Why Iran? Why not Saudi Arabia?

[TOVisitor]

Why is it that we have been treated to months of war-mongering over Iran and Syria?

Why do we hear NOTHING about Saudi Arabia? Is it because Bush is so cozy with the King and his boys?

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003611786

Did Military and Media Mislead Us? Most Outside Insurgents in Iraq Come from Saudi Arabia
By Greg Mitchell
Published: July 15, 2007 8:40 AM ET

NEW YORK For years, polls have shown that very large numbers of Americans continue to falsely believe that some of the 9/11 hijackers came from Iraq. In reality, the overwhelming number hailed from the land of a U.S. ally, Saudi Arabia.

Now it turns out that Saudi Arabia is also home to the largest number of so-called "foreign fighters" in Iraq, despite administration efforts -- aided by many in the media -- to paint Iran and Syria as the main outside culprits there.

The Los Angeles Times reports today that according to a senior U.S. military officer and Iraqi lawmakers, about 45% of all foreign militants "targeting U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians and security forces are from Saudi Arabia." Only 15% are from Syria and Lebanon; and 10% are from North Africa. This is based on official U.S. military figures made available to newspaper by the senior officer.

Nearly half of the 135 foreigners in U.S. detention facilities in Iraq are Saudis, he said.

"Fighters from Saudi Arabia are thought to have carried out more suicide bombings than those of any other nationality, said the senior U.S. officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the subject's sensitivity," the Times' Ned Parker writes. "It is apparently the first time a U.S. official has given such a breakdown on the role played by Saudi nationals in Iraq's Sunni Arab insurgency.

"He said 50% of all Saudi fighters in Iraq come here as suicide bombers. In the last six months, such bombings have killed or injured 4,000 Iraqis.

"The situation has left the U.S. military in the awkward position of battling an enemy whose top source of foreign fighters is a key ally that at best has not been able to prevent its citizens from undertaking bloody attacks in Iraq, and at worst shares complicity in sending extremists to commit attacks against U.S. forces, Iraqi civilians and the Shiite-led government in Baghdad."

Yet hardly a word has been directed at Saudi Arabia (which also drew relatively little criticism after 9/11) by the White House and Pentagon. Some observers suggest the Saudis are happy to have militants leave, which alleviates some of the threats in-country.

"U.S. officials remain sensitive about the relationship," Parker explains. "Asked why U.S. officials in Iraq had not publicly criticized Saudi Arabia the way they had Iran or Syria, the senior military officer said, 'Ask the State Department. This is a political juggernaut.'

"Last week when U.S. military spokesman Bergner declared Al Qaeda in Iraq the country's No. 1 threat, he released a profile of a thwarted suicide bomber, but said he had not received clearance to reveal his nationality. The bomber was a Saudi national, the senior military officer said Saturday."

 

[Lustology]

Why is it that we have been treated to months of war-mongering over Iran and Syria?

Why do we hear NOTHING about My small penis? Is it because Bush is so cozy with my wife and her kitty?

Indeed.

 

[Gyaos]

Why do we hear NOTHING about Saudi Arabia?

Worse. We haven't gone in and destroyed Pakistan beyond belief yet. That is who attacked us on 9-11 and they continue to push the numerous terrorist, crap shit today, trying to scare the free world with help from CNN, FOX and all US media outlets. Bush Jr. wants everyone to think it was only an Afghanistan issue and ignore the fact it was Pakistan and a bundle of Sunni's.

IMPEACH BUSH JR, CHENEY AND LAURA BUSH TOO!!!

Gyaos Baltar.

 

[alan9080]

As long as the Saudi's and Gen Musharraf of Pakistan
continue to kiss uncle sam's ass, they will get away
with murder!

 

[papasmerf]

TOV you have a good point. You should spearhead the assult.

 

[Brownie69]

Saudi Arabia is the last place on Earth you want to target if your America. Its the one place in the Muslim World that all Muslims would rally around, not necessarily because they support the hierarchy in place there, but because the land holds special meaning to them. Millions of Muslims go to Saudi every year on their pilgrimage. Its the holiest of holy sites in their culture, no way does America even flirt with the possibility of a unite front against them. You potenitally face over a billion Muslims if you try to touch Saudi.

 

[papasmerf]

Its time for we Patriots to step up, eh pops.
Lets enlist. I'll recruit OTB.

Happy to, but let's use some of the older rules on engagement, the new ones suck.

 

[red]

Saudi Arabia is the last place on Earth you want to target if your America. Its the one place in the Muslim World that all Muslims would rally around, not necessarily because they support the hierarchy in place there, but because the land holds special meaning to them. Millions of Muslims go to Saudi every year on their pilgrimage. Its the holiest of holy sites in their culture, no way does America even flirt with the possibility of a unite front against them. You potenitally face over a billion Muslims if you try to touch Saudi.

maybe so, but then they should realize we feel our people and our homelands are special too.

