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Whaddya think? ....

U.S. issues warnings for Kuwait, Saudi
By Eli J. Lake
UPI State Department Correspondent
From the International Desk
Published 1/30/2003 7:40 PM
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- The State Department Thursday advised all U.S. citizens in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to consider departing, and offered staff family members at the consulates and embassies in the two countries a free ticket home.

Two separate travel warnings with nearly identical language site only "increased security concerns," as the reason for the decision to recommend departure.

They follow a worldwide cable last week to all U.S. diplomatic posts overseas which advised U.S. citizens to leave "given the potential for acts of violence, terrorism, or anti-American demonstrations."

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have both allowed the U.S. military to use bases in their respective countries for operations against Iraq, though in the case of Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan Air Force base can not be used for tactical bombings or air missions of an offensive nature.

At the same time, the Saudis in particular have said publicly they would only support a war against Iraq if approved by the United Nations. The Saudi foreign minister met with President Bush Thursday, amid recent speculation that Saudi Arabia or another Arab country may host Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in exile.

Copyright © 2001-2003 United Press International

Notable, IMO, this comes after FMFaisal met with Powell today.