Saudi ruler warns against war with Iraq
Saudi Arabia issued a fresh warning against war with Iraq today despite US President George Bush’s attempts to convince America’s traditional ally.
Mr Bush took Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi Arabia’s Washington ambassador, to his Crawford ranch, in Texas, to put the case against Saddam Hussein.
However, Crown Prince Abdullah, de facto ruler of the kingdom because of to King Fahd’s chronic illness, said no country backed military action.
And that message was spelt out again today by his foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faysal.
He also issued a vigorous defence of his country’s record in fighting al-Qaida following US suggestions of support in Saudi Arabia for Osama bin Laden’s terrorist group.
Saudi Arabia has “suffered greatly from the actions of Saddam Hussein” and an Iraqi scud missile had exploded on his own roof, the Prince said.
“The threat was very real, no-one can say Saudi Arabia in its policy has not given due consideration to the threat from Mr Saddam Hussein,” he told BBC Radio 4’s World at One.
However, Saddam’s removal was a matter for the people of Iraq and outside intervention, from America or elsewhere, would destabilise the region, he said.
“Our worry, our great worry, is that if you carry this argument to its extent would be that somebody else has to determine the future of Iraq. This never works,” he said.
Instead, Saddam should be given the chance to stick to the “solemn promise” made by Iraq at the recent summit of Arab leaders in Beirut to meet UN resolutions demanding the readmission of weapons inspectors, the Prince said.
“A political settlement... would save the Iraqi people more suffering and allow the international community to safeguard its interests in the stability of the region,” he said.
“Leave the decision to the Iraqi people.”
The Prince was adamant that Saudi Arabia was playing a leading part in the US-led global coalition against terror.
“Since 11 September and the fight against terrorism Saudi Arabia has contributed... more than any other country in information that is being gleaned from people arrested and so forth and so on,” he said.
“Saudi Arabia has been more instrumental in preventing funds reaching al-Qaida, and this you can verify from other sources, at least in preventing $70-90m (€71.3-91.6m) from reaching al-Qaida in the last few months.”
The kingdom regards the threat from al-Qaida as “very serious”, he continued.
“We take it in the most serious (way), expect the worst, we work for the worst,” he said.
“This is why we are so active in the pursuit of everything that allows information provided to our friends and allies and work together to dissipate the threat and danger.
“We have been, thank God, successful until now. We hope that we will be successful in preventing action in the future.
“But this can only happen if we don’t cast aspersions against each other and work collectively for the good of the international community.”
