Saudi Arabia has told the Bush administration that it might provide financial backing to Iraqi Sunnis in any war against Iraq’s Shiites if the United States pulls its troops out of Iraq, according to American and Arab diplomats.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia conveyed that message to Vice President Dick Cheney two weeks ago during Cheney’s whirlwind visit to Riyadh, the officials said. During the visit, King Abdullah also expressed strong opposition to diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran, and pushed for Washington to encourage the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, senior Bush administration officials said.
The Saudi warning reflects fears among America’s Sunni Arab allies about Iran’s rising influence in Iraq, coupled with Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. King Abdullah II of Jordan has also expressed concern about rising Shiite influence, and about the prospect that the Shiite-dominated government would use Iraqi troops against the Sunni population.
Until now Saudi officials have promised their counterparts in the United States that they would refrain from aiding Iraq’s Sunni insurgency. But that pledge holds only as long as the United States remains in Iraq.
The Saudis have been wary of supporting Sunnis in Iraq because their insurgency there has been led by extremists of Al Qaeda, who are opposed to the kingdom’s monarchy. But if Iraq’s sectarian war worsened, the Saudis would line up with Sunni tribal leaders.
Have the Saudis and the White House agreed upon which insurgent Sunni warlord will rule Iraq when we leave?
It sounds as if Dead Eye Dick is taking orders from his REAL boss.
Well, since the VP’s only official job is to be the President of the Senate, he might as well be sent to do other things to justify the paycheck he receives.
But if Iraq’s sectarian war worsened, the Saudis would line up with Sunni tribal leaders.
Which would make this:
the prospect that the Shiite-dominated government would use Iraqi troops against the Sunni population.
a self-fulfilling prophecy…
Divide Iraq into three states. Sunni, Shite and those other guys up North that for some reason I can’t think of their names. You know, the ones that make the Turks so jumpy.
We all know were this is going. A regional war between Sunni Arab states and non-arab shittes. With Isreal in the cross-fire and a big chunk of the worlds oil reserves up for grabs, how long before it goes nuclear.
Further proof that the Saudis are not and have never been a friend to the US.
And Iran and Syria will support the shiites.
I agree with Gig (and Named in other posts). Europe carved up the Middle East in the early 20th century with no thought to the tribal/sectarian divides…
#7 And Iran and Syria will support the shiites
especially that Syria is 70% Sunni
The Saud, are as fanatical as ALL the rest. the main diff is that they Already have a country.
yeah bbc radio (tate night kuow programming stream from npr) was covering this last night/early this morning.
So when doe WW3 start? cuz i wanna reserve some seats
**bring popcorn**
#9…Art…..your right about Syria being mostly Sunni…85% as a matter of fact…..but the goverment is controlled by the Baath party which is controlled by a minor Muslim sect called the Alawite……who happen to be Shia……thus, their support of and work with Iran and the Hezbollah.
In the event of a split or actual civil war in Iraq….Syria will go with the Iranian’s and the Shia……Saudi’s will support the Sunni and the Kurds will do their own thing….as they have since 1991. The Kurds are actually the group that wants Iraq to stay as one country the most, even though they have the best chance of forming a viable, independent nation. The Kurds are mostly Sunni, but I’m not sure if they are Arab.
As to this story….I read this yesterday in the London Times, and the Saudi’s are denying it of course. But everyone knows that the Sunni country’s are really worried about Iran and especially now that they have Nukes or are about to.
I wish this all was as simple as so many of us Americans try to make it…….but it’s not….there are so many nuances to the whole Middle East, that only an expert can even hope to keep up. And even though the Baker group was basically a farce, it did hit on one correct point…..that it’s all interconnected…..from Isreal to Iran to Egypt and Palistine and beyond.
11,
Got a few moutains over here, we can sit and watch the pretty colors…
Bring the corn..
Syria are a freindly country to shiites however this is funny
they said they will satrt to support insurgents, they already are just that its being blamed on iran, iran while obviously helping with arms and money knows its nt in the best interests to be behind a full scale offensive ahmedinajad may be nuts but the supreme leader is not.