IDEX - 2007 EXCELLENT!

The Middle East's premier defense exhibition and convention ongoing in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It appears that business will be good because of the tensions between USA, Iraq and Iran. It's high time for the oil rich states to update their weapons capacity.

Those countries want to protect critical sites such as oil installations, ports -- and U.S. military bases that house tens of thousands of American troops. Of those five nations, only Saudi Arabia has no American bases.

Helicopters and electronic warning sensors are expected to be hot sellers. For example, seaborne early warning radar can can detect rogue vessels approaching ports or oil terminals, said Robin Hughes, a Mideast military analyst at the London-based agency Jane's, a sponsor of the show.

Saudis want updated helicopters and Europe is only too happy to provide Tiger Helicopters (for a price of course). That bad boy has a 30 mm canon, 68 mm rockets and air to air missiles.

The Emirates want ship to ship missiles and Iran want air defense systems.

Plenty of German, British and French warships will be on display. Business is good.