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Yes, it's quite different than the others which said that Saudi Arabia was seeking to interrogate the prisoners, something which could be considered if the conditions were right, i.e., under our supervision.

If this report is accurate, it's a stupid demand which will be rejected. They know that, because it's completely unreasonable. This wouldn't be how they would be going about trying to secure custody of some of the terrorists.

That means, either this report is wrong, or the Saudis are trying to provoke a showdown between the countries as a pretext for having American troops leave the country.

As much as I hate CBS, I can't imagine that they made up this quote (although it could have easily been lifted out of context). If this isn't clarified, I think it means a definite chill in US/Saudi relations is coming, and at the Saudi's insistence.

Here is a second source!!!!

DEBKAfile
Wednesday, January 30, 2002

HEADLINES

DEBKAfile Special Analysis:

Saudi Arabia Demands US Hand over 100 Nationals
Captured in Afghan War in al Qaeda and Taliban Ranks
President Bush Promises Case-to-Case Consideration

That means, either this report is wrong, or the Saudis are trying to provoke a showdown between the countries as a pretext for having American troops leave the country.

It means the Saudi's are worried about haj. So they put this out for public consumption in the hope that the 2 million diaper heads heading to Mecca, don't stop off at the Royal palaces for a visit.

That means, either this report is wrong, or the Saudis are trying to provoke a showdown between the countries as a pretext for having American troops leave the country.

Obviously, a lot is going on behind the scenes. The Saudi's have not done all we wanted in the war on terror, and we are applying pressure to change that. We raised the stakes when we publicly changed the off-base attire rules for female members of the military.

I do not know what the behind the scenes response was, but this could easily be the public portion of the Saudi response to our demands.

If so, they are sending us the message that either we back off, or they will demand we withdraw. In other words, they are laying the foundation to call our bluff.

If we are bluffing, we will back down and keep our base (for now, anyway). If we do not back down (i.e., we are not bluffing), the Saudis will either back down, or ask us to leave. (I do not think we would stay after being publicly told to leave.)

I am confident that we are not bluffing. Therefore, the Saudis have a decision to make: back down, or ask us to leave. Given the internal situation in Saudi Arabia, my bet is that they ask us to leave.

We live in interesting times (which is, BTW, an ancient Chinese curse...).