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| Saudis: Don't Attack Iraq From Here |
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| Red |
| 08/07/02 at 15:08:18 |
| Saudis: Don't Attack Iraq From Here Wed Aug 7,11:39 AM ET By DONNA ABU-NASR, Associated Press Writer Yahoo http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&ncid=716&e=4&u=/ap/20020807/ap_on_re_mi_ea/saudi_us_4 Saudi Arabia has made clear to Washington — publicly and privately — that the U.S. military will not be allowed to use the kingdom's soil in any way for an attack on Iraq, Foreign Minister Prince Saud said Wednesday. Saud said in an interview with The Associated Press that his country opposes any U.S. operation against Iraq "because we believe it is not needed, especially now that Iraq is moving to implement United Nations ( news - web sites) resolutions." "We have told them we don't (want) them to use Saudi grounds" for any attack on Iraq, he said. With speculation building about possible U.S. military action. Iraq last week invited U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix to Baghdad for talks that could lead to a resumption of the inspections after more than 3 years. President Bush ( news - web sites) has said he is committed to a regime change in Iraq, and Washington has dismissed the Blix invitation as a ploy. In a letter replying to the Iraqi offer, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan ( news - web sites) told Baghdad it must accept the Security Council's terms for the return of weapons inspectors. Under U.N. Security Council resolutions, sanctions imposed after Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait cannot be lifted until U.N. inspectors certify that Iraq's biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons have been destroyed along with the long-range missiles to deliver them. The United States reportedly has quietly moved munitions, equipment and communications gear to the al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar from Saudi Arabia in recent months, concerned the kingdom would not lend its full support to military action. Arab nations uniformly have come out against a U.S. military campaign to oust Saddam Hussein ( news - web sites), even though there is little love regionally for the Iraqi leader. Most Arab nations joined the U.S.-led Gulf War ( news - web sites) coalition that liberated Kuwait in 1991, with Saudi Arabia inviting U.S. troops to the oil-rich kingdom to help defend it against Saddam's forces. On Wednesday, Saud denied any speculation that Saudi Arabia might privately support action to remove Saddam despite its public opposition. He said the private line to Washington was no different from the public remarks: "We couldn't have made our position more clear, our leaders have said this and everybody responsible in the kingdom has said this." "For the government of Iraq, the leadership of Iraq, any change that happens there has to come from the Iraqi people. This is our attitude," Saud said. Opposition to U.S. action against Iraq has also been growing more vocal in Europe. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder this week came out against an attack. In an interview published Wednesday, he said military action would wreck the international coalition, throw the Mideast into turmoil and hurt the economy. A government minister in Britain, a country seen as Bush's strongest supporter against Iraq, suggested Baghdad's gesture to readmit inspectors could make military action unnecessary. While getting rid of Saddam is desired, "what is important is that we focus on getting the inspectors in and we make sure that the threat of weapons of mass destruction is dealt with," Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien said. Meanwhile, the prince dismissed a flap over a briefing at the Pentagon ( news - web sites) at which an analyst accused Saudi Arabia of supporting terrorism and recommended to a policy group that Washington hand the kingdom an ultimatum. U.S. officials have since distanced themselves from the comments by the analyst from the Rand think tank — but it revived sharp criticism of Saudi Arabia, which some U.S. officials say has not done enough against terrorism. Asked about the criticism, Saud said there were "individuals who have their opinions about Saudi Arabia. We think they are based on false assumptions and on untruths in most instances." He said his country's 70-year-old relations with Washington remain solid. "From our part and from the talks that we have had in the administration ... we have seen no change in attitude toward Saudi Arabia," the prince said. |
| Re: Saudis: Don't Attack Iraq From Here |
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| muqaddar |
| 08/07/02 at 15:16:05 |
| [slm] I am willing to guarantee that it will emerge after the event that not only did the saudi's allow their country to be used they actually took part in it themselves |
| Re: Saudis: Don't Attack Iraq From Here |
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| Kareema_Abdul-Khab |
| 08/08/02 at 03:59:01 |
| I don't know about that taking part in it themselves, they don't seem to be very willing to risk any of their own resources? And are they really noted for bravery in any manner? I think not. |
| Europe, U.S. divided over Iraq |
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| bhaloo |
| 08/08/02 at 09:06:54 |
