[SJackson]

The article is unclear on the numbers. As I understand it the numbers are about $20 billion to the Saudis, which may or may not include $3 billion or so to the other gulf states, that all paid for. $13 billion to Egypt, which appears to be funded by aid, and an increase of about 7 $7 or $8 billion to Israel, which will be funded by aid.

About $45 billion, of which about $20 billion will be paid for by American taxpayers.

Given the relative instability of the regiemes we're selling to, and the fact that Egypt, without regional enemies trains for a ground attack on Israel, air assets to be supplimented by the Saudis and other Gulf states, this does little more than add to the instability in the region.

An Iran-Saudi struggle, unlikely as it proceeds through Iraq, will be decided by American forces. As was the Iraq-Kuwait-Saudi struggle.

[jveritas]

Neither Egypt nor the Gulf states will use their Air Force against Israel. Even Israel declared today that they are OK with the arms sales to Saudi Arabia as I indicated in post # 40 on this thread.