WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Middle East states, despite a sustained increase in oil
prices, have failed to maintain military modernization programs and lag well
behind their Western counterparts.A recent study by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and
International Studies said Middle East countries have been unable to spend
enough money to ensure modernization of their militaries. The study said
the region's militaries have been plagued by a shortage of quality manpower
and states have turned to weapons exports to finance modernization programs."No Middle Eastern state is currently spending the resources necessary
to full sustain the modernization of its existing force structure," the
study, termed "The Military Balance in the Middle East," said. "Most forces
lack adequate equipment for night and poor weather warfare, and particularly
for long-range direct and indirect fire engagement, and cohesive,
sustainable, large-scale maneuver."The study cited what it termed a "qualitative
paradigm shift" in the Middle East military
balance. Authored by senior researcher Anthony Cordesman, the report
asserted that manpower and force levels have taken second place to the need
for well-trained forces with advanced control, communications, computers,
and intelligence [C4I] battle management capabilities.
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