Briefing Depicted Saudis as Enemies

The Washington Post ^ | Tuesday, August 6, 2002 | Thomas E. Ricks

[MinorityRepublican]

A briefing given last month to a top Pentagon advisory board described Saudi Arabia as an enemy of the United States, and recommended that U.S. officials give it an ultimatum to stop backing terrorism or face seizure of its oil fields and its financial assets invested in the United States.

[MinorityRepublican]

So we're going to treat them as they are our enemies?

[AM2000]

About time! If we're gonna declare bin Laden the enemy because he financed 9/11, it behooves us to treat Saudi Arabia the same way.

[steveegg]

It sure sounds like a sea change is coming. I could guess at more, but I wouldn't want to plant any ideas in various Mideastern leaders' heads.

[SouthernFreebird]

"Lets Roll"

[MinorityRepublican]

Yeah, it's hard to believe. I want us to get the oil fields from Saudi Arabia, while we share the oil fields of Iraq with our allies (if Turkey, Israel, Russia, and Great Britain would help us out).

Then it will be time to smile. :-)

[cactusSharp]

just first consider the source.....hold back
and lets see on this one......hmmmm

[mlocher]

saudi arabia has oil fields and has an oil based economy for the simple reason that we let them. if we don't let them, they are toast...

[MinorityRepublican]

just first consider the source.....hold back and lets see on this one......hmmmm

True, but remember the old saying.

"Even a broken clock is right twice a day."

[Texas_Jarhead]

"...or face seizure of its oil fields"

sounds highly dubious

[gcruse]

"Other members of the board include former vice president Dan Quayle; former defense secretaries James Schlesinger and Harold Brown; former House speakers Newt Gingrich and Thomas Foley; and several retired senior military officers, including two former vice chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired admirals David Jeremiah and William Owens."

[MinorityRepublican]

saudi arabia has oil fields and has an oil based economy for the simple reason that we let them. if we don't let them, they are toast...

No kidding. Heck, if we wanted to, we can probably take over Saudi Arabia with the troops that we have right now. After all, we have bases all over the middle east.

[pulaskibush]

What did we do when we took Germany? I think we killed the leaders and replaced them with better ones. Some say we can't do that because its not our place to choose other countries leaders.

If those countries attack the US, then it is our place.

[steveegg]

Ugh, a bipartisan mess. I'll bet I can tell which ones were cheering Kissinger's Kool-Aid song-and-dance.

[MinorityRepublican]

What did we do when we took Germany? I think we killed the leaders and replaced them with better ones. Some say we can't do that because its not our place to choose other countries leaders. If those countries attack the US, then it is our place.

The Saudis attacked us indirectly with Al-Qaeda on 9/11.

That's the excuse we need. Let's roll.

[AdA$tra]

"...or face seizure of its oil fields"

I don't know if we could live with ourselves after that one. Imagine trying to justify that to our liberal friends. They don't even think Saddam is that bad and maybe we should leave him alone.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

described Saudi Arabia as an enemy of the United States

In further developments, State Department experts said there was evidence the Nazi government of Adolf Hitler in Germany showed anti-semetic tendencies. And it was just possible that Uncle Joe Stalin might have been a big fat communist.

[Husker24]

I dont believe a word of it, the U.S will never sieze their oil fields. This sounds too good to be true.

[andy_card]

No kidding. Heck, if we wanted to, we can probably take over Saudi Arabia with the troops that we have right now. After all, we have bases all over the middle east.

You don't seem to understand. Our troops are all that are propping up the present Saudi regime. All we'd have to do to topple the House of Saud would be to withdraw our troops, and I guarantee you that within half a year, either the military or Islamic fundies will be running things. As a result, we've got them by the short and curlies. So let's exploit the situation to the fullest.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I don't know if we could live with ourselves after that one [seizing Saudi oil feilds]. Imagine trying to justify that to our liberal friends. They don't even think Saddam is that bad and maybe we should leave him alone.

If we controlled 75% of the world's oil reserves even Yasser Arafat would be our friend. And the EU would be doing the Dick Morris on our toes. Japan would apply for statehood.

[steveegg]

Slight problem with that analysis; the House of Saud IS the fundies.