SAUDIS CONSIDER PAKISTAN STRATEGIC ALLY

MENL | 10.24.2002

[swarthyguy]

ABU DHABI [MENL] -- Saudi Arabia is quietly examining the prospect of raising the level of its strategic relations with Pakistan.

Saudi Arabia has accelerated talks with Islamabad for the purchase of Pakistani weapons as well as joint military and strategic projects. Riyad also seeks to exploit Pakistani's expertise in missiles and weapons of mass destruction.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have already developed an array of defense and military relations. But Gulf defense sources said the discussions in Riyad to expand strategic ties reflect the kingdom's concerns over its deteriorating relations with the United States.

The sources said Saudi Arabia plans to purchase a range of conventional weapons and platforms from Pakistan over the next year. They include the SuperMashak air trainer as well as munitions and bombs.

[swarthyguy]

Riyad also seeks to exploit Pakistani's expertise in missiles and weapons of mass destruction.

Ha, ha ha! This should be prove interesting.

[Deep_6]

Re:
"....Gulf defense sources said the discussions in Riyad to expand strategic ties
reflect the kingdom's concerns over its deteriorating relations with the United States......"

Somehow, I can't find humor in this. I'll wager the democrats will find votes
out of it, however.

[mikeIII]

Now, how does that saying go "my friend's friend is my -". Oh, never mind!

[LaGrone]

The Saudi's are more culpable than any other country in the mideast for radical Islam. I hope someday soon we get to even the score with these back-stabbers.

[swarthyguy]

I second your emotion. Won't happen soon enough.

[formosaplastics]

America doesn't want to be Saudi Arabia's friend anymore, so oil-hungry China will gladly step in. After all, America's SUV's can now run on the hot gases of neo-conservative farts alone.

[swarthyguy]

Don't think its America that doesn't want to be friends.

America, for the past 1 year, has bent over backwards to accomodate the Saudis and not call them on their duplicitous treachery. It's not about us not wanting to be friends, its how can we be friends with such backstabbling schmucks. And how to extricate ourselves from the Gordian knot of 500Billion+ dollars worth of saudi investment in the country.

As far as SUV's, i don't know what the big deal is; our alternative oil supplies have been secured - Russia, Angola ( no more Savimbi - UNITA has disarmed ) and if we get the situation in Venezuela set up to our liking, we got the oil.

I still say Attack Saudi first, occupy their working oilfields, and spark a boom in the USA based on cheaper gas. But the Bushies won't do that because of financial and emotional ties to the tragic kingdom. But hey, Iraq's a start and once that happens, everything changes.