Saudis use oil in bid to blackmail US

WITH allies like Saudi Arabia, the US is in no need of enemies.

The Saudis are blackmailing Washington to retain its troops in the Middle East saying they ‘may’ fund Sunni militias if the Americans pull out (Irish Examiner, December 14).

The Saudis have also criticised the US for initiating talks with Iran, purely on religious grounds.

Saudi Arabia wants a Shi’ite-free Iraq and it wants US and allied troops to facilitate this.

When Iraq has been ‘cleansed’, it will no doubt beg the west for action on Iran. Meantime, President Bush gets his ‘gas’ and his Saudi friends get richer at the expense of young soldiers and innocent Iraqis.

While all this goes on, Saudi Arabia will continue to harbour terrorists who dream of destroying the US and its allies — Ireland included.

How can the US ever foresee itself leaving the region by its 2008 deadline while it continues to be blackmailed by its Saudi oil masters?

Eoin Healy

2 Red Abbey Hall

Abbey Street

Cork.