"What is going on right now are technical discussions between the Iraqis and each of the Gulf Arab states, including the Saudis, on exactly what the amount of the debt is, whether that would include interest, what are the documents that would support the actual claim, " he said.

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The Arab Gulf states are home to some of the most spectacular high-rise towers in the world.

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The biggest losers would be the Arab oil states grouped in the Gulf Cooperation Council, most of which are monarchies kept in power by a combination oil dollars and American military power.

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In the real world, the mix of US and Arab Gulf forces, bases, and resources give the US and Arab Gulf states a decisive advantage in virtually every aspect of conventional military competition.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Section IV: Building a Two-MRC Force for the 21st Century

Most Middle East analysts make two fundamental errors: They have a static perspective that simply extends the present into the future in a straight line, and they tend to focus on Egypt, where one-quarter of the Arab League lives, while ignoring the North African and Gulf states where important changes are underway.

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The monarch is in the region as part of government moves to renew the UK's relationship with the Gulf Arab states.

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Hopeful that a rapprochement with the Gulf's Arab states might hasten the departure of foreign forces, Iran's new government has gone far to state its good intentions, though these are yet to be translated into action.

ECONOMIST: Iran and Iraq

Calls for a no-fly zone have also come from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, which represents Muslim countries, and Gulf Arab states.

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