US troops quit Saudi Arabia

[DuctapeFatwa]

The last American military unit in Saudi Arabia has left the desert kingdom.

The deployment, triggered by Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, once reached more than 500,000 troops. A brief ceremony at Prince Sultan Air Base south of Riyadh, from where the no-fly zones over Iraq were enforced for 13 years, marked its end.

The 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing, which was stationed at the base, has been deactivated. Dozens of lorries were yesterday moving the remaining US military equipment to neighbouring Qatar, where the main US military base in the Gulf is located.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/08/28/wsaud28.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/08/28/ixworld.html

[Ohio Dem]

1. bin Laden won.

This is what bin Laden wanted. So you could say that he got his way on that one.

Way to go, chimpy.

[RobertSeattle]

2. Exactly the spin Hannity would be saying if a Democrat Prez did this

[Ohio Dem]

5. I'm really surprised all our troops are out of there for that very reason.

It wouldn't have surprised me to see them leave the troops there just to spite bin Laden, or make a Dem president pull out.

But, we don't need SA anymore. We have Iraq, and therefore, a whole new generation of bin Ladens.

[psychopomp]

8. Qatar is more important than Iraq right now

...at least as a military command center. The second U.S.-Iraq war was coordinated from Qatar (and Florida) from the shiny-new command center there.

[Kbowe]

19. We will bring disaster to Quatar just as we did Saudi Arabia and Iraq

Just give it a few more months. Too bad. The people of Quatar don't deserve what we will bring on them just because their leaders want our military protection to keep them in power. It's a real shame.

[NNN0LHI]

10. Are you sure that "we have Iraq"? It may be the other way around? n/t

[Ohio Dem]

12. That's a good point you make.

When I say "We have Iraq," I guess what I mean is "The PNAC is planning on having Iraq to keep our troops in."

[MaineDem]

3. You're absolutely right.

Were there any plans to pull our troops out of SA before 9/11? Just curious.

[MrBenchley]

4. The Chimp buys peace in our time

Disgraceful.

[PsychoDad]

7. Osamma has won on at least 2 accounts

The americans are out of SA, As Bin Laudin wanted
The secular state of Iraq is gone.

Not bad

[priller]

15. And he has a new cause for thousands of recruits

The US is now taking on the same role as the Soviets did in Afghanistan--the enemy of Islam!

[RobinA]

20. So....

you agree it's good policy to be pissing off Moslems by parking our jets on holy soil?

[GalleryGod]

6. 363rd DIRECTLY to Baghdad!

Home!? Who SAID you were going there!?????
Heavens-to-Rumsfeld! It's time to go to Deathwatch 101!:puke:

[FlashHarry]

9. Here's the real deal:

http://democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=242031

[NNN0LHI]

11. "The PNAC crowd fears a revolution is imminent"?

Nope. They know a revolution is imminent. Because they will cause it. When you begin seeing Vinnell Corporation a Northrop Grumman Company, and other US Corporations who are basically hired thugs who's job it is to keep the Saudi government in power pulling out, the Saudi ruling family will soon follow. Looting the Saudi treasury as they leave. Then Shazam! America will need to invade that country to restore order and to protect western oil companies interests there.

Don

[Old and In the Way]

18. What about that $7TT Saudi investment in USD?

What happens if they decide to liquidate their investments? Sure, they'd take a bath on a wholesale dump...but I think they'd damage our economy significantly too.

I really think we got evicted from SA...and I'm not entirely sure that OBL is not on the side of the Kingdom on this....the bin Laden family are part of the elite, OBL may be playing his assigned role in the interests of SA...

[grytpype]

13. Yep. Looks like bin Laden got exactly what he wanted.

Maybe he'll be nice to us now. Wherever he is.

[gratuitous]

14. Where is the crowd that loves to call "Appeasement!"

Gee, they were here just a couple of minutes ago. Where'd they all go?

[Wwagsthedog]

16. Another thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=85441

[donsu]

17. this is the quietest retreat in history

has any other retreats been this silent. (I think there was a silent retreat in either the Rev. War or the Civil War that later led to victory but this one takes the cake)