U.S.-Saudi Talks Focus on Muslim Force
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and top Saudi officials held talks Wednesday about forming a Muslim force and deploying it in Iraq to supplement the U.S.-led coalition.
Preliminary discussions on the subject had been conducted, Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal said at a news conference with Powell. He gave no details. Powell declined to comment on the issue.
It’s unclear why Saudi Arabia was involved in the negotiations, considering that it would not contribute troops to any Muslim force, in keeping with Iraqi wishes that none of its neighbors send military personnel to avoid possible complications in regional politics.
Some of the countries mentioned as possible participants in a joint force -- Malaysia, Algeria, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Morocco -- are outside the region.
Jordan and Pakistan have expressed interest, but apparently no country wants to be the first to commit, and some are looking for the Arab League’s approval.
A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States was interested in the idea. He said any Muslim troops that go to Iraq would serve as a supplement to the U.S.-led force.
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