Muslim troops will not supplement US troops in Iraq, says Saudi FM

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_2-8-2004_pg7_48

Muslim troops will not supplement US troops in Iraq, says Saudi FM

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said on Sunday that any Muslim troops dispatched to Iraq would be sent to replace US-led multinational forces and not to supplement them as proposed by Washington.

“The dispatching of Muslim troops to Iraq needs a number of requirements to be met, (including) that these troops will be replacing the coalition forces currently there, not supplementing them,” Prince Saud al-Faisal told reporters.

He also said that troops should be sent only at Baghdad’s request and work under the auspices of the United Nations. “The request should come from the Iraqi government and should have a full and apparent backing from all parts of the Iraqi people … (These troops) should work under the auspices of the UN,” he said.

Prince Saud discussed the Saudi idea to send Muslim troops to Iraq with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi while they both visited the kingdom last week.

“The UN should be in charge of the political process in Iraq including the preparation for elections to choose a new government,” said Saud, whose comments to the press were carried by state television.

Both Powell and Allawi said that Iraq’s immediate neighbours would not be asked to participate in such a deployment.

“We will study the suggestion and we continue to discuss it with leaders of Arab and Muslim states, excluding neighbouring countries, to participate in the multinational force,” said the Iraqi premier. According to Powell, “many” Muslim countries have been considering participating in the force. afp

:k: :k: :k:

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so basically the Saudis are saying that US army should go back and it should be replaced by Muslim forces which would then establish peace, supervise elections, and then leave once a govt is formed

i think thats not a bad idea at all and a much better alternative to having US troops in iraq like how they r now

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One small consideration -- when have Muslim forces ever established peace, supervised elections, and then left? It's not as easy as it sounds.

This is a classic: The UN should be in charge of the political process in Iraq including the preparation for elections to choose a new government,” said Saud LOL. UN needs to do the same thing in Saudi Arabia.

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hmmm u got a point but there's always a first time isnt it? :-)

and also, Saudia is an immediate neighbor of Iraq? [not sure] so i guess its army wont be going there?