POLITICS & ECONOMICS: "Can Arab Arms Deal Deter Iran, Bolster Security? Critics Charge Lack of Focus on Terror, Political Change," by Jay Solomon, Wall Street Journal, 9 August 2007, p. A6.

We're already huge vis-a-vis Iran conventionally, so adding to that advantage regionally seems to accomplish little, except earn back some R&D money for the defense firms that benefit.

Meanwhile, does any of this challenge Iran's spreading of soft power in the region?

That's the point of the criticism, and it's fairly sensible.