New Military Deals Plan to Protect Oil Terminals From Attacks by Tehran

 

February 01, 2010 (Hamsayeh.Net) - The United States government plans to increase military cooperation with Persian Gulf Arab states in a bid to thwart what it calls a growing danger from Iran, Washington Post reported.

 

Persian Gulf Arab states, within the past two years, have signed nearly 23 billion euros military contracts with Washington including advance air defense systems to protect oil terminals and other important sites in case of future military attacks by Iran. Overall the US seems to be preparing for a worst-case scenario as it now finds itself deeply involved in large-scale military campaigns across the greater Middle East.

 

In the new plan the US military would triple the size of troops stationed in Saudi Arabia, to 30,000. Riyadh is Washington’s main supplier of crude oil,  feeding the industrial requirements of Western corporations. Through the military deals, the Persian Gulf Arab states’ would also receive greater protection and legitimacy from the United States. 

 

The US and its Western allies say they fear Iran's  nuclear bombs and have threatened to increase pressures on Tehran for halt to its nuclear program. Iran however dismisses Western fears of nuclear threats and has proven that its domestic nuclear program is geared towards peaceful purposes only. Thousands of hours of inspections by international inspectors have lead to the conclusion that Iran’s nuclear program is fully transparent.

 

The Obama administration’s failure to form a united front against Iran, especially after China, and to some extend Russia, rebuffed US’ requests for additional sanctions, may have made the US feel the need for a more unilateral approach to tackle important international issues on its own.