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Saudi Arabia Unhappy With US Raids On Afghanistan
Gulf News Online ^
| October 16, 2001
| Reuters
Posted on 10/15/2001 11:09:49 PM PDT by FresnoDA
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| Saudi Arabia unhappy with US raids on Afghanistan |
| Riyadh | Reuters | 16/10/2001 |
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U.S. ally Saudi Arabia said it was unhappy about the bombing of Afghanistan, sending the clearest signal yet that its relations with Washington are being tested by the war on terrorism.
Interior Minister Prince Nayef broke Saudi silence on the bombing late on Sunday, telling reporters the kingdom opposed terrorism but did not approve of the U.S. response.
"We wish the United States had been able to flush out the terrorists in Afghanistan without resorting to the current action... because this is killing innocent people," he said.
"We are not at all happy with the situation. This in no way means we are not willing to confront terrorism," he said in remarks reported by the official Saudi Press Agency.
Analysts said that Prince Nayef's public disapproval confirmed the 50-year-old strategic alliance between the world's largest industrial power and the world's largest oil supplier had come under stress since the air raids began a week ago.
"It's unbelievable the way the feeling here has changed from sympathy to anger in such a short time," a Western analyst based in Riyadh said.
"More sensitive and astute decision-making on both sides is required to handle a relationship which has become extremely difficult to manage. Every aspect of it is under pressure."
Saudi Arabia, which sees itself as the world's principal advocate of pure Islam, has condemned the September 11 attacks which killed nearly 5,400 people but has remained sensitive to widespread public anger over casualties in Muslim Afghanistan.
Riyadh said early on it would not allow attacks on Afghanistan to be launched from its soil.
U.S. officials say the country is co-operating in more appropriate ways, by sharing intelligence and cracking down on funding of groups and individuals suspected of terrorist links.
"Saudi Arabia is still trying to make clear that they are willing to confront terrorism without alienating their own population," a western diplomat in Riyadh said on Sunday.
U.S. troops have been based in the kingdom since U.S.-led forces evicted Iraq from Saudi Arabia's neighbour Kuwait in 1991, albeit as only a small and discreet force nowadays.
Some religious leaders in the birthplace of Islam have strong objections to their presence. So does Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden, Washington's main suspect for last month's attacks, who is hiding in Afghanistan.
It is impossible to tell how many Saudis want the Americans to leave Saudi Arabia. But it is clear many people admire bin Laden for his role in driving the Soviets from Afghanistan years ago and do not believe he masterminded last month's attacks.
U.S. high-tech attacks on one of the poorest countries in the world are viewed here as arrogant and insensitive.
"The message appears to be 'see how great our toys are, watch them smash things to smithereens' - it seems we have learned nothing in 10 years," the Western analyst said.
Saudis feel they have been unfairly singled out because the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has said that 12 of the 19 suspected hijackers which slammed hijacked commercial airliners into buildings in New York and Washington were Saudis.
Many of the people it originally identified were later shown to be either living in the kingdom or dead, officials say. There has been no public U.S. apology and media have reported in detail on harassment of Saudis in America.
A final episode rubbed salt in wounded Saudi pride in the past week.
Saudis have been outraged by the rejection of a $10 million donation by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal to victims of the collapse of the World Trade Centre. Most Americans saw it as an error of judgement by the kingdom. |
© Al Nisr Publishing LLC - Gulf News Online |
TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
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It is high time to tell the Saudi's to TAKE A HIKE!!! They started this mess with bin Laden, let them dance with him over Mecca!!
1
posted on
10/15/2001 11:09:49 PM PDT
by
FresnoDA
Comment #2 Removed by Moderator
To: FresnoDA
Fire up the refuge! We don't need your damn oil. You don't want to play by the rules? Fine. Say hello to our little friend. B-1.
To: FresnoDA
Three words second and third words Saudi and Arabia;two words,second word Ramadan
To: FresnoDA
It's time to follow the money trail and have Saudi Arabia reimburse us for every penny lost in the WTC disaster and every penny spent on our Military for the next 10 years. How much oil is that?
Comment #6 Removed by Moderator
To: FresnoDA
It is high time to tell the Saudi's to TAKE A HIKE!!! They started this mess with bin Laden, let them dance with him over Mecca!! Amen! You just wait until Saddam tries to run over them next time, they'll be crying for help. Let Osama give it to them. lol
To: overseer5
dont worry...the u.s. only gets about 25 percent of its oil from the middle east. lets bomb those assholes.
8
posted on
10/15/2001 11:21:14 PM PDT
by
rickmoe
To: My Favorite Headache
Speaking of little friends!!
9
posted on
10/15/2001 11:23:48 PM PDT
by
FresnoDA
To: FresnoDA
Saudis can kiss our ( )( ).
10
posted on
10/15/2001 11:25:46 PM PDT
by
boycott
To: FresnoDA
Why didn't those Billionaire thugs in Saudi Arabia try to help the Afghans after the Russians pulled out? Do they expect Americans to handle all their problems? The Saudis are mindless cowards.
11
posted on
10/15/2001 11:28:02 PM PDT
by
boycott
Comment #12 Removed by Moderator
To: FresnoDA
You know what I don't understand?
These Saudis and a great many other Arabs are pissing and moaning because they don't want other Arabs or Muslims to die in this operation. As if killing their own is unprecedented.
But, from what I know of al-Qaeda, the Taliban and Osama himself, they are ALL more than willing to kill their Arab & Muslim kin to accomlish their goals, especially as it relates to overthrowing governments in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey.
(Did you hear that, Crown Prince Abdullah? President Mubarak? The people you're being sitting on the fence for want you DEAD!)
Comment #14 Removed by Moderator
Comment #15 Removed by Moderator
To: StoneColdGOP
We just need some Holy Warriors of our own to drop a few "weapons of mass destruction" on Mecca.
Bet the Saudis and Islam in general would feel differently about terrorist attacks after that.
16
posted on
10/15/2001 11:43:31 PM PDT
by
Drammach
To: FresnoDA
I am getting sick and tired of these Arab countries bad mouthing the US. If the Saudies are so woried about the civilians why aren't they dropping food and helping with humanitarian aid? Why are no Arab countries helping? Because they don't give a crap about anyone else but themselves. If the US was to pull out of the middle east they would have nothing!! No money, no technology, and Israel would blow the bastards up in a heartbeat. So maybe the Saudies and the rest of the middleast can just shut up for a change and quit causing trouble.
17
posted on
10/15/2001 11:45:27 PM PDT
by
wlj1
To: FresnoDA
"Saudi Arabia Unhappy With US Raids On Afghanistan" unhappy???
I have two words for the weak and compromised Saudi's...
F
U
Is that clear enough???
Proud to be an American!!!
dh
PS- To all you squishy peacenicks out there...
WAKE UP!!!!!!
You are as much of a target as I am!!!!
WAKE UP...TURN CNN OFF!!!
(aka TNN...Taliban News Network)
To: My Favorite Headache
We don't need your damn oil.something tells me we do. unless, of course, we start listening to the greens who say we need to cut down US uses of fossil fuels.
19
posted on
10/15/2001 11:51:42 PM PDT
by
gfactor
To: dynamitehack
I think it is time the Saudi's meet our little friend, Spooky!!
![[IMAGE]](http://members.aol.com/SamC130/sprt56lr.bmp)
20
posted on
10/15/2001 11:52:01 PM PDT
by
FresnoDA
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