Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs - No Political Rants -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: paul_philp who wrote (406)	3/8/2003 3:35:01 PM
From: bela_ghoulashi	Respond to of 504

Excellent analysis, imo. Personally, I was in agreement with about 99% of it.

To: paul_philp who wrote (406)	3/8/2003 3:49:44 PM
From: lorne	Respond to of 504

Sources: Saudi Government Closes Airport By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press Writer March 7, 2003 DOHA, Qatar -- The Saudi government has shut down civilian flights to an airport near the Iraqi border so it can be used by American forces in a possible war against Iraq, sources in Saudi Arabia said Friday. Hundreds of American troops have deployed at the airport, according to a source who is well-positioned to observe the activity outside the town of Araar, 40 miles south of Iraq. The source, who spoke to The Associated Press by telephone, said Araar Airport will be closed to civilian traffic for four months. Saudi Arabia, fearful of Muslim extremist backlash, has said it will not allow U.S. troops to use its territories in an attack on Iraq. All normal commercial flights to Araar have been diverted to Al-Jawf, 112 miles to the southwest, the source added, speaking on condition of anonymity. Travel agents told a resident in Saudi Arabia who wanted to travel to Araar Airport that although almost daily flights are listed to that city, the computer was not accepting any bookings. Pentagon officials declined to comment on the report and Saudi officials were unavailable. The Qatar-based Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera on Friday quoted Saudi officials as saying Araar Airport had been closed for maintenance of runways, with all flights diverted to Al-Jawf. Al-Jazeera quoted unidentified Saudi opposition groups as saying the airport had been closed to accommodate U.S. troops. On Wednesday, a Saudi dissident organization based in Washington said a witness who traveled through Araar Airport this week said he saw dozens of American soldiers at the airport. A Saudi opposition group based in London, the Movement of Islamic Reforms in Arabia, said Monday that thousands of American troops had landed in the past week at the kingdom's Tabouk air base, 310 miles southwest of Araar. In the 1991 Gulf War, the kingdom invited the United States to help defend it against Iraqi soldiers who had occupied Kuwait. The presence of U.S. troops in a country that is home to Islam's holiest shrines angered some Muslims. newsday.com