(Los Angeles Times) Editorial - Saudi Arabia took a step to repair the alliance this week, agreeing to let the U.S. use Prince Sultan Air Base as a command center and takeoff point for fighter planes in the event of war with Iraq. That never should have been in question. The U.S. built the base, at a cost of $1 billion, after the Gulf War, and has stationed about 5,000 troops there. Pentagon planners were so concerned about Saudi reluctance that they had been building up bases elsewhere in the Middle East. It is unfortunate that many Saudis do not understand the effect of Sept. 11 on Americans. What is truly outrageous is that the Saudi interior minister said in an interview published last month that Zionists were responsible for Sept. 11 and "the Zionist-controlled media... manipulated the events of Sept. 11 and turned the U.S. public opinion against Arabs and Islam." Such distortions, especially by Cabinet ministers, will keep tensions high despite all attempts to repair frayed relations.
2002-12-06 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive