Rice seeks Saudi help to stabilize Iraq

[Barrett808]

Rice seeks Saudi help to stabilize Iraq
By Arshad Mohammed
Mon Oct 2, 5:27 AM ET

SHANNON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Monday she plans to ask Saudi Arabia to do more to help stabilize Iraq, encouraging it to influence Iraqi Sunnis to become more involved in the political process.

Speaking as she flew to the Middle East, Rice said she planned during her trip to talk to U.S. allies in the region about how they can assist the Iraqi and Lebanese governments as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Rice's trip to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories is her first journey to the region since a July visit at height of the war between Israel and Hizbollah militants in Lebanon.

During the trip, she plans to have a group meeting with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and the six Gulf Cooperation Council states -- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061002/pl_nm/mideast_rice_dc

[wakeme2008]

1. Get a clue Ricey... Saudi is building a FENCE between

them and Iraq... I do not think they will be able to help.

[Supersedeas]

3. Message to Condi: this is a historical problem for US; your problem-ours

can be solved by a fence.

[saigon68]

13. HOW ABOUT Rice seeks Saudi help to Fly Airplanes to D.C.

LOL

[zbdent]

2. After breaking something, she now goes to look for help on how to

put Humpty back together?

Maybe she should have sought their help BEFORE THE F*CKING WAR ...

[barb162]

7. why do something logical like that

[MGKrebs]

4. You have to give something in return Condi.

Surely they would be helping more now if they had a good reason to. If you continue to just try to bully others into helping, you will continue to fail. SA may want a say in how operations are conducted there, or some investment commitments, who knows. Just ask.

[Tempest]

5. Correct me if I'm wrong...

But isn't Saudi Arabia one of the biggest financial supporters of al-Qaeda and terrorism?

Condi is asking the fox to guard the henhouse.

[sugapablo]

11. No...

I believe SA is one of the biggest CAUSES of Al-Qaeda and terrorism.

Much of Al-Qaeda is geared towards what they view as secular and corrupt governments in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, etc. They would love nothing more than to slaughter the Saudi royal family.

[Tempest]

15. Actually, I'm right

It's common knowledge the Saudi government funds al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups to keep them from attacking the Saudi government or inside Saudi Arabia.

The groups won't bite the hand that feeds them, even if they want to.

[patrice]

6. Is she going to ask the Saudis to split their oil revenues with the

Iraqi Sunnis?

That's part of the problem isn't it? The Iraqi Sunnis don't have any oil.

[allisonthegreat]

8. Oh pleeeze

Why oh why can we not leave well enough alone. They did not agree with this damn occupation.

[tanyev]

9. Condi. Just stay home and watch TV for the next 2 years, K?

I think you'll do less damage that way.

[JCMach1]

10. The Saudis can't keep their own stuff together

Rice is an idiot... and not in a good way. She THINKS she knows things

[AlCzervik]

12. maybe they can help with the airlift that you know is coming eventually.

[hatrack]

14. Maybe they could set up some religious-themed charter schools!

After all, what's good enough for Florida ought to be good enough for Iraq . . .