Egypt's military,which keeps President Husni Mubarak's regime in power, is armed by the US, but kept on a very short leash by limited supplies of US spare parts and munitions. Consequently, Egypt cannot wage a major war against Israel, but is only capable of attacking Libya or Sudan, both US enemies. Jordan is in much the same fix. Sixty percent of its people are Palestinians. The US-armed and financed beduin army keeps King Abdullah on his throne.
American aid allows Jordan's economy, ravaged by the embargo of Iraq, to limp along.
The Saudis even deny ammunition to their meager armed forces, lest they try to overthrow the monarchy, relying on beduin militia and the US for protection. Kuwait and the Gulf Emirates, terrified of both Iran and Iraq, have simply gone form being British protectorates to American ones. Iraq lies in ruins. Syria, the only Arab nation beside Egypt with real military power, and one of the few Arab states not under the tutelage ofAmerica's Oil Raj, is nearly bankrupt. Economic strength underlies military power.