Reply #9: Osama demanded that our troops leave Saudi Arabia and Bush complied [View All]

[chat_noir]

Chicago Tribune April 30, 2003

Military to leave Saudi Arabia
U.S. moving amid strained relations

In-Depth Coverage By Stephen J. Hedges

Marking the end of an era, the United States will soon withdraw about 7,000 U.S. military personnel from Saudi Arabia and terminate a significant military presence there that lasted more than a decade, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced Tuesday.

Appearing at a press conference in Riyadh with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz, Rumsfeld said the Pentagon was ordering the redeployment, which involves mostly members of the U.S. Air Force, because there no longer is a threat from deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The changes are to take place this summer.

The Persian Gulf, Rumsfeld said, "is now a safer region because of the change in Iraq." He also said U.S. planes no longer are needed to enforce a "no-fly" zone over Iraq. American military aircraft patrolling the southern half of Iraq did so in part from Saudi Arabia.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030430-psab01.htm