quote:RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - The United States, which has had a military presence in Saudi Arabia for more than a decade, is expected to follow through on plans to withdraw nearly all of its forces after the Iraq war to help maintain U.S.-Saudi relations, American officials and Middle East experts said.
A senior diplomat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Knight Ridder that several thousand personnel at Prince Sultan Air Base are likely to be pulled out within months after the United States officially declares victory in Iraq.
quote:The decision is not surprising because having combat troops in Saudi Arabia has a downside for the United States, too. Osama bin Laden has used the presence of non-Muslim troops in an important land of Islam to rationalize attacks on U.S. targets around the world. Before the war, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the defeat of Saddam would let the United States "change the presence levels of American troops throughout that region."
Now, I believe I predicted some time ago that once we'd established a free, democratic Iraq, we'd be able to use our influence, new bases and access to non OPEC-controlled oil supplies THERE in order to turn around and finally put pressure on the Saudis to change their ways.
Not that I'm claiming to be prescient, or anything, but... this would be the logical first step.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
Has it crossed your mind that a "free, democratic Iraq" might not want us using our influence, installing new bases or controling their oil supplies?
Or is that the price of our invasion and their liberation?
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jay the Obscure: Has it crossed your mind that a "free, democratic Iraq" might not want us using our influence, installing new bases or controling their oil supplies?
Yes. It's also crossed my mind that a solid gold meteorite might descend from space and obliterate Phil Donahue.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
I have no idea what that is supposed to mean or how it is relevant to anything.
Posted by Mucus (Member # 24) on :
Its really quite simple. Its inevitable that Iraq will forever be grateful for the US's role in its liberation from a totalitarian government, and will become a strong ally for US foreign/military policy.
You know, much like the Japanese and the Germans.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
I see.
In the future, I'll try to keep my post less critical of our humanitarian invasions and more positive as regards the American birthright to have cheap oil.
I am now happy that we will have our own oil rich country to rule and play as we see fit.
Posted by Veers (Member # 661) on :
I'm sure that boy whose arms were blown off and was burned badly is very greatful at the US. "Oh thank you, superpower, for liberating me from Saddam. I am kind of sad your satellite-guided Tomahawk cruise missile or precision-guided smart bomb, whichever caused my injuries, went off course, and for the fact that you have killed thousands of my fellow countrymen, but all in all, I am glad you liberated me."
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Yes, let's forget the other tens of millions of people in Iraq.
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
Veers isn't glad for them. He's not glad those kids got out of jail, either. Stupid kids should have shut up and joined the Saddam Youth. Especially that kid they'd been holding since the Iran-Iraq war. Not glad for the Shiites' and Kurds' kids not to have to worry about getting gassed. Not glad that the Palestinian terrorists have one less funder for THEIR attempts to blow Israeli kids up.
Posted by Veers (Member # 661) on :
No, I have not forgotten about them. I am pointing out that there are scores of people that now feel bitter at the US for what they have done.
Posted by Cartmaniac (Member # 256) on :
Something that will backfire with a vengeance when Dubya sets his sights on Syria.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
Don't say that, in fact if you aren't going to post something pro-aggressive liberation invasion, you shouldn't be posting at all really.
And whatever you do, don't mention the people that were blown in half as a means of liberation, and don't mention that these now "liberated" people, the live ones, might not want to become a colony of the United States, want American military bases in their country, or want American oil companies controling Iraqi oil.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Jay, that is one scenerio, which I hope doesn't come to pass anymore than the liberation of Kuwait happened that way. If this administration fucks up and doesn't do as it has said it will do, leaving Iraq as soon as possible, then we are in a world of hurt.
Taking out Saddam was a necessity, as long as we don't over stay we will be okay. And saying that the US aided him in the 80's is like blaming Tony for Maggie's doings....
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
quote:If this administration fucks up and doesn't do as it has said it will do...
Like, say in Afghanistan?
quote:Taking out Saddam was a necessity...
No, it may have been desirable, but it was not a necessity.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
I didn't think that they were done there yet...
I will quanitify that to, in my opinion it was, which, it seems, oddly enough, I am with the majority on, as far as various polls have rated Bush's handling of the war in Iraq go. Shit that almost makes me want to change my stance....
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
I have to confess, I can't see where the spin in the original post is coming from. Saudi Arabia is really uncomfortable with U.S. forces in their nation. So, now that the primary reason for said presence is gone, the forces leave. And this counts as thumbing our nose at a creaky old monarchy?
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)