Condoleezza Rice

     Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday that a new multibillion dollar US military sales package for Arab nations will help secure Iraq and promote stability in the Gulf. Embarking on a four-day tour of the region with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Rice said in a statement that the proposed US package, estimated to be at least $5 billion "will help bolster forces of moderation and support a broader strategy to counter the negative influences of al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran." (23,58)