US Moves Equipment From Saudi Base to Qatar

Saudi Information Agency and STRATFOR Military/Strategic Forcasting ^ | March 19, 2002 02:40 Greenwich Mean Time | Situation Report Staff

[codebreaker]

U.S. military forces are moving out of Sultan Air Base Saudi Arabia, according to an unconfirmed report from the Saudi Information Agency, a Washington D.C. based dissident group.

The equipment is allegedly being moved to a military base in neigboring Qatar, which also hosts U.S. forces.

The report comes after a Washington Post story in January that quoted an unnamed Saudi embassy official as saying the kingdom would ask Washington to move its forces out.

If true, the move may be related to a possible military campaign against Iraq.

[Mixer]

I love surprises on Saddam

I woiuld love to see the look on his face when he finds out we have envaded his country and toppled his regime.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

...all the signs are that we are moving in the direction of the Great Showdown. Late April? Late May?

All signs point to either the April 12th or May 12th.

[A Navy Vet]

"The United States is the only world super-power and thus the country in a "adult" role in a world full of squabbling dictators, backwards dungheaps, and effeminate leftist losers. What is good for America is good for the world because the American way works better than anything else in this world."

Therein lies the macro view of reality. Well said.

[A Navy Vet]

"I don't see how one attack by a fringe terrorist group, regardless of how terrible that attack was, gives our government justification to to whatever it pleases."

I think you're underestimating the size, the complexity, and the determination of this fringe group. The Al-Queda network, and affiated organizations, exist in dozens of countries around the world. This is no small drug mafia ring or domestic separatist-inspired group. We're dealing with a growing fanaticism with the resources and desire to wreck havoc on civilization. We can't fight this within just our own borders. The time has come to clean out the rat's nests the entire world knows exist before they get their hands on weapons of mass destruction.

[ridensm]

I suppose you would have been a pacifist in WWII after Pearl Harbor too.

Slightly different circumstances. I am not a pacifist. I do have concerns when my government tells me this war may go on forever, there are no clear objectives, there is no exit plan, no criteria for success, we may utilize first strike nuclear capability, and our intelligence community seems to be lacking the ability to do what it should be doing in the first place. Most of this used to be a major plank of the conservative section of the republican platform. Where did you jump off?

[ridensm]

We get to protect our citizens, most of the terrorist who flew the planes into the Pentagon, WTC and the field in PA were Saudi's. Al Qeada's financing comes primarily from Saudi Arabia, They finance the madras's in Pakistan which deployed forces against the US in Afganistan, they also fund Mosque's in the US and around the world that promote the Wahhibi sect of Islan which promotes the most virulent form of Anti Americanism.

Explain to me then why we're talking about Iraq instead of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan? Oh yeah, they must be next. According to the commercials I see I thought Al Qeada got it's money from drugs anyway.

[aimlow]

What is your solution?

[blam]

"Sometimes, the unpleasant use of force is the only language that get's the point across: Don't mess with America."

I like it when you talk like that.

[ridensm]

You sound like you have someone in mind?? Pray tell.

There is information and a probability Roosevelt knew about Pearl Harbor before it happened, there is information and a probability the Gulf of Tonkin was a set up. I'm not so familiar with WWI or Korea. I'm not making any accusations and have absolutely no information to do so but I am just looking at the track record of our government.

After spending years and countless sleepless nights going through congressional records, court decisions, and every bit of information I could get my hands on, cross referencing and verifying, I came to the conclusion we are heading toward a socialist state with complete control by the government and any last shreds of our Constitution being completely ignored.

At that time, a couple of years ago now, I commented to a friend that all is needed is large terrorist strike and continuing threats to put the final pieces in place.

For those who may be given to the thoughts that powerful people desire a one world government I said two things need to happen; 1) Americans needs to be subdued as in above, and 2) the religious extremists of the world need to be subdued. As events play out I see all of this coming together and have to wonder. But I really know nothing except that I don't trust the government we have in place no matter what the letter behind the current presidents name is and I admit I worry about the future my children will grow up in.

[ridensm]

That I question a government and it's intentions that has shown little or no reason for me to trust it means I belong with the Moore's and Baldwin's of the world?

I love the America our Founders created. We are a long way from that.

[ridensm]

Can you say imperialism? I thought you could.

[ridensm]

Thank you for sharing your reasoned and informed response. Sounds almost identical to the Muslim/Arab view of the world. You are obviously up to speed on the nature of the problem. Do you order your blackjacks through the mail?

