Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah refused the request of the US Secretary of State, Mrs Madeleine Albright, for the use of his country's strategic air bases to mount an aerial offensive against Iraq at a meeting on Monday characterised by "frank" talking. An authoritative source told The Irish Times that the crown prince said he would "speak frankly, for when I like someone I tell them what I think, and when I don't like them I also tell them what I think".
Prince Abdullah said that while there were those in Saudi Arabia who would grant the US use of the facilities, there were also those who would refuse, and still others who hate the US and want to see all its citizens leave the country. He concluded by saying: "Since I represent all these people, I am obliged to say `No'."
Although aware that he would be almost certain to react negatively, Mrs Albright had reportedly requested an audience with King Fahd, who permitted the US to launch its "Desert Storm" offensive from Saudi soil in 1991.
But she was told to consult with Prince Abdullah, who has been the effective ruler of Saudi Arabia for the past two years as the king has been incapacitated by illness. That the crown prince has assumed full control was also shown by the fact that the more compliant Defence Minister, Prince Sultan, was not called back to Riyadh from Morocco, where he was on an official visit.
The Irish Times source said that the crown prince asked Mrs Albright in talks on Monday to explain why the US was prepared to use force against Iraq for failing to implement a few post-Gulf War resolutions, while Israel violated with impunity not only hundreds of Security Council resolutions but also refused to honour its internationally guaranteed treaty commitments to the Palestinians.
Having spoken "frankly", Prince Abdullah was prepared to give Ms Albright full support for the US diplomatic effort to secure Iraqi compliance with UN resolutions. The fact that that he now seems to be in charge marks an important shift in the balance of power within the ruling family.
