White House Proposes $43B in Mideast Military Aid

Rice pitches strategy to help contain Iran
By Heather McPherson,  Newser User
Posted Jul 30, 2007 3:48 PM CDT
White House Proposes $43B in Mideast Military Aid
Military soldiers arrive in Armour Personnel Carrier (APC) in the streets of Saudi Arabia. "This effort will help bolster forces of moderation and support a broader strategy to counter the negative influences of al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran," said Rice in a statement regarding the plan.   (Getty Images)

More than $43 billion in US military aid is earmarked for the Middle East, Reuters reports, part of a strategy to fight terrorism and counterbalance Iran. The outlays, which require congressional approval, include $13 billion to Egypt, $30 billion to Israel, and an unspecified amount to Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf states, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced today.

The proposal of the package came before Rice and defense secretary Robert Gates left for the region, where they'll seek greater Arab help in Iraq. "This effort will help bolster forces of moderation and support a broader strategy to counter the negative influences of al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran," Rice said in a statement. (More Middle East stories.)

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