Posted on 10/25/2001 3:58:40 PM PDT by kattracks
WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (AFP) -
Bahrain's crown prince Thursday pledged unreserved support for the US-led war on terrorism afer meeting with President George W. Bush, who plans to name the small Gulf state a "major non-NATO ally."
"We stand ready to aid and assist in any way that we can," declared Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, who said strikes on Afghanistan's Taliban rulers should go on "until the mission is complete."
After the 15-20 minute meeting, White House national security spokesman Sean McCormack said Bush would designate Bahrain just the third Arab state to enjoy the special status, which opens the door for increased economic and military cooperation. The others are Egypt and Jordan.
"Bahrain has shown itself to be a viable and steadfast ally of the US, and US and Bahraini cooperation has been one of the principal bulwarks of security and stability in the Persian Gulf," said McCormack.
Bush ordered attacks on the Taliban for refusing to hand over Osama bin Laden, the Saudi-born extremist Washington blames for September 11 terror strikes that razed the World Trade Center and left a hole in the Pentagon.
Washington has since struggled to convince the Muslim world, where frequently violent anti-US protests erupted after the bombs started falling, that its quarrel is with terrorists, not with Islam.
Echoing Bush's frequent public appeals, the crown prince insisted, "We need to understand that Islam is not a religion of terrorism, and we underscore that this is not a war against Islam."
"We would of course like to see the conflict resolved as quickly as possible from a humanitarian concern," he said, after errant US ordnance claimed civilian lives.
"But what we must understand is that the US was attacked, and there are 5,000 people who demand justice under the World Trade Center and the attack should continue until the mission is complete,he said.
The crown prince, the son of Bahrain's emir, seemed to downplay Muslim concerns that Washington suspend its campaign during the fasting Muslim holy month of Ramadan, noting: "Wars have been fought during Ramadan in the past."
Bush also discussed the Middle East peace process with the crown prince, who said Israeli incursions into Palestinian territories were "not helpful" and that it was important to put "pressure on all sides to make peace."
"The White House has been doing its utmost to bring this conflict to resolution but it is up to both sides to come up with the solution," said the Bahraini prince.
"I think the White House is wise to work with the actors involved to achieve that in a manner which is sustainable," he said.
Dilmun= Bahrain= the Garden of the Gulf.
The Bahraini Border dispute _ settled by the World Court. This is the way Arabs LIKE to settle things and that includes the Palestinians.
Have you ever been to the Middle East or are you like those less educated Arabs who can be swayed by stupid but inflammatory rhetoric?
Sort of like the same idiot crowd who believes the garbage in the Elders of Zion or that Allah is a moon god.
I do not think the Saudis will let us use their air bases like they did in the Gulf War, but it sure sounds like Bahrain will. And the prince doesn't seem to mind if we do it during Ramadan!
Here's to an all-out blitz on Al Qaeda and the Taliban so we can move into phase two soon.
Some things are seen on CNN. Other stuff is is quietly hidden from the media.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.