Obama Asks Saudis to Airlift Arms into Benghazi

[Dusty]

This is SECRET? I took the liberty of posting this as a new thread because I think it's key...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...s-2234227.html

Desperate to avoid US military involvement in Libya in the event of a prolonged struggle between the Gaddafi regime and its opponents, the Americans have asked Saudi Arabia if it can supply weapons to the rebels in Benghazi. The Saudi Kingdom, already facing a "day of rage" from its 10 per cent Shia Muslim community on Friday, with a ban on all demonstrations, has so far failed to respond to Washington's highly classified request, although King Abdullah personally loathes the Libyan leader, who tried to assassinate him just over a year ago.


Washington's request is in line with other US military co-operation with the Saudis. The royal family in Jeddah, which was deeply involved in the Contra scandal during the Reagan administration, gave immediate support to American efforts to arm guerrillas fighting the Soviet army in Afghanistan in 1980 and later – to America's chagrin – also funded and armed the Taliban.

But the Saudis remain the only US Arab ally strategically placed and capable of furnishing weapons to the guerrillas of Libya. Their assistance would allow Washington to disclaim any military involvement in the supply chain – even though the arms would be American and paid for by the Saudis.

[Paslode]

What would be the potential payoff for the Saudi's other than possibly pissing off the Muslim world?

[incarcerated]

Originally Posted by Paslode

What would be the potential payoff for the Saudi's other than possibly pissing off the Muslim world?

That would be either
A.) that will leave fewer weapons in Saudi Arabia that might fall into the hands of the rebels (who the White House wants to work with) when protests start in SA on the 11th,
or
B.) that will leave fewer weapons available to the Saudi government to use against the rebels when protests start on the 11th.

Is POTUS also making this request of Kuwait? They’ve got all our stuff. We could say that it came from Saudi Arabia when it arrives in Libya.

The Libyan rebels are running into the same reality faced by each of the Islamic Popular Liberation protest movements: a lack of logistics. Not to worry: Obama is here to help.

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by Paslode

What would be the potential payoff for the Saudi's other than possibly pissing off the Muslim world?

I think the Saudi's would appreciate another non-Iranian style government in the AO.

Their problem is which of the small rebel outfit(s) is philosophically and numerically going to float to the top of the heap. Picking a new best friend that promptly loses is not advantageous to the cause.. Considering the nomadic nature and relative small size of the tribes in that AO, a winner(s) is going to be hard to pick.

My $00.0002

[incarcerated]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...hrain-protests

Saudi Arabian forces prepare to enter Bahrain after day of clashes

Crown Prince of Bahrain expected to invite Saudi support following anti-government demonstrations in capital
Ben Quinn
The Guardian, Monday 14 March 2011
Saudi forces are preparing to intervene in neighbouring Bahrain, after a day of clashes between police and protesters who mounted the most serious challenge to the island's royal family since demonstrations began a month ago.

The Crown Prince of Bahrain is expected to formally invite security forces from Saudi Arabia into his country today, as part of a request for support from other members of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council.

Thousands of demonstrators on Sunday cut off Bahrain's financial centre and drove back police trying to eject them from the capital's central square, while protesters also clashed with government supporters on the campus of the main university.

Amid the revolt Bahrain also faces a potential sectarian conflict between the ruling minority of Sunnis Muslims and a majority of Shia Muslims, around 70% of the kingdom's 525,000 residents....

The secretary general of the Gulf Co-operation Council, Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiya, expressed the "full solidarity with Bahrain's leadership and people", adding that "safeguarding security and stability in one country is a collective responsibility".

In an apparent reference to Iran, which Gulf Arab ruling elites fear may capitalise on an uprising by Shiites in Bahrain, he also expresssed "strong rejection of any foreign interference in the kingdom's internal affairs, asserting that any acts aiming to destabilise the kingdom and sow dissension between its citizens represent a dangerous encroachment on the whole GCC security and stability." Reports that the Saudi National Guard was poised to enter Bahrain were cited by the Foreign Office, alongside a recent increase in protests, as it changed its advice to advise British citizens against all travel to Bahrain....

The latest demonstrations took place a day after the US defence secretary, Robert Gates, visited Bahrain and said that the Khalifa family must go beyond "baby steps" reform and enact substantial economic and political change.

[incarcerated]

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...414-1dfi5.html

Libya fires salvo at Qatar as NATO mulls more air strikes

Imed Lamloum
April 14, 2011 - 5:09PM
Libya accused Qatar of providing rebels seeking to oust Moamer Kadhafi with anti-tank missiles, as NATO on Thursday gathered to mull calls for intensified air strikes on the strongman's forces.

"Qatar sent French Milan missiles to the rebels in Benghazi," the eastern city that serves as their base, Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim told a press conference in Tripoli.

He charged that 20 Qatari experts were also in the city to train some 700 rebels and that elements of the Lebanese group Hezbollah were fighting with the rebels in eastern Libya.

Both Qatar and France are part of the international coalition carrying out a military intervention in Libya against Moamer Kadhafi's regime.

France and Britain agreed to step up military pressure on Kadhafi's forces after world powers meeting in Doha promised Libya's rebels cash and the means to defend themselves....