Middle East Time for Sweeping Gestures

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Mindful of such tensions, the Reagan Administration confirmed last week that it wants to sell Saudi Arabia as much as $1 billion worth of new arms, including sophisticated F-15 jet fighters. Fearing that Saudi weapons might be used to Israel's disadvantage, Congress has rejected such sales in the past. This time, the White House is hoping the gulf crisis, along with recent disclosures of large-scale economic projects between Iran and the Soviet Union, will make the latest arms package more palatable.