WASHINGTON Ñ The U.S. Defense Department has left Saudi Arabia off a
list of countries deemed as allies in Washington's war against terrorism.
A Pentagon statement listed a handful of Middle East and Persian Gulf
countries as coalition partners described as "fighting against the evil of
terrorism." The statement released on Tuesday stressed that the Pentagon
list was partial but added Japan after that country complained that it was
left out.
The absence of Saudi Arabia contrasts with the frequent public
assurances by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other senior
administration officials that Saudi Arabia has cooperated with the U.S.-led
war against terrorism. These officials have cited Riyad's agreement to
impose regulations against the funding of suspected Islamic insurgency
groups, Middle East Newsline reported.
"There's a lot of anger in the Pentagon against several Arab countries,
particularly Saudi Arabia," a U.S. defense official said.
The Pentagon list of allies cited Bahrain, Egypt, Greece, Jordan, Turkey
and the United Arab Emirates. Israel and Kuwait Ñ both of whom have been
conducting military exercises with the United States Ñ were also not on the
list.
Last year, Saudi Arabia refused to allow U.S. and allied warplanes to
use the air space of the kingdom for the war in Afghanistan. The Saudis also
refused the use of the Prince Sultan Air Base for U.S. operations in
Afghanistan.
"Some nations have helped openly," the statement said. "Others prefer
not to disclose their contributions."
The Pentagon said Bahrain has maintained fighter units on continuous
alert to protect coalition forces in the emirate. Manama is also the home of
the U.S. Fifth Fleet.
Bahrain has also contributed a frigate to support coalition naval
missions in the Persian Gulf and allowed overflights for U.S. and coalition
warplanes.
Egypt's role in the war against terrorism was not detailed. The
statement said Egyptian military representatives have attended consultations
at U.S. Central Command headquarters in Florida.
The Pentagon said Jordan has deployed an Aardvark mine clearing unit and
personnel in Afghanistan. A Jordanian representative is scheduled to work as
a planning officer at the Regional Air Movement Control Center and Jordan
has provided bases and overflight permission for all U.S. and coalition
forces.
Turkey has also provided bases and overflight permission for all U.S.
and coalition forces, the statement said. Turkey was the first coalition
country to provide what the Pentagon described as critical KC-135 aerial
refueling support for U.S. aircraft.
The Pentagon said the United Arab Emirates has provided bases and
overflight permission for all U.S. and coalition forces as well. In
addition, UAE
Air Force C-130 aircraft have supported allied operations by airlifting
supplies into Central Asia. They have conducted three flights to date.
