The first baby steps of a U.S. campaign against Iraq appear to be taking shape. But long strides will be needed to convince our supposed ally, Saudi Arabia, to aid this cause as it did the Persian Gulf War.
Contingency plans are being updated and readiness levels are being assessed, including the inventorying of munition stocks, according to The Washington Times. ''(W)ar scenarios are being discussed at briefings and in private meetings among commanders,'' Rowan Scarborough reports.
But the Saudis will refuse to allow the United States to use the kingdom's territory to launch military strikes against Iraq this time around, the London Telegraph reports.
Vice President Dick Cheney, who met with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Saturday last, suggests that reports of a Saudi rebuff are misleading.
Nonetheless, Al-Watan, a Saudi newspaper, calls a war with Iraq ''catastrophic'' for regional security.
As if there's ''regional security'' now?
The United States used Saudi bases as a command center in its successful 1991 war to drive Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait. And in the process it indubitably saved the Saudis from further Iraqi aggression. That they now balk in aiding an even more important campaign is most troubling.
The Saudis' inclinations remind us of the words of Sir John Davies, the English poet and statesman: ''The friend that faints is a foe.'' That's from ''The Scourge of Folly.''
We suggest the Saudis get over their fainting spell. For we don't think they are fully prepared for the scourge Saddam likely will unleash should Saudi Arabia embolden him with the folly of inaction.