I didn't make any threats to you. I just think you're the kind of person who thinks he's awful tough when you have absolutely no chance of needing to be. You also seem to possess the liberal tendency of believing you know what another person thinks, knows there motivations, and likes to put words in their mouths.

[Southack]

"I love the America our Founders created. We are a long way from that." - ridensm

Yes and no.

Taxes are higher, there are more rules to follow, and government is larger, I grant you.

But gold is legal to buy and own again now. Segregation and slavery are dead. Women can't be discriminated against (re: pay, employment). Women have the vote. Alcohol is legal to buy and consume again. Roads are better. Medicine is better. Technology is better. Credit access is better. There was a time in America where you "sold" yourself as an indentured servant for decades in order to learn a trade and possibly own your own business, but now you can get an SBA loan for starting your business and get a scholarship for your education/trade.

Our military is much more capable of dealing with foreign threats, too.

We can roll back regulations, repeal bad laws, and shrink the size of our government if we really want to. I wouldn't trade all of the above improvements just for a smaller government or lower taxes (although I want both).

Consider carefully when you claim that America is worse off today than 226 years ago. Blacks aren't in chains and women aren't forbidden from voting. Do you really want to go back to that?!

[Robert_Paulson2]

Sounds ominous... We decide who gets to do what, where they do it, and how they do it? And anyone who doesn't listen to us gets hit with our big stick?

Uh... yes?

You have a gift for writing great summary rhetorical questions dude!

[Robert_Paulson2]

I think perhaps the "women voting" part is up for debate...

[ridensm]

What is your solution?

Remasculate our intelligence services and dark ops. Stop playing the PC game. Go after terrorists where they live in the dark cracks of the world. Infiltrate, gain knowledge, asassinate, track the money and act accordingly to stop it and punish the source, confuse, propagandize them not us.

In essence, fight terrorism on its own terms. If you ask me going in and bombing every country we think has anything to do with terrorism has to have an ulterior purpose. It isn't that effective, think about it. These guys hide, regroup and come again. We've heard it over and over again in Afghanistan. Pretty soon we won't be hearing that kind of information anymore but it will still be going on. How much safer do you feel now? How safer do you think you'll feel after we bomb Iraq? How about the country after that? Or that?

[Southack]

"How much safer do you feel now? How safer do you think you'll feel after we bomb Iraq? How about the country after that? Or that?" - ridensm

I think it's pretty safe to say that the world felt safer after we smashed Imperial Japan and NAZI Germany into bite-sized pieces.

Apparently a few more countries need similar treatment. They'll suddenly get rather clever, however, once they see what Hell we are prepared to unleash.

September 11th was NOT an intelligence failure, contrary to what the press would tell you. No, you can't know everything about everybody.

But you can deter people from bad behavior. September 11th WAS a failure of deterrence.

That mistake won't be made again, and the lesson being taught to rogue groups around the world won't soon be forgotten, either...

[ridensm]

Consider carefully when you claim that America is worse off today than 226 years ago. Blacks aren't in chains and women aren't forbidden from voting. Do you really want to go back to that?!

I was talking about the corruption and power of our government. Few would want to see slaves again or women treated as chattel. You are speaking of the social progress we've made as a people. Yeah the government might have had some small part in it and codified some of it into laws but the social movement was well on its way without government. It doesn't make sense to compare apples to oranges or social progress to justify government largesse. As for our military capabilty, one of the things I fear with so mighty a military is imperialism and if you read most of the posts on this thread the people are heartily supporting such a future for America. I don't.

[ridensm]

But you can deter people from bad behavior. September 11th WAS a failure of deterrence.

Deterrence is effective for countries but that isn't what we're talking about here is it. We're talking about terrorists and like I said, they hide, regroup, and plan. Intelligence and black ops should be the way to fight them and if we hadn't emasculated these forces through PC BS and years of clintonism we might have assassinated the appropriate people before they became a problem.

[Southack]

"As for our military capabilty, one of the things I fear with so mighty a military is imperialism and if you read most of the posts on this thread the people are heartily supporting such a future for America. I don't." - ridensm

"Imperialism" would mean that our military would be taking land away from other nations.

No one is advocating that action.

What people are advocating is punishing evil nations as well as setting a strong example to deter future attacks on us. Many evil people can only be reasoned with through overwhelming force.

Fortunately, the U.S. has such might. Take our military and technology away from us, give it to the Middle-Eastern nation(s) of your choice, and the world would be an evil place, indeed.

No, that's just not going to happen.