Powell: U.S. Should Remain in Saudi Arabia

[GreenPartyVoter]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Colin Powell says terrorists would earn a victory if American workers leave Saudi Arabia in response to a spate of terrorist attacks, including the murder of hostage Paul Johnson.

Powell said Friday he is hopeful that Americans will remain in the kingdom as a result of increased personal safety measures they take on their own as well as heightened protection from their employers and from the Saudi government.

"If they leave, then the terrorists have won," Powell said, shortly after Islamic militants beheaded Johnson, who worked on Apache attack helicopter systems for Lockheed Martin.

"I don't think either the Saudis, the Americans, or these brave folks who work in Saudi Arabia want the terrorists to win," Powell said.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20040619/D83A0H300.html

[FloridaPat]

1. Imagine giving up your life to prove these clowns are fighting

terrorism! Another view though is if enough Americans get killed, then we invade and grab those oil wells too. Not sure what we would invade with though.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Um, we still have the police and the Scouts. I guess we'd send them over?

[keithyboy]

3. OK Powell. Move your family over there and be sure to take Micahel

eom!

[Deja Q]

4. I second that! And it's clear the US is now invading S.A.* for oil...

* = Saudi Arabia should be renamed "Super America"...

[bluedog]

5. my .02*

I think the ambassadors to other countries should LEARN the customs and history......Also a requirement should be made that they learn the language or not get the job......why depend on translators when the translator may be sending mixed signals??

[Eric J in MN]

6. State Dept. was planning to tell Americans to leave.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040616/pl_afp/us_saudi_attacks_warn_040616132915

US to renew dire warning against travel to Saudi Arabia: officials

Wed Jun 16, 9:29 AM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States will soon renew its dire warning for US citizens to defer all travel to Saudi Arabia and for those there to leave immediately due to terrorist threats, officials said.

The new State Department warning, which could be issued as early as today, will reiterate the dangers of remaining in Saudi Arabia following a surge in attacks against Westerners in the capital and the oil cities of Yanbu and al-Khobar, the officials said.

The revised warning, which is to replace an existing April 15 alert in which the department also ordered all non-essential US personnel to leave the country, will not discuss new specific threats, they said.