Saudi Arabia Said to Assure U.S. on Use of Bases

The New York Times (Sunday Edition) ^ | 29 Decenber 2002 | ERIC SCHMITT

[advocate10]

Saudi Arabia Said to Assure U.S. on Use of Bases

By ERIC SCHMITT

ASHINGTON, Dec. 28 — Saudi Arabia has told American military officials that the kingdom would make its airspace, air bases and an important operations center available to the United States in the event of war with Iraq, senior military officials say.

Saudi Arabia was the main staging area for American forces in the 1991 Persian Gulf war, but conflicting public statements by top Saudi officials over the past several months have cast doubt on Saudi Arabia's support for military operations against Iraq this time around.

American commanders now say they have been given private assurances in recent weeks that they will be allowed to run an air war against Iraq from a sophisticated command center at Prince Sultan Air Base outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital. It is the same command post that ran the air campaign in Afghanistan.

Because of its nearness to Iraq and large, modern facilities like the Prince Sultan base, Saudi Arabia offers crucial advantages as a staging area for military operations. But because of uncertainty about Saudi cooperation, the Pentagon proceeded with plans to build an alternate air command post in Qatar, where the overall American command for Iraqi operations will be headquartered.

American commanders now say allied refueling, reconnaissance, surveillance and cargo planes will be allowed to fly from Saudi bases, using Saudi airspace on the way to missions in or near Iraq. And these officials are expressing confidence that the Saudis will ultimately allow attack missions, which are more politically sensitive, to be flown from their soil.

In a significant sign of the new cooperation, Saudi officials over the past two months have quietly permitted American warplanes based in the kingdom to bomb targets in southern Iraq in response to Iraqi violations of the no-flight zone there. Previously, those missions were flown out of Kuwait.

"I firmly believe the Saudis will give us all the cooperation we need, and every indication I have is we're getting pretty much what we've asked for," Gen. John P. Jumper, the Air Force chief of staff, said in an interview.

Officials in Riyadh and Washington continue to pursue delicate talks on the precise details of any Saudi support. But American officials say that all the Pentagon's requests are now on the table, even the use of Saudi ports and bases for small numbers of American and coalition ground troops.

"It's all an open question," said Senator Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee who traveled to Saudi Arabia this month. Mr. Hagel said the broadest Saudi cooperation hinged on another United Nations Security Council resolution supporting the use of force to disarm Iraq.

"If we stay close to the U.N. and give countries like Saudi Arabia the political cover they need, yes," Mr. Hagel said in a telephone interview. "If the U.S. veers off course and moves toward a unilateral position with the Brits, then that puts those Arab governments in a very difficult spot."

American officials and Middle East experts attribute the improved Saudi cooperation to several factors. As President Bush appears to move closer to ordering an attack against Iraq, Saudi officials do not want to cross a strategic ally at a pivotal time in the countries' relationship.

"They've been longtime strategic partners with the United States," Gen. Richard B. Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during a visit to the Persian Gulf this week.

But more broadly, Saudi officials are trying to repair the damage in American-Saudi relations stemming in part from the fact that 15 of the 19 hijackers in the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States were Saudis. And Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Washington and his wife have been pressed to explain how payments she made to the ailing Jordanian wife of a Saudi man ended up in the hands of two Saudi men who have been under scrutiny for their close ties to hijackers in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Publicly, Saudi officials remain noncommittal about allowing their territory to be used as a staging area for war against Iraq.

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[dennisw]

Osama Bin Laden will be REALLY STEAMED.

[advocate10]

NYTimes Sunday Edition

[cardinal4]

W must have shown the Saudis something that the rest of the world doesnt know. Like an attack on the Kingdom if Iraq starts to lose maybe?

[Momaw Nadon]

And these officials are expressing confidence that the Saudis will ultimately allow attack missions, which are more politically sensitive, to be flown from their soil.

Attack on Iraq Betting Pool

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

I don't believe a word printed in the New York Times.

[Rome2000]

Treacherous raghead scum are notoriously untrustworthy and will doublecross and betray anybody who gets in their way.

Their is no concept of honor in Islam.

It actually says in the Koran that it is ok to lie to infidels.

The Saudi PR men have told the ragheads that this is the only hope they have to avoid being annihlilated.

It's not going to work.

19 of 21 OF THE 911 HIJACKERS WERE SAUDI ARABIAN.

They will pay.

[Slings and Arrows]

All our base are belong to us.

FReegards,
Slings and Arrows

[sheik yerbouty]

The note on their treachery is coming due.

[Vigilanteman]

This gesture is very much appreciated. And in return we will not detonate a thermoneculear device above their shrine to the Moon God.

[guitfiddlist]

Saudi Arabia has told American military officials that the kingdom would make its airspace, air bases and an important operations center available to the United States in the event of war with Iraq, senior military officials say.

Publicly, Saudi officials remain noncommittal about allowing their territory to be used as a staging area for war against Iraq.

We'll just keep staring at them until they also agree to the latter, as well as free rent to the widow - and the dog stays. They'll soon figure out you don't trifle with the Don.

[livis_dad]

Hmmmm, what was the cause for the sudden turn of approval?
Maybe the message that we are serious about Iraq and it's policies, and the Saudis don't want to be a future target. Thanks Qatar for the sudden turn of Saudi rational.

Next, North Korea....

[Maynerd]

""If we stay close to the U.N. and give countries like Saudi Arabia the political cover they need, yes," Mr. Hagel said in a telephone interview. "If the U.S. veers off course and moves toward a unilateral position with the Brits, then that puts those Arab governments in a very difficult spot.""

Senator Hagel - John McCain wannabee suckup to the NYT's. I am getting tired of this guy.

[TheLooseThread]

From one of our "friend"'s web sites (arabnews.com):

[Happy2BMe]

"Publicly, Saudi officials remain noncommittal about allowing their territory to be used as a staging area for war against Iraq."

Publicly, the Saudis have no choice but to remain distant.

Privately, they know they are toast if their military alliance with the U.S. disintegrates.

This is a good thing, and I'm glad the U.S. played it like it did so as to allow our already hard-fought battles and work to remain undamaged in Saudi.

We need those ties, and they need us.

Hopefully, no more saudi ragheads try anything stupid here in the U.S. and the state department doesn't go back to the pre-9/11 weak visa screenig policies.

[Happy2BMe]

"From one of our "friend"'s web sites (arabnews.com)"

We Will Never Forget

You Can Count On It!

[Happy2BMe]

BTT just cuz.

[Puck from Michigan]

Maybe they have realized that the country that can guard their interests (and oil fields) can also take them. Especially in light of the fact that so many of the 9-11 murderers were from S.A. W must be talking tough behind the scenes.

[Yak]

To me it seems the Saudis are just dragging their heels and giving us something we may not need anymore to claim they are supporting us . . . we already moved or Command & Control center to Quatar, didn't we? We could have used this "gesture" 4 months ago. With Quatar on board, it seems much less important.