| [slm] Europe, U.S. divided over Iraq August 6, 2002 Posted: 1803 GMT By CNN European Political Editor Robin Oakley LONDON, England (CNN) -- U.S. determination to achieve a "regime change" in Iraq -- and President George W. Bush's apparent readiness to invade Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein -- is splintering relations between Washington and European capitals. It is also dividing Europe. Opening his campaign for re-election, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Monday provided the sharpest rejection yet of the Bush line. After Schroeder met recently with President Jacques Chirac of France, the two leaders insisted there must not be any invasion of Iraq without a clear new U.N. mandate. That had been a common line within the European Union. But now Schroeder has gone further. Germany had willingly backed the fight against international terrorism, he said in Hanover, because "the security of our partners is also our security." "But we say this with equal self-confidence," Schroeder continued. "We're not available for adventures, and the time for chequebook diplomacy is over once and for all. "I can only warn against playing around with war and military intervention," he emphasised. "We won't get involved in this." The message was clear: If Schroeder and the SPD are re-elected, Germany would neither participate in military action nor, as it did at the time of the Gulf War, provide funds for others while keeping its troops at home. In part, Schroeder's words were a political calculation. Entering his re-election campaign having failed to meet his promise to cut unemployment, he needs a diversion from economic issues. According to a recent opinion poll, 84 percent of Germans oppose their country's involvement in military action against Iraq. But with the anti-Iraq rhetoric being stepped up and some analysts believing that action could be imminent, Schroeder would be in a difficult position if the United States invaded before September 22 -- Germany's election day. Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer also has firmly rejected any German involvement in action against Iraq. Fischer is a leader of the Greens, who are in coalition with Schroeder's SPD. The CDU-CSU opposition are playing things more cautiously. They condemn Schroeder for isolating Europe from America but say that no decision has to be made yet on German participation in any attack on Iraq. French reservations Across the rest of the EU it is a mixed picture, with many leaders insisting that the priority is not Saddam Hussein but a greater effort to find some formula for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. New French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin linked pressure on Iraq with the search for Mideast peace Lawmakers in many countries have expressed fears that an attack on Iraq would radicalise many more Muslims, create desperate instability across the region -- toppling some existing regimes -- and imperil oil supplies at a time when the world economy is rocky enough. France also has indicated its reservations, putting the emphasis on a return of U.N. weapons inspectors to Iraq. Like many European capitals, Paris wants to see every possible effort expended through the U.N. machinery before a recourse to war is contemplated. But diplomats say it is not impossible that France would come around to backing military action at the end of the day. Dominique de Villepin, the new French foreign minister, has said: "The more we put pressure on the Iraqi regime, the more we have to research on peace in the Middle East." Among the most hawkish of EU leaders has been Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar of Spain, who strongly backed Bush's "axis of evil" speech. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who also serves as foreign minister, is expected to back U.S. action -- although Defence Minister Antonio Martino has said participation of Italian troops would depend on "incontrovertible proof" about Iraq's war programmes. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has been Bush's most openly supportive European ally so far, insisting that Saddam Hussein's development of weapons of mass destruction cannot be left unchecked. But Blair has yet to produce the dossier of evidence on Saddam's weapons accumulation which he promised months ago. Senior MPs are urging Blair to recall Parliament for debate on the Iraq question, and there have been hints lately that Blair wants a greater effort from the U.S. in the Middle East peace process as the price of his support. Rowan Williams, the next leader of the Anglican Church, is opposed to any attack on Iraq Blair is under great pressure to rein back his enthusiasm for supporting Bush against Iraq. More than 130 of his Labour Party MPs have signed a motion opposing such action, and resignations from his government could well follow if he authorises military participation with the United States. The next Archbishop of Canterbury and head of the Anglican Church, Rowan Williams, has signed a petition to Blair calling such an attack "immoral and illegal." Also opposed are former ministers from both major parties, including former defence secretary Lord Healey and former chief of the defence staff Lord Bramall. Signs that Blair may be wavering came after King Abdullah of Jordan, en route to Washington, stopped in London for a meeting with Blair. In the U.S. capital, the king said Blair had deep reservations about the wisdom of an attack. But MPs and diplomats are united in predicting that when the die is cast, Blair will commit British troops alongside those from the United States. |
| Re: Saudis: Don't Attack Iraq From Here |
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| muqaddar |
| 08/08/02 at 16:52:53 |
| [slm] I think all this is just designed to encourage some of Saddams relatives in the army to stage a rebellion witha little help from american fire from the sky after which of course the new tyrant will need american help to stay in power...america will then be helpful enough to install one of the Urdan tyrants relatives in power in iraq the funniest bit is going to be when the new tyrant finds out that america has sold him and the whole of the saddam clan down the river |
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