thedrifter
08-06-02, 12:06 PM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A briefing last month for a top Pentagon ( news - web sites) advisory panel depicted Saudi Arabia as an enemy to the United States and a backer of terrorism, The Washington Post reported in Tuesday editions.
"The Saudis are active at every level of the terror chain, from planners to financiers, from cadre to foot-soldier, from ideologist to cheerleader," stated the briefing prepared by Laurent Murawiec, a Rand Corporation analyst, according to the Post.
The briefing was presented on July 10 to the Defense Policy Board, a group of prominent intellectuals and former senior officials that advises the Pentagon on defense policy, the report said, adding that it appeared to be linked to the growing debate over how to drive Iraqi President Saddam Hussein ( news - web sites) from power in Iraq.
"Saudi Arabia supports our enemies and attacks our allies," Murawiec was quoted as saying in the briefing.
He also urged the United States to demand that Riyadh stop funding fundamentalist Islamic outlets around the world, stop all anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli statements in the country," the newspaper reported.
The briefing urged U.S. officials to target Saudi oil fields and overseas financial assets if the Saudis refused to comply, according to the Post.
A Pentagon spokesman was not immediately available for comment on the report.
The newspaper quoted Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke as saying neither the briefing nor the advisory board represented the views of the U.S. government.
"Neither the presentations nor the Defense Policy Board members' comments reflect the official views of the department," Clarke said in a written statement. "Saudi Arabia is a long-standing friend and ally of the United States. The Saudis cooperate fully in the global war on terrorism and have the department's and the administration's deep appreciation."
The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, told the newspaper he did not take the briefing seriously. "I think that it is a misguided effort that is shallow and not honest about the facts," he said. "Repeating lies will never make them facts."
According to the newspaper, members of the Defense Policy Board include former vice president Dan Quayle ( news - web sites); former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger; former defense secretaries James Schlesinger and Harold Brown; former House speakers Newt Gingrich and Thomas Foley; and several retired senior military officers.
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20020806/i/1028642426.2885681174.jpg
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal(L) meets with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami in Tehran, August 3, 2002. A briefing last month for a top Pentagon advisory panel depicted longtime U.S. Gulf ally Saudi Arabia as an emerging enemy and backer of terrorism. Sources confirmed on August 6 a Washington Post report that an analyst from the independent Rand Corporation urged the U.S. to press Riyadh to stop funding fundamentalist Islamic outlets and halt anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli statements in the kingdom. Photo by Raheb/Reuters
Sempers,
Roger
"The Saudis are active at every level of the terror chain, from planners to financiers, from cadre to foot-soldier, from ideologist to cheerleader," stated the briefing prepared by Laurent Murawiec, a Rand Corporation analyst, according to the Post.
The briefing was presented on July 10 to the Defense Policy Board, a group of prominent intellectuals and former senior officials that advises the Pentagon on defense policy, the report said, adding that it appeared to be linked to the growing debate over how to drive Iraqi President Saddam Hussein ( news - web sites) from power in Iraq.
"Saudi Arabia supports our enemies and attacks our allies," Murawiec was quoted as saying in the briefing.
He also urged the United States to demand that Riyadh stop funding fundamentalist Islamic outlets around the world, stop all anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli statements in the country," the newspaper reported.
The briefing urged U.S. officials to target Saudi oil fields and overseas financial assets if the Saudis refused to comply, according to the Post.
A Pentagon spokesman was not immediately available for comment on the report.
The newspaper quoted Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke as saying neither the briefing nor the advisory board represented the views of the U.S. government.
"Neither the presentations nor the Defense Policy Board members' comments reflect the official views of the department," Clarke said in a written statement. "Saudi Arabia is a long-standing friend and ally of the United States. The Saudis cooperate fully in the global war on terrorism and have the department's and the administration's deep appreciation."
The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, told the newspaper he did not take the briefing seriously. "I think that it is a misguided effort that is shallow and not honest about the facts," he said. "Repeating lies will never make them facts."
According to the newspaper, members of the Defense Policy Board include former vice president Dan Quayle ( news - web sites); former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger; former defense secretaries James Schlesinger and Harold Brown; former House speakers Newt Gingrich and Thomas Foley; and several retired senior military officers.
http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20020806/i/1028642426.2885681174.jpg
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal(L) meets with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami in Tehran, August 3, 2002. A briefing last month for a top Pentagon advisory panel depicted longtime U.S. Gulf ally Saudi Arabia as an emerging enemy and backer of terrorism. Sources confirmed on August 6 a Washington Post report that an analyst from the independent Rand Corporation urged the U.S. to press Riyadh to stop funding fundamentalist Islamic outlets and halt anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli statements in the kingdom. Photo by Raheb/Reuters
Sempers,
Roger