to destroying other nations and peace on earth.

Bernie Haddad, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Yeah... this is a good idea. Sigh.

Apa, Washington, DC

You cannot be serious.

Dick Chapple, park ridge, USA/ IL

the US Secretary of State said that the parties had agreed to a statement calling for "an end to all interference in Iraq". THEY ARE THE INTERFERENCE!!!!!!

Alan, Chelmsford, UK

Farouk,
Ayatollah Ali Meshkini, a pupil of Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini and chair of the Assembly of Experts (the body that elects Iran's "supreme leader") died yesterday. His job is now open, and assembly elections that occurred earlier this year shifted the balance of power in the assembly to Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a pragmatist who wants to build relations with the US. Given current "Supreme Leader: Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's imminent departure due to his ailing health, if Rafsanjani could get his candidate of choice to become the new Assembly of Experts chairman, it would make it that much easier for Rafsanjani himself to be appointed as Iran's next supreme leader. Imagine if you will an Iran that is capable of having a civil, public conversation with the United States up to the point that they even exchange ambassadors. Imagine what that would mean for Iraq. Imagine what that would mean for the entire region. War isn't as close as you think.

Chris, Atlanta, GA, USA

GREAT more profit for more tools of death and destruction. Maybe if we were supplying these countries with tools of a more humanistic and wholesome purpose, machines of industry and economic development aimed at improving the lives of civilians and greater education and experience for their youth we would see a much more benevolent long term outcome.

Michael, Boston, MA

I wonder when is this childish game going to end???!!! The US policies are now so obvious but I guess the stupid US politicians with their meaningless speeches which are full of lies think that no one could see what's behind the scene.

John, London,

Putting more arms into the Middel East is like pouring petrol on fire. It makes no sense whatsoever. This is the last thing the Middle East needs, more guns and more ammo. All over the world the arms industry is promoting conflict and misery. Who are these people, what do they look like and who is behind them? How about an article on the arms manufacturers and the money they make? I would make really interesting reading. In the meantime I wonder if the world will survive Bush II ?

GK, Calgary, Canada

I think this is preperation for a future war they "europe and america" think the arabs will help them fight Iran in around five years or so. It won't work ,the chickens will come home to roost. Just like when they supported the Taliban/al-Qaeda in Afghanistan about 10 years ago.

farouk, New York, USA

This is dispacable.
I don't think anything more can be said.

Steve, Belfast, United Kingdom

JBoogie, Scott from UK, excellent points. But hey, J, $20 billion worth of weapons has to be made by SOMEbody, so weapons production will be up, sales will be up, revenues generated, taxes paid, coffers filled. So all's well!

Who cares about Katrina? Just isn't profitable.

Aaron, Arlington, VA

I hope that there are no back handers involved, not that honest uncle sam would ever do that!

mike gee, bournemouth, uk

Why is it we are always trying to "prevent" trouble by adding to the military might of near east dictators who are just holding on, often against the apparent desires of their own people? Can't we be more creative? I'm tired of shoring up these stromg-men in the name of creating democracy in the region. We will not get "stability" by flooding the place with more guns.

roger williams, Forestville, CA

OK USA isnt exactly GIVING. They are SELLING arms worth 20 billions. USA is making money here for profit. And obviously for money they will do anything. The are trying to disarm Iran by giving more arms and ammunition to other middle-eastern countries. Ironic isnt it.

Shawn, Toronto, Canada

Keep in mind, the $20bn isn't a gift to Saudi Arabia. It's a gift to the arms manufacturers who are such good buddies of the Bush administration. This is shameless, disgusting, etc. Merchants of Death, talking about evil in the world and pointing everywhere but at themselves. It is to vomit.

Jim Houghton, Encino, CA, USA

Will the US ever learn?

CRL Child, Ajaccio, Corsica, France

This entire fiasco is to make as much money as possible for GWB's friends, from Iraq, European missile sites, and now this. GWB has spent more money and accomplished so little, its an embarrassment to call him a president. Most Arab countries don't really consider Iran that much of a threat, so all this does, is make them more of a threat, because they won't see this well.

TrueAmerican, Corpus Christi, Texas

I am about to give up. The bad guys are running the show and the good ones are quiet as usual.
The feeling that "the sooner the human race disapears from this planet the better", is growing on me.

Marilia Cardoso, London,

to all my outraged british cousins, we listened to you after we saved your behinds in ww2 and you formed the useless un and divided your colonial middle east territories which is exactly why we have such a mess over there. remember palestine and greater india which is now virtually all of the worlds war zones. thanks for the advice, but until you can win some of the wars you start, shut up and let the colonialists fight your battles without hindrance from behind. by the way, in states which allow everyone to carry concealed weapons, the crime rate, especially violent crime, went down significantly. maybe bullys take notice when their victims can strike back, eh what!!!

philip boyce, st louis, mo. usa

30 billion for isreal
20 billion for isreals arab enemies

and yet most americans think a 3 billion grant for health insurance for juvenile american citizens is a waste of tax payers money??!

chris, Dublin, Ireland

Yet another illustration of US arrogance and stupidity...Bush and his entourage think they can bring peace in Iraq and stability in the Middle East by ... distributing billions of $ worth of weapons?!?! One may argue that coming from the US, this shouldnt realy be a shock, but wht about Europe? Cant the EU shows some concern?

Clive, London,

Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Are the US intentionally promoting war and gaining favours through gifts and promises of finacial input?
In London currently there is an increase in gun crime, so presumably the way to remedy this situation is to give everybody that hasn't already got one, a gun, or perhaps missles or perhaps an arms deal? So that those that want to can kill each other quicker better?
Stupid, stupid, stupid.

T.Bishop, London, uk

The US plan to arm both sides sounds like a real money maker for corporate manufacturers of war "tools". And by keeping the focus on the Mid-East keeps the US nice and secure away from the fray. I live in the US and checked US papers for this info,,,,only in the small text at bottom of NY Times, but front page news thanks to the London Times. Most people will not care or even know of the events happening today, but the truth and signs are apparent if you only look.

mary, CHICAGO, il, usa

There is evidently going to be a civil war in the Middle East soon enough. Yet the U.S.A is recklessly arming many of the combatants to the teeth. Some responsible superpower.

Deepan, London, U.K

BAE did the same and look what the US thought about that!!!

kirk, Rotherham, UK

One has to wonder whether donating vast sums of money to unstable regimes so that they can buy weapons is really the best way to achieve peace in the middle east.

Scott, Windsor, UK

What the hell are we doing? We are giving 20billion dollors worth of arms to Middle Eastern countries, but we can't get Katrina victims clean drinking water? We can't stop the serge of illegal immigrants in this country. We can't stop this never ending war on drugs. We can't stop children from getting deathly ill due to lack of or inadaquate healthcare.

What the hell are we doing?

JBoogie, Lawrenceville, GA