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Saudi Arabia's foreign minister announced on August 7, 2002, that the nation would not allow the United States to use Saudi soil to launch an attack on Iraq. The United States used the Saudi kingdom as a base of operations for its 1991 war with Iraq. "We believe it is not needed," said Saudi Prince Saud Faisal, explaining his nation's position on a potential American invasion, "especially now that Iraq is moving to implement United Nations resolutions." The Bush administration has made regime change in Iraq a priority since the war in Afghanistan began winding down earlier this year. While no link has been proven between Iraq and the September 11 terrorists, the president sees removing the Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, as part of a larger campaign against global terrorism. Anticipating possible differences with the Saudi regime, the United States has been beefing up a base in nearby Qatar."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," Said Faud. Saudi Arabia is the largest exporter of crude oil to the United States and traditionally has been viewed as an ally in the often hostile and unpredictable Middle East. Those ties may have weakened in recent months, as Saudi Arabia has come to be viewed by some analysts as contributing to, or at least condoning, hostility toward the United States within its own borders. Of the 19 hijackers responsible for the terrorist events of September 11, most were Saudis. Osama bin Laden is also of Saudi descent, though he was stripped of his citizenship by the Saudi government. The Saudi position received further support from the Arab League on September 5, when the foreign ministers of 20 Arab nations pledged to support Iraq in any confrontation with the United States. The ministers did not say, however, that such support would include military assistance. - Updated 9/5/02 |
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