Vendaval
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Joined: 1/15/2005 Status: offline
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"Saudis on U.S. in Iraq: 'illegitimate foreign occupation' " POSTED: 12:15 a.m. EDT, March 30, 2007 " It was not clear what kind of diplomatic fallout could result -- but the comments did nothing to help bring Arab nations closer to the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a Shiite. The summit has taken a tough line on Iraq, demanding it change its constitution and military to include more Sunnis and end a program of uprooting former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party. The Sunni-led governments of the Arab world have long been suspicious of Iraq's Shiite leadership, blaming it for fueling violence by discriminating against Sunni Arabs and accusing it of helping mainly Shiite Iran extend its influence in the region. Abdullah's remarks came at a time when the kingdom is taking a more public role in efforts to defuse crises threatening to engulf the Middle East. Saudi Arabia sponsored a reconciliation accord between Palestinian factions, has engaged Iran about its nuclear program, and has tried to settle simmering tensions in Lebanon. And the kingdom has been talking to various factions in Iraq. Writers in some Arab media suggested before the summit that Saudi Arabia would seek solutions that would cater to U.S. interests. "The king's remarks are the biggest proof that those accusations were false," said Dawood al-Shirian, a Saudi analyst. "In the issue of Iraq, Saudi Arabia went far beyond most other Arab countries. It went beyond the details and right to the cause." Al-Shirian said he expected other Arab countries to follow Saudi Arabia's lead in considering the presence of U.S. troops an illegal occupation. "If Saudi Arabia didn't blame the occupation, the blame would fall on the Iraqis, who are victims. How can you blame the victim?" he asked. " http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/03/29/saudi.criticism.ap/index.html
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"Beware, the woods at night, beware the lunar light. So in this gray haze we'll be meating again, and on that great day, I will tease you all the same." "WOLF MOON", OCTOBER RUST, TYPE O NEGATIVE http://KinkMeet.co.uk
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