Saudi Arabia quietly helps U.S. effort it has opposed

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia woke up to a war it has for months been trying to avert. But despite its opposition and repeated assertions it won't take part, the kingdom has quietly been helping the United States prepare for the conflict.

Thousands of U.S. troops have deployed near the border with Iraq and in a garrison town in the north. More have been deployed at an air base near Riyadh, the capital. And 3,300 Saudi soldiers are in Kuwait as part of Peninsula Shield, a military operation ordered by the Gulf Cooperation Council to protect Kuwait from a possible Iraqi attack.

"They have given the Americans everything they have asked for," a Persian Gulf official said on condition of anonymity. "Saudi Arabia is not participating; it's facilitating."

Hours after the start of hostilities, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal reiterated his government's position that it would not take part in a war against "brotherly" Iraq.

In a statement to the official Saudi Press Agency, Prince Saud expressed "grave concern and deep regret" over the war. He hoped "military operations end as soon as possible."

Compared to 1991

When talk about a U.S.-led war on Iraq began a few months ago, attention turned to Saudi Arabia, which hosted the U.S.-led coalition that expelled Iraq from Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War. At that time, the kingdom was under direct threat from the Iraqis, who were moving south in the direction of Saudi Arabia.

After that war ended, thousands of U.S. troops, now housed at the Prince Sultan air base outside Riyadh, stayed to monitor the no-fly zone established in southern Iraq to protect the country's Shiites from Saddam Hussein's troops.

A complex element this time is the Sept. 11 attacks, carried out by 19 Arabs, including 15 Saudis, all believed to be bin Laden followers. Since the attacks on New York and Washington, dozens of al-Qaida sympathizers have been arrested in the kingdom and a few Westerners have been attacked.

Spurred by its domestic concerns, the kingdom has tried to resolve the crisis diplomatically.

Weeks ago, it discreetly floated the idea Saddam should go into exile. It also presented to major Western powers the idea of offering amnesty to all but the tight circle around Saddam in the hopes that senior generals would overthrow him.

At the same time, the kingdom has been assuring its citizens that no Saudi troops will participate in the war.

But behind the scenes, Saudi Arabia has quietly been helping the Americans, mindful that if it did not join in the effort, it would have no say in helping shape a post-Saddam Iraq.

Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi political analyst, recently said the Beirut, Lebanon-based Daily Star that Saudi Arabia must "play some role in the 'liberation' of Iraq."

"Saudi Arabia must pursue a pragmatic policy," said Khashoggi, who is also editor-in-chief of the Saudi Al-Watan daily. "It is ... better for the Saudis to ensure a place for themselves in the operations room."

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia announced it was closing the northern Araar airport to civilian traffic, saying it would serve as a base to provide humanitarian assistance to Iraqi refugees.

However, the gulf official said thousands of U.S. troops have poured into the town of Araar, 40 miles south of the Iraqi border, and the garrison town of Tabuk, 60 miles south of the Jordanian border. The official said the U.S. troops in Araar include U.S. forces who will use helicopters and aircraft to carry out search-and-rescue operations -- basically help recover any downed pilots or planes. The official did not dismiss the possibility that attack missions will be carried out from Saudi Arabia.

Moreover, Western diplomats said the Americans have increased the number of their troops at the Prince Sultan base, and no-fly-zone patrols from the base will continue over what is now a war zone.