Saudis Plan to End U.S. Presence

The New York Times ^ | 02/08/2003 (for editions of 02/09/2003) | Patrick E. Tyler

[Republican Wildcat]

Looks like they want us to get rid of Saddam so they will no longer need our protection. That's the only reason they have wanted us to stay there all these years.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Great. I say we tell the Sauds: "Fine, we're out. And by the way, if we even smell a hint of your Wahabi whack jobs near our borders, we're coming in with both barrels. Have fun, Saudi Princes, keeping your insane subjects in line. See you in a month or two after they've destroyed a few of your palaces."

[B Knotts]

This sounds like a plan we would have suggested to them. The truth is, after we finish with Iraq, there is no reason to have any troops in Saudi Arabia. We can dismantle the bases and move them to Iraq where we will have permanent bases for decades.

Exactly right. I smell some "strategery" here.

[B Knotts]

I'm sure we'd like to have a base in SA for our military to use.

Sure we would, but I'm guessing that Bush is thinking that if we have bases in Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar, the freedom of movement pulling our Saudi presence would grant to the House of Saud might help to allow for the establishment of a more sane form of government there, and on balance, may be worth it.

It removes it as an issue for the extremists to use against the forces of modernization. To be sure, I have been a critic of the Saudi regime, but I see this as a positive move, and I'm almost certain that this has been OKd, if not intitiated, by the administration.

[B Knotts]

if they opened up to a democratic society while there was a strong US military presence, militant Islamics and nationalists could use that as a wedge to vote in anti-US/ anti-West candidates

I agree with this observation, and suspect the administration feels the same way.

[Dog Gone]

We had no bases in Saudi Arabia at the time Iraq invaded Kuwait. They were built in response.

Once Saddam is gone, there is no real need for them. I imagine our bases in Qatar and Iraq will remain, and that should be plenty to provide regional security.

[philman_36]

But these princes say Crown Prince Abdullah will ask President Bush to withdraw all American armed forces from the kingdom as soon as the campaign to disarm Iraq has concluded.
Time to leave behind some of that fancy military technology...

In 1998, the US Naval Research Laboratory identified a number of offensive uses of genetically engineered anti-material weapons. These include microbes that damage or destroy hydrocarbons, plastics, natural and synthetic rubber, metals, composite materials. Also included are microorganisms that produce small inclusion bodies of salts, metals, or plastic-like granules ("polyhydroxyalkanates") that can cause failure of machinery. These properties could be used to damage or destroy: (16)
Highways and runways, both cement and asphalt
Metal parts, coatings, and lubricants of weapons
Vehicles (including aircraft) and support equipment
Fuels, supplies, and replacement parts
High efficiency filters (through clogging)
Composites, paints and protective coatings, including "stealth" anti-radar coatings
Plastics, including body armor

Who says we can't take what we built...(of not allowing the U.S. use of the highly sophisticated Prince Sultan air base (built by the U.S.) as a key command-and-control center in the war in Afghanistan.) with us when we leave.
I wouldn't leave anything behind, except for those little microscopic bugs. A good use of my tax dollars!

[YaYa123]

Fine with me, in fact probably a good end game strategy, after Saddam joins the probably already departed Osama. But this is a bit uppity: "they[Saudis] noted that the [US]soldiers could return if the Saudi rulers faced a new threat."

Don't hold your breath Sheikie Poo. Your only new threat would come from the terrorists you spawned. Deal with em yourself.

[Stopislamnow]

The whole point of invading Iraq, aside from freeing the people, securing free flow of oil, killing Saddam, is a place from which to kick the shi'ite outta the saudis.

Saudi hands are filthy from 9-11. They will pay.

[Brian Allen]

<< Saudis Plan to End U.S. Presence >>

Dipshits.

Don't they get it yet?

They're next!

Those Evil bastards don't get to "plan" nuthin' no more! NEVER!

[Brian Allen]

<< Saudi hands are filthy from 9-11. They will pay. >>

Absolutely.

And just wait until the FRee Iraqis get a go at them. At the Iraqis' loathed and detested saudi "donkeys!"

And wait and see what the Outhouse of Saud's own poor-bastard slaves do to them when they see what a little FReedom does for Iraq's very many very very very fine People!!!

I can feel some FReedom comin' on!

[DeuceTraveler]

It would be nice, but I think democracy in Saudi Arabia is a pipe dream for now. There is a larger chance of it becoming another Iran than a Turkey. Give us about a decade or two in the new democratic Iraq and maybe that will change.

[A CA Guy]

There is no freedom there, how does this qualify as a CONSERVATIVE kingdom?