[peterloo]

Mmm... Arms support ... What I can imagine is the military balance being broken and the radical Islams retribute - by terrorist attacks (of course)

Futhermore, oil is a key factor for prosperity in America in long term. If America provides the arms to her allies, she must be demanding something in return. "There's no free lunch", right?

Motives (just some wild guesses, but reason-based)
(1) Secure oil bases in Middle-East
(2) Use them as the main force in combating those terrorists and cut American casualities (thus leaving less troubles for Bush, who is "almost" abondoned by his people)
(3) use up the bulk of out-dated arms (remember, the F-14 are now scapped like a paper in a shredder, for the fear of Iran acquiration of these arms. Should they be sent to allies, Iran will not be able to get access to them)
(4) Making friends and remaining a good relation don't hurt / backfire, do it?