WASHINGTON Ñ The Defense Department has been issued a recommendation
that the United States
threaten Saudi Arabia with military and financial measures unless the
kingdom ends its support for Islamic insurgency groups.
Officials said the recommendations were presented in a study from the
Washington-based Rand Corporation to the Defense Policy Board. The board was
established by the Pentagon to provide advice on U.S. defense and military
policy.
A Pentagon source said the briefing represented what he termed "forward
thinking" in dealing with Saudi Arabia amid any U.S.-led war against Iraq, Middle East Newsline reported.
The briefing took place on July 10 and for the first time reviewed the
deteriorating U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia. Officials said the board was
warned that the Saudi royal family has grown dependent on Islamic insurgency
groups linked to Al Qaida and spends billions of dollars in supporting
anti-Western religious activities throughout the world.
Pentagon spokesman Victoria Clarke confirmed that the Defense Policy
Board was briefed on U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia. But Ms. Clarke, in a
written statement, said the views expressed at the meeting did not reflect
the Pentagon.
"Neither the presentations nor the Defense Policy Board members'
comments reflect the official views of the Department of Defense," the
Pentagon statement on late Monday said. "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."
On Tuesday, the Washington Post quoted the Rand report as urging the
Bush administration to present Saudi Arabia with an ultimatum to end its
support for Islamic insurgency groups. The Rand report, drafted by Rand
analyst Laurent Murawiec, a former adviser to the French Defense Ministry,
termed Riyad as the most dangerous opponent in the Middle East and
recommended that the United States be prepared to seize Saudi oil fields and
freeze Saudi assets in the United States.
"The Saudis are active at every level of the terror chain, from planners
to financiers, from cadre to foot-soldier, from ideologist to cheerleader,"
the Rand briefing was quoted as saying. "Saudi Arabia supports our enemies
and attacks our allies."
The source said U.S. intelligence agencies have been increasingly dismayed
by reports that Riyad is cooperating militarily with Iran and Iraq and might
have relayed information on U.S. troop movement in the kingdom.
The Pentagon advisory board contains such members as former Secretary of
State Henry Kissinger, former Vice President Dan Quayle; former defense
secretaries James Schlesinger and Harold Brown. The Post said Kissinger
expressed heated objections to the recommendations in the Rand report,
arguing that Washington can persuade Riyad to change its policies without
the use of force.