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Detente With Iran Recedes As US Strengthens Gulf Defenses

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  • Detente With Iran Recedes As US Strengthens Gulf Defenses

    DETENTE WITH IRAN RECEDES AS US STRENGTHENS GULF DEFENSES
    by Guy Adams

    The Independent
    Monday, February 1, 2010
    UK

    Expansion of Patriot missile programme follows Obama's warning
    to Tehran

    Days after a State of the Union address that threatened "growing
    consequences" if Iran continues to ignore international concerns over
    its nuclear programme, the Obama administration has quietly revealed
    plans to increase its military presence and step up arms sales to
    friendly regimes in the Persian Gulf.

    A Patriot missile is launched during an Israeli-US military excercise
    in the Negev desert in southern Israel in February 2001. (Photograph:
    Reuters)The US will provide new anti-missile systems to at least four
    Arab countries, and help Saudi Arabia triple the size of a 10,000-man
    force protecting its most important potential military targets from
    attack. America's Navy will also begin deploying ships capable of
    intercepting medium-range nuclear missiles off the Iranian coast at
    all times.

    News of the moves slipped out in a mixture of off-the-record interviews
    and formal briefings over the weekend, and is likely to fuel concerns
    of an arms race among mutually suspicious regimes in the region. The
    United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have spent at least $25 billion
    [£15.6bn] on US-built weapons in the past two years.

    For President Obama they represent a tangible shift in policy:
    in contrast with President Bush, he had until now hoped that quiet
    diplomacy might persuade Iran to rein back its nuclear programmes.

    However, his early efforts to make overtures towards Tehran have fallen
    flat and international inspectors have yet to be granted access to
    the country's nuclear development facilities.

    That appears to have prompted the new, tougher line from the
    Obama administration. "As Iran's leaders continue to ignore their
    obligations, there should be no doubt: they, too, will face growing
    consequences," said the President, in his State of the Union address
    last week.

    Iran continues to insist that its nuclear ambitions are civilian
    rather than military. After meeting allies in London last week,
    Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters that the US now
    hopes to convince the international community to increase sanctions
    against its government, and warned China that its opposition to that
    move was "short-sighted."

    In an effort to sidestep allegations of warmongering, the Obama
    administration is eager to stress that all of its new deployments
    are entirely defensive in nature. They form part of an updated global
    ballistic missile defence policy that will be put to Congress today.

    Outlining some details of the new US policy, General David Petraeus,
    the Central Command chief responsible for the Middle East, told a
    conference at the Institute for the Study of War in Washington that
    new systems being supplied to the region consisted of "eight Patriot
    missile batteries, two in each of four countries".

    Those countries are thought to be Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain,
    which will join Saudi Arabia and Israel in possessing the equipment.

    Adding that Patriots are capable of shooting down short-range offensive
    missiles, General Petraeus said: "Iran is clearly seen as a very
    serious threat by those on the other side of the Gulf front."

    He also revealed that the United States Navy will now be keeping
    Aegis cruisers on patrol in the Persian Gulf at all times, vessels
    which are generally equipped with radar systems that are designed to
    intercept medium-range missiles.

    Accepting US military support can present political problems for
    Arab countries, and the White House did not formally comment on any
    of the moves.
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