WASHINGTON Ñ The Bush administration intends to accelerate weapons sales to the Middle East.

Officials said the administration plans to process several arms sales to U.S. allies over the next few months in an effort to organize an Arab coalition against terrorism. The State Department has lobbied for increased arms sales to the Middle East and Pakistan as well as an effort to reconsider relations with Iran and Syria.

"This is the time to show that we mean business when we say we support our allies," an administration source said. "Then, we can demand the same in our efforts to form a coalition."

In addition, the administration is asking Congress for a waiver on military sales to countries that had not been eligible to obtain U.S. weapons. But officials said the White House does not plan to ask Congress for a blanket waiver.

On Monday, President George Bush acknowledged this request to Congress. But he said he would decide on a case-by-case basis. The president made the assertion as he announced an executive order that froze the assets of 27 terrorist organizations.

"I will do it [waiver on arms sales restrictions] case-by-case," Bush said. "But we don't intend to ask Congress for a blanket waiver." Over the weekend, Bush waived sanctions on India and Pakistan. The waiver on India will allow the renewal of U.S. military sales to New Dehli.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on Monday afternoon that the sanction lifted from India and Pakistan would allow the United States to authorize the commercial sale of U.S. spare parts for the militaries of those countries.

Boucher acknowledged that Bush's proposal for a waiver on restrictions for military sales is meant to encourage those on the State Department list of terrorist nations to change their policies.

"We certainly do believe it's a moment at which states that have been on the terrorism list can take the final steps and break their ties, and do what it takes to fully terminate their support for terrorism or terrorist groups or terrorists who might be living there," Boucher said. "Were they to do that, then one would consider taking them off. But at this point, don't imagine that we would be able to go beyond that law."

The Washingon-based Council for a Livable World, which monitors arms proliferation, criticized administration plans. The council said the waiver being sought by the president will decrease U.S. security.

"Congress should not write the president a blank check and abdicate its responsibility to regulate the export U.S. military weapons and supplies," the council's proliferation expert Eric Floden said. "The administration should not repeat past mistakes by indiscriminately exporting weapons for short term goals."

U.S. officials said the administration wants to facilitate the completion of four sales to Middle East countries. They are F-16 multi-role fighters to Oman and the United Arab Emirates and multiple launch rocket systems to Egypt.

Industry sources said the Bush administration has suspended all foreign military sales notifications to Congress in wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. They said the administration has also suspended arms export control initiatives.

"Export control reform Ñ and specifically review of the Munitions List Ñ has been delayed because the guys who have been looking at that stuff are busy doing other things," Aerospace Industries Association vice president Joel Johnson told Defense Daily International said.

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