Saudi foreign minister gives some positive words re: Iraq

[Dan Murphy]

The Saudi foreign minister also said Sunday the kingdom would be “obliged to follow through” if the United States needed bases in the kingdom to attack Iraq under U.N. authority.
The comments to CNN by Prince Saud al-Faisal would mark a significant shift in Saudi policy. In an interview last month with The Associated Press, Saud declared that U.S. facilities in the desert kingdom would be off limits for an attack on Iraq.
When asked by CNN specifically if Saudi bases would be available to Washington, Saud said: “Everybody is obliged to follow through.”

http://msnbc.com/news/805226.asp

[Lynn CC]

Isn't it hard to believe that all this is happening in our day and age? We all grew up reading about wars in our History books in school. Who would of thought we would be living with this?
My DS says I have been walking around with my head in the sand, but honestly I didn't think all this would be happening in my lifetime. Life was too good, no worries. Desert Storm was enough for me. We should have taken care of things then. Now I fear what's to come. Does anyone else feel like this?

[EROS]

1) The majority of the 9-11 hijackers were SAUDI; BIN LADEN was SAUDI............

2) The Saudis CONTINUE to finance terrorism throughout the Middle East.

3) The Saudis CONTINUE to treat female citizens with a great deal of oppression.

4) The Saudis are our "friends" only out of exigency; they know that we'll assist with protection of their oil fields..............because their OIL in the lifeblood of the West.


I personally would NOT trust any pronouncements from the Saudi Royal Family :( :( :( :( :( :( :( .............

[Mackey Mouse]

OMG.. I just picked myself up from the floor and came back to the keyboard to say to Eros.. you and I agree on something political... Now that is cool... :) :) :)

[Bob O]

I agree with EROS and wouldnt trust the Saudi's and would make them the next target after Iraq. But due to their population that is mostly poor and sympathetic to the bin ladens of this world they will take public stances that will differ to what they do as they can control information that comes into their country. The dictator's of Saudia Arabia are worried over suffering the smae fate as the Shah of Iran.

[Dan Murphy]

Lynn, with the US as the only remaining true super power, we will continue to be the go-to nation to help maintain overall peace and parity in the world, even if it periodically takes war, or the semblance of war, to accomplish it. I agree, it would have been nice to have 'finished it' in '91, but the dictate was to free Kuwait, which when done, we were also. As long as you have arrogant dictators in the world, we will have what we see in the Middle East, sad to say. JMO.

[Mackey Mouse]

Eros, BobO and me. I am loving this.. anyone else agree with Eros' previous statement.. :) :)

[EROS]

DUBAI (AFP)

- Women in Saudi Arabia, whose activities are restricted, will soon be able to work as air stewardesses, but only with a male guardian in tow and only in Saudi airspace, Al Hayat paper has said.

Saudi Arabian Airlines "has carried out the necessary studies for the recruitment of young Saudi women as air stewardesses aboard its planes, on certain conditions," the London-based paper said.

"All future Saudi air stewardesses would have to be accompanied by a “mehrem” (a close male relative) and work solely in Saudi airspace," it said.

Saudi Airlines already employs female stewardesses, but they are all non-Saudi nationals.

Women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, and their job prospects are restricted mainly to medicine or teaching because of the segregation rules.

Human rights organization Amnesty International accused Saudi Arabia last September of practicing almost total discrimination against women.

[Patrick IL.]

The Saudi's have been and continue to be in this up to thier necks. Thier biggest concern, and they have stated it, they do not want to see any more burning oil wells as was the the case last time with Iraq. Of course they forget that it was Iraq that torched the wells.

[goofygirl]

Count me in as agreeing with EROS!


The Saudis are NOT our friends. Never were!

[Nikole]

ROTFLOL mackey count me in with you three as well! LOL Sorry don't trust them for all the reasons eros gave and i'm sure I could think of a few more.

[EROS]

from Amnesty International , another organization in which I am a member.............

"Imagine you are arrested and locked up, but you are not told why. You are not allowed to make a telephone call or contact anyone outside the prison. This would be terrifying enough by itself. Now imagine that your jailers begin torturing you. The only way to stop them is to sign a confession, which you eventually do. Then you are convicted on the basis of that "confession" after a summary trial that is held in secret. You have no access to a lawyer and you are not offered the opportunity to defend yourself. Finally, imagine you are living in a country where the punishment you might face after such summary justice could be death, amputation of a limb, or flogging.

Such terror and injustice is hard to imagine. Yet it is routinely suffered by people in Saudi Arabia - and the world's governments seem indifferent to their plight.

Fear and secrecy permeate every aspect of the state in Saudi Arabia."

[Mackey Mouse]

You go Eros.. tonight you have your own Fan Club going on.. :)

[EROS]

Mackey, even a "stopped clock" like myself is "RIGHT" twice a day;) ;) ;) ;) ;) .

Now, if I could just figure out a way to get off of all of those IGNORE lists :jester: :jester: :jester: :jester: ...............oh, the horror, the horror:smooth: .......

[Mackey Mouse]

Listen here Eros, I may not always agree with you... sometimes I do get a little peeved, but I would never put you on ignore..this kind of banter is what makes life interesting..and you are entitled to your opinion, whether I like it or not.. just as I am entitled to mine...and I am very happy today we agree..

[bsnyder]

The Saudis are definitely not our friends...but the article is GOOD news. We NEED those bases!

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by bsnyder
The Saudis are definitely not our friends...but the article is GOOD news. We NEED those bases! Glad you saw the point of the thread, Bet. :)