Last month, Washington approved massive military-aid packages and arms sales to its Arab allies, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and a number of smaller Gulf States. But while U.S. officials say the deals aim to bolster the “forces of moderation” in the region, some local commentators see the move as an unnecessary - and dangerous - provocation.

“The arms deals represent a continuation of U.S. policy aimed at creating tension and polarizing the region,” Ahmed Thabet, professor of political science at Cairo University, told IPS.

On July 28, the Bush administration announced its intention of providing Egypt with a $13 billion military assistance package, to be paid out over the next 10 years. The deal comes within the framework of the Camp David peace accord, to which Egypt, along with Israel, has been a signatory since 1979.

The White House also announced its willingness to sell some $20 billion worth of advanced U.S. weapons systems to several Gulf States, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Despite a degree of domestic opposition, the sales are expected to be approved by the U.S. Congress next month.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was quoted as saying that both the aid package and weapons sales reflected Washington’s commitment “to provide for the security of our allies.” She added that the deals were intended to “counter the negative influences of al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran.”

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