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.

[Ole Okie]

Somebody better wake up Bush 2, he still thinks the Saudis have our back.

I would guess that Bush's antennae are orders of magnitude more finely tuned than ours could ever be.

[The Vast Right Wing]

Yes, We can enter Iraq through Turkey, a NATO member. We my guess is that after we have amassed our troops we could take over Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and the whole arabian penninsula in a matter of day's. One thing about the Arabs, then don't know how to fight. How do you think Israel kicks their a$$ when the ratio of Israeli's to Arab's is 1 to 10? They are all a bunch of punks and we could kick their butts in about 3 days.

[Straight Vermonter]

The only thing I would wish is that the Saudi's would foot the bill for the military installations that we built.

They paid every penny of the cost for these facilities and U.S. contractors got rich building them.

[laureldrive]

There sure are a lot of posters on freerepublic who seem to salivate at the prospect of US getting into a big war that kills a lot of people (including, inevitably, a lot of Americans). I assume all these war-whoopers are middle-aged with kids also over draft age, and have their money out of stocks and bonds.

I'm glad W doesn't seem as eager to get into a big wide war with the Muslim world.

Guess I'm with W. Unless absolutely necessary - and I haven't been persuaded that it is - - I'd just as soon put WW III off, thank you.

[Paradox]

I say good riddance... those forces are needed elsewhere.

[classygreeneyedblonde]

I think Saudia Arabia is hiding something .....they have been acting funny for along time...

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Dear Sadamn,

We were going to bomb you into oblivion, however in light of recent events, we'd like to offer a trade. You can have those rich s.o.b.'s to the south of you and Mecca and Medina as long as our unleaded gas prices remain at 75 cents per gallon for the next 20 years.

Sincerely,

The Citizens of America

[CELTICGAEL (Celt)]

My son-in-law said that Saudi is one place he never wants to go back to. He said if has to go back (still on alert)he would like to go to Bahrain.

[TheLooseThread]

I'm tired of sending my money to the Saudis, so that they can pass some along to Osama.

Here's what I did:

Prius

I'm able to get 65 mpg.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I'm beginning to like my dad's idea more and more.

Import no more oil.
Drill everywhere necessary in the states.
Sell no more food to Arab countries.
Run automobiles on ethanol.
Let the Saudi royals pour crude oil on their cereal.

[Yankee]

To paraphrase Churchill:

"We were given a choice, Holy War or Coalition. We chose Coalition. We will get Holy War".

[ecomcon]

Sultan is older, pragmatic and honorable.

At first I though it said, Satan is older....

[FresnoDA]

O.K. Deal!!! Saddam!

[laureldrive]

When the Philippines asked us to leave - - - stupidly, they now realize - - did any of you war whoopers call for bombing MAnila?

[Eala]

You might find a reason for this debate over here on the Fre Republic site:

ANNALS OF NATIONAL SECURITY:King's Ransom

[Dog Gone]

Who is Middle East News Line? This is an analysis piece, not a news item, and I'm always curious who is doing the analyzing.

[FITZ]

If the only reason we are leaving all these Midde East students here is to stay in good with Saudi, maybe it's time we get out of Saudi and start the deportations immediately. We'd all be safer with them gone.

[DoughtyOne]

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