BREAKING: SAUDIS MAY ASKING U.S. MILITARY TO LEAVE

Middle East Newsline ^ | October 17, 2001 | M.E.N.

[FresnoDA]

 

SAUDIS CONSIDER ASKING U.S. MILITARY TO LEAVE

LONDON [MENL] -- Saudi Arabia is quietly debating whether to end the U.S. military presence in the kingdom.

Western diplomatic sources said the Saudi royal family has not relayed any such intent to Washington. But the royal family has been examining the option of calling on U.S. forces to leave the kingdom to relieve the intense pressure by the Islamic opposition. Crown Prince Abdullah, the sources said, appears to favor such a call. The move is said to be opposed by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan, a rival to the throne.

An estimated 13,000 U.S. military personnel and support staff are deployed in eastern Saudi Arabia. The U.S. military also has the use of facilities in Dharan, Riyad and Taji for aircraft.

The military personnel is joined by another 30,000 American nationals, many of whom help train the Saudi military and work on weapons programs.

The sources said the Pentagon is aware of the debate within the Saudi ruling family. They said officials have been examining alternatives to the U.S. military presence in the kingdom.

The options could include Oman, regarded as Washington's most reliable ally in the Gulf. The United States could also transfer aircraft and installations to such countries as Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

The debate within the royal family is not meant to end the U.S.-Saudi alliance, the sources said. They said Riyad intends to maintain oil stability, a key interest of Washington.

[FresnoDA]

Oh yeah??? Oh Yeah??? Fine, we're out of here!!!

[Cool Guy]

I repeat, CAPTURE THE OIL FIELDS AND TELL THEM TO TEND TO CAMELS.

[thatsnotnice]

No, no, no, they don't get the picture. Welcome to the 51st state of the US. Plant the flag and take it.

[Recovering_Democrat]

...and yet, Democrats & liberals, by and large, continue to oppose energy independence for the USA.

[seeker41]

First we take out the Prince Sultan Command and Control Center WE built!!!!!!!!!!!Darn this makes me so ANGRY!

[DoughtyOne]

I would suggest that it would be strange if these types of discussions didn't take place. For crying out loud, why don't they start reporting every time someone in the royal family burps? That'd be about as noteworthy as this is.

[Dog]

I think we might back Prince Sultan..

Can you all say coup???

Lets just move the bases to Kuwait...

[StonyMan451]

NO!!! If we make them the 51st state, then we have to let them vote!

[The Duke]

BFD

[The Real Deal]

You are with us, or you are against us. You should be with us, unless your oil fields are fire proof. Oh, good, that's what I thought.

[McGavin999]

That's fine, we'll move out. Of course, the Saudis need to understand that we won't move back in when Iraq invades them.

[AndrewC]

No, no, no, they don't get the picture. Welcome to the 51st state of the US. Plant the flag and take it.

I suggest we leave, indicate our neutrality to an invasion by Saddam Hussein, and after he kicks the Saudi's posterior we repeat 1991.

[Praxeologue]

Sultan is older, pragmatic and honorable.

The Mullahs are getting to the young'uns.

[Golden Eagle]

"SAUDIS MAY ASKING U.S. MILITARY TO LEAVE"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. They wish.

[dead]

They will be overthrown by fundamentalists in a minute if we leave, and they know it. This article is a waste of time.

[damnlimey]

If you're not with us ,you're against us.
Anyway,what makes them think they have a choice?

[pgkdan]

I repeat, CAPTURE THE OIL FIELDS AND TELL THEM TO TEND TO CAMELS.

Sounds like a plan to me.

[AndrewC]

Are you a mind reader?