Saudi Arabia to Allow US Use of Its Bases in War with Iraq: Officials

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 30, 2002

Saudi Arabia to Allow US Use of Its Bases in War with Iraq: Officials

US Defense officials have confirmed that Saudi Arabia would allow the United States to use its military bases or facilities in a possible war against Iraq, agencies reports said Sunday.

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US Defense officials have confirmed that Saudi Arabia would allow the United States to use its military bases or facilities in a possible war against Iraq, agencies reports said Sunday.

The confirmation came after The New York Times said Sunday that John Jumper, chief of staff of US Air Force, told the newspaper that Riyadh has assured him that Saudis would cooperate with the United States in a possible military showdown with Baghdad.

"I firmly believe the Saudis will give us all the cooperation we need, and every indication I have is we're getting pretty much what we've asked for," The New York Times quoted Jumper as saying.

One US defense official, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed Jumper's remarks Sunday. "The general (Jumper) is confident that the Saudis have assured us that they would let us do whatever we need to do," agencies reports quoted the official as saying.

Appearing on a flurry of television interviews on Sunday, however, US Secretary of State Colin Powell declined to confirm Riyadh had agreed to allow the United States to use its military facilities in military actions against Baghdad.

But Powell said Washington is in consultations with the Saudi Arabians on "all of these issues."

"I'm not unhappy with the level of cooperation we've received from the Saudis on all aspects of the global war on terrorism and what we are doing with respect to Iraq," the secretary said on CBS's "Face the Nation" program.

According to agencies reports, Saudi Arabia would allow the United States to use its high-tech Combined Air Operations Center located at Prince Sultan Air Base outside Riyadh to coordinate air strikes against Iraq.

As to other air bases, the Saudis may only allow the United States to use them for defensive purpose only.

The Saudi government had said before that it would not allow the use of its military facilities in military strikes against Iraq without the approval of the United Nations.

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