New York Times: Saudi Arabia will permit US to use its airspace to attack Iraq

The New York Times daily has quoted American military officials as saying that Saudi Arabia will permit the US to use its airspace and bases in the event of an American war against Iraq.

Chief of Staff of the US air forces John Jumber said in an interview with the New York Times published on its Web site saying : I firmly think that the Saudis will give us all cooperation we want and we get much more than we ask for.

The paper quoted American leaders as saying that they got confirmations in special statements that they can use an advanced leadership center at Prince Sultan Airbase, where they can run a war campaign against Iraq.

The American military sources explained that supply operations will be launched together with reconnaissance, monitoring and transport operations from bases in Saudi Arabia and using the Saudi airspace during missions in Iraq or around. The paper indicated that the Saudis have permitted in secret since two months American planes stationed in Saudi Arabia to strike goals in southern Iraq, while such missions used to be launched earlier from Kuwait.

This, however, is considered and indication on the new attitude in the position of the Saudi officials. A spokeswoman for the US defense department ( the Pentagon ) refused to comment on this report and the officials at the Saudi embassy in Washington did not also comment.