[NYTr] Brit Media Gives Fisheye to Bush Arming the Middle East

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Channel 4 News - Snowmail (UK) - Jul 31, 2007
http://www.channel4.com

Arming the Middle East

So to the matter of America's enthusiasm to arm Middle Eastern
countries against Iran and Syria - billions of dollars of weapons are
set to go to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Israel. This as the allies
gather at the UN to try to trigger still more draconian sanctions
against Iran in response to her non-compliance with international
obligations concerning her nuclear programme. 

I'll have to apologise in advance but I find myself noting this move by
the US seems to be just about diametrically opposite to the outcomes of
both the  Baker-Hamilton Commission, and the Channel 4 / Foreign Policy
Centre Iraq Commission Report -both of which made as their priority a
need to talk to Iran and Syria if any progress is to be made in Iraq.  

Sarah Smith will report from Washington. 

                              ***

PA News via Channel 4 (UK) - Jul 31, 2007
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/world/rice%20iran%20threat%20to%20middle%20east/641357?intcmp=news_snowmail_iran

Rice: Iran threat to Middle East

Iran remains the biggest threat to Middle East interests, US Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice has warned.

The Bush administration is hoping that a rare one-two punch of Rice and
Defence Secretary Robert Gates will add force to talks with Iraq's
neighbours about the war and Iran's influence in the region.

Rice and Gates travelled to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh,
Egypt, to meet with Arab leaders as part of an 11th-hour effort to get
their assistance in helping Iraq's fledgling government survive
sectarian strife and political infighting. At the same time, the US
officials want Saudi Arabia and its neighbours to use financial
pressure on Iran as a way of discouraging its nuclear ambitions. These
news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is
not responsible or liable to you for the same.