ABSTRACT
The Middle East, like much of the Third World, has been the scene of nearly constant conflict since the end of World War II. There are broad patterns in the military forces in the Middle East, but the differences between sub-regions and nations are often more important than the similarities. The states involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict rank second in terms of expenditure and first in terms of military manpower. Israel remains far more capable of absorbing and operating advanced military technology than any other Middle Eastern state, but it has experienced serious problems in funding its forces in spite of massive US aid. The Red Sea region spends less on military forces than the other three major sub-regions within the Middle East, but it may well suffer the most from actual fighting. Many countries have increased their military manning levels beyond the levels they can equip and sustain.
