JEDDAH, 12 March 2003 — US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s visit to Saudi Arabia next week is not intended to notify Riyadh on the date of a possible war on Iraq, Okaz reported yesterday.
Quoting Saudi sources, the Arabic daily said the US official’s visit next week falls within the framework of a tour which is to include Kuwait and Qatar.
Some 100,000 US soldiers have been deployed in Kuwait for a possible invasion of Iraq, while Washington has transferred to Qatar the US Army’s central command to direct a possible attack against Baghdad.
Rumsfeld is expected to hold talks with Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, and other high-ranking officials.
Rumsfeld’s talks with the Saudi leadership are expected to focus on issues of common interest besides discussing the latest developments in the Iraqi crisis, the newspaper said.
Last Saturday, Prince Sultan affirmed that military agreements between Washington and Riyadh do not imply the use of Saudi territories in military operations against Iraq.
But the defense minister acknowledged the presence in the Kingdom of US troops and said they were here to give logistical support and help in humanitarian operations in case of a US-led war against Iraq.
Saudi Arabia has reiterated that it will not permit the use of Saudi territory in strikes against Iraq.
Washington accuses Iraq of possessing weapons of mass destruction and wants a regime change in Baghdad.
