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Saudis help with cheap oil and air bases { April 25 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2004/04/25/saudi_aid_to_us_in_iraq_war_disclosed/http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2004/04/25/saudi_aid_to_us_in_iraq_war_disclosed/
COVERT EFFORTS
Saudi aid to US in Iraq war disclosed
By John Solomon, Associated Press | April 25, 2004
WASHINGTON -- During the Iraq war, Saudi Arabia quietly helped the United States far more than has been acknowledged, allowing operations from at least three air bases, permitting special forces to stage attacks from Saudi soil, and providing cheap fuel, US and Saudi officials said.
The American air campaign against Iraq was essentially managed from inside Saudi borders, where military commanders operated an air command center and launched refueling tankers, F-16 fighter jets, and sophisticated intelligence gathering flights, according to the officials.
Much of the assistance has been kept quiet for more than a year by both countries, for fear it would add to instability inside the kingdom. Many Saudis oppose the war, and the US presence on Saudi soil has been invoked by Osama bin Laden to build his terror movement.
But senior political and military officials from both countries say the Saudi royal family permitted widespread military operations to be staged from inside the kingdom during the coalition's invasion of Iraq. These officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the diplomatic sensitivity and the fact that some operational details remain classified.
While the heart of the ground attack came from Kuwait, thousands of special forces soldiers were permitted to stage their operations into Iraq from inside Saudi Arabia, the officials said. These staging areas became essential once Turkey declined to allow US forces to operate from its soil.
In addition, US and coalition aircraft launched attacks, reconnaissance flights, and intelligence missions from three Saudi air bases, not just the Prince Sultan Air Base, where US officials have acknowledged activity.
Between 250 and 300 Air Force planes staged from Saudi Arabia, including AWACS, C-130s, refueling tankers, and F-16 fighter jets during the height of the war, the officials said. Operations during the war were permitted at the Tabuk air base and Arar airport near the Iraq border, the officials said.
© Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company
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