After stops in Israel and the Arab Emirates, the Secretaries of State and Defense are in Saudi Arabia, working out the details of a massive sale of sophisticated weapons. The Bush Administration says it's a way to counter Iran. Opponents accuse the Saudis of supporting terrorists and the Sunni insurgency in Iraq. Israel has signed off on the deal after being promised new arms of its own. Egypt will get new weaponry, too. Is the US fueling the arms race in one of the world's most unstable regions? Is it really all about oil?
Arms for Diplomacy in the Middle East
Credits
Guests:
- Stephen Schwartz - Executive Director of the Center for Islamic Pluralism
- John Duke Anthony - President of the National Council on US-Arab Relations
- Wade Boese - Research Director at the Arms Control Association
- Yossi Melman - Commentator, Ha'aretz