Reply #2: SUSRIS: What is your evaluation of likely courses in Iraq? [View All]

[BurtWorm]

Obaid: We’ve spent more than a year on a major assessment on Iraq this year. It was an independent assessment for the government and our conclusion was that there will be a split up of the country.

In that presentation we outlined the situation from Saudi Arabia’s perspective. The facts are that the Kingdom is the largest creditor for Iraq. It is the country that is the natural bastion of the main Sunni tribes in Iraq. You know they always look to Saudi Arabia as their natural base because that’s where they mostly come from.

You know there was a lot Saudi Arabia could have done in the beginning if the Americans were ready to listen. From the beginning it was very clear the Bush Administration had no intention to listen to Saudi Arabia whatsoever. That approach has influenced what we are seeing today -- especially dealing with the insurgents, and dealing with Al-Qaeda and dealing with all of these people.