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U.S. plans to reduce military presence in Saudi Arabia

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Friday, January 18, 2002

ABU DHABI Ñ The United States intends to withdraw some of its nearly 5,000 troops from Saudi Arabia.

U.S. officials said the issue has been raised at various levels with the Saudi government as part of an effort to improve defense relations. They said both countries are in the initial stage of a discussion regarding a timetable and extent of the U.S. military withdrawal from the kingdom.

The issue has been raised during the current visit by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Lincoln Bloomfield. Bloomfield is responsible for political and military affairs at the State Department.

"He [Bloomfield] is here for consultations with the Saudi government to review our presence here and to discuss what we need and what we don't need," U.S. ambassador Robert Jordan said on Wednesday. "We were going to reduce our troops after the [1991] Gulf War anyway."

On Thursday, Bloomfield was quoted in the London-based Al Hayat daily as denying that he had discussed a U.S. military withdrawal with his Saudi hosts. Earlier, Bloomfield met Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled Bin Sultan.

The officials acknowledged the talks in the wake of a proposal by Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Carl Levin to end the use of the strategic Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz air force base in Saudi Arabia. Levin said on Tuesday that U.S. troops no longer appear welcome in the kingdom.

U.S. officials in both Washington and Riyad said the Bush administration is discussing changes in the U.S.-Saudi security relationship. They said any withdrawal of U.S. troops from the kingdom would be gradual and carried out without publicity.

Saudi officials appeared uneasy over Levin's call. But they did not deny that such talks were taking place or that Riyad had banned Washington from using the Prince Sultan air base for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.

"I have an unease about our presence in Saudi Arabia," Levin said on Tuesday in a meeting with reporters. "I think we may be able to find a place where we are much more welcomed openly."

Congressional staffers said Levin's call for a reduction of troops from Saudi Arabia came after a series of classified intelligence briefings in Congress that warned of rising opposition to the U.S. military presence in the kingdom. U.S. officials have told Congress that the future use of the Prince Sultan Air Base is in jeopardy after more than a decade of an American military presence in the kingdom.

"The situation at the Saudi base seems very unclear," Levin said. "We may need to move that base. I do think there is a real problem when we are told by a country, presumably an ally, doesn't want us to be seen."

U.S. officials have been examining other Gulf Cooperation Council states for the redeployment of 4,600 American troops in Saudi Arabia. They include Bahrain and Oman, regarded as more liberal countries than Saudi Arabia.

In Washington, Saudi ambassador Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz said Levin should never have raised the issue. Bandar, regarded as an influential figure with the administration, expressed surprise over Levin's call.

In Riyad, Saudi officials reassured a visiting U.S. business delegation that Riyad remains committed to an alliance with Washington. They dismissed the need for a reassessment of the U.S.-Saudi relationship in the wake of the Sept. 11 suicide attacks on New York and Washington, carried out mainly by Saudi nationals.

"We in the kingdom are certain that any questioning of the depth and strength of our relationship is short-lived because this friendship is based on common interests and shared goals," Saudi Economy Minister Ibrahim Al Assaf said.

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