Riyadh seeks Russian help to prevent US strike on Iran

[maddezmom]

AFP)

11 April 2006



RIYADH - Saudi Arabia, fearing that US military action against Iran would wreak further havoc in the region, has asked Russia to block any bid by Washington to secure UN cover for an attack, a Russian diplomat said on Tuesday.


During a visit to Moscow last week, the head of the Saudi National Security Council “urged Russia to strive to prevent the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution which the United States could use as justification to launch a military assault to knock out Iran’s nuclear facilities,” the diplomat told AFP in Riyadh on condition of anonymity.

Prince Bandar bin Sultan, a former longtime ambassador to the United States who is often tasked with delicate missions, met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on April 4.

Saudi officials did not give details about the meeting. The Russian diplomat said the talks focused on the row over Iran’s nuclear program but did not make clear what Moscow’s response was to the call for restraining the United States.

more:http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/April/middleeast_April291.xml§ion=middleeast&col=


Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) invites Secretary General of Saudi Arabia's National Security Council Prince Bandar Bin Sultan to talks in Moscow April 4, 2006. REUTERS/Alexander Natruskin

[Nickster]

1. Silly Saudis, we don't need no stinkin UN backing. n/t

[BR_Parkway]

5. No but we do need China's money, and China needs oil, so I'm

hoping that they will be the one's to reign in this power mad cabal that's hijacked the US

[Nickster]

8. It's a nice thought, but the UN doesn't have the will of leadership to

actually rally a united front against us, they just don't.

[BR_Parkway]

10. China doesn't need the UN for this - they simply sit quietly at the

next Treasury auction and don't buy anything. Especially if they put some pressure on a few smaller places like Japan to go along with them.

Our economy would go into a panic within 48 hours, stocks would crash and we'd be right back into the Depression again.

[Nickster]

Good point. n/t

[Nickster]

11. duplicate self delete

[maddezmom]

9. lots of visits between Saudi Arabia and China lately

Chinese leader to visit as Saudi expands Asia ties

RIYADH (AFP) - A planned visit by China's president to Saudi Arabia, soon after a trip by the Saudi monarch to Beijing, underlines the oil-rich kingdom's quest to forge partnerships with Asia, experts said.

President Hu Jintao's April 22-24 visit will also come close on the heels of an Asian tour by the Saudi crown prince, confirming that Riyadh is increasingly looking eastwards for both export markets and the import of technology.

"With a persistent very high growth in GDP (gross domestic product), China needs energy to fuel its growth," said prominent Saudi economist Ihsan Bu Hulaiga.

But the relationship with Riyadh is also important to Beijing "for geopolitical reasons, given Saudi Arabia's weight in Arab, Gulf and Islamic circles", he told AFP.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060411/wl_asia_afp/saudichinaasia_060411133539

[Roland99]

13. Unilateral action from the Unitary Executive

Why doesn't Bandar Bush talk to his lover-bro about this?

Has a rift formed between the Bushes?

[PATRICK]

2. I hope that's not all they are hoping for

The UN let Bush get away with his last war against their resolutions and he is making only a feeble effort this time with no Colin Powell or ANYONE with any degree of diplomatic standing, just idiotic bullies like Rice and Bolton. In no way does Bush intend to be slowed down by more embarrassing defeats at the UN.

He will speed ahead and then, if dragged before the Security Council, present a fait accompli etc.

This goes for both sides. Hussein got zilch for all the efforts of the UN to stave off war. Bush got zilch as far as legitimacy and allies.

I hope Iran doesn't think this is a real great card. Bush is more realistic because he is going to go ballistic and not worry about the UN.

[HuffleClaw]

3. all indications are that bushco. will strike first then answer questions

or, more likely, REFUSE to answer questions.

[Midlodemocrat]

4. Dear God. That madman is going to get us all killed.

[cliss]

6. Let's look at this from Bush's standpoint.

What is it that he understands? Power. Lack of power. That's all he knows. If you're strong, then he can't touch you. If you're weak, he'll move in and search for the jugular. It's as simple as that.

If they want to keep Bush out of Iran, then they need to mobilize and present a unified front. Russia, China, India, Venezuela, all the Gulf states should get together and show him they mean business.

Then he would back off.

Bush is not as strong as he likes to think. In fact, he's living on borrowed time. He wrecked his own war machine in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[enid602]

7. 'Bandar Bush'

When 'Bandar Bush' goes against us, things are really getting bad.

[CJCRANE]

12. Could be a double bluff.

If Iran gets knocked down - oil prices go up. Guess who benefits?