Sending Saudi Arabia troops to Iraq?

Question

Saudi Arabia believes the Iraqi government is not up to the challenge and has told the United States that it is prepared to move its own forces into Iraq should the violence there degenerate into chaos, a senior U.S. official told NBC News on Tuesday.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal made no effort to mask his skepticism Tuesday about President Bush's proposal to send 21,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq to stem sectarian fighting. Do you think it's a good idea to send Saudi troops to Iraq.

Answer 1

That would be great if the Saudi's actually send troops into Iraq on a scale greater than a token gesture. It's bound to open a huge can of worms back in Saudi Arabia though.

They have many problems in their own country and this action is bound to exasperate them.

1) the Saudi's are predominately Sunni Moslems, the same sect as Sadam Hussein and the now "disenfranchised" Iraqi minority. They'd be hard pressed to get tough with their Sunni brothers in Iraq.
2) The Saudi royal family has been trying to keep a lid on their own problems back home ... fundamental islamists, disatisfaction with the status quo and apparent chummyness of Saudi policy with the west and particularly the USA.

The Saudis have their own terrorist/freedom fighters within their own land to deal with. Moreover, it was the Saudis joining the coalition of the west and allowing western (USA) military forces to land base on Saudi soil in the First Gulf War that set off Osaman bin Laden in the first place. Keep in mind, most of the 9/11 bombers were Saudis. There are a lot of anti-west/anti-USA underground terrorist cells in Saudi Arabia. This sort of action could set them off in a frenzy of terrorism ... they'll come screaming out of the woodwork.

Answer 2

The Saudi's are primarily looking to protect the Sunni's in Iraq. That is their main interest in the current quagmire in Iraq. The other issue is how the US will react when the Saudi's are only looking to protect one group of the mixed population. Does the US side with the others or do we continue as is and fight against the Saudi's in Iraq? If the Saudi's send troops it is going to be a mess.

Answer 3

I don't see the Saudis sending any significant number of troops to Iraq for any reason. Why? If it chaos breaks out in Iraq it is much more likely that the Iranians and Syrians will make there initial entry in to Iraq...a foothold if you will. I don't see the Saudis wanting to confront other Islamic countries.

Spent 18 months in Iraq a some more time in a few othe Arab countries. Just my opinion.

Answer 4

perchance they are--i wager they sense in charge considering Iraq took the warm temperature even as the 9/11 suicide bombers were accused of being from Saudi Arabia. (the actual shown reality that various of the 'bombers' grew to develop into up alive with stolen passports after 9/11, and that none of them were listed on the manifests for the flights casts a touch doubt on their existence, yet, oh properly . . . .) Saudis run a depending society. All experts come from the exterior, all low-factor workers come from the exterior. electorate there haven't any artwork and are regularly on welfare from the oil sales. i imagine a number of them may be going to Iraq to wrestle only for something to do.

Answer 5

Stop for a second and look at the secular make up of Saudi Arabia, and then figure what that is all about.
In a sense they are suggesting that they do what Iran is already doing, so will it add to the level of secular violence??

Answer 6

Y E S, The Saudi Arabia troops have been trained by the US Military!!

Answer 7

Absolutely not good idea! as they are actually biased in sectarian violance.

Answer 8

Great, WW III, all thanks to Bush.