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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bilow who wrote (37248)	8/12/2002 11:49:19 AM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

But the basic fact is that the locals aren't asking for a US attack. They know the situation a hell of a lot better than you or I. Of course they aren't publicly asking for an attack. The want to contain Saddam, since overthrowing him and introducing democratic reforms would UNDERMINE THEIR OWN TYRANNIES. That's why THEY STOPPED the US from going right into Badhdad back in 1991, thus committing the US to expend it's manpower, political capital, and treasure for the next 12 years trying to contain him. A democratic Iraq (or even a constitutional monarcy) would be the last thing the Saudis want. But it's the velvet hammer we're holding over their heads with regard to suppressing their Wahabbi clerics. Either take care of your internal extremism, or we'll create the solution for you (implict threat of restoring Hashemite domination of the peninsula). What's there to risk? All we do is announce "A nuclear attack on Jordan is equivalent to a nuclear attack on the United States and will be dealt with accordingly." Geez.. a nuclear attack? What about conventional attack, or Saddam directed insurgency? You have this mistaken belief that Saddam is unwilling to use Islamic extremist to attain his goal. You seem to believe that he is unwilling to reshape himself as some kind of Islamic "prodigal son" in order to gain the support of the extremist factions. Saddam has one motivation.. Self-Preservation through the exercise of power. Unless he's the "lead dog" his scenery will never change. And the means of preserving his regime entails increasing his power. Either he increases it, or he'll see it decrease. That's how he stays in power. And he'll do whatever is necessary to preserve that power, just as Arafat has, including providing direct support for Al-Qaeda members. Hawk

To: Bilow who wrote (37248)	8/12/2002 12:21:14 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

I wonder whether Iraq's neighbors actually don't want us to attack Iraq, or are just saying so for public consumption? Turkey says no, but recently seized some abandoned Iraqi airfields. Qatar says no, but is letting us build one mother of an air force base. The Fifth Fleet is stationed in Bahrain. I'm reading blogs that claim Bahrain and Oman support us, but haven't found anything official. The only country that is putting its money where its mouth is, is Saudi Arabia. Whoops, looks like Oman joined the Saudis (and Iran) yesterday: nando.net