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Lets Roll ! If you want to use this image feel free but the owner asked that a link be provided if it is used! |
Posted on 07/13/2002 2:29:00 PM PDT by maquiladora
BEIRUT, Lebanon – The United States has completed intensive negotiations with Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait and Turkey for using their territories and air space to carry out an attack against Iraq meant to oust Saddam Hussein, daily As-Safir reported Thursday.
As-Safir, a Lebanese newspaper that often reflects Syrian views, quoted diplomatic sources as saying Saudi Arabia informed Washington of its final decision refusing to allow U.S. forces to use its territories or to allow U.S. bases in the Kingdom in any battle against Iraq.
The sources said the United States then stopped pressing Riyadh and began trying instead to confirm deals with other countries neighboring Iraq.
Washington reached agreement with Jordan on U.S. forces entering Iraq by land from the Hashemite kingdom, according to the diplomatic sources. The Safir report is among a number of reports, including an earlier one the newspaper published nearly two weeks ago, that have appeared recently in the American and international press, claiming the United States has prepared plans for an invasion of Iraq. Strategies include crossing land frontiers from neighboring states, according to the reports, all of which have been vehemently denied by Jordan.
In Washington, administration officials have been reiterating that President Bush has so far not approved any plan concerning intervention to change the regime in Baghdad.
Some 5,000 Jordanian soldiers, all of Jordanian rather than Palestinian descent and mostly from the Bani Hassan tribe, have been selected for special training and missions behind the lines. The Jordanian troops were being equipped with special light and medium weapons.
The sources said 200 jeeps mounted with machine-guns had arrived in Jordan while Jordanian soldiers began training on blocking roads, preventing infiltration, putting areas near the frontier under close surveillance and establishing communication with Iraqis.
About 1,600 U.S. soldiers and officers have so far deployed in areas in northern Jordan and 800 others in southern areas. U.S. special operations units were monitoring Jordanian and Iraqi border areas.
The sources said the areas around al-Mafraq and Safawi on the frontier with Iraq had been selected as points from which to launch military operations against Iraq. Consequently, two military airports and special radar stations are to be equipped while bases for surface-to-air and surface-to-surface rocket batteries as well as a military hospital will be built.
Moreover, additional measures to protect Jordan from any infiltration will be adopted in the Jordan Valley that abuts Syria and Lebanon. They include installing Patriot missiles and deploying special units.
Meanwhile, the sources said the U.S. has been intensifying meetings with all Iraqi opposition groups, including Shi'i ones not on good terms with Washington. The last, analysts said, was apparently a reference to the Tehran-based Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.
The meetings focused on forming a temporary administration after the intervention.
The sources said the Iraqi opposition admitted that its attempts to secure the support of high-ranking Iraqi officers or the cooperation of highly influential tribal leaders have failed.
Thats the same question thats keepin Saddam awake every night.
Hardly surprising when you consider it's proximity to Scud Alley and the dangers that area has regarding attacks on Israel.
No man should have so much fun.
Notice this? :
Some 5,000 Jordanian soldiers, all of Jordanian rather than Palestinian descent and mostly from the Bani Hassan tribe, have been selected for special training and missions behind the lines.
Interesting.
That would be sweet.
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Lets Roll ! If you want to use this image feel free but the owner asked that a link be provided if it is used! |
Interesting.
Interesting, but not all that surprising in light of the fact that arafat and the PLO almost toppled King Hussein's regime during the "Black September" events of 1970. At that time US units were waiting the "go" signal if needed to snatch Hussein's chestnuts from the fire. It seems that everywhere that arafat has stayed, he has fouled his nest. Seems like a sensible and prudent precaution to me.
It is quite safe from Saddam's pitiful little band,an entire Legion of my best troops awaits them....
Jordan on the other hand, would be more of a normal trading partner who we do business with because we want to and on good faith. Oil is not an issue between Jordan and the US. Our relationship can be built on rational mutual interest and our patronage of their nation will be a big boost for them economically and politically as well. Jordanians, I believe, will come to like this new role of themselves as "powerbrokers" in ME affairs.
Saudi's influence will decline and eventually the radicals will take over there and reduce the country to a Pakistan/Afghanistan. They will gradually find themselves in the new position of being isolated from the world. As the radicals get more extreme and bellicose, they will get to see first hand how the Iraq treatment works when applied to them.
I think Bush is doing a brilliant job and his background in the oil bidness is definitely a plus. The lefties just don't understand how important- how vitally, strategically important oil and the uninterrupted flow of cheap energy to our country is- but Bush understands this all to well. What's he been doing since 9/11? Sorting out this infrastructure mess that was in the way of us being able to rely more on other sources of oil. Pipe lines are being built left and right, tankers are starting to flow and behind it all the architect that the historians will remember- George W Bush, a man his enemies consider too dumb to read a book. Poetic justice. Bush will probably go down as one of the greatest presidents of all time.
I think too, Bush is seeing Jordan as crucial in the whole Palestinian/Israeli situation and expects them to be bigger player in that as well. I think he already has something lined up there- but hasn't let slip yet what it is. He's a good poker player, keeps his cards close to his vest.
I see the next Iraqi war lasting weeks, not months.
The Saudi situation must be resolved, I think the way it plays out is that the Royal Family is reshuffled not replaced however. Prince Bandar, who is about the only pro Western member of the Royals is left in power. He is done so on a very, very short leash. He must be made to disolve the Wahabi death cult and close down the hate filled madrassas. It'll cause major heat for him, but we have his back and will be there to suppress any uprising.
This being done basically puts Syria in a box and out of the terrorist business if they know what's good for them. Lebanon once again becomes self governed and no longer a puppet of Syria. Israel's northern border becomes secure.
Iran is now in the unenviable spot of being surrounded. We already have bases in Turkey and now Afghanistan. The bases built in Iraq will have us able to project forces on three fronts. Combine that with the internal strife now going on and they ain't gonna do squat then.
Yeah, this is one of the best knock on effects of overthrowing Saddam and occupying Iraq for a while- we'll have Iran in the nutcracker. The best thing about Iran though is there is a sizable bit of the population that actually want reform and want the fundy religious ayatollahs out of their lives. I'd say once we've taken Iraq, we'll see a lot more action in that sector- maybe they even stage a popular revolt and drive their religious leaders out of power. Maybe that's wishful thinking but then again maybe not. Several times lately the Iranian public seemed close to boiling over.
After the invasion of Iraq which we all know is coming, I see us setting up bases in the present Northern and Southern no fly zones that will effectively keep both Iran and Syria in check. I think at that point we abandon our bases in Saudi also relieving some of the internal opposition to Bandar. He'll look like the hero when we leave. We'll work with people inside Iran to turn the present government out leaving only Syria to deal with. Once the Syrians see what going on all around them how long until they want their own taste of freedom?
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