Saudis plan 560-mile fence across border with Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/September/middleeast_September607.xml§ion=middleeast

DUBAI — In a sign of regional concern over terrorism, Saudi Arabia is pushing ahead with plans to build a fence along its entire 900 kilometer (560 mile) border with Iraq to prevent terrorists from entering the kingdom from the chaotic north.

The barrier, which will likely take five to six years to complete, is part of a US$12 billion package of measures including electronic sensors, 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 provides security advice to the Saudi government.

The ambitious project reflects not only concern over terrorism but also growing alarm over the situation in Iraq, where US forces are struggling to prevent Sunni-Shiite violence from escalating to full-scale civil war.

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

For the Saudis, those threats could come from Saudi militants returning home to continue the struggle against the pro-US monarchy or from Shiite extremists seeking to stir up trouble among the country’s Shiite minority.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

1. Guess Hadrian had the right idea centuries ago!!!

[ck4829]

2. It's to stop all that freedom from flowing in, right?

:sarcasm:

[Nite Owl]

3. All that bringing democracy

to Iraq is really working out isn't it?

[TahitiNut]

4. Watch in coming years for records to fall in Olympic pole-vaulting.

:silly:

[twilight_sailing]

5. "five to six years to complete"?

We are never leaving Iraq. Permanent bases, etc.

The Saudis know it.

We are in the Middle East for the long term.

I wish this weren't so, but there it is.