| "..the
Saudis have been going after these terrorists and trying
to tear them out, root and branch.. ..the Government
of Saudi Arabia has been terrific, particularly since May 12th
and their Riyadh bombing." |
Deputy Secretary of State
Richard Armitage has applauded efforts by Saudi Arabia to crack
down on terrorists, while acknowledging that Americans and
American interests in Saudi Arabia are under an increased threat
level.
Below is an excerpt
from his interview with CBS's Early Show with Harry Smith
on December 18, 2003
Mr. Smith: All
right. The United States Government is offering free airfare to
nonessential Embassy personnel in Saudi Arabia, encouraging them
to leave. Why?
Deputy Secretary Armitage:
We've seen an increased threat level to Western and American
interests in Saudi Arabia particularly, so we offer this for
diplomats' families, et cetera. We've done this before. We'll
keep this status for about 30 days, and then we'll review it.
Mr. Smith: Are
all Americans in Saudi Arabia in danger?
Deputy Secretary Armitage:
Well, Western interests, and generally we have warned all
American citizens that there are these problems, there are these
potential dangers. So I think the short answer is yes, but
proper precautions can be taken and should be taken, and you
ought to be all right.
Mr. Smith: Would
we be right to conclude that the Saudis are doing an inadequate
job of controlling terrorists within their own borders?
Deputy Secretary Armitage:
Since the May bombing and the second bombing in November,
the Saudis have been going after these terrorists and trying to
tear them out, root and branch, and in the process they've also
lost several of their policemen and SWAT members. I think they
are really going after it. The problem is that there are many
cells and it takes a while to dig them out. But the Government
of Saudi Arabia has been terrific, particularly since May 12th
and their Riyadh bombing.
Click
here for the full transcript.
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