Saudi Seeks Arab, Muslim Troops in Iraq
Saud, speaking at a press conference in the Red Sea port city of Jiddah, said Iraq must request such a force "with the full and clear support of the Iraqi people."
He said this force would operate under the umbrella of the United Nations (news - web sites) and "will replace the coalition troops currently in Iraq, and not be in addition to it."
His comments came after he met Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa to discuss a Saudi proposal to send Arab and Muslim troops to Iraq.
Saud said the kingdom had contacted a number of countries interested in the situation in Iraq "and these contacts resulted in laying the framework through which sending troops to Iraq could be discussed."
"It was confirmed to us that the Iraqi government, with the full and clear support of the Iraqi people, must request" sending troops, he said.
"The kingdom's wish, in the first place, is to find a way to accelerate the withdrawal of coalition troops from Iraq. I hope this issue is taken seriously," he said.
He said Saudi officials held discussions with the interim Iraqi government, the United Nations secretary-general and the American administration "and we asked them to study these requirements."
"These thoughts were discussed with Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites)," he said, adding that the proposal to send Muslim troops to Iraq originated from Malaysia.
Powell was in the kingdom last week and also met there with Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, who urged Arab and Muslim nations to send troops.
"The troops from Arab and Muslim nations sent to Iraq will not be similar to the current troops. They don't come as invaders or occupiers. They will go there to help the Iraqi people," Saud said.
Apparently, Bush is conspiring with the corrupt Saudi Royal family to do everything they can to get him elected. I'm convinced they will send some troops perhaps 100, 200, to Iraq before election to prove Bush's coalition is working.
This will be the first election determined by Saudi Royal Family.