U.S. Seeks To Fix Power Balance Upset By Iraq War

BEIRUT (Reuters) - U.S. promises of military aid or arms sales to strengthen its Middle Eastern allies against Iran and other regional foes seem aimed at repairing a balance of power destroyed by the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Toppling Saddam Hussein ended Iraq's role as a counterweight to Iran, a part it had played since the 1980s in a Gulf security system that Washington had hoped would contain the rival powers.

Supplying advanced weapons to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries sends a message that Washington is committed to backing conservative rulers it had criticized after the 9/11 attacks for spawning Islamist militancy, analysts said.

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