Saudis consider sending troops to Iraq

[crunch]

Please try to take into consideration the spin that the source (MSNBC) puts on the story, and just look at the facts.

Saudi Arabia believes the Iraqi government is not up to the challenge and has told the United States that it is prepared to move its own forces into Iraq should the violence there degenerate into chaos, a senior U.S. official told NBC News on Tuesday.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal made no effort to mask his skepticism Tuesday about President Bush’s proposal to send 21,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq to stem sectarian fighting.

“We agree with the full objectives set by the new plan,” Saud said at a joint news conference in Riyadh with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is traveling in the region selling Bush’s plan. “We are hoping these objectives can be accomplished, but the means are not in our hands. They are in the hands of the Iraqis themselves.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16656642/

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Saudis consider sending troops to Iraq

It would seem that we are approaching critical mass. The coalition is falling apart and the actors are taking their places on the stage of destruction. :%

I wonder which side the Saudis will end up shooting at. The troops may have different inclinations than the royalty.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Saudis consider sending troops to Iraq

“We are hoping these objectives can be accomplished, but the means are not in our hands. They are in the hands of the Iraqis themselves.” [/b]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16656642/

That is THE profound statement.

 

[ricksrster]

Re: Saudis consider sending troops to Iraq

Would the Saudis support a republican form of government in a region of dictatorships?

 

[JB]

Re: Saudis consider sending troops to Iraq

I think the Saudi's best interests lie in absence of strife and avoidance of being in the middle of a world war.

I think they are pragmatic, not driven by lust for power or fundamentalist passions.

I think they will do what best serves those interests.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Saudis consider sending troops to Iraq

"made no effort to mask his skepticism" - is that an editorial or a news report?

excerpts from the Saudi press release:

...
Regarding the confidence in the Saudi government of Iraqi Prime Minister in dealing with the current crisis, Prince Saud said "This is up to the people of Iraq who will determine this matter. I think that this is the important thing. Iraqi people have major responsibilities and they have to deal with a lot of issues that have big consequences on the future (of Iraq). Everyone shall move in and make Iraq participate in the political process instead of the military process and to achieve the wishes of the people. In the end, if there is a democratic government that exists and is not appointed by bullets but by ballot papers, Iraq should deal with issues of militias. Therefore, Iraq has a busy agenda that does not require the confidence of the foreign States, but relies on the confidence of the Iraqi people to do what must be done".
...

[my own editorial comment - he doesn't sound too confident in the Iraqi government.]

What they say about Bush's plan:

...
Commenting on the Kingdom's support for the plan of US President, Prince Saud said "the plan has goals and details for implementation, and I do not think that we can cover them in one night during the meetings or discussions. Therefore, we can not comment on the details and mechanisms which are meant for application."
...

[ed. comment: we don't care too much one way or the other what Prince Saud thinks about Bush's plan, but it is interesting to hear what he tells his own people about it.]

does this sound like skepticism to you:

...
Regarding the steps that would be taken by Saudi Arabia in the event of escalation of the civil war in Iraq, Prince Saud wondered by saying "for consequences, why do we predict a worsening situation. Why not we think of a situation that improves?"

"There is a need to raise the morale because frustrating efforts and pessimism would neither benefit Shiites, Turkmen, Sunnis nor Kurds. When the view is pessimistic, it will not serve the neighboring countries nor the regional and international powers. We have hope and want to think through it in a positive way rather than assuming the worst," Prince Saud said.

[ed. comment: sounds to me like he's at least making an effort to mask his skepticism]

link: Saudi Press Agency

funny I never thought of iboat's dockside chat as a news source, but it seems to be so ever once in awhile...thanks, and keep 'em coming.