 

[Mr.lickit]

Bush Wacked

Its all about power and money. Don't let anyone kid you. Its not about the doing the right thing but more like doing the right thing to ensure money keeps flowing into the pockets of those that run big business.

If it was about doing the right thing the west would have stormed into Rwanda in 1993 instead of letting 900,000 people get slaugtered.

Same holds true here, The west picks on those enemies who will have the least impact on them financially and who don't support us politically
instead of the real enemies.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were (are) the biggest abusers of human rights but there still our friends. And has been rightly pointed out I can't remember a terroist attack where the majority were not Saudi's, Pakistani's, and others from countries our government call friendly allies.

I've never been a big fan of the US. The majority narrow minded, uneducated when it comes to things outside of their country and totally brain wased into thinking they live in the greatest country in the world. Richest maybe but not the greatest.

The people I fear the most and dont trust the most come from us south of our border. The day George Bush ( a very stupid man) passes on is a day I look forward to.

 

[Brownie69]

maybe so, but then they should realize we feel our people and our homelands are special too.

Yeah, but your talking about situations that differ significantly. If the US was to attack Saudi then thats a direct threat to the land itself and people, no matter who it is, will defend their land.

The Saudi's aren't directly threatening our lands. Some of the Saudi people are engaging in terrorist activities but that not a response to an attack on their land, its a response to other factors. You can't really draw the same comparision.

 

[Brownie69]

Its all about power and money. Don't let anyone kid you. Its not about the doing the right thing but more like doing the right thing to ensure money keeps flowing into the pockets of those that run big business.

If it was about doing the right thing the west would have stormed into Rwanda in 1993 instead of letting 900,000 people get slaugtered.

Same holds true here, The west picks on those enemies who will have the least impact on them financially and who don't support us politically
instead of the real enemies.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were (are) the biggest abusers of human rights but there still our friends. And has been rightly pointed out I can't remember a terroist attack where the majority were not Saudi's, Pakistani's, and others from countries our government call friendly allies.

I've never been a big fan of the US. The majority narrow minded, uneducated when it comes to things outside of their country and totally brain wased into thinking they live in the greatest country in the world. Richest maybe but not the greatest.

The people I fear the most and dont trust the most come from us south of our border. The day George Bush ( a very stupid man) passes on is a day I look forward to.

Here here. I don't agree with US Foreign Policy and I think its the root cause for many of the problems that the US is faced with. Generally, the problems in the world today have been created by the interference of western nations into other world jurisdictions.

 

[red]

Yeah, but your talking about situations that differ significantly. If the US was to attack Saudi then thats a direct threat to the land itself and people, no matter who it is, will defend their land.

The Saudi's aren't directly threatening our lands. Some of the Saudi people are engaging in terrorist activities but that not a response to an attack on their land, its a response to other factors. You can't really draw the same comparision.

well then I guess when some of our soldiers bomb their cities they shouldn't take it personal either

 

[Brownie69]

well then I guess when some of our soldiers bomb their cities they shouldn't take it personal either

I'm not suggesting that you don't take the bombings personally, but holding Saudi accountable is not going to help. People are still talking about going in and physically removing terrorists but it hasn't worked has it... You go into Saudi and the problem goes off the scale without a doubt. No only do you give more fuel to the terrorists, you also run the risk of turning peaceful Muslims from other parts of the world against you. You might as well start WWIII. There are no easy answers to this problem. I'm just simply responding to why the US will not attack Saudi.

 

[Brownie69]

The world is becoming more dangerous for several reasons.

Failed nation states is a major, major factor.

The migration of rural residents to the cities adds to the problem.

The urban environment can breed disaffection among the young.

The lack of suitable employment and undereducation is another.

Corrupt governments aren't new but when added to this mix
they can result in very, very volatile situations.

If there is external interference those policies are generally
blamed for the problem. But my position differs. The
situation in Iraq and the Middle East has been brewing ever
since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The Brits,
French, Russians and others have also had a hand in
the mess. But I don't think they caused the problems.
Those problems have been there for a very long time.

Recall, Serbia was once a province of the Ottoman Empire.

Thats a fair assessment.

However, the Brits and French are Western Powers. Russia isn't and your right about them. You are right that these problems are far reaching, way before the Western world became involved in them. However, I still think that that modern history was dictated by the West post-world war 2. They had a big part in redrawing the boarders in the middle east and contributed to the destabilization of the region.

With that said, Arab countroes are using that as a crutch to not address the other issues you have correctly mentioned.

