Saudis plan to fence border with Iraq

[Barrett808]

Saudis plan to fence border with Iraq
By JIM KRANE, Associated Press Writer

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Saudi Arabia is pushing ahead with plans to build a fence to block terrorists from crossing its 560-mile border with Iraq — another sign of growing alarm that Sunni-Shiite strife could spill over and drag Iraq's neighbors into its civil conflict.

The barrier, which hasn't been started, is part of a $12 billion package of measures including electronic sensors, security bases and physical barriers to protect the oil-rich kingdom from external threats, said Nawaf Obaid, head of the Saudi National Security Assessment Project, an independent research institute that advises the Saudi government.

The ambitious project reflects not only concern over terrorism but also growing alarm over the situation in Iraq, where U.S. forces are struggling to prevent sectarian violence from escalating to full-scale civil war between that nation's Shiite majority and Sunni minority.

All of Iraq's neighbors, including the Saudis, fear the violence could spill over the borders and threaten their own security.

Saudi leaders worry about Sunni extremists returning home to wage war on the U.S.-allied monarchy or Shiite militants trying to stir up trouble among the Shiite minority.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060927/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_saudi_fence_lh1

[MidwestTransplant]

1. To keep their fanatics in or keep Iraqis out?

Probably just forward thinking for when Iraq disintegrates.

[Nickster]

2. Well, you don't want any battle hardened extremists coming into the

Kingdom and fomenting any kind of disturbance amongst the oppressed now would you? Those adorable Iranians would love to come and visit sometime as well and there isn't much stopping them from doing that since Iraq is like the wild west now.

[madrchsod]

3. several months before the war the saudi`s were restoring

trade and other programs with the iraqi government. in fact one month before the war the saudi`s opened up a closed border crossing for the first time in years. bush`s war is tearing the fabric of the islamic society across the region. i guess their plan is working as they envisioned

[Roon]

4. Civil conflict?

Isn't that a civil war? Why is everyone so scared to call it civil war?

[Tempest]

5. Let's see...

It's mostly desert and easy to dig under.

This is really going to help.

*snicker*

[poverlay]

6. I know! I just about guffawed myself under the table when I saw that.n/t

[BrotherBuzz]

8. No, no, no, they are going to build the fence up-side-down...

and bury it in the ground to thwart those pesky terrorists tunnelers.

[sutz12]

9. Actually, sand would be very difficult to tunnel through

You'd need all kind of shoring and supports. If there are areas of hard packed dirt, then yeah.

[Tempest]

11. Shoring and supports are the easy part

Just ask the tunnel diggers along the U.S.-Mexican border.

Just as construction issues don't stop them, it won't stop those in the Middle East.

[NOLADEM]

7. Didn't they hear?? Fences are out.....MOATS are in

[humbled_opinion]

10. Fences, Fences, We don't need no stinkin Fences... ahhhh n/t

[saigon68]

12. Get a few East Germans to build a wall