Saudis to give airspace, but not bases

Saudi Arabia yesterday dealt a definitive blow to US efforts to secure the use of the kingdom's military bases in the expected offensive against Afghanistan. The Saudi Defence Minister, Prince Sultan Abdul Aziz, dismissed as "nonsense" reports that Riyadh would permit Washington to launch military strikes against Afghanistan or any other Muslim country from installations on Saudi territory.

"We will not accept the presence in our country of a single soldier at war with Muslims or Arabs," Prince Sultan told the official daily Okaz. At the end of the 1991 Gulf War, Saudi Arabia took the decision that its bases could be used solely for defence and only in case of attack. Prince Sultan's statement was the most authoritative made by any member of the royal family since the September 11th terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. The fact that the ruling came from Prince Sultan is highly significant. He is a full brother of King Fahd and second in line to the throne as well as defence minister.

The facility which Washington wishes to use as an operations centre is the state-of-the-art Prince Sultan Airbase 100 km south of the Saudi capital. He was a prime mover in the construction and outfitting of this base where 5,000 US troops are stationed. Prince Sultan is also second in seniority amongst the seven sons of the founder of the dynasty, King Abdel Aziz Ibn Saud, and Hassa al-Sudairi (known as the "Sudairi Seven"), the most pro-US faction in the royal family. The ailing King Fahd, who does not take part in governance, is the senior male member of this group.

The Saudis were surprised and offended when Washington shifted the commander of the US Central Command, General Charles Wald, from his headquarters in Florida to the Prince Sultan Base and announced that it would serve as a launchpad for operations against Afghanistan. In spite of repeated denials, it was reported from Washington on Friday that Saudi Arabia had agreed to the US requests.

In yesterday's editorial, Okaz accused he Washington Post and news agencies of misrepresenting the Saudi position. Okaz said: "This attempt . . . is designed to spoil the kingdom's relations with its friends . . . Saudi airspace will be our only contribution to the international campaign against terrorism but the kingdom's soil will not be used as a base for any military operations."

Saudi Arabia's initial rejection, apparently, compelled Washington to drop the idea of prompt, massive retaliatory strikes against the prime suspect, Osama bin Laden, and the Afghan Taliban regime which shelters him. In lieu of Saudi installations, the US has secured the use of facilities in Central Asia. General Wald could be expected to relocate his command centre to the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia.

The kingdom's rulers fear a popular backlash from citizens opposed to the presence of US forces in Saudi Arabia. At least 10 of the 19 suspects in the terror attacks on the US were Saudi citizens and Mr bin Laden is highly regarded by many Saudis.