Report: Saudis warn they may back Sunnis (if US pulls troops out to quickly)

The chose is not all that simple boys and girls. It seems this thing may go regional if we don't handle it.

If we allow this to happen, and it turns into a regional conflict between the Sunni's and Shiites...let's just guarantee America will peek it's head in. It's either now or later, no matter how much anyone hates to admit it. I don't a fuck what people think about Bush (you could think he's a moron for all I care), but you have to think about this situation with praticality. We can't anchor our beliefs on idealism on this...not now.

We fuck this up, we're in deep shit. Don't be too quick to your chose. Your idealism could lead to a bigger conflict, one which will be a lot harder to control.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061213/ap_on_re_mi_ea/saudi_warning

 

Iran is getting a much more powerful country in the region.

Until now many Sunnis (almost all) didnt like Iran, but now it is changing and that is what scares Saudis (that Iran would be popular among Sunnis as well as Shia's).

Iranian president (with his anti Israeli) comments has got a lot of popularity in the Muslim world. Add to that the nuclear issue there. The nuclear issue has turned into a completely ego/nationalism/pride matter and the Iranian president is the only one standing in front of western powers (unlike most other Arab countries). Therefore he is becoming more and more popular.


Again, that is what Saudi Arabia is scared off. Iran has too much influence on Shia's in Iraq and they don't want another Shi'a country in the region (Iran and Lebanon are enough)...

 

I have LONG said that if you're going to start something, you'd darn well make sure you finish it right. That is the main reason I voted for Bush in the second election, to help prevent an quick and arbitrary time table for pulling out of Iraq.

 

I too subscribe to 'if you'd darn well make sure you finish it right' but the problem is that not one present politician in either the Bush or the Blair government has the nous on how to get the job done

But f**king with the the Sunni's in Saudi is unwise to say the least, but having said that Bush & Blair have managed to fall out with most of the countries in the Middle East

So I guess to play the last 'Ace in the Pack' to fall out with the Sunnis is to be expected from Bush

 

I'm hopeful that Gates will help bring about some change in the region before the next general election, and that this news will allow politicians from any party to avoid promising to leave arbitrarily soon, and that we'll actually get things done right.

 

I wish I had your optimism but Gates will have to report to the neocons and then the problems will start...............this guy Gates probably under different circumstances might have a chance as he is respected by both the Reps & Dems, but at this moment in time .............he reports to Bush..........and Bush is the root cause of the problem period

 

I disagree British Guy. The administration has had some attitude problems regarding the war, but Bush relies on his advisors rather heavily. If Bush changes an adviser (and you give that adviser time to discuss things with the CiC (Comander in Cheif) ), and you might get a change in the direction of the war in Iraq.

 

You are entitled to disagree and I respect you for that, but unfortunately Bush does not have the intellect to be able to understand advice

Over 70% of the voting public in the States believe Bush is the main problem, if I was an American National I would be in there with the 70% +

By the way Blair is on a par with Bush '2 peas in a pod'

 

Ah. Well, you are entitled to that opinion as well. Also, I am not saying that I’d vote for Bush again (if there was a 3rd term allowed). I’m just saying that there is a good chance for improvement.

After all, in his first campaign for presidency, didn’t GW say “If I don’t know the answer, I know who to go ask.”? I’d like to think he’d be open to the advice of his advisers.

 

Spot on. I couldn't of put it any better myself
But you forgot Cheney.

It's a disaster.

 

I dislike McCain and Feingold more than Bush and Cheney, but that's just me.

 

all the people involved with starting that war should be driven from public service

they shouldn't be in charge of a school board let alone running this country

 

Bush and Cheney are going to stay for the next two years. Sorry, but the feelings you have against them won't do much good if this problem lingers on past their reign. I think if it's fundamentally done somewhat okay, then this issue won't be as big as it is now; and since it's near election time, I'm sure that's why it's blown-up so hugely by the media.

Do I think Bush can do it?....we'll see in these next six months. If not, we'll have to have a lot of faith that things don't get out of hand. Either way, I don't subscribe to leaving if it will lead to regional war....that's just not an option. Almost every country in world except Canada, Mexico, and Russia will experience very harsh changes....and even them to a point. I wouldn't be suprised if that led to an expanded conflict outside of the middle east.

To answer ferret, yes, I think this whole thing was stupidly conceived (and not prudent enough for me); but no matter how it was conceived, it has to be seen through to some level of stability. Hopefully history will have no need to prove that.

 

This problem will exist long after the Bush/Cheney reign Rick.

Because of them 2 dangerous people thousands have died and thousands more will die, that sir is guaranteed.

It's sad but true.

 

Where's Grenada when you need it?

 

Saddam was a tyrant , but how many people think iraq was better before or after saddam? The insurgency was planned out by pro saddam people and seperately by foreign fighters long before the second invasion of iraq. The fundamentalists were always kept in check by saddam before but it looks like the genie has been let out of the bottle now. Our troops are dieing everyday and we dont seem to have any solution in sight. If we leave the insurgents will take power , if we stay our troops die. What a mess we got ourselves into there. Another vietnam

 

You know...to a level I can understand your reasoning on blaming Bush & Co for the soldiers deaths and the random civilian casulties done through direct military action....

But I will not blame Bush for the vast majority of the insurgency kills. It's not his direct fault. Had this been another rational nation (where a dictator had been taken down) it wouldn't be much of a problem at all. We're not dealing with the most sane boys there. Essentially I would amount it to those whom blame guns for high rates of crime; when situational places like New Hampshire have tons of guns but are incredibly safe to live in, while Britain ( your place) actually has a much higher levels of crime w/heavy gun restriction.

Some people can live responsibly, even with dangerous things available, and others can't even live together. Not to say Britain's bad, but my point is that we can't blame lay direct blame on him for actions others take. Yes, the war has a logical connection to these events, but I figure we were killing people either way through sanctions...so it's a bit hard to gauge anything moral about the relationship of Western influences and the middle east.

Afterall, you'll find that Russia, France, and Germany were benifitting heavily previously in the oil for food progams,....make it politically impossible to end a program with loopholes a plenty, muchless allowing Saddam to willful starve his own people. It's just a dirty corrupt thing. It seems that no nation had a role in really trying to do anything that would both be humane but highly restrictive on Saddam's capabilties. The prefered a rather open status-quo.

I think had the UN lived-up to it's name many, many, many...years ago, we'd probably not be in this situtation. I think the blame spread thin over time, but most innocent deaths there lie within the hands holding the guns. More correctly the hands holding the bombs....

the insurgents themselves.

 

Hopefully you can sleep at night knowing people die. You and I will both die someday, too. Just a part of life, mate.

Do you post in any other sections on this website are you strictly a P&R man?

 

of come on, thats like saying if mayor fired the entire police force of his city, its not his fault when the crime rate goes up

 

The Saudis need to back the Sunnis. Otherwise they'll be wiped out by a Shia majority.

Everyone knows this. Morally, it would be wrong to leave the Sunnis to all die, even though they're the main cause of the Anti-US insurgency. That makes the moral issues even more complicated.

BTW, the Saudis are already backing the insurgency.