The Saudi government challenged the Bush administration Tuesday to prove its claims that Saudi citizens have traveled to Iraq to fight American troops, and said US forces have failed to secure their side of the border. "We are very concerned about this issue because we would like to take action,'' Saudi foreign policy adviser Adel al-Jubeir said in an interview with The Associated Press. "But we have no evidence of Saudis crossing into Iraq and we have received no evidence from the US government.''
| Perhaps we could mail their heads back to Riyadh? |
Al-Jubeir said his government has offered to send its own team of investigators to help US officials identify any possible Saudi expatriate who may have come through other countries, like Iran, or who made it through the porous, desert borders between Iraq and the Saudi kingdom. "We are willing to send a team to Iraq to look at any evidence they might have,'' he said. "Saudi Arabia is determined to fight terrorism and to prosecute terrorists regardless of where they are.'' Al-Jubeir was reacting to comments by Bush administration officials over the last few days suggesting some foreign fighters have crossed from Saudi Arabia and other countries to help fight the American occupation in Iraq through sabotage, and attacks on soldiers.
"Yankee-19, we got 750 guys named al-Ghamdi holed up in a religious school, shootin' at everything in sight."
"Roger, Yankee-28. Try to hold 'em for another few minutes. We got a Soddy delegation on the way to give 'em a stern talking-to..." |
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