 

[Brownie69]

I agree with you except for one point.
The boundaries were drawn post-WWI.
The old empires gave up their colonial policies
in the 60s. I'm specifically referring to the Brits
and French in Africa. The French had a bit of a
mess on their hands in Algeria.

We Yanks are new-comers.

True, America are new-comers, they inherited the mess from the Brits.

 

[TQM]

question for DQ

Who is America dividing?

 

[Brownie69]

Who is America dividing?

The entire region.

Look at Iraq for example, you have the Sunnis vs. the Shites, true this is a historical division, but its being played on my trying to establish a central Iraqi gov't when its pretty clear these groups cannot live with each other. The Kurds are also thrown into the mix as well. Some western nations have no problem with these groups fighting each other.

 

[TQM]

ummmmm,

1. you admit to previous historical divisions - yet you continue to claim that the U.S. is somehow active in dividing these groups (Shia vs. Sunni). Please tell me (us) exactly what the U.S. is doing to divide these groups.

2. Iraq vs. Iran? I'm quite curious as to what the U.S. is doing to cause this divide. Now, please correct me if I'm wrong, but there was, some 2 decades ago, a war between these two nations, and the U.S. ivasion of Iraq has put in place a Shiite led govt. somewhat sympathetic to Iran. I'd like to know how this is dividing them - compared to before the war.

3. Iraq vs. Syria? Even more curious. Fighters are being sent into Iraq from Syria - and at the same time Syria is busy meddling with Lebanon and murdering former Lebanese political leaders. Exactly what do you think the U.S. is doing to divide these nations now?

(For others - yes, we are slowly building toward a "you fucking idiot(s)".)

 

[Brownie69]

1. you admit to previous historical divisions - yet you continue to claim that the U.S. is somehow active in dividing these groups (Shia vs. Sunni). Please tell me (us) exactly what the U.S. is doing to divide these groups.

2. Iraq vs. Iran? I'm quite curious as to what the U.S. is doing to cause this divide. Now, please correct me if I'm wrong, but there was, some 2 decades ago, a war between these two nations, and the U.S. ivasion of Iraq has put in place a Shiite led govt. somewhat sympathetic to Iran. I'd like to know how this is dividing them - compared to before the war.

3. Iraq vs. Syria? Even more curious. Fighters are being sent into Iraq from Syria - and at the same time Syria is busy meddling with Lebanon and murdering former Lebanese political leaders. Exactly what do you think the U.S. is doing to divide these nations now?

(For others - yes, we are slowly building toward a "you fucking idiot(s)".)

Firstly, the US after invading Iraq, could have split the country into three and given each group their own gov't. Instead they tried to form a democracy amongst warring factions, placing the previously oppressed Shites in power. Who would have thought that a large portion would be resentful against the Sunnis who were led by Saddam for so long? Appearently not the US. But of course portions of the Shite population start paying back the Sunnis for the oppression they suffered.

The Kurds aren't happy because they've always wanted a seperate state and they have been fighting for decades, so why stop now, especially when there is a new gov't.

Of course Iran who is predominately Shite will try to support the new Iraqi gov't from the Sunnis in the country by supplying arms and personnel and secure a new ally in the region. Will the Saudis sit back and watch this happen? Of course not, so they start supporting the Sunnis in Iraq and openly say they will not back down if Iran steps up efforts in the region.

Oh and don't forget the Kurds are still there mixing it up.

The US, who unless you believe are totally stupid and incompetent, set up a situation that was destined to fail. To make matters worse, the US is facing increasing pressure to pull out of Iraq. So the fighting amonst these groups will continue and get worse. Without the US troops the Iraqi gov't will turn to Iran for support and then the Saudi, not wanting Sunnis to be slaughtered would step in.

The US deliberately set up a system they they knew would fail and further the division between the three groups in Iraq. I suppose you could say the US is only guilty of poor decision making but I wouldn't buy it. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that people who have been at war for so long will continue to keep fighting and with the historical background its only a matter of time before other players get involved.

 

[Gyaos]

The US deliberately set up a system they they knew would fail and further the division between the three groups in Iraq. I suppose you could say the US is only guilty of poor decision making but I wouldn't buy it. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that people who have been at war for so long will continue to keep fighting and with the historical background its only a matter of time before other players get involved.

That's correct. And it was deliberate for record oil prices for Bush Jr. and Dick Cheney cronies. Notice that this nonsense "September report" comes in line for a pullout before Bush Jr. and Dick Cheney leave office. Bush Jr. appears like an idiot. He wants everyone to believe that. Only the White House has an exit strategy, not Iraq. They don't give one shit about Iraq.

Liars like Lindsey Graham (R SC) is a prime example of a piece of shit. "Let them win", he said. Well, Jim Webb (D VA) told him off on Sunday.

Gyaos Baltar.