Very signficant announcement. I wonder what implications this will have on the ‘House of Saud’?
US pulls out of Saudi Arabia
The United States has said that virtually all its troops, except some training personnel, are to be pulled out of Saudi Arabia. The decision was announced as US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived in the Gulf kingdom for talks with senior Saudi officials. A top US military official said the decision was taken by a “very mutual agreement” with the Saudi Government and that the withdrawal would be completed by the end of the summer. Ever since the 1991 Gulf war, the US has had about 5,000 troops stationed in Saudi Arabia - a figure that rose to 10,000 during the recent conflict in Iraq. The BBC’s Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says this is a strategic shift of great political as well as military significance. Technically US troops there have been part of Operation Southern Watch, which has enforced the no-fly zone over southern Iraq set up after the 1991 Gulf War. But our correspondent says the US troops have become a potent symbol of Washington’s role in the region, and many Saudis see them as proof of the country’s subservience to America. The American presence in the kingdom is one of the main reasons given by Osama Bin Laden - blamed by Washington for the 11 September attacks - to justify attacks on the US.
Earlier on Tuesday, the US military confirmed that it was moving its air command centre from Saudi Arabia to neighbouring Qatar. US Rear Admiral David Nichols said the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) at the Prince Sultan base in Saudi Arabia would be closed by the end of the summer. “We already have switched, as of yesterday (Monday),” Admiral Nichols told reporters travelling with Mr Rumsfeld. But, he added, the base would remain wired and could be used again if the US and Saudi Arabia decided it was necessary. The new US centre is at the al-Udeid air base in Qatar. The admiral said the decision had been agreed with the Saudi authorities, adding that all US aircraft using the Prince Sultan base would be removed by the middle of the year. “When you no longer have Southern Watch, then it’s self-evident that you no longer need bodies here,” he said. The CAOC was set up after the 1991 Gulf war in Iraq and was used to control the coalition air campaign in the latest conflict in Iraq.
USA does not need the Saudis anymore. USA has extrcted all they could, now they have found a new place where they have what they wanted. They can build all there bases in Iraq, plenty of space and oil!!!
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*Originally posted by Changez_like: *
Good for Saudis.... but just watch out for "those damn dictators in KSA".
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It may not be that good for the Saudi's in reality. Yes they will see the back of American troops whic is good, but it will now make it much easier for the American's to target Saudia Arabia itself. There are large American bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and occupied Iraq - all Saudi neighbours, ensuring an encirclement of the kingdom.
Hmmmmmmmmmm!!!! the Saudi ruling elite will now be declared dictators and terrorists who have oppressed the people for too long and should now be disposed off by the great liberator in order to bring freedom to the Saudis. ;)
“In that ways, it’s win, win, win,” he says. “Win for the Pentagon, win for the Saudis, and win for U.S. interests.” And, in a final irony, a win, of sorts, for Osama bin Laden, too.
oh waittttttttt.... when did Saudis ask to leave ??? I was being told over and over that Saudis have asked US to keep its bases.... now why r they leaving?
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*Originally posted by underthedome: *
Great news and overdue. Thank you Qatar.
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Till Qatar throws you out, then they will be the regional terrorists and dictators. After all they do harbour the biggest "terrorist" meida network, Al Jazeerah, whose offices accidentaly got bombed both in Afghanistan and Iraq with accuratealy guided smart bombs.
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*Originally posted by Changez_like: *
Good for Saudis.... but just watch out for "those damn dictators in KSA".
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yeah true but what do we have instead?
there will soon be a vacany
looking for a mir jaffer to rune saudi!!!!
interested candidates please contact pentagon
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*Originally posted by Seminole: *
Qatar will be a long term ally of the US in the region because of its movement toward democracy.
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What democracy, would you like to enlighten us. Do they have a parliament, a senate, how many parties, which is the ruling party and which is the oppposition party. Must really be invisible because apart from the great liberators no one else seems to have any knowledge of them.
Oh and BTW dont forget the torutre chambers and dungeons in Qatar, which at the moment will be non existent to America, just like the Iraqis one were till recently.
On April 29th the Qataris will be preparing to take part in the referendum that aims at enabling Qatar to have the first written constitution.
The new Qatari draft constitution states to single out the three executive, legislative and judicial authorities. The legislative authority is practiced by a Shoura council composed of 45 members, two thirds of them are elected by direct general voting and the other one third is appointed by the Emir of Qatar.
It is expected that the special elections on this council whose duration will continue four years to be regulated in 2004. The Emir can reject the signing of a law by the council under the condition that this law will be submitted once again to the council within three months together with provided clarifications. On the other side, the Amir of Qatar has to sign the law if it is submitted again by the Shoura council. The Amir in emergency cases is able to suspend the law.
Although the new constitution gives the Amir the authority to desolve the council, the Amir is obliged to call for new elections within 6 months. The constitution also states to keep the authority in the hands of al-Thani family and the leaders of Qatar the inheritors of the current Amir.
The draft constitution also states the freedom of expression and formation of societies.
The constitution also states equal rights of citizens in rights and public duties and stresses the right of the woman in Qatar to be elected and to vote.
Worthy mentioning that the Qatari woman took part in the municipal elections in 1999 for the first time in the states of the region. The first woman reached the membership of the first municipal council by the beginning of this April after she had won the municipal elections.
Qatar started the March of democracy in 1996 when the Amir of Qatar, Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani assumed power. There is an appointed legislative council in Qatar since 1972. Some 84 voting centers will be opened in various parts of the state of Qatar.
Qatar sits on the UN Human Rights Commission, (Along with Saudi Arabia), so they must be fine right? No problem doing business with them when they are allowed to sit on such an august panel......
Great news. I'm all for it. I wonder how long it will be before those who critisized the US for having troops in SA begin critisizing the US for removing their troops from SA.
For quite some time we Americans have been explaining our military presence in SA by virtue of the request/invitation of the Saudis made because of their fear of Saddam. Not so, argued many. We were supposedly there to dominate the Saudis and occupy their land and steal their oil.
Well...now Saddam is gone and the protection offered to the Saudis and others by virtue of the no fly zones is unnecessary. So, by mutual agreement, we peacefully leave. No problem. See ya later. Peace brother.
I know for some of you, there will come a far more sinister explanation for this. Maybe it's SA instead of Syria that is next on our list for invasion and occupation. This strategic withdrawal might be occuring to hide our true intent. Maybe it would be too easy to invade and occupy SA if we already had military bases there so we're trying to level the playing field a little bit.
Democracy started in 1996? can you expand on that. How many elections have been held and how many elected governments have taken poower since then. At the end of the day they are no better then the ruling family in Saudi, just that they are serving your purpose and therefore an absolute monarchy suddenly becomes democratic. The partly elected house is at the whim of the Amir and can be dissolved at any time without any legal recourse.
Talk about democracy when there are free and fair elections and a representative government in Qatar, but then you should fear that day because an elected government will certailnly not be a US puppet.
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*Originally posted by myvoice: *
Great news. I'm all for it. I wonder how long it will be before those who critisized the US for having troops in SA begin critisizing the US for removing their troops from SA.
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Great news for what, it is not as if you have decided to leave the Gulf and go home, you are just shifiting countries because they are now your new friends. The aim still remains the same, the domination of the middle east. It will be a great day indeed when all the trigger happy invaders go back to their "beautiful and free country".
And yes now we will suddenly start hearing from your administration that Saudis who were your friends and allies for decades have suddenly become the worst regime in the area and possess WMD and should be got rid of in order to free the citizens.