Well, true....

[patgund]

For a while, the justification for the mess in Iraq is "we have to fight them over there so they don't attack us here again".

Curiously enough, that's what's happening. We ARE fighting people that came from the same country as almost all of the 9-11 attackers came from. Namely the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi fighters pose special problem

"Although Bush administration officials have frequently lashed out at Syria and Iran for helping the insurgents and militias attacking U.S. troops and civilians in Iraq, the largest number of foreign fighters and suicide bombers in Iraq come from a third next-door neighbor, Saudi Arabia, according to a senior U.S. military officer and Iraqi lawmakers.

The U.S. military believes 45 percent of all foreign militants are Saudi, 15 percent are from Syria and Lebanon, and 10 percent from North Africa, according to official U.S. military figures released to the Los Angeles Times by the officer. Nearly half of the 135 foreigners held in U.S. detention facilities in Iraq are Saudi.

Saudi fighters are thought to have carried out more suicide bombings than any other nationality, said the senior American military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the subject's sensitivity for the U.S. government. It is apparently the first time a U.S. official has given such a breakdown on the pivotal role played by Saudi nationals in Iraq's Sunni Arab insurgency.

He added that 50 percent of all Saudi fighters in Iraq are suicide bombers. In the last six months, such bombings have killed or injured 4,000 Iraqis. The situation has left the American military in the awkward position of facing an enemy whose top source of fighters is a key regional 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 jihadists to commit attacks against U.S. forces, civilians and Iraq's Shiite Muslim-led government"

When will people wake up and realize that KSA is NOT OUR FRIEND???? Every US expat I knew in Doha knew that KSA was the 800 lb gorilla in the region, and that by and large, they didn't like the US. And the House of Saud has the current administration wrapped around their finger (remember VP Chaney being summoned to KSA by the House of Saud last Thanksgiving??). The way the current administration treats KSA, it's like the cops showed up to Bush's door and Bush told them that he fell and Saudi Arabia really loves him and just goes crazy some times.

The House of Saud is using the US Military as janissaries to fight a Sunni vs. Shia battle. Which is the last thing our military should be used for.

Comments

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

When will people wake up and realize that KSA is NOT OUR FRIEND?

The interesting discussion is who is (people, OUR) and who is KSA.

Those who are running KSA get along well enough with those who are running USA. "friend" might be too strong a term, but the relationship is mutually profitable.

Those who are going to Iraq are friends of neither.

I am more concerned about when people will wake up and realize that those running USA are not our friend. Well, perhaps it has started, but I am concerned about future developments. I was very opposed to our going into Iraq, but that does not mean I support a precipitous withdrawal. We can screw things up more than we already have. I just don't want any part of the process directed by Shrub and crew.

[jeran.livejournal.com]

I'd note that just because the powers-that-be in the KSA find it profitable to sell to us doesn't mean that they're our friends. Or even friends of the people running our country. My feeling is that the House of Saud views us as an enemy (what we nominally want in the region would be detrimental to their maintaining power), but one that's too powerful to confront openly. So they're playing politics as per standard for the region: pretend to make nice with your enemy while you drain him of resources, and get as much leverage on him as you can so you can lead him into fights with all your other enemies in the region. If he wins, he's weakened and some of your other enemies are eliminated. If he loses, he's eliminated and some of your other enemies are eliminated or weakened. You, meanwhile, have improved your position at little or no risk or cost to yourself. In parts of the US this game is called "Let's you and him fight.".

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

I was too cute. I don't think the KSA p-t-b are our friends. Any more than I think those in this country that they do business with are our friends. I agree with your analysis.